Dear Friends in Christ,<\/p>\n
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I. The Difference between Sheep and Shepherds, Man and God <\/p>\n
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\u201cI am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Really? Seriously? A good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep?<\/p>\n
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After all, imagine chatting with a rancher who says, \u201cI love my herd. They\u2019re great cattle, and I would die to keep them alive.\u201d Die for cows? Do you even want to be seen with a man who would die for cows?<\/p>\n
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Back in Winnipeg, we had offers from people who were most willing to come into our school and teach our students about their bats, rats or snakes. Imagine one of them coming and saying, \u201cOh, I\u2019d lay down my life for these rats.\u201d They would not be invited back.<\/p>\n
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Some of you know that Nancy and I have a dog at home. Her name is Mindy, but we often call her \u201cShredder\u201d because she loves to tear up whatever paper products we have left lying around. We get annoyed by that behavior, but generally we like Mindy and try to take good care of her. But if I\u2019m ever in a situation where it\u2019s Mindy or me, the choice is pretty clear: I have no plans to die for my dog. <\/p>\n
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We live in an odd age where some people devote their lives and voices to animal rights. If you Google the phrase \u201clegal rights for animals,\u201d you get over 300 million hits\u2014including the vote in Switzerland some years ago to give legal rights and representation to animals. It failed by a lot, but just imagine: the last thing I need is for Mindy to legal representation from a lawyer.<\/p>\n
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Underlying this fight for animal rights is the idea that there is no difference between human beings and other animals\u2014we\u2019re just a more advanced style of animal that likes to bully and enslave our fellow creatures, and it\u2019s just not fair. One argument is that the fight for animal rights is about raising the value or worth of other species. In reality, what it actually does is diminish the value of mankind, reducing us to just one more accident of evolution with unfair advantages.<\/p>\n
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So if Jesus were to appear today and say, \u201cThe good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep,\u201d there\u2019s a segment of the population that would say, \u201cAbout time! Yes! We should all lay down our lives so that the sheep can live. Maybe we should check out this Jesus, after all.\u201d
\nThat\u2019s still a small minority, though. Most people would still maintain that a shepherd who\u2019s willing to die for his sheep is a little bit nutty. Why? Because people have far greater worth than sheep.<\/p>\n
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Why do people have far greater worth than sheep? Because God created them to have far greater worth than sheep. He gives them far greater gifts. You carry on conversations — sheep just say, \u201cbaa.\u201d You cook gourmet meals — sheep eat grass. When danger comes, you fight or flee — sheep get eaten.<\/p>\n
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So shepherds are worth more than sheep. That\u2019s why it makes no sense for a shepherd to die for them. But, if it makes no sense for a shepherd to die for sheep, it makes even less sense for Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to die for you. Why? Because He\u2019s worth more than you. To put it another way, He\u2019s more worthy than you. He\u2019s been around from eternity\u2014you\u2019ve got less than a hundred years on you and you\u2019re slowing down. He\u2019s all-powerful\u2014you need help to carry a table across the room. He\u2019s all-knowing\u2014you can\u2019t remember where you put your glasses. He\u2019s present everywhere\u2014you\u2019re painfully aware that you can only be in one place at a time, and how dreadfully inefficient that is.<\/p>\n
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More to the point, He\u2019s God\u2014you\u2019re not. He\u2019s holy\u2014you\u2019re not. He\u2019s not sinful\u2014you are. He doesn\u2019t have to die for sin\u2014you do. He\u2019s faithful and true. You? Well\u2026 let\u2019s go with a term from our text. You\u2019re a hired hand.<\/p>\n
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Jesus says, \u201cHe who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Most properly, the hired hand that Jesus speaks of isn\u2019t you: He\u2019s preaching law about pastors. He\u2019s accusing me and telling you to be alert. See, why do hired hands work? Hired hands work to make money\u2014they work to benefit from their labors. In itself, there\u2019s nothing wrong with that in the business world: I\u2019m willing to guess that if your employer said, \u201cWe want you to keep working, but we\u2019ve cut your pay to zero,\u201d you probably wouldn\u2019t be too motivated to show up the following day. If you\u2019re choosing between two different job offers, you\u2019re going to ask, \u201cWhich one benefits me more?\u201d That\u2019s how the system works in the business world.<\/p>\n
