4th Sunday of Easter (A)
John 10:1-10
April 26, 2026
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The text I have chosen for this morning’s sermon is the Gospel from St. John.
Normally, commercials on TV drive me nuts. Hearing the Ozempic ditty for the thousandth time may just push me over the edge. I’ve also had enough of Flo and her annoying co-stars of the Progressive Insurance commercials. I’m not always annoyed though; I really enjoy the Mayhem commercials from Allstate. If you haven’t seen the Mayhem guy, you’re missing out. In one ad, a guard dog is easily won over by a bone from burglar. He had one job, he failed, and the house was robbed. Commercials are meant to entertain, educate, or annoy. Others serve as sermon illustrations, and this is where I come in. I am a dog. Not one swayed by tasty treat, who causes mischief, or barks nonstop. As your pastor, I’m not a watchdog or a guard dog, I am sheepdog. I am called to be Jesus’ sheepdog for you.
To start, I’m in a unique place as a sheepdog because I’m also a sheep who needs the Good Shepherd. This means that being a sheepdog doesn’t make me better than you. I mess up. I sin. I spend a lot of time in the Bible, but I’m sure not holier than any of you. I don’t doubt that many people have a faith that will put mine to shame. I’m a sheepdog because I’m your pastor.
My responsibilities as a sheepdog come from my ordination into the Holy Ministry and my call to Emmanuel. Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you issued me a call to be your pastor. I’m blessed to be at Emmanuel, and it’s my duty and pleasure to serve you until God calls me elsewhere. I do my best to do only what Jesus tells me to do. Sometimes I drop the ball and sometimes I’m a little overly dramatic like a husky, but I try to do the best job possible.
Even though I am your pastor, I am not your boss. Saint Peter warns me not to dominate the sheep. I’m not the final authority on all things and I don’t have the right to make new laws unilaterally. I can’t order the confirmands to wash my car to be confirmed or Emmanuel to buy me a new car for the confirmands to wash so they can be confirmed. I also want you to know God’s Word so that if I say something that sounds wrong you can discuss it with me. More than once, a faithful saint has caused me to reevaluate my thinking. This is good! The last thing I want is to lead any my sheep into error, sin, or death.
When I speak God Word properly, what I say does go. If I tell you that God says a behavior is a sin, it’s a sin. If I tell you to stop acting in a sinful way, you need to stop acting in a sinful way. If I tell you that God says you are forgiven, you are forgiven.
Sheepdogs are trained to sit at the shepherd’s feet and wait for his command to perform their duties. As a sheepdog, I sit at the Good Shepherd’s feet waiting for His command to perform my duties. So what do I do? In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus says, “He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To Him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.” Okay, here my metaphors get a little mixed up, so stick with me. As a sheepdog, I’m also the gatekeeper. It’s my job to bring Jesus to you. St. Paul says, “[The pastor] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9). I teach and preach so you know the Good Shepherd. He’s the Good Shepherd who knows your name. He knew your name before the stars were created and He calls you to follow Him. Isaiah writes: “But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1). You don’t need to be afraid of anything because you are Jesus’ little lamb and He will always be your Good Shepherd.
Jesus says, “When He has brought out all his own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.” The Good Shepherd doesn’t drive you from behind as if you were cattle, He leads you. He leads you through the good times with green pastures and still waters. He leads you through thorns and raging waters. He doesn’t leave you behind when you slow down. When you’re lost, He finds you. When you’re hurt, He carries you.
He is your Good Shepherd for He fought and defeated satan for you. While satan is defeated he still sends lions and bears that would destroy your faith and life if they could. Your Good Shepherd stands between you and satan. Jesus promises: “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” He does everything necessary to defend you from sin and satan. He died in your place, and it’s my duty and pleasure as His sheepdog to tell you this every chance I get. On Sunday mornings I deliver to you the gifts of Jesus. The sheepdog tells you that you are forgiven. I forgive you not because I am special or holy but because Jesus has placed me here. When I absolve you, it’s not in my name, but in Christ’s name. My forgiveness of your sins is God’s forgiveness of your sins. I simply echo the voice of the Good Shepherd. As we heard Jesus tell the disciples two weeks ago: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” Why does the sheepdog speak forgiveness? Because Jesus tells us to! We sheepdogs are so blessed to forgive all your sins by virtue of our office as called and ordained servants of Christ.
Saint Paul told the pastors in Ephesus: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with His own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:28-29). The Lord has given me the authority to protect you from the thieves and robbers who are eager to destroy you. Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber… the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” And how to I protect you? By preaching God’s Word and administering His Sacraments! But when you don’t attend church services, when you don’t receive the Lord’s Supper, you are easy prey for the thieves and robbers.
Now, I know I can be harsh at times toward other denominations and churches. Maybe I need to be a bit more charitable, but I’m zealous because I believe that the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod has the beautiful and unadulterated Gospel, and you don’t get that in every church. I’m sad when people reject Emmanuel for another denomination. They’re not going to hell – everyone who believes in Jesus is going to heaven. Those who join other church bodies though are missing out on the pure Gospel and the wonders of the sacraments. I worry that the false teachings they hear will damage their faith or lead them astray. I worry that they’re not getting God’s Word in all its perfect purity.
Sheepdogs ensure that God’s Word takes priority in everything the Church does. Sunday school is teaching the children and adults the Word of God. Sermons, while not always exciting or entertaining, teach and forgive. Vacation Bible school is all about teaching children that Jesus treasures them so much He died for them. It goes on and on.
When I preach or teach the Bible, I’m the voice, but I’m not the words. Hear the voice of Jesus when I speak. A sheepdog protects the sheep, and that’s what I try to do. I’m always trying to warn you about false teachers – what they say and what they do. I teach you because as Jesus says, you need to know the voice of the stranger, so you don’t chase after one while trying to find something better than what you’ve already got. You’ve got it all in Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Don’t listen to liars and charlatans who are polluting or withholding the Gospel of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and return. Listen only to the voice of your Good Shepherd who will lead you to abundant life.
There’s no question that our lives as Christians aren’t easy. Can you imagine how much harder it would be if Jesus didn’t make some men sheepdogs? My life would be a lot harder without the sheepdogs He has put in my life. A good sheepdog will protect the flock entrusted to him and warn them about thieves and robbers, while leading the flock to Jesus. I pray that I’ve been faithful in my duties and that in all I say and do you see Jesus the Good Shepherd. Forgive me if I bark to harshly, for I worry about you and want you to know Jesus and to recognize His voice when He calls you by name.
Amen
Now the peace which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen