Know the Word, Be Like the Good Shepherd

Preface

This entry is somewhat of a manuscript of a message I was asked to put together and share with our church, Fresh Wind's, food pantry. I admit I was against the clock with only a few days to prepare amidst business travel for my full-time job and everything else that the farm demands. I went the route of being Scripture-heavy, but what better message than one about knowing the Word to do so?

Don’t Get it Twisted

A man and his son are milking the family cows in the morning before school, and the son talks about these bullies he's been dealing with at school. The son asks his dad what to do.

The dad, being a God-fearing Christian, immediately knows what to say: “Next time they’re bullying you, be like the Good Shepherd.”

“What do you mean?” asks the son.

“Well, it’s like our cows here, we take care of them even when they’re a little unruly. The Good Shepherd cares for His sheep in much the same way. Even leaving the 99 to save the 1 that's acting unruly.”

The boy nodded as though he understood. They finished the chores, and the boy went off to school.

Later that day, the boy comes home and tells his dad he should never have listened to his dad’s advice because now the whole school is laughing at him.

“What do you mean? What went wrong?” asks the dad.

“Well, I thought about the Good Shepherd when my bullies came up.”

“Okay, so what happened?”

“We raise cows, not sheep, so I ran away like a good cowherd would!”

Having been chased by a bully of a cow, I can attest to running away as a good cattle herder would, semantics aside...

Why do I Need to Know the Word?

Many Christians believe that occasionally attending church, listening to a good sermon from a competent teacher, and praying over their meals when they happen to remember is sufficient. While having faith in Christ's work on the cross for our salvation is most important, Scripture clearly indicates that the Word is crucial not only for understanding our eternal salvation but also for preparing us for life in this world.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Had the son in my joke/story known the Word, he might have been more equipped when encountering his bullies. He might have had a better idea of Who the Good Shephad was and how he should prepare and respond to his bullies.

With this in mind, it raises three questions:

• Who was the Good Shepherd? 

• How did He carry himself?

• What does the Word tell us?

If you hadn't guessed by now, Christ is the Good Shepherd. Even most non-believers know that He healed the sick. He even healed the sick on the sabbath, not to defy the law but to show that it was lawful to do good, even on the day the Jews were called to rest.

Mark 3:1-6 - Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. ² And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. ³ And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” ⁴ And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. ⁵ And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Christ faced his adversaries, the Pharisees, with rebuke and was quick to correct. But despite them being enemies to Him, even plotting His death, He did not repay evil with evil. Jesus gave the Pharisees chance after chance to recognize their folly.

Christ Flipped Tables, So Can I!

Ephesians 4:26a - Be angry...

If you're like me, when you see the first two words of Ephesians 4:26—"be angry"—you might think, "I can handle this Christian life easily!" Just like me... But that's only the beginning of the verse. We'll look at the rest shortly.

Some Christians enjoy referencing the moment when Christ overturned tables in the temple, often using it as justification for expressing our anger through physical actions. However, as we see in the Gospel of John:

John 2:13-17 - 13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” 17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

Note that Christ took the time to fashion His whip that drove out the moneychangers. Scholars believe that He witnessed the defilement in the temple on one day, went away to plan his approach, and returned the next day, or possibly two days later, to carry out the cleansing. His anger was righteous, calculated, and contemplated. It wasn’t an immediate response when the gut reaction was present, but after He knew how he was going to approach the situation.

Ephesians 4:26 - Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger...

Note that Ephesians 4:26 says to NOT sin in our anger. Christ's anger was righteous, did not harm others, and most importantly, was not sin.

The Overflow of the Heart

How Christ carried himself was enough to exemplify how we’re called to imitate Him, but He also explicitly commands us to carry ourselves a certain way:

Matt 5:21-22 -  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Of course, it's easy to say that we're good people for not physically murdering someone. But Christ raises the bar, stating that to even be angry in our heart is to murder.

Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Whatever fills our heart will inevitably pour out in one way or many. It might be reflected in our words, our treatment of others, or our perception of them. For instance, a challenging day at work can leave us feeling impatient, which then affects how we interact with our family upon returning home. As a result, we may unintentionally hurt others due to what spills over from our hearts.

Love Thy Enemy; Pray for Them

Matt 5:38-39 -  38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

Repay evil with good. Respond with love. Address the aggressor with praise. This approach is among the most difficult. Avoid seeking revenge. Refrain from giving your enemy what they deserve. Even offer them the right cheek after they've just bruised your left. We are not called to endure abuse for its own sake, but as followers of Christ, we must forgive those who harm us. It becomes easier when I recall the things He has forgiven me for.

We've likely all experienced the situation where a waitress is exceptional, delivering drinks and food promptly, ensuring orders are accurate, and efficiently managing multiple tables. However, there's always that one table that remains dissatisfied no matter her efforts, constantly complaining and returning dishes. You try to reassure her that she's doing an excellent job for your table, but it's clear the situation is affecting her.

The waitress isn't limited to just two options, but she could persevere and get the difficult table out the door with their minimal tip (if she's lucky), or she could confront them for their intolerable behavior (which they probably deserve). However, if she opts for the latter, they might achieve their goal of a complimentary meal from the manager and a potential coupon for a future visit. But if the waitress chooses to overwhelm them with kindness, all they'll ultimately receive is the bill.

Possibly just as challenging:

Matt 5:43-48 - 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

I can't put it more simply. We're told to love our enemies as we do our neighbors. To love them as we do ourselves! To pray for those who persecute us. This was a hard concept for me as a young Christian (which I still am). How can I possibly pray for those who wish the worst for me? Let alone love them? But praying for the heart of your enemy to soften towards you and, above all, God, is not only an act of spiritual combat, it's also an act of love. I now pray ceaselessly for my enemies, be it the guy that cut me off in traffic, or the Muslim extremist that wishes all Christians would perish.

The Marks of a True Christian

Many might hear this and wonder, "I'm beyond saving, I'm not worthy, I'm hopeless, so why does this matter to me?" First, there's nothing too burdensome for Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Second, if you feel unworthy, consider the past of Apostle Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) before his encounter with Christ. He had imprisoned hundreds and was likely responsible for many deaths, known for persecuting Christians. Yet, Christ called him, and he became one of the most influential figures in the Bible and certainly for the modern Church.

And in the letter to the Romans he writes:

Romans 12:9-21 - 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ¹“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, ²“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Note that Paul references scripture - Know the Word!

^{1 Deuteronomy 32:35}

^{2 Proverbs 25:21-22}

"Okay, but I'm not even a Christian."

Fair, but faith aside, how could this approach with others NOT be a benefit to anyone and everyone? Apply these teachings to any situation and observe the results. You might find that your interactions with Marge in accounting become less daunting. When our hearts soften, it often leads to the softening of others as well.