Good Shepherd Sunday
Light of Christ Anglican Church
The Reverend Michael J. Moffitt
April 26, 2026
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Christ the Good Shepherd Sunday
Text: John 10:1–10
In the Anglican Prayer Book lectionary, today begins the Fourth Sunday of the Easter season. I want to share with you a quote from The Great Fifty Days of Easter: A Rookie Anglican Guide to Eastertide.
Easter Sunday is only the beginning! A great fifty-day feast known as “Eastertide,” kicks off on Easter Day. In the Church Year, this is quite literally fifty days of feasting.
Easter is the high point of the Church Year. So it makes sense that we would party for so long. After all, the main point of the whole gospel is to prepare us for an eternal celebration and feast. This is reflected in the fact that our Lenten fast lasts only forty days (excluding Sundays), while Easter lasts fifty days. Fasting will pass away, as Jesus said, but the Great Feast of the Lamb will last for ages of ages (a Hebrew idiom for eternity!). So let the feasting begin!”
Within that season we have Christ the Good Shephard Sunday, which we celebrate today. As I thought about the title of “Good Shepherd” that is attributed to Jesus I was somewhat taken back by that title. Everything about the incarnate Son of God must be taken into consideration as we seek to know him more fully.
We must be intentional about seeking to understand the person and work of Jesus Christ. As we do so at some point it will begin to dawn on us not just what Jesus did for us but in reality who he is and has always been.
One of my favorite hymn writers is Charles Wesley (1707–1788) and one of his hymns asks the same question as I’m going to suggest to you this morning. How is it possible that Jesus Christ would be willing to be the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, that being those who surrender their lives as Savior and Lord.
In 1738 Wesley wrote the beautiful, and powerful hymn, “And Can It Be That I Should Gain.” Listen to the first verse and refrain.
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
More to the point, how could it be that the eternal Son of God - creator and sustainer of the universe - would condescend to be the Good Shepherd of sinful human beings as His sheep? Amazing love indeed.
Within the nation of Israel shepherds were not held in high esteem or trusted. In the class system of Israel they were in the lowest position in that society. How could the Son of God allow himself to be cast in that light. Publicly proclaiming in John 10:11, “I am the Good Shepherd.”
I remember when Amy and Ben were little they loved to watch Sesame Street and sometimes I would watch it with them. It’s hard to believe that they started in 1969 on Public Television and can still be seen today in syndication 57 years later. One of the Muppet characters was “Count Von Count” and he was a vampire like Bela Lugosi type, but his name betrayed who he was. He loved to count numbers. Millions upon millions of children were and have been introduced to their numbers by the Muppet character. The name Count was a clever way to reveal his purpose on the show.
Jesus is referred to in the Word of God as the Christ which is from the Greek word “Christos” meaning “Anointed One or “Chosen One.” To the Jews when Jesus began to be referred to as “Christ” it was the designation as to who he in fact was hoped to be, the long-awaited Messiah.
When Jesus was here on earth he referred to himself in various ways that revealed his divinity, his power, glory and majesty, and who he in fact was and always would be. Listen to a few of these names. Son of Man - the name associated with the prophecy of Daniel 7:13–14
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that
all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
This is the Son of Man that Jesus referred to Matthew 9:6 in speaking about His own authority.
“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” - then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”
• The Chief Corner Stone - Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, Psalm 118:22)
• True Bread out of Heaven and the Living Water - “Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven….. I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall never hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:32. 35)
• I Am - Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58)
• The Light of the World - “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)
• The Resurrection and the Life - “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25)
• The Way, and The Truth, and The Life - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
• I am the True Vine - “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1)
While most Jews thought the Messiah was a military Savior, Jesus used names and titles that described His divine purpose and true identity.
In the apostle John’s vision in the Book of Revelation, Jesus uses names and titles of Himself that reflect His supremely royal and divine status - Lord over all. In chapters 1–3 Jesus in his glorified body reveals to the Apostle John His names to be revealed to the Seven churches.
• “The First and The Last- the Living One.”
• “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand / The One who walks among the seven golden lampstands.”
• “The One who has the sharp two-edged sword.”
• “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze.”
• “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.”
• “He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens”
• “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” • “The root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” • “The Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Each of these 17 names were revealed from the testimony and words spoken by Jesus of himself. But then we have the name or designations that came from the mouth and heart of Jesus himself that seem less glorious and divine, more human.
