May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Heavenly Father, You gave Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for us and has taken it up again. Make us and all Your flock hear and follow His voice—in the Word and blessed Sacraments—and so lack nothing for our salvation.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalms 23:1-3) Ahh … quiet waters, green pastures, sunny skies, cool breezes … Lying down, relaxed, at peace. This 23^rd Psalm describes the picture of complete contentment. With every need met, the lamb lies still – silent, secure and safe. The secret to the lamb’s contentment is not the pasture or the stream, it is the loving shepherd – the one who leads, guides, and restores.

In your hectic, busy, stressed-out life, aren’t you desiring what this psalm describes? Whether you are a parent with young children, or a businessperson who does a lot of traveling or just tired of the daily grind of work, I’m sure you are looking forward to a vacation. This psalm describes a permanent vacation filled with quiet, rest and peace. There are countless people who spend their entire lifetimes searching for this kind of peace in the right formula or setting or program. But do want to know the secret of peace and quiet? I’ll give it to you right now. It’ll be just between us. The secret to peace and quiet is … your Good Shepherd. That’s it. Jesus Christ, your risen Lord is your Good Shepherd. You can find anything you want or need in him. Look to the Good Shepherd for imitation and look to the Good Shepherd for your salvation.

Peter begins by saying, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." Peter reminds suffering Christians of Christ’s suffering and death. Though innocent, he endured unjust punishments so that our wounds of sin might be healed. Following his example of humility, our own troubles and sufferings are transformed from misery into ministry.

"To this you were called," Peter says. We have been called not just to live as Christians, not just to suffer as Christians, but actually to live as Christians, though we may suffer for it. Peter wrote during the reign of the Roman emperor, Nero, who persecuted the believers terribly. The early Christians, because of their faith in Christ, were not tolerated, their families were torn apart, they faced lions, burning at the stake, and crucifixions. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned (as Stephen was in our first lesson), they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They were persecuted and mistreated. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They made their homes in caves and holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:36-38) In all this they were to be like their Good Shepherd, Jesus, not only in suffering evil, but also in their attitude toward their suffering.

Instead of becoming bitter toward Christ or committing the sin of retaliation against their persecutors, Peter says, "It is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God." Peter is restating what his Savior said in a much stronger way: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." (Matthew 5:11,12)

Peter wrote, "Christ suffered for you, leaving you and example, that you should follow in his steps." Christ is the Christian’s example in suffering. As beginning students learned the alphabet by tracing over a pattern beneath their paper, so Christians are to pattern themselves after Christ. He is the original. We are called to be duplicates in our behavior. As he suffered for us, "the righteous for the unrighteous" (3:18), so now we are called upon to suffer for him and to follow in his steps.

Anyone who has watched a little boy trying to follow his father’s footprints in the snow or dirt knows what Peter means. As that little boy carefully avoids stepping outside the print of his father’s shoe, so Christians will try to match exactly the life and footsteps of Christ. He was persecuted, mistreated, and finally killed. Through it all he never threatened or cursed or insulted his tormentors, but in perfect love he even prayed for their forgiveness. We are to follow Christ’s example when we are called to suffer for our faith in him.

Here are some examples: A leper in Fiji followed the leading of his twisted hands. He became an internationally known artist. He said, "My sickness I see as a gift of God leading me to my life’s work. If it had not been for my sickness, none of these things would have happened. As a young girl, Jessamyn West had tuberculosis. She was so sick that she was sent away to die. During that time she developed her skill as a writer and authored numerous novels in her lifetime. That great author Flannery O’Connor suffered numerous ailments—lupus struck her at 25 and she walked only with the aid of crutches for the final fourteen years of her life. She noted, however, that this illness narrowed her activities in such a way that she had time for the real work of her life, which was writing.

Some people succeed in spite of handicaps. Others succeed because of them. The truth is, our problems help to make us what we are. Those who suffer often learn the value of compassion. Those who struggle often learn perseverance. And those who fall down often teach others how to rise again. Our troubles can shape us in ways a carefree existence cannot.

Through the centuries, an Eastern village became known for its exquisite pottery. Especially striking were its urns; high as tables, wide as chairs, they were admired around the globe for their strong form and delicate beauty. Legend has it that when each urn was apparently finished, there was one final step. The artist broke it—and then put it back together with gold filigree. An ordinary urn was then transformed into a priceless work of art. What seemed finished wasn’t, until it was broken.

