Thursday 7 May 2015

The Good Shepherd (27 April 2015)

John 10.11-18
You may remember years ago the true story of a young man named Alan Anderson who was a passenger in a light aircraft when the pilot had a heart attack and died at the controls.  Anderson, who was 28, had no flying experience and was left alone, and in mortal danger, 2,500 feet about South Wales.

He managed to make a May Day call which was picked up by Mr. Robert Legg, a flying instructor, who was already in the air.  He caught up with Alan’s aircraft, flew alongside him, and managed to talk him down safely into Cardiff airport.

Quite by chance a radio ham picked up the conversation between Anderson and Legg.  Here’s just a flavour of it:

A:I can see you.
L: OK.  Just listen to my instructions.  Take the throttle and pull it slightly until the RPM drops down to about 2,300.
A: Well, which is the throttle?
L: There should be a black lever in the centre of the panel.  That’s fine.  Let the aircraft fly itself.
A:I wish it would!
L: Read the airspeed.
A:The airspeed is 105!
L: Look I’m on your RHS – just relax.
A: We’re going down are we?
L: We are shortly, yes.  Bank gently to the right.  We’re aiming for the white tarmac airstrip to the right of the red and white lights.  Can you see it?
A: Affirmative.
L: Reduce the power slightly now. What’s your airspeed?
A:100
L: Pull back very gently on the control column.  Close the throttle.  Just hold it there.  Pull gently back and hold it there.  Hold it.  Hold it. Hold It. Hold the control column back.  Relax. OK.  [the aircraft touches down]
On the rudder pedals press the top of the rudder pedals, you’ll find the brakes.  Press both rudder pedals together, you’ll find the brakes.
A: I can’t find the brakes!
L: Don’t worry.  The emergency vehicles are coming up behind you.  Just sit in the aircraft.  Leave the engine rumbling.  Turn the key to OFF and take them out – the engine should then stop.
Has the engine stopped?
A: The keys are out.  Just stopping now. THANK GOD!
L: You’re welcome.  It’s all in a days work.

Both men were praised by the coroner at the inquest into the pilot’s death - for their bravery and professionalism.

Robert Legg had guided Alan Anderson to a near perfect landing.  Anderson had recognized Legg’s authoritative voice and that voice had led him to safety. 

Jesus could have said: ‘I am the good pilot’ but nobody would have understood him.  Instead he said: ‘I am the good shepherd.’  When he said that there was already anything up to a thousand years of biblical reflection on that concept of the good shepherd - from the 23rd Psalm through to Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah.  In each case the good shepherd is always identified as God.
Jesus says: ‘The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’  When the sheep are in danger a hireling drops his staff and runs away, but the good shepherd lays down his life for them – of his own accord, by his own authority.

The purpose in laying down his life is that his sheep may be gathered from far and wide to form one flock, under one shepherd.  They are brought to safety when they listen to his authoritative voice, like Alan Anderson listened to Robert Legg’s.  The good pilot, the good shepherd is central to the Christian gospel message.

Take a trip around any churchyard or cemetery and the most common Christian symbol you will see is, of course, the cross or a crucifix, or perhaps a dove.  But if you go to the catacombs in Rome (which date from the 2nd and 3rd Century) the most common symbols or pictures are the Good Shepherd, the Fish, and the Vine. 

More about the Vine next week, but it seems that the early Church took the greatest delight in knowing that Christ is the good shepherd who brings home his lost sheep.

Why do we read this text at Easter-time?  17 I lay down my life – only to take it up again.’ At the cross evil is confronted, suffering is endured, costly love is demonstrated and victory is won.  The shepherd dies but in the process sin and death are overcome.  Through his resurrection ultimate evil is defeated and redeemed.

And at the heart of all this is the eternal love that binds the Father and Son together, and overflows into the world.

  
Our other Eastertide text this morning has been all about powers and authorities.  Certain important people have been named:

The rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law who met in Jerusalem; Annas the high priest; Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.  Very important people

Then, by contrast, there are Peter and John, uneducated Galilean fishermen brought in for questioning. ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’ [i.e. heal a lame man]

Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, says to them: ‘…it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.’

Throughout Acts we will see that real power is not located in those named dignitaries or in their positions but is the name of Jesus:
At Ephesus some Jewish exorcists will try to use the name of Jesus in their incantations, to their cost
People will be baptised in the name of Jesus and the apostles will explain that the things they do are not done through their own power but through the name of Jesus

The post-Easter message being that Jesus’ power, the power of the Holy Spirit, or resurrection power, still exists - it is still active, and there is much more at issue than just healing –
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’

It has to do with salvation, our ultimate happy landing!

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