John 10:11-18

¹¹ [Jesus says,] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He 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. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus isn’t giving us any compliments here. He describes us as sheep. Dumb, stupid sheep. Sheep who get themselves in all sorts of trouble, who are stalked by hunters, who are dependent. Sheep who keep falling into the same pits of sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned – every one – to his own way” (Is. 53:6), but Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has taken the iniquity of us all. He has voluntarily laid down His precious, holy, innocent, perfect life for us all.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and God the Father loves Him, because He lays down His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:14-15, 17). This statement is shocking. This isn’t the actions of a good shepherd. Shepherds keep sheep for wool and meat, so normally, a good shepherd is defined by being successful and profitable in doing that. Immediately after our text here, many of the people who heard Jesus say this figure He has a demon and is insane (Jn. 10:19-20). But Jesus is good because He is the shepherd who gives His sheep what they need – His holy and precious blood. Now, ‘good’ is a legitimate way to translate what Jesus says when He calls Himself the ‘Good Shepherd,’ but the word Jesus uses is deeper than our word ‘good.’ In Greek, Jesus calls Himself ‘the καλός Shepherd.’

Yes, kalos does mean ‘good’ but not in a subjective sense that is open to anyone’s interpretation. Kalosmeans ‘right, fitting, true, beautiful, and competent.’ Jesus is uniquely qualified to be the Shepherd of sinful sheep. Christ is the ‘good for you’ Shepherd. Jesus, the kalos Shepherd, does what is unimaginable. He overcomes, defeats, and destroys the wolf by filling the wolf’s mouth with His own Body and saving you from being lost and devoured.

Hear this, you wandering sheep: When you had cut yourself off from God by your sin, Jesus, the kalosShepherd, came down to die on the cross for you. Jesus could have run away like the hired hand, but He didn’t. And, if Jesus didn’t run away then, what would cause Him to run away from you now? The answer is nothing. There is nothing that will make Him throw up His hands and say, “Well, I’m done with that sheep.” Jesus is with you. He is for you and is completely invested in you. And for that, God be praised.

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, but it is also Confirmation Sunday. So, Nolan, Josh, and Leah, you dear sheep, God be praised for each one of you today. You have done a lot of work. You have read, studied, memorized, and learned a lot to get to today. But none of this would have been possible without Jesus, your Good, Kalos Shepherd leading and guiding you, and He has done that through the work of others.

I hope that each of you confirmands recognize how Jesus has used your parents in His shepherding of you. Matt and Lisa, Joel and Marilyn, Jon and Mel, you have all been faithful to the promises you made to nurture and raise your child in the faith when they were Baptized. God be praised for that, and I hope that each of you confirmands thank God for your parents’ faithfulness. Not all children have parents who faithfully raise their children in the faith, but you do. You can also thank your Baptismal sponsors (or godparents, if that is what you call them). They also have been faithful in their prayers for you and supporting your parents in their duties.

So, today is a day to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate all the work that you and your parents and sponsors have done. Even more so, it is a day to celebrate because you will receive Jesus’ very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sin. But I do want to caution you. Just because you have come to this day of your confirmation, that doesn’t mean that you are done being shepherded.

The beginning of Hebrews 12 talks about the life of a Christian as a race. And everyone, listen carefully. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” The Christian life is a marathon; it’s a race that requires endurance. Nolan, Josh, and Leah, each of you are off to a good start, and you are running well. But none of us can say exactly how far along you are in the race. Today isn’t time to slow down. Keep up the pace. Keep pressing on; keep learning; keep growing in your faith. You aren’t at the finish line – not yet.

And to some of you Christians here today, maybe you have been slacking and slowing up in the race of faith. Repent. Consider this your reminder to keep running. Maybe you’ve gotten lazy and started walking. Maybe you have quit running all together. Maybe you have gotten completely off the course. Now, today, is the time to come back to the race. Put your past failures of loafing, slacking, and being lazy behind you. Start running again (Php. 3:13-14).

Now, whether you are being confirmed today, were confirmed years or decades ago, or are not yet confirmed, it is good to remember what Confirmation is. Confirmation is simply a recognition of God continuing to work in your life through the faith He gave you in your Baptism. When Jesus, your Good Shepherd, instituted Holy Baptism, He said that disciples are made by Baptizing and teaching (Mt. 28:18-20).

So, today, you confirmands are simply confirming and publicly confessing that the work that God began in you when you were Baptized has continued and that you have kept the faith that God gave you in your Baptism. In your Baptism, you were born again (Jn. 3:3, 5) and clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27). So, just briefly:

Nolan, you were Baptized on August 7^th, 2011 at Christ the King Lutheran in Wilson, WI by your grandpa, Pr. Les Johnson. And your sponsors are Les, Dawn, Dale, and Jeanette.

Josh, you were Baptized December 7^th, 2008 here by Pr. Gary Jorgenson. And your sponsors are Carson, Heather, Evan, Joye, and Ginny.

Leah, you were Baptized April 12^th, 2009 here by Pr. Gary Jorgenson. And your sponsors are Roger, Lisa, and Mikal.

In the waters of your Baptism, Jesus shepherded you to still waters and restored your soul. Through His Word, He leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. And Jesus leads you through the valley of the shadow of death. He can do this because your Good Shepherd knows the way through that deathly valley. He went down it Himself and has come out of the grave. Now, Christ is risen from the dead. Jesus had the authority to lay down His life, and He had the authority to raise it up again. Your Baptism joined to Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ro. 6:3-11). Now, because He lives, Jesus is the living Shepherd and watchful Overseer of your soul (1 Pet. 2:21-25). And I love how each of you have picked verses that confess that.

Nolan, you chose Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.” Jesus, your Good Shepherd laid down His life, but He will always be with you to strengthen you and uphold you with His almighty, righteous hand.

Josh, you chose 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing,” which I love because that was a portion of my Confirmation verses as well. You can pray to and through Jesus, your Good Shepherd, because He lives forever and is always watching over you. He hears you every time you call to Him and gives you what is best.

Leah, you chose Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.” Jesus is and always will be with you in all your ways. Your life, and the life of every Christian here isn’t just the story of your life. It is the story of Jesus’ walking with you, leading, guiding, directing you, and making your paths straight.

My dear, fellow sheep: Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and you are His sheep. You are not called to stand toe-to-toe with the devil. Satan, sin, and death are the wolves, and you are the sheep. Hide behind Jesus. Christ, your Good Shepherd and Overseer of your soul, places Himself between you and every danger to rescue you from every threat that you face. But even as you hide behind your Good Shepherd, you do not cower in fear. You stand confidently behind Jesus knowing that He has overcome the wolf. He has won the victory, and His victory is your victory because you belong to Him. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.