The Gate for the Sheep

This is the English-translated outline for the sermon preached by Rev. Musubi Tabuchi to the congregations of Ashiya Christian Church and Unfinished Community on Sunday, April 26, 2026, drawing from John 10:1-10.

Today’s Scripture reading is the parable of the good shepherd from John 10, but for some reason, verse 11—perhaps the most critical, famous verse— “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” is not included. The reason I wanted to focus on this verse is that one of the two large paintings by the artist Nagao, which have long been displayed in our church sanctuary, is based on this very scripture. We are currently restoring that painting, and it will likely be hung at the front of the new sanctuary during the dedication service in July. So this scripture is indeed a precious one for our church, and it also reminds us of today’s Old Testament reading from Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd.”

One of the most frequently depicted occupations in the Bible is that of a shepherd. Abraham, the forefather of the Israelites, and Moses, the leader of the Exodus, were both shepherds, and it was the shepherds who were the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth. Max Weber, a sociologist of religion, argued that the shepherd symbolizes the true nature of the Israelites. Above all, they were the ones who protected the lives of the sheep, seeking out pastures for food, searching for water to quench their thirst, and guiding the flock. Jesus also tells us that when wild beasts attack, a shepherd defends the flock, and if even one sheep strays from the flock, they go out in search of that single sheep. In other words, precisely because shepherds live with such selfless devotion to sustaining the lives of their sheep, the relationship between shepherd and sheep is not merely one of deep trust, but one in which the sheep depend entirely on the shepherd and follow his lead. And while the image of these sheep illustrates the relationship between God, Jesus, and us, the fact that the people “did not understand what he was saying” suggests that it is perhaps not so simple, and maybe we too don't entirely understand this relationship.

Having Christian faith is not something we choose intellectually, or simply by thinking, or reasoning. Rather, faith comes about because, even before we make that choice ourselves, God has already loved us deeply, given us life, guided us, and sustained us through Jesus without us ever really noticing, supporting us because we have nowhere else to turn. Just as this is natural for the sheep, so it is for us. However, when we seek anything other than that, our own self-interest, calculations of gain and loss, and our own rational judgments come into play, and we wander off. But the truth is that these things will not sustain us until the very end, until the very moment of death, not the way our "Good Shephard" can. Instead, we may find ourselves being exploited, sacrificed, or even victimized, having wandered off into danger on our own. Our encounters with the One who gives us abundant life is nothing other than the realization that we are already being sustained in this very way, even before we realize it. Through gratitude to God, whose love is the reason that I am here now, our faith is made certain.

Let us pray.

God, we thank You for protecting our lives every day. In the life You have given us, please enable us to continue offering You our thanks, praise, and service.

We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen.