April 21, 2024 Text: John 10:11-18
Dear Friends in Christ,
Remember the game show Let’s Make A Deal? Hosted by Monty Hall, the players had choices. Many times, the choice would be between something they already had and what was behind door #1, door #2, or door #3. Sometimes it was a better prize – a car or vacation – but at other times it would be a donkey or big stuffed animal or a car that wouldn’t run.
In our text for today it is about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. In fact, John 10:1-18, is all about this theme. Preceding our text, in verses 7 & 9 Jesus calls Himself “the door.” I like that. A door has two sides. There is a blessed thing about Jesus: Jesus is both the Good Shepherd and a door.
John 10 gives us this good news that Jesus the Good Shepherd and the Door . . .
“PROTECTS HIS SHEEP”
Hello fellow sheep. Do you need some protection? Again, a door has two sides. On one side Jesus is providing his grace and mercy. He opens His gracious hand to provide us pasture and living water – food and drink. On the other side He closes the door so that we receive protection from the thieves and wolves. We need help so the false shepherds do not steal our soul.
In the First Reading from Acts, the leaders of Israel were annoyed because the disciples were teaching about the resurrection of Jesus. After all that had happened, they still didn’t believe. The wolves, the Sadducees and high priests, wanted to scatter the flock. Peter, moved by the Holy Spirit made this wonderful witness, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Let’s go back to a famous door. One day, on orders from the Almighty, Noah and his sons built an ark. This ark had a door. The rains started up and at some point, Noah and his family boarded the ark. Then what did they do? They closed the door. When that happened, the rain fell for God’s judgment. For the people who still had faith, this small group of eight, the door provided protection. Eventually, the rain would subside and Noah was able to open the door and reveal God’s Blessing on the earth. Judgment was also present. The door was shut on those who did not believe. It was the same door, but your eternal fate was determined on which side of the door you were on.
Like on Let’s Make A Deal, we enter doors all the time that reveal something new. Someone’s home you have never been to, a new school you will be attending, a hotel room in a foreign city, a restaurant you have been excited to chow down at, a medical room awaiting a doctor’s diagnosis, a funeral home to pick out a casket. Some doors you can’t wait for. Some doors you would like to never face.
No matter what you find behind the door, the Good Shepherd is there. You receive Jesus as your Lord and master. Outside these doors, many are rejecting Jesus. They are outside the ark we might say. Judgment is raining down.
But you are safe. Just like Noah was safe from the wind and waves and flooding waters, you are safe from God’s judgment. You are protected from the wrath of God. Sheep are put into pens with doors closed to keep out the wolves. In the same way, Jesus is watching over you and keeping you safe from the devil and his evil angels. Inside these doors of our church, God feeds and nourishes you. You hear His voice in the preaching and proclamation of God’s Word. You drink from the living water that flows from the baptismal font. You eat the food that he has prepared at his banquet table, bread and wine that is his body and blood that offers you forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
Don’t be afraid. Let the Holy Spirit take your hand. Reach out. Turn the knob. Open it. Go ahead. Heaven and all its glory, all the blessings of God Almighty given for you. Come, enter through the door that is Jesus and find your Good Shepherd waiting for you.
Amen.