God has formed a covenant with us, promising to provide for us, and confident in God’s promises, we are given responsibility for our neighbors and ourselves, that we will work together to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus levels criticism at the Pharisees,
echoing a prophecy delivered in Ezekiel 34. There the prophet charges the shepherds, the kings of ancient Israel and Judah, with neglecting the people they were supposed to be caring for. The people given the authority to care for God’s people were, instead, caring too much for themselves. They were eating the fatling and clothing themselves with the wool and letting their people be scattered and preyed upon.
Here, Jesus charges that, instead of being watchmen for the people of God, the religious leaders in Jerusalem were acting as temple gatekeepers, shutting out those who wanted to enter into God’s presence and community.
Jesus tells the Pharisees, “I am the gate for the sheep.”
Remember, when Jesus uses “I am” statements, he is describing who he is as the Son of God. His disciples and the Jewish community would recognize his “I am” as an echo of the declarations that the God of Israel made to Abraham and Moses.
But, what does he mean when he says, “I am the gate.”?
At night, shepherds lead their sheep into a pen or sheephold, protecting them against coyotes and wolves, and the gate is closed behind them to ensure their protection. Today, some people think of this gate like a cattle guard, an open place in a fenceline where the ground is depressed and bars are placed over it so a truck can drive over it, but cows won’t try to cross.[i]
While he’ll go on to make the more familiar statement, “I am the good shepherd,” that’s not the claim Jesus makes here. He expands his statement, saying, “whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”
Returning to the image of the flock who has rested overnight in safety; in the morning, the gate is opened and they are led out again to find water and grass.[ii]
When Jesus says, “I am the gate,” you can be assured that this gate doesn’t lock behind you trapping you, and it isn’t a gate with heavy iron bars that imprison you.
Instead, in Jesus, you find a gate that swings easily,
granting you freedom to come in; to seek safety and refuge from thieves that threaten your peace; and, then,
to go out again, refreshed and strengthened for what lies ahead.
Too often, religious authorities — including our churches and congregations — forget Jesus’ words and we take on the role of gatekeeper, erecting barriers or obstacles to control who comes and goes, making judgments about who belongs and who doesn’t.
Here, Jesus reminds us that that’s not our job.
If we’ve been given any authority at all, it is to gather the flock to feed, heal and strengthen. Not, in the words of Ezekiel, to ravage people as we “push with our flanks and shoulders” or “butt with our horns.”[iii]
Other times, we lock ourselves behind closed gates, afraid of the unknown and suspicious of those who are different from us. But, here’s the thing, when we stay hidden, we are cut off from the green pasture and all the good gifts that God has given us to nourish us.
Jesus is the gate and we are the flock. Today, at Dylan’s baptism and in the affirmation of baptism for the Turners that we will celebrate in a few minutes, we are reminded what our responsibilities as God’s people really are:
to live among God's faithful people,
to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's supper,
to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed,
to serve all people, following the example of Jesus,
and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
May we always remember that Jesus comes that we may have life as God’s people, and, knowing that God calls us each by name, trust in God’s promises.
Let us pray…
Shepherding God,
We give you thanks for your Son Jesus who reveals your love and mercy for us.
Free us from the illusion that we are in control and help us to welcome everyone who comes seeking you and needing nurture and care.
Lead us by your Holy Spirit to places of rest and refreshment and strengthen us to go into the world as your people.
Amen.
[i] https://revgalblogpals.org/2017/05/02/cattle-guard-jesus/, accessed May 6, 2017
[ii] http://pres-outlook.org/category/ministry-resources/looking-into-the-lectionary/, accessed May 6, 2017
[iii] Ezekiel 34:21
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