The Voice of the Good Shepherd
There are some people who have such distinct voices you can recall what they sound like years from the date you heard them for the first time. John 10 begins with the concept of voice recognition. It is more than merely hearing with the ear. It highlights a natural ability which teaches a spiritual lesson.
Jesus is confronting the Pharisees with the truth of his authority to minister, teach and heal. It is direct indication of how Christians must confront issues that do not line up with the teachings of Christ. Some things cannot go unchallenged.
There must be an attitude of “business as usual” when issues contradict those characteristics modeled by Jesus. The Pharisees’ rituals, rules and religion looked like godly attributes but had no compassion for the people.
Jesus challenged the rigid dogma of the Pharisees with the truth. The Pharisees upheld themselves in their opposition to Jesus with the principle that they were the leaders of the church. They professed that Jesus, having no commission from them, was an imposter, false shepherd and a blasphemer. The people were pressed to support them, the Pharisees, against Jesus. This is when Jesus confronted the notion of the false shepherds with the truth about who is the real shepherd.
Jesus used something that the Pharisees were familiar with. Jesus used the shepherd relationship in the form of a parable. He made it clear that he did not need an appointment from them. His appointment came from God. In fact, he pointed to the very corruption of their appointment by using John 10:1 (KJV), “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
In contrast to the thief who is a false shepherd, the Good Shepherd enters in by the door, as one having authority (John 10:2) and he comes to do good for the people. He holds the office to bind up that which is broken and to heal the sick. Not only do the sheep know the shepherd’s voice, but the shepherd also calls his sheep by name.
The Good Shepherd goes before his sheep to make sure “the way” is safe for the sheep. The sheep can have confidence in the voice of the Good Shepherd. Even when the sheep are unable to clearly see the path laid out by the Good Shepherd, they can trust his voice and walk toward the voice that is leading them.
The stranger, who is an enemy of the Good Shepherd, calls the sheep. He tries to make his voice heard over the voice of the Good Shepherd. The stranger will try to drown out the voice of the Good Shepherd. Sometimes the stranger whispers. At other times, the stranger yells his message using any medium available.
The stranger will talk often persuasively to the sheep to try and pervert the hearing of the sheep. The stranger will broadcast that it is good and right to cheat, steal and bend the truth to achieve a righteous conclusion. A steady diet of lies from the stranger will dull the believer’s sense of hearing.
The Good Shepherd will tell the truth. The truth is a change agent for good. The truth will set those who are in bondage free. When truth prevails, it counteracts the perversion of the enemy.
As followers of Christ, it is important to follow only the voice of the Good Shepherd and to recognize that many times what sounds good is a lie in disguise. It is important to know that the Good Shepherd operates out of love for the sheep.
The stranger who is the enemy of Christ has no such compassion for the sheep. Therefore, it is important not to follow anyone in whom you cannot discern the voice of Christ.
St. James AME Church is located at 360 Dorothy St. in Charleston and worship service is held on the first and third Sundays of each month at 11 a.m. You may also join them on Zoom at pastorv.com.
