A Famine Not of Bread

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Click here to listen to this sermon. [Jesus said]: “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Let’s be honest. The idea of a shepherd laying down his life to save a sheep is ludicrous, even scandalous. No reasonable shepherd would lay down his life for his sheep. No sheep, not even a whole flock of sheep, is worth the life of one  shepherd. Even the most dedicated shepherd would not give his life up for his sheep. Oh, I’m sure he would be willing to experience discomfort for his sheep. He might spend sleepless nights keeping watch over his sheep. He might risk harm in order to keep predators away from his sheep. But he would not be willing to die for the sheep. It is generally the sheep that end up dying for the shepherd’s benefit—some to feed the shepherd and his family, others to provide the sacrifice for the sins of the shepherd and the rest of God’s peo...

Click here for an audio version of this sermon. The text for this message is Isaiah 53:4-6:   “S urely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.   But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.   All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”   Here ends the text. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, See Him dying on the tree! ‘Tis the Christ by man rejected; Yes, my soul, ‘tis He! ‘tis He! ‘Tis the long-expected Prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord; Proofs I see sufficient of it: Tis the true and faithful Word ( LSB 451:1). "Crucifixion" by Lucas Cranach the Younger Do you see Him up there?   Doesn’t loo...