1 Peter 2:21-25
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Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Jesus is the Good Shepherd; we are the sheep. Where the Shepherd leads, we sheep naturally follow. When He leads to green pastures, we happily go. When He leads in paths of righteousness, we joyfully go there too. When He leads through the valley of the shadow of death, we follow close behind Him. When we follow Good Shepherd Jesus, we actually follow in His footsteps. Our feet actually fall in the same tracks where the shepherd has gone before us. As we follow in His tracks, Shepherd Jesus leads us through suffering and into life.What kind of example is Good Shepherd Jesus? St. Peter says, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you mighty follow in His steps.” What kind of example is that? Many people look to Jesus as some sort of example. Some see Jesus as a good example for moral virtues. Since Jesus was sinless, they conclude, He must be a good example for behaving as good, upright, moral people. If we can just follow Jesus’ perfect example, they claim, then we can be pretty good too. But there’s a glitch. Jesus knows better. He knows what kind of evil, rotten sewage comes from the human heart infected by sin and death. He knew it would take much more than a good example to cleanse and heal you.
Other people look to Jesus as an example of social justice. They claim Jesus challenged the social customs and the religious establishment of His day. He preached equality for all; He sought to rescue people from oppression—political and social oppression, they say. But, again, there’s a glitch. The oppression that Jesus rescues you from is your slavery to your own ego and your bondage to death and the devil. You don’t need a role-model; you need a Rescuer.
Today, let’s learn to think like a teacher in a schoolroom. The example that Jesus leaves for you comes from the schoolroom. The Greek word for “example” gives the picture of a schoolroom teaching method. The teacher writes a letter or a word on the slate. We might say on the paper or even the digital device. The student traces that same letter or word. That’s the example—tracing what the teacher has actually done. Jesus did not come merely to be your role-model for moral values or social justice. No, Jesus came to be your Savior from sin and death. He took on our flesh and blood to restore us to God’s image. He suffered, died, and rose again to give us life with God once again. That’s what the Master actually did. That’s the example—the tracing—He gives to you. Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [a pattern to trace].
What kind of suffering do we trace? St. Peter wrote to Christians who were persecuted simply because they trusted and confessed Jesus to be the Savior. He told them, and he tells you, to expect the persecutions, expect the ridicule, expect worshiping together in God’s house to be deemed “non-essential,” expect the sufferings for the faith. If Christ suffered, His followers can also expect to suffer—especially for doing good. Suffer for doing good? Suffer for doing what is right and trusting Christ? Sounds so unfair! Sure, to our desires and our egos. But “this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God” (1 Pet. 2:19-20).
Yes, this goes against every fiber of your being. This goes against every decent thought you want to have. You don’t like pain or suffering of any kind. The American way is to avoid any and all pain, discomfort, inconvenience, or suffering at any and all costs. Throw money at it, escape it, compromise what you believe, do anything to avoid the suffering—even complain and place blame. We Americans can be pretty soft, spoiled, and immature when it comes to hardships. Though now for a time perhaps we’re learning how to suffer.
And we really don’t know what it’s like to suffer simply for being Christians. We hear the stories of Christians put on trial or imprisoned in foreign lands, and we pray for those who are persecuted. By and large, God’s grace has preserved us from such things in our country, but there’s no guarantee this will continue. Exhibit A might be the social warriors targeting Christians for so-called discrimination. Exhibit B might be governing leaders ticketing Christians who gather for “drive-in church” and social distance by staying in their cars. What would we do if persecution came to our door? Would we try to avoid it at all costs? Would we compromise what we believe so it wouldn’t hurt so much? Would we think that we are too good to suffer? May God preserve us from such pride!
The pattern that Good Shepherd Jesus sets down for us to trace is different. It’s better. It’s salutary. St. Peter outlines the footsteps of our suffering Shepherd Jesus: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth.” Jesus was innocent, yet He still suffered at the hands of us sinners. “When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, he did not threaten.” He did not appeal to His civil rights. He did not cry for justice or a fair hearing. He certainly did not say, “Just you wait….” No, Good Shepherd Jesus absorbed all of our wickedness because He knew His true Source of help and strength. “[He] continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” He left the matter to His heavenly Father. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”
Where our Good Shepherd leads, we sheep will certainly follow. You may expect the suffering, especially for “doing good”—for fearing, loving, and trusting Christ as your Savior, your Life, and your Forgiver. You may expect to be unpopular, even labeled, when you trust God’s Gospel Message of life and salvation. So, when you suffer wrong—either in a misunderstanding or from outright hostility—don’t argue or complain. Rather, learn to suffer it. Learn to be forgiving and loving. Learn to absorb it and take it in. You get to trace and practice what Jesus does and teaches. You get to follow in His tracks. You may be innocent; you may be insulted. But let no deceit or threats come out of your mouths. Instead, entrust yourselves to the Father who judges justly.
What kind of Shepherd is Jesus? Jesus is the Shepherd, you and I are the sheep. And my, how the sheep love to go astray! “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Is. 53:6). Even as sheep of the Good Shepherd, we go astray every day and in many ways—especially in not wanting to trace the footsteps of our Good Shepherd.
But He is still your Shepherd. He still gathers and leads you as His flock, even when we cannot gather together ourselves. Let that comfort and strengthen you! Jesus tells you today, “I Myself will be the shepherd of My sheep, and I Myself will make them lie down…. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice” (Ezek. 34:15-16). When you wander—and you do; I do; everyone does!—Good Shepherd Jesus seeks you out and brings you back to Himself. You can be certain of that. When you are broken and injured by your sins and sufferings, Good Shepherd Jesus binds you up and strengthens you. Let this comfort you: you have a Shepherd, an Overseer of your soul and life. His name is Jesus, the Son of God.
What kind of Shepherd is Jesus? He is “the Good Shepherd” who “gives His life for the sheep.” He trampled down death and conquered it by His own death. He fends off sin, death, and hell. He defends you against the wolves of insults and persecutions, of doubts and trials. Yes, we sheep may be powerless and helpless, but our Shepherd is not. He is our Strength and our Shield.
What kind of Shepherd is Jesus? He is the Good, True, Beautiful, Noble Shepherd who leads His flock with His voice. His voice calls you by name in your Baptism. His voice speaks words of Absolution through the pastor’s lips. No, this is not an imagined voice. You can’t just sit at home and pretend or presume that Jesus is speaking to you. No, His voice is heard in His words read, proclaimed, sung, and spoken into your ears. When you hear the words “I forgive you your sins,” Good Shepherd Jesus is speaking; it’s His voice. And your Good, True, Beautiful Shepherd prepares a Table before you in the presence of your enemies. It’s the Table of His Body and Blood. In His meal of life, He strengthens you with His very own goodness and mercy. And if you are hungering and thirsting for His meal of life, please let me know. We can make an appointment.
May God grant us His grace to help us follow where our Good Shepherd leads—in the footprints of His suffering and in the life of His tender care and bountiful mercy. The Lord is your Shepherd, you shall not want. By His grace and mercy, you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
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