What do you do when your plans fall through and you don't want to listen

John 10:1-10 “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the door, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ²The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶Jesus used this illustration in speaking to the people, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷So Jesus said again, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: I am the door for the sheep. ⁸All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the door. Whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

¹⁰“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

“We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 100) Amen.

Joshua owns a ranch with thousands of sheep and lambs. He divides his flocks into groups of one hundred. He personally names each of the lambs right after birth. He never forgets a single name of any of his sheep. He loves each of his sheep equally. He loves Ben who is a gentle sheep who likes to cuddle with Joshua. He loves Molly who is an ornery older sheep who tries to ram Joshua in the rear end any time he turns his back on her. He loves Jack and Jill, two-year-old twins who will find any hole in the fence and run away. Joshua will leave the other ninety-eight to find those two.

Joshua’s KP Ranch is the most beautiful ranch in the area. A quiet stream flows gently through the verdant pastures.

He is so successful as a sheep rancher that Joshua owns more sheep ranches in other places.

Joshua and his hired hands know and appreciate the complexities of sheep. Sheep can be slow, silent and dumb. But when it is time to catch and sheer them, they can suddenly become quite quick and noisy. Although, they remain pretty dumb.

If a predator gets into the sheep pen, they have no way of defending themselves. They have no clue the dangers they face when they wander away through a broken fence.

The neighbors around the KP Ranch are envious of Joshua’s success. Sure, Joshua is a great guy. Friendly. Popular. Always giving away his profits to help the less fortunate.

He’s making all the neighbors look bad.

Lou is the ringleader of the neighbors. He used to own the land before Joshua bought it and created his KP Ranch. Lou hates Joshua with a passion! At least once a month, Lou will instruct one of his henchmen to knock down a part of Joshua’s fence so his sheep will wander away. Or he will have his henchmen catch a wild coyote and let it loose in the KP Ranch to create havoc.

But nothing seems to stop Joshua’s success.

So one spring day, Lou and the other neighbors create a story that the KP Ranch is a criminal enterprise and Joshua is a crime boss. The authorities don’t quite buy the story. They’ve always known Joshua to be a fine, upstanding citizen of the community. Still, Lou and the other neighbors are very persistent. They cause quite a stir. So, the authorities arrest Joshua and put him in jail to await trial.

Lou is able to get one of his henchmen arrested and placed into the jail with Joshua. While they are lining up to eat dinner, Lou’s henchman sticks a homemade shiv into Joshua’s side, killing him.

By now, you’ve figured out that Joshua is Jesus. Joshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus. Jesus owns the KP Ranch, which is short for the Kingdom of Paradise. He took the land from his neighbor, Lou – short for Lucifer. Lou plotted with his henchmen, the demons and Jewish religious leaders to have Jesus arrested, convicted and crucified.

You have also figured out that you and I are the sheep and lambs on the KP Ranch. Sometimes we are like friendly Ben (a real sheep I used to enjoy as a kid on our family farm. I loved that sheep). More often, we are like Molly (another real sheep who came at me any time I turned my back on her. I despised that sheep). And we are most certainly like the twins – Jack and Jill – trying to escape Jesus’ protective care every chance we get (they were like pretty much any other sheep we ever owned).

Being pictured as sheep isn’t terribly flattering. But it is terrifically accurate. Like sheep, we can be mean – biting and head-butting each other whenever we are ornery or obstinate. We are prone to wander, following every false path, chasing down every poisoned plant and polluted puddle. And, we are not very bright by nature when it comes to the words and will of our Good Shepherd.

Today we continue with our series on “What do we do when our plans fall through.” It is timely that God’s Word pictures us sheep, because sheep don’t want to listen. … And neither do we.

Because of our individualistic nature inherent in us as Americans, we don’t like to listen to authorities. Because of our rebellious nature inherent in our Old Adam, we don’t want to listen to anybody. Including Jesus.

For the first month of dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, we listened to the government and medical authorities about sequestering ourselves and shutting everything down. I’m sure you’ve noticed that in recent weeks, people aren’t sure who to listen to, whom to believe or what to do. Some authorities and experts are opening things up and inviting people to be active again. Other authorities and experts are ordering people to stay sequestered and practice social distancing.