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That can\u2019t be how it works in the Church. A pastor can\u2019t operate like a hired hand. He can\u2019t run the Holy Ministry by asking, \u201cWhich message will bring the biggest numbers, highest offerings and most personal benefits to me?\u201d If that\u2019s how a pastor operates, then his goal is to please people because he wants their support, friendship, contributions, maybe adoration. But pleasing people and pleasing God are two different things. The Lord calls upon His preachers to declare His Law, to accuse people of their sin and call them to repentance. Hired hands don\u2019t want to do that\u2014they don\u2019t want to make people angry because angry people don\u2019t support, befriend, contribute or adore. The Lord sends out His preachers to declare the Gospel, the Good News that salvation is found in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Hired hands aren\u2019t hot on that message either, because it\u2019s so scandalous to so many.<\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s the big problem with hired hands. They flee. That might mean that they just leave a congregation when the going gets tough and they flee from the trouble\u2014and it\u2019s often trouble they\u2019ve caused themselves. But sometimes, they flee without leaving: they flee the Word of God and shepherd the sheep with something else, leading the entire flock astray. When the wolf comes, there is no defense because they\u2019ve left Christ, the Defender, behind.<\/p>\n
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So Jesus is preaching about pastors, warning you to make sure that your preacher is speaking the Word of God, not what tickles the ears and the ego. Is the temptation to be a hired hand real?<\/p>\n
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Absolutely. It\u2019s a constant temptation, and it is one of the devil\u2019s favorite attacks to destroy the faith of pastors and congregations. It\u2019s why you pray for pastors in general and for me in particular. It\u2019s one of the reasons I thank you for your prayers and desire them.<\/p>\n
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But enough about pastors. Let\u2019s talk about you. You\u2019re likewise tempted to be a hired hand; and while that makes sense in the business world (where you actually are hired), it does damage just about everywhere else. For example, if you act like a hired hand in marriage, then you\u2019re looking out for yourself rather than your spouse. You\u2019re working to be served, not to serve; and that\u2019s the marriage killer. You and your spouse didn\u2019t hire each other\u2014you pledged faithfulness and love, and that\u2019s quite different. <\/p>\n
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If you act like a hired hand in parenting, well\u2026kids don\u2019t pay very well. If you parent in order to enjoy the adoration of your kids, you\u2019re going to be a crummy disciplinarian and your kids will suffer for it. If you act like a hired hand when it comes to helping others, then you\u2019re only going to help those that have something to offer in return\u2014favors, good feelings, gratitude, whatever. You\u2019re going to avoid the grouchy, the repulsive, the people who make you feel bad. That hardly makes you a Christian: unbelievers act like this all the time. So do you. That makes you a hired hand who\u2019s saying, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d<\/p>\n
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Of course, the greater problem is being a hired hand before God. Hired hands are as near-sighted as they are calculating: they want an immediate payoff rather than the iron-clad guarantee of salvation. So you\u2019re tempted to receive the parts of God\u2019s Word that you like hearing, and ignoring the parts that go against your preferences or favorite sins. You\u2019ve got your comfort zones\u2014we all do, and some parts of God\u2019s Word are more comfortable than others. That\u2019s why you can self-justify your pet sins and get angry at God when He doesn\u2019t do things your way. That\u2019s what a hired hand does.<\/p>\n
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So if you think that the difference of worth between sheep and man is vast, the difference between man and God is far, far greater: not just in ability, but in holiness. Sheep, at least, are content to be sheep. They don\u2019t get together in the flock and talk about how they\u2019d be a better shepherd. They certainly don\u2019t scheme and plot to frame their Good Shepherd and have Him crucified.<\/p>\n
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No, the gulf of worth between man and God is far greater than the gulf of worth between man and sheep. It\u2019s as different as heaven from hell. That\u2019s what makes this verse so amazing: \u201cI am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.\u201d<\/p>\n
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2. The Good Shepherd
\nSo what is to be done about this vast gulf between God and man? Here\u2019s where the Gospel comes in: God bridges the gap and becomes man. The holy Son of God becomes flesh and is born of Mary. He becomes man to be the Good Shepherd. He becomes man to make you lie down in green pastures and lead you beside quiet waters, to prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. He becomes man to restore your soul. But He doesn\u2019t restore your soul simply by being the Shepherd. He\u2019s also the Lamb. He\u2019s the Lamb who\u2019s sacrificed for your sins, stricken for your transgressions and bruised for your iniquities. By His stripes, you are healed. By His blood, your sins are cleansed.<\/p>\n
