Letters From Timothy

In the Gospels, Jesus alternately refers to himself as a both a good shepherd and the “lamb” of God. It is not to confuse us; it is important to understand the context for each, which, as I hope to show you in this letter, Jesus gives plenty of.

Jesus begins very distinctly:

I am the good shepherd.

I like this quote because it’s crisp and clear. As I often mention, Jesus speaks in parable, allegory, similie, and metaphor. Here, he’s using the bold metaphor. He is not like a good shepherd, he is the good shepherd. So, what makes a good shepherd? Jesus gives us that, as well:

A good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep.

This is actually quite startling. Did shepherds back in those days really die to protect their sheep? I don’t know, but the idea is still powerful. I love animals and I love sheep; I can imagine I’d love my own flock of sheep very much if I had to take care of one. But would I die for sheep? Probably not. But Jesus was in an analogous situation. For someone who is an aspect of God, humans to him must be like animals to us. And yet, he still died for them. He died for us.

We’re more like sheep in more ways than just our lowliness in comparison to God. Sheep are peculiar creatures. They are possessed by an overwhelming urge, coded right into their DNA and written inextricably in their psyche, to herd, follow. It doesn’t matter what; dogs, humans, even Jeeps. It is in their nature to gather and follow. I have heard that sheep, when left alone, do very stupid things. If there is no fence guarding the edge of a cliff, a sheep may hurl itself off the edge and die instantly. But, they will try to jump over fences, too, even if they’re made of barbed wire. Many sheep badly injure themselves in such a way. If they find a bountiful patch of grass, they will continue to gorge themselves well beyond their need, until they get sick.

Religious people are sometimes derisively called “sheeple” because of the ease with which we may sometimes be misled by a charismatic leader or flawed ideology. But that tendency is not unique to us in the least bit. Rather, it is because we are human that we seek to be led, not because we are religious. Indeed, it is for that reason that we are religious in the first place. Those that do not believe in organized religion may find them strong devotees of new-age spiritualism, or of astrology, of philosophers and philosophies, or even of a cult. The belief in the absence of a God may also be, in its own way, a guiding belief and principle. Like organized religion, any of these other paths can lead one astray, and sometimes into peril. The important thing is that we follow only who is worthy leading us. For me and other Christians, that person is Jesus. Mortal humans are the bad shepherds that Jesus mentions, who are ‘hired’ and do not own the sheep. Humans do not own each other; we have only what God has given us. We all have our own motivation, our own “wages” for doing whatever it is we do, even if it is a good deed. Only God can selflessly lead us with our best interests at heart.

Why do we have this burning desire to follow? I believe that it was worked into our minds by God himself, so that we may seek him. We seek truth, every one of us, regardless of what we believe. We look for meaning. It may or may not be out there; I believe it is. And, let’s face it: we can’t really run our own lives. Humans as a species, when left to themselves, are like sheep in that they gorge on excess, become self-destructive, and seek to tread where we do not belong. Perhaps sheep realize this and that is why they follow a shepherd. Perhaps deep down, we realize it too.

There is one last thing in this reading that I’d like to examine: the final verses, John 10:17-18.

This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.

There. Did you catch that? Read it again. Jesus is telling us the key to being faithful followers, to guaranteeing ourselves a place in heaven. For all our similarities to our woolly friends, this is the difference between us and sheep: we have the choice to follow Jesus. We have the power not just to live our own lives, our way, but the power to give it all up. And THAT is how you impress God.

Peace.

-Timothy