Ash Wednesday - John 10:1-18 on February 18th, 2026
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
Below is transcript pulled from the video and formatted by artificial intelligence. There may be inconsistencies or errors.
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The Lord is my shepherd. Few lines in scripture are more meaningful or familiar than that one. The poetic words of Psalm 23 speak to us wherever we might find ourselves. The images are vivid and clear. My cup overflows. Lush green pastures that the comfort of a shepherd's protection. No matter where. Through dark valleys near pools of still water, God leads us home. And because it is so relatable, so comforting, the Psalm is often read as part of a funeral service. The promises are heard a little more acutely in those moments. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For you are with me.
The sheep shepherd imagery in a funeral goes beyond just this scripture passage. Near the end, as we commend our loved ones to God, we proclaim, we pray, we say that this one this one is a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. It hits me every time we pray those words as we gather to grieve and yet also to proclaim promise. Because those words are so real, so honest. The acknowledge who we are. We are frail, we are limited, we are broken and sinful, we are dust. And yet we are God's own. We are part of God's flock, we are redeemed, we are the sheep of God's pasture. No matter what, we are always God's sheep. In dark valleys, we are sheep. In hospital rooms, we are sheep. By still waters, sheep. In hospice care. When we are stuck at home, sheep gathered here, sheep. Whether in life or in death, we are God's sheep.
And I don't know how much of Psalm 23 was going through Jesus's head when he states that he is the good shepherd, but it is the perfect sequel. Jesus continues the shepherding story and assures us even more that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He is the good shepherd. But what is it that makes him good as opposed to just a regular shepherd? Well, those other regular shepherds, they do their jobs, but Jesus says they only do them to a point. They see the wolf coming, they leave the sheep and they run away, and we the sheep are left alone in the dark valleys, alone to be devoured. And all around us are such shepherds, promising to care for us to ensure our lives flourish with nary a want. We all know them from the political to the celebrity, even to the religious. They promise fulfillment, a new life, an endless array of joy and happiness, even salvation to some extent. Only they, only them, only it can save us. And we buy in at least a little. And they guide us along, maybe staving off a wild beast here or there, but it doesn't last. When the wolf comes, when death knocks, when the valley is real, they turn into hired hands. They do a self-serving, self-preserving job. They fail when we need them the most. They don't, they can't stand between us and our greatest enemy. We're deceived, she promised goodness, yet scattered, abandoned, left for dead. They cannot save, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
So again, what is it that makes Jesus not only our shepherd, but our good shepherd? Jesus is the good shepherd because he knows his own and calls them by name. Jesus is the good shepherd because he brings all sheep into his fold. Jesus is the good shepherd because he lays down his life for his sheep. Jesus is the one who lays down his life for us, for his sheep, and then he takes his life back up again. That is what makes him not just a shepherd, but the good shepherd. And that is what makes this not just news, but good news. Jesus lays down his life for sheep of his own fold. He gives everything for the lambs of his own flock. He knows the sheep and the sheep know him. And that type of relationship truly makes him the good shepherd because we're broken. Death has its hold and neither we nor anything else posing as a shepherd can do a thing about it. But our good shepherd transforms our death by giving his life first. Jesus lays down his life for us and he picks it back up so that we too might have our lives picked up, raised, lifted, set free. And no matter what thieves try to steal us, no matter what unworthy shepherds attempt to guide us, no matter if ashes and death arrive, our good shepherd promises to lead us home, to bring us into God's fold, to give us abundant eternal flourishing life, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I have always thought that today is the most honest day in the entire church calendar. Today is a day of reality, of truth telling, of admitting exactly who we are. Ashes, dust, death, brokenness. Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. It's all true, especially on a day like today. But Jesus is our good shepherd, especially on a day like today. The voices around us can offer comfort that fades promises that expire and help that ends at the graveside. Death robs whatever it is that they can give. But Jesus offers more. Jesus calls you by name. Jesus lays down his life for you, his sheep, and takes it up again. You belong to him, and he will lead you home. In dark valleys we are his sheep. When we are frail and limited, we are his sheep, whether in life or death and dust and ash, we are his sheep. And as that cross is placed on your forehead, it's not only the truth that you are dust. It's also the truth that through the cross Jesus transforms what death is. The good shepherd lays down his life on that cross and he is raised up to life, so even dust-covered sheep can be brought home. The good shepherd leads you and comforts you. He prepares a table for you and raises you up. The good shepherd gives you life because you are his. And that is what makes him not just a shepherd, but the good shepherd. And that's what makes this not just news, but good news forever. Amen.