My Pastor’s sermon this week was entitled “The Club and the Crook”. His point was that Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, not only corrects his flock with the crook but also protects them with the club. This image, Jesus on the offensive attacking those who would harm His sheep, is shocking to most, even heretical to some. Wasn’t Jesus a peace-loving carpenter who always turned the other cheek when anyone threatened Him? Well, wasn’t He?

NO. When you look at the job that the shepherd had back in Biblical times, it wasn’t a simple little job helping the sheep go from one pasture to the next. It was a dangerous job. There were criminals all throughout the countryside. Constant attacks from predators, such as wolves or bears, were daily exercises for the Hebrew shepherd. He would have no option but to defend his flock.

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd...and I believe Him. He not only corrects His flock but also protects them. Look, when the people were using the Temple for trade, gambling, and prostitution, Jesus started knocking over tables. He called the Pharisees “white-washed tombs”. Our Lord wasn’t always gentle...but He was always righteous and remained without sin. Let’s face it, Jesus wasn’t a mamsy-pamsy tree hugger flashing a peace sign and talking about finding our “higher selves”. Jesus preached almost 3 times more on Hell than He did on Heaven. He said He didn’t come to bring peace but division. And read the description of His return in Revelations. This isn’t the Suffering Servant stumbling His way back up the Via Dolorosa talking about how we should all just love each other. He is the Mighty Warrior. He is the Conquering King. He is the Judge of All Humanity. The King of kings and Lord of lords. He will smite the unrighteous and bring vindication to those made righteous in His Name and His Blood. I’m not worried about the “fury of hell”...I’m worried about the Fury of Heaven. Actually, I’m not worried. I’ve accepted Jesus Christ of the Bible as my God, my Lord, and my Savior. I’m good in that day. I just worry about those who continue to deny Him.

When we say that we believe in Jesus, the next question is “Which Jesus?” Do you believe in the Jesus of your own creation? The Jesus of your mind who is truly no Jesus at all? Or do you believe in the Jesus of the Bible? The Word who became Flesh, the Lion of Judah, the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. I am unabashedly, unapologetically Trinitarian. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity.

One last thing...for those who have an issue with the comparison of Christians to sheep – BAA, BAA, BAA! If the Lord God Almighty, who created all things, chose to call me an amoeba and called Christ the Good Scientist, I’d be an amoeba. Despite the obvious comparison - humans are, despite all of our desires, followers – the Shepherd cares for His sheep. The Shepherd loves His sheep. The Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. Can’t get love like that from an amoeba...or the “Absolute Oneness” in Nirvana with all of the Nothingness...or whatever.

Don’t like it? Well, you’ve still got that right...

God Bless,

Doug

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering." – St. Augustine