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The Shepherd doesn\u2019t lay down His life for benign, innocent sheep without guile. When He lays it down, He dies the death that the sheep deserve\u2014He takes what they\u2019ve got coming to them. God condemns the Shepherd for the sins of the sheep. And, strange though it is to our ears, even as He condemns His Son, God also loves His Son for laying down His life for the sins of the sheep.<\/p>\n
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Many find that a paradox that can\u2019t be overcome: how can God condemn His Son for the sins of the world, yet love Him for dying for the sins of the world? Because both Father and Son are one, and they are acting out of love to redeem sinners. They are doing what must be done for your salvation, and don\u2019t underestimate what God the Father does in sacrificing His Son for you. Given the choice in this world, would fathers rather die or let their sons die? The answer is pretty obvious. If that\u2019s the choice that sinful, selfish fathers make, how much harder is it for God the Father to give His Son up to death\u2014and not just give Him up, but condemn His Son for the sins of the world?! What Father would condemn His Son for the sins of wayward sheep? That is your salvation: the Shepherd lays down His life for you, and His Father loves Him for it.<\/p>\n
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Please note: you are saved by God\u2019s work, God\u2019s love and God\u2019s sacrifice. You\u2019re not saved by your efforts, your adorableness or your good intentions. This is good, because God\u2019s love for you is unwavering, and so your salvation is sure. Your efforts vary from day to day\u2014some days, you put more effort in than others. Some days, you\u2019re not as adorable as other days. Some days, your intentions aren\u2019t very good at all. If salvation was about what the sheep do, you wouldn\u2019t have a chance. <\/p>\n
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But your salvation is about the Shepherd\u2014the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. The nature of the Shepherd and His sacrifice is always pleasing to God. That\u2019s what makes your salvation sure.<\/p>\n
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In fact, the Good Shepherd is risen from the dead and clothes you in His righteousness as He forgives your sins. When God the Father looks at you, He doesn\u2019t see ragged wool and reluctant obedience. He sees His Son\u2019s righteousness\u2014He sees you without spot or stain or any such thing, because Christ has taken all your sins away.<\/p>\n
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And how does He do this? You hear His voice, His Word. And by that Word, He gives you forgiveness and life and salvation. It\u2019s by His Word that He washes you clean in the still waters of Holy Baptism; and it\u2019s by His Word that He prepares the table of His body and blood for your salvation. It\u2019s by His Word that He calls you back from your hired-handedness, calls you to repent of your sin and be forgiven once again. That\u2019s what sheep do\u2014they listen to their shepherd\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
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You hear His voice. And when you ignore or disobey His voice, you repent and trust in His salvation for you. His rest, His peace and His life are for you. Because\u2014wonder of wonders! \u2014 the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for the sheep. For you. And because the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for you, you are forgiven for all of your sins. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Friends in Christ, I. The Difference between Sheep and Shepherds, Man and God \u201cI am the good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","wpfc_preacher":[176],"wpfc_sermon_series":[],"wpfc_sermon_topics":[],"wpfc_bible_book":[],"wpfc_service_type":[],"class_list":["wpfc_preacher-pastor-j-fritsche","wpfc-sermon-single","post-4145","wpfc_sermon","type-wpfc_sermon","status-publish","hentry"],"sermon_audio":"","sermon_audio_duration":"","_views":"21","bible_passage":"John 10:11-18 The Word of the Lord from John 10:11: \u201cI am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.\u201d","sermon_video_embed":"","sermon_video_url":"","sermon_bulletin":"","_featured_url":false,"sermon_date":1713700836,"_sermon_date_auto":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/wpfc_sermon\/4145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/wpfc_sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/wpfc_sermon"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4145"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/wpfc_sermon\/4145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4147,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/wpfc_sermon\/4145\/revisions\/4147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wpfc_preacher","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwpfc_preacher&post=4145"},{"taxonomy":"wpfc_sermon_series","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwpfc_sermon_series&post=4145"},{"taxonomy":"wpfc_sermon_topics","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwpfc_sermon_topics&post=4145"},{"taxonomy":"wpfc_bible_book","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwpfc_bible_book&post=4145"},{"taxonomy":"wpfc_service_type","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/redeemerlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwpfc_service_type&post=4145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}