• The Door of the Sheep - So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)
• The Good Shepherd - “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
Somehow we are to understand that besides all these names revealing the divine and eternal God, Jesus is the “Good Shepherd.” Is it any wonder that many, even most had trouble conceiving of such a holy, powerful, glorious Lord who came into the world in such a humble and low state of being?
Years ago a former pastor of mine, also a good friend, and mentor who had a great impact on my life, recommended a thought provoking book titled, They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century, by Lynn Anderson. It examined the role of Jesus as the Good Shepherd as the model for effective
leadership in the Christian community. The book drew on the parallels between the leadership style of Jesus and the way shepherds in today’s church should use that model. So what was the model and what did it teach us about Jesus as the Good Shepherd?
It shows us the example of Jesus as Good Shepherd in that He lovingly protects, guides and sacrifices himself for His followers to ensure their spiritual safety and eternal life. The most amazing part is that He does this so that we can be with Him forever. Remember this is the Creator God doing this because of His deep love for His sheep. He does this knowing that we will from time to time turn away from Him to follow our own fleshly desires and most will outright reject His overtures of love.
A shepherd who is just a hired hand would never do that but instead will abandon the flock when the wolves come to kill and devour. They aren’t going to take the chance that the wolves or bears will harm them. But Jesus promised to never leave or forsake, even though it calls for Him to lay down His life for the sheep.
Of course we know that He did just that as the Good Shepherd who gave His life to save and redeem His followers. This is what we celebrate in the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter morning.
And we know that Jesus is using a metaphor of shepherds and their flocks because His audience would have understood the imagery. They would likely remember the Old Testament depictions of God as a shepherd caring for Israel.
The 23rd Psalm that we read this morning is a great example. God as our Shepherd who leads us to provision and safety (green meadows and still waters) but who also is with us as we walk through the certainty of death or being surrounded by enemies. The Psalmist reflects on the faithfulness of the Good Shepherd to be with him when he is no longer on this earth but “dwelling in the House of the Lord forever.”
Another great example of God as Good Shepherd is Ezekiel 34:11–13. In the first 15 verses God condemns the spiritual shepherds in Israel who put themselves first instead of their flock. God was going to remove them for their unfaithfulness. Then God tells Ezekiel to prophecy that God will be the faithful and good shepherd.
For thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.”
So what were the characteristics of the Good Shepherd that Jesus revealed as the one who fully defined what the Good Shepherd should be like?
Sacrificial Love: Jesus’ defining trait as the Good Shepherd was the willingness to lay down His life for His sheep. The surprise is that not one of the sheep deserved what He was doing for them. In doing so He revealed what sacrificial love and redemption looked like as He hung upon a cross alone although many were all around Him. His Father in Heaven had to turn away as Jesus took our sin upon Himself. Why would He do such a thing? For the love of His Father and of the sheep the Father had given Him.
Protection and Guidance: Jesus demonstrated how the Good Shepherd watches over His flock and leads them where they need to go in order to receive what they really need. He protects and defends His followers from spiritual harm and guides them along paths of righteousness as He provides for their needs. (Psalms 23:1–3; Isaiah 40:11).
Intimate Knowledge: Jesus knows His sheep better than they know themselves, and because of His tender care they follow Him and know His voice. This mutual knowledge signifies a deep relational bond that reflects God’s care and personal attention to each believer. (John 10:14). Listen to 1 Peter 2:25, “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Eternal Security: Jesus promises that His sheep will never perish and no one can snatch them out of His hand. This highlights the assurance of salvation and eternal divine protection (John 10:28–30).
Spiritual Implications: Each of these sections and scriptures invite us to trust
Jesus completely to provide for and keep us in His care. The enemy would have us believe that when things happen that bring sickness, struggles, or personal disaster then it’s proof that Jesus let us down and is not the Good Shepherd after all. You’ll notice that Psalm 23:4 says,
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…”
Because we live in a fallen world we will walk through times of pain, suffering, injustice, betrayal, sickness and sorrow. But the Good Shepherd, Jesus never, ever leaves our side. Where is He leading us? To that place where we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
This calls for a response of faith, obedience, and gratitude for His sacrificial love. This week I encourage you to quietly sit in the presence asking the Good Shepherd to draw you closer as you marvel that one so great and glorious wants you to be with Him.
I want to close with a prayer from the Valley of Vision entitled “God and Myself.”
Let’s pray.
