Bad Shepherds

This week’s readings have focused on what makes a good shepherd, a good leader. They described fidelity to God’s ways, focusing on the needs of those being lead, humbly attending to the work God calls him or her to, and delivering God’s healing goodness. 

Today’s reading (John 10:1-10) looks at shepherding from a different angle: how to recognize and respond to poor shepherds. It captures Jesus’ reaction to the leaders of his day and how they frustrated the delivery of God’s love and healing, as described in John 9:13-34  (Well worth a read to fully understand today’s reading).  So what did Jesus teach in response to that? At least two things.

The first is how to recognize bad shepherds. This reading, considered in light of John 9:13-34 , identifies several characteristics of poor shepherds.  One is that they are prideful.  John 9:28-29, 34.  Relatedly, they are heavy handed, abusing those subject to their authority, bullying folks they should be nurturing. John 9:18-24, 28.  See also Ezekiel 34:21-23.  Another is that they distort God’s precepts in ways that frustrate God’s purposes. John 9:16.  They circumvent protections erected to protect the vulnerable.  John 10:1. See also Ezekiel 34:5-6.  They seek to further their own interests at the expense of those God has placed in their charge. John 10.8, 10.  See also Ezekiel 34: 2-3, 18-22 That conduct was not limited to Jesus’ time, it has occurred throughout human history.

Jesus taught us another, more important, way to recognize such shepherds—we are to “listen to” God’s teachings by becoming so familiar with his word and spending so much time with him that we “know his voice.” John 10:3-4. That gives us the benchmarks to measure leaders against. 

The second is how to respond to bad shepherds.  Jesus describes several responses. 

As just discussed, we are to “listen” for his voice, and to do so to the extent that we “know” it. John 10:3-4. The underlying Greek words describe more than casual acknowledgement, but describe harkening to, considering, understanding  and cherishing, paying attention to something. That kind of focus on Jesus will inoculate us from against the lure of poor shepherds; we will recognize and “run away from” them. John 10:5. 

Jesus also tells us to “follow” him.  John 10:4. The underlying Greek  describes active engagement; it refers to joining one as his attendant, conforming to his example, and obeying like a well-disciplined soldier.  We are far less likely to be lead astray if we are actively following Jesus’ examples. 

Prayer:

Jesus, protect us from bad shepherds. Help us to know you so well and follow you so closely that we are not drawn to them, but instead stay faithful to you.