Sermon Outline from the Committee for
Minority Ethnic Concerns
Sermon Outline
Jesus says: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” (John
10:14)
The Good Shepherd we’re familiar with:
Many of us are familiar with “One Man & His Dog”. On TV shepherds and their dogs are
set tasks, moving sheep from one place to another. The shepherd stands at some
distance from his sheep, crook in hand, whistling to his dog to herd the sheep into pens.
Jesus the Good Shepherd:
When Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd he didn’t imagine himself standing on a
Cumbrian hillside in a Barbour jacket and green wellies whistling to a border collie. Jesus,
a western Asian, had a different picture in mind. The shepherd Jesus speaks of didn’t
drive his sheep from behind with a dog but led from the front. He would have a particular
call for each sheep. He knew them by name. His crook was shorter than a walking stick,
curved at one end so that he could use the handle to pull a sheep from danger by hooking
it round the sheep’s legs. The other end was sharp and pointed; he used it to kill scorpions
and snakes and to defend the sheep at close quarters against marauding animals. The
Asian shepherd lay down at night across the open entrance of the sheepfold. No sheep
could get out without passing him, nor could anyone or anything get in without passing
him. He defended them with his life.
Who are Jesus’ sheep?
Jesus, the Good Shepherd says we are his sheep. He calls to us day by day to follow
where he leads. He calls us as individuals. He knows your name and you are precious to
him. He’s prepared to pull you back from disaster, lead you to green pastures and defend
you against those who would hurt you. To the person casually strolling through the
countryside all sheep look pretty much the same – sweet and fluffy or stupid and noisy,
depending on your point of view. To the Good Shepherd we are precious and lovely in his
sight. He does not see us as a flock but as individuals. Nor does he ask us to do anything
that he has not done himself. He leads from in front and we are asked to follow him.
Who does Jesus call?
He not only calls those who are males and western Asians like him, but women and men,
children and adults, black and white. He has given over the establishment of his kingdom
on earth into our hands. Because you were created individually by God, who has shown
us his true nature in Jesus, you can be sure of this: God loves you with an eternal love;
he knows your greatest fears and deepest longings; he knows your strengths and your
weaknesses; he knows you.
What does the Good Shepherd want of his sheep?
What he asks you to do he asks of no one else because there is no one like you. In all
history there never has been anyone like you, nor will there be anyone like you again. You
can be sure that Jesus will be faithful to you for the whole of your life. If you do not hear
him today or choose to ignore or reject his call, he will not stop loving you nor will he stop
calling to you. The Good Shepherd does not beat his sheep into submission, he lives with
them day by day, and encourages them to follow.
Try and find a few moments today and each day to be silent in the presence of Jesus the
Good Shepherd. He is calling you by name. Listen to his voice.
Jesus says: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” (John
10:14)
Fr Charles Lawrence
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