October 25, 2015: I Am the Good Shepherd – Michael Hidalgo

We all follow someone. Which is to say we all pattern our lives, our way of thinking, our attitudes, biases and opinions on someone (or maybe something). Following and imitating others is how we learn to live life. Children watch their parents and others walk around on two of their limbs, and what do they do? They struggle, wobble, pull themselves up and take that first glorious step. Because they watched someone and followed them.

Jesus claims to be someone worth following – someone who is good. To be clear there are others who are being followed, but they are different. They run away from danger, but Jesus gives his life up for his sheep. These words of Jesus are challenging because they not only point to him as the good shepherd, but indict the other shepherds, which is a resounding echo of Ezekiel 34 – which is all about judgment of shepherds.

Which is interesting because in Ezekiel, the sheep wander and get lost but the blame is not placed on the sheep, it’s placed on the shepherds. And what is God’s response to go and gather the lost sheep. To bring them home, to be their good shepherd. So when others wander from God because of the shepherds who exactly is held guilty?