“My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life. And they will never perish, and no one will snatch them from my hand”- John 10:27-28
Dear Mount Calvary Lutheran Church,
One of the most endearing symbols of Christmas is the nativity scene. We see the silhouette in the neighbor’s yard. We see the giant figures outside the church. There are small pieces on the shelf. Which nativity character are you? Jesus is the star of this show. Joseph and Mary are vital. The wisemen seek Jesus through knowledge. They are learned scholars who decided on the babe of Bethlehem. The shepherd had an ecstatic religious experience. God pulled back the curtain of heaven and showed them the being all around them. Most of us don’t fit so nicely into these categories. Rather as we look eye level with the manger we see the animals huddled around Jesus. The scattered sheep stand by or lay down around the king of kings. Like loyal pets they contently keep an eye on Jesus. The biblical imagery floods our mind. What is Christmas like as a sheep?
We are comfortable calling Jesus the Good Shepherd. We are less content to think of ourselves as sheep. Sheep don’t have the best reputation. Whenever we discuss Jesus as the Good Shepherd, we seem to go out of our way to say how clumsy and vulnerable sheep are. That may or not be true of sheep. However, at Christmas the sheep are just along for the ride.
I think this is how many of us feel as Christmas approaches. It is Christmas again. While Christmas is a nice time, our expectations of Christmas are low to mid. We don’t think this Christmas, Christmas 2023, will change our lives. We have our traditions we are happy to celebrate. But, this could hardly be a banner Christmas. Those Bethlehem bouvine type animals probably didn’t expect much on that winter day in the year 3 or 4 AD either. Part of being a follower is the excitement of never choosing life’s path. Yet, we can be sure it will be interesting. We ought to take time to open our hearts to the possibility that the Good Shepherd will lead us into just the grandest pasture this Christmas.
Following as a sheep requires one to embrace uncertainty. However, we are never asked to trust one we do not know. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. His voice is clear on the cold morning. His protection is certain. He promises He will not lose one of His sheep. Wherever He leads we keep our eyes on Him and not on the forest or rocks around. He will keep us close to the manger. Perhaps vividly reflecting on Jesus’ day in and day out presence can transform our spirits and lift our hearts this Christmas season.
