April 13, 2008

A Shepherd in the Valley of Darkness

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

Psalm 23; John 1:1-10

Opening Illustration Confrontation at UW Stout – Westboro Baptist Church.

Bible tells us God will provide for and protect God’s people. How do we understand that to be true?

Psalm 23 – Entirely about God protecting Psalmist, giving him food and water.

Psalmist talks about sense of safety. God’s presence keeps him from fear in his life.

Sounds good. But the problem is, Israel and Judah were invaded and destroyed, never to rule them selves again until 1948. Nothing but conflict since.

What happened to God’s protection?

Israelites blame it on their own sin. Not following the Law of Moses.

Question arises: Does God stop protecting you if you sin? Does God stop providing for you if you sin? How bad do you have to be before God withdraws?

Other questions: What do you have to do to get God’s protection back? How do you know you’ve convinced God you’re sincere? What if you start doing the wrong thing again?

Series of unanswerable questions - We have to rethink what we mean when we say God protects and provides for us.

John 10 – Jesus builds on Old Testament images of God or religious leaders as shepherds. Talks about his own role as Son of God and Messiah.

Jesus describes himself as the gate to the sheep corral. Anyone who enters through him is a true shepherd. Anyone who doesn’t is a thief or robber. Disciples were confused.

Jesus explains – He is the way to salvation. Anyone who wants to lead God’s people must acknowledge Jesus as Lord. People who claim another way to God are impostors, according to John.

Jesus is the Shepherd also. The difference between him and the impostors is that he’s willing to die to save the flock.

Jesus is criticizing the religious leadership of his time. Corrupt Pharisees and Sadducees who took advantage of the respect and position they had earned. Preyed on the poor.

Comforting thought – Jesus as shepherd – an image which signifies protection and providence.

The problem is: John was written at a time when Jesus’ followers were being harassed and persecuted. Persecution increased as time went on so that some were martyred.

Some lost jobs and families. Some lost property. Suffered poverty. How is it that the flock who followed the good shepherd was hungry, vulnerable, and persecuted?

Some said they suffered because they weren’t adequately faithful to Christian teachings. Many had the sense that it was impossible to repent.

Some said they suffered because that’s what Jesus’ followers do. They give their lives for Christ because he gave his for them.

But that doesn’t really square with the sense of protection in the image of the shepherd. These questions show that we have to rethink what we say when we talk about God as a shepherd who cares for us as sheep.

We face the same interpretive problems today that they did. How can we talk about God as a good shepherd who feeds and protects and cares for the sheep when we live in a world riddled with war and disease and starvation and domestic violence?

People try to excuse God:

People who suffer are being punished for something bad they did. Problem is that every one of us has skeletons in the closet. Why does one suffer and another not? My student’s friend died in a car accident.

People try to deny God exists:

Suffering of innocent people is proof that no divine being is looking out for people. Problem is that the world reflects some kind of good creator. Humanity has always experienced and affirmed the presence of God. Goodness of creation prohibits us from denying God’s involvement.

How do we understand Jesus’ claim that he came to give us abundant life? Does it have any validity in 2008?

First: Both passage we’ve read talk about the sheep going through times of danger. The shepherd doesn’t prevent danger; he comforts the sheep through the danger in Psalm 23. In John 10 he lays down his life so that when the sheep themselves die, they will have eternal life.

Presence of God in times of danger reminds us that life is bigger than what we experience on earth. Our suffering here is temporary. Good shepherd is eternal.

Second: If God is good, then God’s goodness has to be at the basis of all the goodness around us. It’s not that God doesn’t protect us; we can speak of it in the way the world regenerates, grows and heals itself.

Evil does not go unchecked in this world. Eventually justice prevails. Reflection of God’s own goodness. That’s why the Psalmist can speak about God in such glowing terms.

• Final Illustration: Replacement of Signs in New Orleans.

Jesus the Good shepherd is always with us in times of deep darkness. He doesn’t prevent us from going through them. But his rod and his staff comfort us.

When we see signs of hope and evidence of God’s hand in creation, we know the Good shepherd is by our side. And we know that the green pasture he leads us to extends beyond the grave.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, but our shepherd has promised us that the one who lives and believes in him will never die. What other shepherd takes that kind of care of the sheep?