There are a number of special Sundays Christian Churches observe.
I’m not just talking about the holy days of Easter and Christmas.
We have Sundays to celebrate anniversaries, homecomings and honor people and events which add to the life of a faith community.
One of my favorite church days is one that is celebrated every year and has been for ages. Good Shepherd Sunday is always the third Sunday after Easter. The reason it is called Good Shepherd Sunday is because the suggested scriptures are Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd,” and John 10:11-18 where Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Rabbi’s told a story that Moses was chosen to lead God’s people to freedom – not because he had been a prince, but because he was a good shepherd. A lamb had run away and Moses found it and carried it back home. God said, “Because you have shown pity in leading back one of a flock, you shall lead my flock Israel.”
King David, as a shepherd boy, protected his father’s Jesse’s flock. He took five stones to save his people in battle and foreshadowed Christ who took five wounds up himself to save humanity. David would become the king of Israel and trust God, the shepherd of all to guide him in life.
The prophet Ezekiel was exiled in Babylon when the Lord spoke to him. God had entrusted the religious and political leaders of Israel to be shepherds and care for the people. Instead of feeding the sheep, they had abused their power and fed off
the sheep. They were defeated and carried off to a foreign land. To restore order, God will be the shepherd of the people. God will care for them, treat them with justice and return them to their homeland. From the line of King David, God will raise up a leader who will be the good shepherd. He will create a covenant of peace between God and the people.
A group of pilgrims was touring Israel. The guide took them to the shepherd’s field in Bethlehem. He was explaining how a relationship of trust is formed as the shepherd cares for the sheep. The shepherd leads them and makes sure the way is safe. They know his voice and come when he calls and follow him.
As they were leaving, they saw a man trying to herd the sheep from behind and not having much success. He was poking them with a stick trying to steer them in a direction. The pilgrims pointed it out to the guide, saying, “You said they sheep follow the shepherd.” The guide said, “They do. Wait, that’s not a shepherd, that’s the butcher!”
There are many today who say, “Follow me, I have all the answers.” They lead us astray. There is only one Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for all, whose words offer life to all. All God’s promises were fulfilled in Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Follow the Good Shepherd, listen to his voice and trust him today.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.