If John’s unique version of the Love Command is to do as he does (Love one another as I have loved you), then what seems to be a gospel explaining who Jesus is becomes a guide to what we should be doing. What some read as obnoxious egotism becomes radical challenge. John 10: 1-21
That means Jesus’ calling himself the Good Shepherd means far more than a Sunday School picture of his carrying a sheep on his shoulders. It, also, serves as a job description for Christian leaders. Well, for that matter, it is a job description for all leaders, something like what Jesus said in the other gospels about leaders serving their people.
If the Good Shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep their shepherd, they have to spend a lot of time together. If the sheep trust her voice, she has proven herself worthy of that respect. Surely, that means that the pastor and other leaders share their people’s lives, just as God shares ours in Jesus.
If the shepherd “opens the gate”, so his flock can go out to find what they need and come in to find safety, then our leaders should call us out of ourselves and homes, so we can live a full and satisfying life. And they should call us back to the safety of the Church when we are weak from living in a hostile world. What is often read as an exclusive claim for Jesus’ granting salvation is much more a promise of his supplying what we need in a hostile world. And he does this through his leaders who nourish us through words and sacrament, counseling and teaching, and especially by being present when we face danger.
Because the world is a dangerous place, the shepherd leads the flock acting as scout, skirmisher, and pioneer. Often she leads into uncharted new fields of food because, after all, meadows are quickly emptied by hungry sheep. This means the pastor must be on the forward edge of society, always prophetic, always innovative.
The passage comes to a climax when Jesus acknowledges the world is so dangerous for his people, his leaders must be willing to give their lives for their people. The Good Shepherd places herself between the sheep and the Wolf that is always out there. Certainly he is describing how we should hear his Passion story, not that Jesus dies for us as a substitute for a punishment we deserve, but rather as a loving act that protects us from evil and danger. So the true pastor is willing to sacrifice herself for her people.
Finally, the Good Shepherd Jesus promises to increase the size of the flock. So we should expect evangelism from our pastors. No more of this, “I serve the faithful even if they have become a smaller and smaller group.” What kind of self-righteousness nonsense is that? And how it flies against the logic of the covenant where God blesses us, so we bless others, until all nations are blessed.
Lest this does not ring true to your former understanding, consider that John ends his gospel by telling Peter if he truly loves him, he will care for his sheep. For him, this meant martyrdom.
So how does our current leadership do? Oops, I’m talking to leaders.
