Life Laid Down for Us
I have been thinking about two tendencies at work in that the human being. Both are probably in place for the preservation of the species: the drive to offer care, and the drive of self-protection. We do offer care and protection to others. This comes from being a mammal: a creature whose young are born helpless and stay pretty helpless for prolonged years. The other strong drive, for self-protection, is an obvious feature for personal survival.
We are familiar with the concept of laying down one’s life for others. It is not an experience that comes up for everyone, but it has application in every life to one degree or another. We know it comes into play in the active-duty of those serving in the armed forces, and in law enforcement. We know lives are laid down for others with actions taken in rescues during natural disasters and major accidents by professionals and good Samaritans.
When Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd, a key feature of his description is that he lays down his life for the sheep. It says something about the selfless love of Jesus for people and foreshadows the experience he will have as he moves toward his death. Give some thought to the passage that comes as our Gospel lesson this Sunday.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. …I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.” —John 10:11, 14-18
The apostle, John, includes the phrase here and later in his first letter. It is given as an indication of the depth and nature of Christ’s love, and as a virtue for all of us to gain.
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us…And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. —1 John 3:16, 23-24
We know how natural it is to look after ourselves and to protect our own lives. That is a deeply ingrained instinct of survival. We are drawn to the Good Shepherd for his wondrous self-giving ways for the sake of others, and we are called to let him cultivate that kind of love within us all. May we all profoundly discover love and courage for his paradox: taking up life by laying down our own lives for others.