Stephen
Terry, Director
Ephesians
in the Heart
Commentary
for the September 30, 2023, Sabbath School Lesson
"But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV
Have you ever felt lost and
alone? Does it sometimes seem like no one understands your need for love and
acceptance? Have you felt trapped by circumstances that seem to reveal no way
out of the situation? One of the most enduring images of Christianity is Jesus
rescuing the lost sheep. In that parable, the shepherd leaves the entire flock
of sheep in safety and goes in search of one that has strayed.[i] Finding
the lost lamb, the shepherd brings it back home and all celebrate its return.
The brief parable raises as many
questions as it answers. How did the sheep come to be lost? Was it simply
wandering off on what it thought was a better path? Was it abandoned by the rest
of the flock? Did the shepherd already have a good idea of where to find it?
Why did the shepherd never give up until the lamb was found?
Already, in the early church,
they understood that the shepherd represented Jesus and the lamb represented
those who had strayed from God. But Paul took it a step further. He revealed it
was not a single lamb straying. We all have strayed.[ii]
This may reveal why sheep do not rescue sheep. We cannot even rescue ourselves.
Though we roam with the largest of flocks, we are as lost as that lonely sheep
wandering some distant hillside. We may feel secure with our numbers and
surrounded by the physical presence of the sheepfold, but we are nonetheless no
more secure than the lost. In some ways we may even be less secure for we do
not see how lost and dependent on God's grace we truly are. When we fail to realize
that, bizarre things can happen within the flock.
The flock can convince
themselves that since the Shepherd is out looking for lost sheep, they themselves
must be already safe, a remnant destined for heavenly rewards. Furthermore,
since the Shepherd is long delayed in returning, someone needs to take charge
of the flock in His absence. So, a few more forward sheep convince the flock to
gather to elect a leader. Trusting in the intentions of the ones saying this is
necessary, they elect a sheep to lead the flock. Out of concern for the flock's
safety, the leader cites past dangers that have come among them to the
detriment of the flock. It is decided a method must be
developed to sort genuine sheep from those simply wearing a woolen coat. This
seems a good plan and a rule is developed to sort the sheep. Over time, as some
come to question the leadership of fellow sheep as opposed to the leadership principles
of the actual Shepherd, the rules are revised to indicate that such questions
are indicators of sheep who are not loyal to the flock. This is a new
development. It was clear that threats like wolves must be kept from coming
among the flock, but these are fellow sheep. How is this to be handled?
Eventually, it is decided that since these errant sheep are also a danger, they
must be expelled, or at least ostracized.
Despite the new rules, the
questions about their need do not cease. For fear of reprisal, the questioning
may go underground, but the questions continue to be asked. In response, the
rules keep changing to prevent the possibility of any new questions arising to
threaten control over the flock, control that is only said to be necessary to protect
the flock from danger. Examples are made of a few sheep who continue to ask unsettling
questions about the rules. As a result, everyone wears their approved sheep persona
while with the flock, but slowly and steadily a trickle begins as more and more
sheep wander off, distrusting the elected leadership that seems to have little
problem perpetuating their leadership since opposition by those who dissent is
silenced.
Finally, things get to the point
where the leading sheep can no longer ignore the numbers, so they go in search
of sheep to replace the missing flock members. They seek sheep that have never
known the Shepherd. Sheep that are willing to follow the rules set forth by the
flock. Grateful for finding a fold to accept them, they proceed to outdo the
original sheep in their loyalty to the rules. After all, if the rules are what
created this haven, then the rules must be observed. Eventually, they notice
even the loyal sheep are not following every letter of the rules, and they
question leadership about this. To be consistent and maintain control over the
flock, the leaders, now backed into a corner, must become more zealous at
enforcing the rules lest even the new members bolt.
The leading sheep, trying to
maintain their position, are often simply treading water in order not to drown
in the swirling currents of chaos their efforts have created. The new sheep are
striving hard to follow the rules perfectly to earn their right to be in the
flock. The older sheep, recognizing that such perfection was never demanded by
the Shepherd, determine that those in charge have lost sight of what the Shepherd
taught and disassociate from what they have decided is a straying leadership.
Some pay the price for that and are evicted from the fold, but most learn to
keep silent and disengage while praying and waiting for the Shepherd's return.
They see little to gain by leadership creating ever more detailed rules for the
flock. While those rules make it very clear who is in the flock and who is not,
no one feels more secure, despite repeated warnings of the dangers that exist
if the rules are not maintained as the basis for the flock's existence.
Eventually, rumors are heard
that the Shepherd has been seen. But the rumors are discounted because their source
is those who were either removed from the flock or left. He obviously would not
be visiting sinners when his precious flock has been
waiting for him. But his return must be very near since we have waited for so long
and have remained rigorously loyal to him. We have purged all those who were of
a sinful character. We have fought a constant battle over sin in our ranks. When
we identified it, we did our best to make sure it had no voice among us. No
discordant bleating has been allowed for some time. Surely, we are far more ready
for his return than those who have corrupted their number by leaving us.
In preparation, the leading
sheep begin to pore over the rules, looking for any detail they may have
missed. Was there any element of rebellion of those who still questioned the
rules remaining among them? Was there any jot or tittle of the rules not being
observed? Had they not replaced those who questioned the rules with faithfully
loyal sheep? Would he not be impressed with all the new flock members? And what
about the sheepfold? With little disharmony, had they not been able to renovate
the sheepfold to surpassing excellence? Even those who never darkened the
entrance to the sheepfold often remarked about its magnificence.
As expected, one day the Shepherd
did return with the lost sheep and many other lost sheep besides. Those who had
assumed leadership in his absence escorted him through the fold and all the
changes they had made. But instead of him saying "Well done good and faithful
servants!" He asked only one plaintive question. "Where are my sheep?"
"We are here!" the leaders declared proudly.
He began calling the names of
the missing with tearful voice. He had heard stories from those who had left,
but he experienced reality when each name he called went unanswered. Finally,
in answer to one of the names, one small sheep crept timidly from the shadows.
He slowly walked to the Shepherd under the reproachful gaze of the leaders. The
Shepherd's arms opened wide to receive the little one. But murmuring arose in
the flock. The leaders said that the lamb was willful and would not follow the
rules and the Shepherd should know that.[iii]
It is not right to care so much about this lamb. Some of the newer sheep
questioned if the rules were so important, why did the Shepherd seem willing to
give this lamb a pass? Had the leaders deceived them? Some of these who had tried
so hard to please their leaders by stringent obedience found their hearts
melting as they saw the Shepherd embrace the lamb. They, too, after a puzzled
look at the leaders who misled them, ran to the Shepherd, feeling an acceptance
they had never experienced from the flock.
"For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)