So it is with people! Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, they can become disappointed and bitter. But when mended by a hand of infinite patience and love, the finished product will be a work of exquisite beauty and effectiveness; a life which could only reach its wholeness after it was broken.

Jesus was broken. He was beaten, bruised, bloodied, and crucified. Yet, "he committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree." Jesus’ work wasn’t finished until he was broken. Then he was transformed and glorified and resurrected – all so he might be our perfect Shepherd and Savior.

If you feel broken remember that you are a work of art! And you may not actually be complete until the pieces are reassembled and bonded with a golden filigree of love.

Christ is our perfect example. We are to imitate him in our daily lives. But he is more than an example. Above all else, our Good Shepherd is our Savior. He comes to you for your salvation. He took all our sins upon himself. Peter writes, "For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

Peter contrasts the early Christians’ former state without Christ to their present situation with Christ. I don’t know how people endure suffering or death without Christ in their life. That is what Peter is stressing to the readers of his letter. Before they had been lost, wandering about as stray sheep with no one to care for them or to look after them. Now they have a Shepherd and an Overseer of their souls. Sheep without a shepherd are easy prey for any wild animal. The devil, a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, would have straying sheep at his mercy. But with Christ as their Shepherd and Caretaker they are safe. He is leading them gently toward their eternal home and is always aware of their condition. In all the struggles of life they are not alone.

Peter writes, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." Christ’s wounds, caused by scouring and trickling with blood, were the means through which we are healed. Jesus was himself sinless, but he carried up our sins and acted as our substitute. God the Father laid on him the iniquity of us all. We see Christ on his way to Golgotha, his body loaded with all our sins, bruised, broken, suffering, to die the bloody death on the cross. We see Christ walking away from the grave, victorious, glorified, powerful, and able to care for his now victorious followers.

Last Friday was a full day for our family. We went up Madison to welcome home Shelley’s brother, Patrick, who is a Marine Reserve who had been serving in Iraq for the past year. It wasn’t easy over there. There was a lot of sand and heat and sleepless nights. There was loneliness in missing family and friends. Probably the worst part was people trying to kill him. He had to fight back and may have killed some enemies. I know he had a few fellow soldiers who died in combat.

Still, it was a wonderful homecoming on Friday morning in Madison. God had provided a beautiful, warm, sunny day. There were banners and signs welcoming the soldiers home. There were family and friends and dignitaries there to greet them. There were handshakes and hugs and tears of joy. A band of bagpipers and the University of Wisconsin pep band were there playing.

Later that night, Shelley and Patrick and the family drove to Appleton to see their Grandma who was dying in the hospital. While on this earth she had her own share of difficulties – pain from arthritis and scoliosis; loneliness from losing a young son and her husband of over 50 years to death. Grandma was able to see Patrick and her family and a few hours later she died. And then she had her own homecoming.

I can imagine heaven that Friday evening being bright, warm and beautiful. There were banners and signs welcoming Grandma home. Her son and husband were there to hug her. There were tears of joy. There were dignitaries there to greet her like Peter and Stephen, and of course, Jesus. A band of saints were playing harps and trumpets, while the angels were singing.

That Friday was a day of joy and sadness. Actually, it was a day of joy and joy. Two wonderful, blessed homecomings. The second even more special than the first.

Isn’t this exactly the comfort that Peter is trying to instill in us? There is no greater comfort than knowing that Jesus is our Shepherd and our Overseer. As our Shepherd he laid down his life for his sheep. Any good shepherd is willing to give his life in protection of his sheep. But our Good Shepherd also rises for his sheep. What other shepherd can make that claim, can duplicate and match that miracle? He is the only Shepherd who can lead his sheep through the dark valley of death to the peaceful, green pastures of eternal life and endless joy.

Our Shepherd is also our Overseer and Caretaker. He is the one who watches over us, who never slumbers nor sleeps, the one who will bring us from this sad world to a better one of his own making. "It is by his wounds that we are healed" from loneliness, sadness, pain, persecution, death, and anything else the world and Satan want to throw at us.

Christ will lead you safely to the green pastures of your heavenly homecoming. Believe and follow the Risen Lord. He is your Good Shepherd for your imitation. More importantly, he is your Good Shepherd for your salvation. Amen.

For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Amen.