The following reflection on John 10:22-30 was written for and published in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California E News “Explorations in the Gospel of John” on May 3, 2022.
May 8 – The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Good Shepherd Sunday
John 10:22 – 30
The Good Shepherd discourse functions as part of Jesus’s answer to the question of suffering as asked by the disciples in the previous chapter: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (9:2). In other words, who do we blame for this suffering? When the Jews ask Jesus, “How long will you keep us in suspense?” (John 10:24) their words hearken back to the disciples’ initial question of suffering, especially since their first two words echo the biblical mourner’s mantra: “How long?” (Psalm 13:1-2; 94:3; Habakkuk 1:2; Revelation 6:10). In fact, a more literal translation of their question is “How long will you steal away our breath?”, which is an especially poignant question today as COVID-19 continues to steal away people’s breath and claim millions of lives.
Like the disciples in John 9, the Jews in John 10 represent all those who boldly bring their questions of suffering before God, from Job to Julian of Norwich to C. S. Lewis to Elie Wiesel. John’s Gospel not only invites us to bring our own questions of suffering to God, but the Gospel also invites us to be transformed by the divine response in the words of the Good Shepherd, who instead of offering an explanation, offers himself. As Anglican theologian Austin Farrer put it, “God does not give us explanations; God gives up a Son.”
In contrast to Judah Maccabee whom the feast of Dedication commemorates (John 10:22), Jesus does not bring God’s Reign on earth through violent overthrow but through self-giving love, like that of a Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep and calls by name those who recognize his voice, gently guiding them out of the shadow of death into life-giving pastures.
– The Rev. Dr. Daniel DeForest London
DANIEL DeFOREST LONDON 