Part of the role of a shepherd is to help the sheep move from one location to another. At the right time, the shepherd calls the sheep by name, and, walking ahead of them, leads them to look for new pasture. In the same way, we too change, and move, and grow, and Jesus walks ahead of us, especially through the paths of the dark valleys of our lives. These aren’t unfamiliar paths for our Shepherd, who has walked all the paths of life, and even the paths of death, before. With Jesus, we walk paths of joy and sorrow, love and service, and we never walk alone!

This worship series uses the familiar words of Psalm 23 to explore the work of Jesus, our Shepherd, and to learn about our lives as his sheep. Each service will highlight phrases of this beloved psalm that bring to light the paths we take, the valleys we struggle through, the ways we are fed and nourished by our Lord, and the goodness and mercy that follow us in Christ’s care.

In our first service, Shepherd and Sheep, we’ll see how our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves us and claims us as his own. Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15, CEB).

In our scripture passage for this week, Jesus is in the Temple Courts, arguing with the Pharisees’ disciples, and surrounded by crowds of Jewish peasants. Jesus is also talking about money. In fact, Jesus talked A LOT about money. Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with the handling of money and possessions. Credit card, debit card, check, cash, coin – the format of our money doesn’t change Jesus’ message one bit. We need to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God. Jesus isn’t describing a compromise that divides human loyalties neatly between God and the emperor. You may divide your budget, but you must never divide your allegiance – You belong entirely to God!

This week, we have the third of Jesus’ parables of Judgment, as Jesus responds to the Pharisees challenging him about his authority to heal and teach. The Parable of the Wedding Party portrays the subtle relationship between the grace of all people being invited and the obligations of obedience. To be obedient, in the biblical sense, is to be clothed with Christ, to live in Christ. Grace is freely given, placing us in God’s company, by a loving act on the part of God claiming us. But the real gem of this parable isn’t judgement, but the inclusiveness of the invitation. Everyone’s invited, including the “evil and good.” It’s on the basis of this reality that all Christians can enjoy salvation!

Jesus, and his crowd of rabble-rousing followers, are becoming a problem for those in power. He’s disrupting the status quo and challenging the authority of the Jewish leaders. So they try to trap Jesus by questioning the source of his authority. And, as typical for Jesus, he responds with a parable, not a simple answer. Which son was more obedient to the father’s authority? Jesus uses this parable to call us to lives of wholeness and unity with God and with each other. Lives based on love, instead of fear. Lives where our emotions match our words and actions. Jesus, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, provides the love needed to live as our authentic selves, the people God intended us to be!