I have been in many churches where a picture or a stained glass window was prominently displayed in the front showing Jesus cradling a small lamb. Sometimes a scripture verse was printed under it: “I am the good shepherd.” It’s such a cute picture, isn’t it? Jesus cuddling a little lamb, who is perhaps weak, or is lost and now is found. The picture is designed to show us how much Jesus’ loves us and cares for us. The scripture verse is used to teach and remind us that our ministry to is love and care for one another. It says to pastors and other church leaders, “Take care of my lambs.” And of course the lambs are the church people in our care.

This is a romantic picture and one that has truth in it. In fact, our bible uses similar pictures throughout the telling of the story of God. David the shepherd boy who saved his sheep and lambs from lions and wolves. The 23rd Psalm which begins, “The Lord is my shepherd.” We read of the Old Testament patriarchs Jacob and Moses watching over their fathers-in-law’s flocks. The shepherds sitting with their flocks on Christmas eve hear the angels proclaim the divine birth. All shepherds taking care of the their sheep. Good shepherds in the model of Jesus.

Paul Borden, in his book, Hitting the Bullseye, talks about revitalizing or turning around 200 American Baptist churches in Northern California. And one of the images of church leadership that he addresses is the picture of the good shepherd. These are Borden’s words: “The problem is the current image or description that we invest in the term. Our understanding of what shepherds are to be and do, in our congregations, is far more romantic than who shepherds were or what they did in biblical times. Shepherds were entrepreneurs who raised sheep for their livelihood, for food and clothing. Good shepherds led their sheep into green pastures and by still waters in order to obtain three results. They sheared sheep, ate the sheep, or mated them for reproduction. Sheep were led into zones of comfort in order to be prepared for zones of discomfort. In other words, sheep were expected to produce a profit for the shepherd. The shepherd took care of the sheep, not for the sheep’s benefit, but for the shepherd’s needs. In congregational life our declining churches think that shepherds take care of the sheep for the sheep’s benefit, rather than to benefit the Chief Shepherd by accomplishing God’s mission.” (1)

Let’s look at those words a little more closely. When we see the picture of Jesus holding the little lamb in his arms, what are we really seeing? If we substitute a common ordinary shepherd for Jesus, and take Borden’s words to heart, what we see is a shepherd who is guarding the life and well-being of each and every one of his sheep, even the littlest lamb. And the reason he takes such care is because each and every sheep and little lamb is valuable. This little lamb will someday provide wool, and other lambs, and eventually meat. This is an investment and a product that will benefit the shepherd and fulfill the shepherd’s purpose and mission in life. Another way to put this is that the lamb is not a pet. It is not loved as a family member but valued and encouraged to fulfill its purpose.

Now let’s apply that understanding to us who accept Jesus as our shepherd. Jesus takes care of us and provides for our well-being; Jesus loves us enough to die for us on a cross. We have worth and value in God’s eyes, enough worth and value that a sacrifice has bought us. Christ died for us, so that we might have new life and thus new purpose. And that new purpose is to serve Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus’ purpose is not to serve us. It’s the other way around. It’s our purpose to serve Jesus.

We modern-day Christians need to change the image of who we think we are and what we have been called to do in order to reflect and to live what Christ has called us to be and do: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:18)

Let’s look at this in another way. Most of us know what stagecoaches are, particularly if we have ever seen a western movie or a documentary on the Wild West of the 1800's. “Back when the Western part of our country was being settled, the major means of transportation was the stagecoach. What we might not know is that the stagecoach had three different kinds of tickets - first class, second class, and third class. If you had a first class ticket, that meant you could remain seated during the entire trip no matter what happened. If the stagecoach got stuck in the mud, or had trouble making it up a steep hill, or even if a wheel fell off, you could remain seated because you had a first class ticket.

“If you had a second class ticket you could also remain seated - until there was a problem. In case of a problem, second-class ticket holders would have to get off until the problem was resolved. You could stand off to one side and watch as other people worked. You didn’t have to get your hands dirty. But second-class ticket holders were not allowed to stay on board. When the stagecoach was unstuck, you would get back on and take your seat.

“If you had a third-class ticket, you would definitely have to get off if there was a problem. Why? Because it was your responsibility to help solve the problem. You had to get out and push or help to fix a broken wheel or whatever was needed because you only had a third class ticket.”

The writer who told this story then had a concluding comment. “Sometimes it seems as if most parishioners hold first- or second class tickets.” (2) In case we don’t get the point, the writer is saying, you and I have been called and claimed by Christ to do the work of ministry. All of us have 3rd class tickets.

Christ did not die for our sins and give us new life so that we could sit back and watch the world and creation fall apart as though we were comfortably sitting in front of our television sets watching the latest entertainment show. Christ died for us to put us into the real world, not some reality show with gimmicks, with the manipulation of participants, with vicious, cutthroat competition, and with just one winner who isn’t a role model for anyone. Our Lord has put us into a battle with sin and evil so that everyone who will receive Christ’s salvation can be a winner. And that is not a gimmick, or a manipulation, or a competition, but a promise and a hope that will include all of us in the paradise of God’s presence.

But for that to happen, we have to give ourselves to Christ and let Christ be the Lord of our lives. As much as we talk about Christ as Lord of our lives, we don’t fully grasp that call. To be Lord of our lives means that we allow Christ to direct our lives, to use our lives, to make them be what Christ wants them to be. As Christians, you and I cannot be caught up in what we want. Since the Good shepherd watches over us and cares for us, we are prepared to serve the needs of Christ. And since Christ’s purpose is to save the world, we are the people through whom Christ will work to make this possible.

In other words, you and I are third-class ticket holders. And since the world’s in trouble, you and I can no longer ride or stand to the side; we have to get out of our pews and go to work with Christ to solve the problems. In fact, on God’s stagecoach, there are no first- and second-class ticket holders. All are required to help. Even those who are too young or too old or are ill, can still pray and offer encouragement. For the work of Christ in this world must be undergirded by prayer and encouragement if the power of Christ is to reach one and all.

In 1755, John Wesley, one of the founders of our United Methodist Church, began using a Covenant Renewal Service to call people to recommit themselves to discipleship, to following our Lord Jesus Christ and to live like him. In a tradition 250 years old, we join together to recommit ourselves to Christ Jesus and his call to discipleship. Don’t just read the words, but let them become a part of your heart.

COVENANT RENEWAL SERVICE

(1) Paul D. Borden, Hit the Bullseye: How Denominations Can aim the Congregation at the Mission Field (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), pp. 21.
(2) William J. Bausch, A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers (Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1998), pp. 338-339.