What we are seeing and hearing right now just reinforces how sheepy we all are. Everyone going his or her own way. Doing whatever he or she wants to do. Only listening to those who agree with us. Biting and headbutting those who disagree with us.

While it is embarrassing to think of ourselves as sheep, it is even more dangerous to deny our sheepiness. We need to admit we are sheep. Confess that we don’t want to listen. Recognize how we try to hurt one another. Confirm that we aren’t following our confirmation vows of being faithful until death. Declare that we are over-confident in our abilities, vulnerable to the wolves and unable to find our way home. Humbling ourselves to accept our sheepiness and our need for the Good Shepherd.

There are other voices who vie for our attention. They whisper: “Sin isn’t so bad.” That’s not the voice of Jesus.  “You can always be forgiven later.” That’s not the voice of Jesus. “You can do this and remain a Christian.”  That’s not the voice of Jesus. “You aren’t so sinful.” That’s not the voice of Jesus. “You are so sinful, God can’t love you.” That’s not the voice of Jesus. “You don’t belong in God’s flock.” That’s not the voice of Jesus.

They are all different voices, but they are all saying the same thing – “You don’t need Jesus.”

We like listening to voices of various strangers. We should be afraid and run away, but their sweet melodious voices tantalize and tempt us. These are the voices of thieves and robbers. They don’t know your name. They don’t care about you. They have no interest in your welfare. They are just trying to pull you out of the sheepfold of the Christian Church. They are false prophets, false promises, false friends, and the false thinking of this world – all inspired by Lou/Lucifer. They want to lead you away from your Good Shepherd. They want to take you away from Christ, and they will do everything they can to accomplish your spiritual demise.

Sadly, we listen to these voices. All because we are looking for something better, something sweeter, something different than what Jesus has to offer.

The voices of the world, the voices of the devil, and the voices of our sinful nature competing against the voice of the Good Shepherd. To whom are you listening?

While there is a cacophony of voices vying for your attention, there is only one voice to follow. This is the voice that says: “I am your shepherd. I bore your sins in my body. I died that you might live. I created you. I redeemed you with my blood. I named you at your baptism. I never forget a name. You are mine, and I love you.

“I love each of you equally. I love you when you are sanctified and when you are sinful. I come looking for you when you are lost, and I rejoice over you when you are found. I will discipline you when you need it, and I will bandage your wounds when you’re hurt. I will use my rod and staff to protect you.

“I have other sheep who are not of this sheep pen. I will gather them together with you in the perfect Paradise of my Kingdom. I will settle you in the green pastures and quiet waters of my heavenly home. I will give you all that you need for this life and the life to come.

“One spring day, I allowed Lucifer and the Jewish religious leaders to stir up the crowds against me. I allowed them to pierce me for their rebellion. I allowed them to crush me for their guilt. They thought they had won. But my death was their defeat. My resurrection was their destruction. My greatest victory was laying down my life for my sheep.”

Fellow sheep, that’s the voice we need to be listening to.

“I am the atoning sacrifice for your sins.” That’s the voice of Jesus. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” That’s the voice of Jesus. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven in near.” That’s the voice of Jesus. “You may not get everything you want, but you get me, and that’s enough.” That’s the voice of Jesus.

Is there a better or sweeter voice than that?!

The voice of Jesus promises you: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The devil, the world, and our sinful flesh are an unholy trinity that constantly attack us on all sides. On our own, we will listen; we will stray; we will perish.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who made you a lamb or a sheep in his flock when he placed the Triune God’s name on you in your baptism. He is calling you to follow him today. He's calling you to follow him because he has made the way for you already, as only the Good Shepherd can do.

Follow him because he knows the way through whatever you are going through. If there is fear, he’s faced it. If there is disease, he’s healed it. If there is poverty, he’s lived it. If there is temptation, he’s overcome it. If there’s rejection, he’s endured it. If there is intimidation, threats or persecution, he’s stood them down. He’s literally knocked down the gates of hell for you so that you might have life in him. Only the Good Shepherd can do that!

Whether you have been laid off or have been working steadily the past few weeks. Whether you are shut in or you’ve escaped outside. Whether your plans have fallen through or you have more to do than before. Your Good Shepherd is calling you. By name. Listen to him. Trust him. Follow him. Find your full life in him. Amen.

For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25). Amen.