GOD, Who, by the humiliation of Thy Son, didst raise up the fallen world; Grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death, do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

--Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

--John 10.11-16 (NKJV)

In today's readings, we are reminded three times that Jesus is our Shepherd. God's word through Ezekiel made it clear that Israel's human shepherds (kings and priests) failed miserably at their tasks. Israel had been led so far astray from their covenant with God that, if there was to be any hope for them, it would come from God himself. Jesus made it plain that he was the shepherd Ezekiel spoke about and that he had come to seek his lost sheep. Initially, these sheep were just Israelites, as Jesus makes clear on more than one occasion. Thankfully for us, God had a bigger vision, as today's gospel makes clear--Jesus was making one fold out of Jew and Gentile alike, which became very plain when he gave the apostles the Great Commission and sent them to the entire world. Those who teach that God has two flocks, one Jewish and one Gentile, miss multiple places where Scripture makes plain that there is one flock, and one flock only. In Christ, we are one, under the loving protection of our Good Shepherd.

"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need"(Isaac Watts)

My Shepherd will supply my need, Jehovah is His name,
In pastures fresh He makes me feed beside the living stream;
He brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake His way,
And leads me for His mercy's sake in paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death His presence is my stay,
One word of His supporting grace drives all my fears away;
His hand in sight of all my foes doth still my table spread,
My cup with blessings overflows, His oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days;
Oh, may Thy house be my abode and all my work be praise;
There would I find a settled rest, while others go and come;
No more a stranger nor a guest, but like a child at home.

Photo by Biegun Wschodni on Unsplash