Your Living Good Shepherd John 10 11 16
April 19, 2026
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Misercordias Domini, The Third Sunday of Easter 19-April-2026 Sermon Text: John 10:11-16 Sermon Theme: Your Living Good Shepherd! I. He Will Never Leave Your Nor Forsake You! (Vs.11-13). II. He Knows Your Sin Freeing You To New Life In Him!(Vs.14-16) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Misercordias Domini, The Third Sunday of Easter 19-April-2026
Sermon Text: John 10:11-16
Sermon Theme: Your Living Good Shepherd! I. He Will Never Leave Your Nor Forsake You! (Vs.11-13). II. He Knows Your Sin Freeing You To New Life In Him!(Vs.14-16) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The 23rd Psalm fixes our eyes upon Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and the Son of Man. This beloved Psalm of David was the first many Christians memorized in their childhood. They have learned that it isn’t only a Psalm for their deathbed, but a comfort for every stage of life. If you haven’t memorized this Psalm and taught it to your children, use this week of Misercordias Domini to place this Word more precious than gold, into the treasury of your memory and prayer life.
Misercordias Domini, the Latin, translation for “The goodness of the Lord” from the 33rd Psalm of today’s introit. Psa 33:5-6 The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. (6) By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Our crucified and risen Good Shepherd, Psa 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Richly and daily our God and our Father “provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. provides everything we need for our bodies and lives.” As the 33rd Psalm teaches us to sing: Psa 33:18-20 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, (19) that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (20) Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
We live on the resurrection side of history. We know that Good Friday wasn’t the end of our Good Shepherd’s rescue mission for us sinners. Jesus preaches, Joh 10:17-18 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. (18) No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Good Friday with the beatings, twisted justice, and crucifixion of the Innocent Man wasn’t an accident. It was according to God the Father’s plan from eternity to rescue us lost sinners through His only begotten Son’s sacrifice for us on the altar of the cross. Now our Risen Brother and Savior breathes forth the Holy Spirit in His forgiving Word of the Gospel making us alive by the gracious gift of faith that looks only to Jesus: Your Living Good Shepherd! I. He Will Never Leave Your Nor Forsake You! (Vs.11-13). II. He Knows Your Sin Freeing You To New Life In Him!(Vs.14-16)
I. It was the feast of booths in the fall of the year. Jews gathered around Jerusalem, built temporary shelters from leafy branches and for a week lived in tents. It was a yearly remembrance of the forty years of wilderness wanderings of their forefathers. It was a celebration of God’s faithful shepherding of His children through Moses to the promised land.
Jesus is again publically teaching in the Temple. (Vs.10) Jesus is the Good Shepherd prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel six centuries earlier. The children of Israel broke faith with God’s Word. The northern ten tribes made up their own flesh pleasing religion. In 722B.C. God allowed the Assyrian empire to destroy their nation and lead them away to destruction. The children of Judah were preserved by God’s promise to David the shepherd king. They stubbornly refused to listen to the prophets God sent to preach His Word. Instead they loved men who preached peace, when there was no peace. Men who called good evil and evil good. False shepherds - hirelings.
In 586 B.C. Judah would fall and Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Babylonian empire. A decade before the first group of exiles were taken captive to Babylon. God did not leave them without His Word. He called and sent Ezekiel to be His prophet. The priests and prophets of Judah had proven themselves false hirelings. Now the Lord God would enter human history. He would seek out His lost sheep. He would rescue us from all the dark places sin and the lies we tell ourselves drive us to hide.
The Good Shepherd is Jesus, only Jesus! (Vs.10-13) What does a hireling do when the wolf comes? He runs away. He values his own life more than the sheep. Who is the wolf? It is Satan seeking to devour and destroy the faith of the baptized. Satan catches the baptized sheep with his lies. “You are too sinful!” “God doesn’t want a sinner like you!” “Your baptism was just water - it can’t save.” With lies like these Satan traps your conscience, scattering you from the flock of a local congregation. A single sheep is easy prey for the wolf. It has no defense. A flock of sheep can herd together and kick back with their hoofs seeking to protect one another.
Beware of being led away from the flock of our local congregation. Every Sunday you stay away the wolf is scattering you. Easy prey for the devil, the world, and your fallen flesh. The hireling doesn’t care. An internet preacher, doesn’t know you, doesn’t care - he only wants your clicks and cash to continue. Only Jesus is your Good Shepherd.
Even pastors called, ordained, and sent to your congregation aren’t the Good Shepherd. None of them are willing to die in the place of their rebellious sinful sheep. We are the chief of sinners, only hirelings - don’t look to us - look only to Jesus.
How? Joh 10:27-30 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (30) I and My Father are one." Our Crucified and Risen Good Shepherd is present in His Word. His Word preached in the Gospel, proclaiming forgiveness, rebirthing us in Holy Baptism, teaching us to pray, and feeding us the food of Immortality at His altar.
The promise Jesus makes you in baptism and His Word and doctrine taught is ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the world!” He is Emmanuel - God with Us! Our living Shepherd. He gave His life for you! Imagine a Shepherd humbling Himself to become the lost Sheep - the Lamb of God to be devoured by Satan, sin, and death FOR YOU! The wolf swallowed Him whole, only to suffer a belly rupture three days later as the Lamb of God burst forth defeating death, hell, sin, and Satan! He triumphs! He lives! Now we can confidently confess with St. Peter that us straying sheep have by the Holy Spirit’s calling us through the Gospel returned to Jesus - the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. David teaches us this song of victory: Psa 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Now nothing can separate us from the love of God the Father in our Good Shepherd Jesus! We are never abandoned! Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
II. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Our fallen flesh leads us into despair. The world entices us to follow the desires of our flesh. We idolize our bellies following our feelings and thinking calling it spirituality. It is a lie. Satan encourages us to wander into the darkness of sin calling it life. When we fall - he relentlessly attacks our conscience to drive us away from our Good Shepherd into despair and hopelessness.
Stop running away! Hear the voice of Your Living Good Shepherd! (Vs14) He knows you! He knows your deepest darkest sin. He knows all your grief and sorrow. He knows all your failures. He knows all your rebellions against God. He knows all your hate. He knows you better than you know yourself. We live in the fog of self-deception - denying our own sinfulness. Jesus knows you to your very core.
Behold the Good Shepherd didn’t turn away from you in disgust. He took all your sin, shame, guilt, and lies into His own innocent flesh. He carried them all to Calvary. (Vs.15) He laid down His life for you! This was God the Father’s good and gracious will - to rescue a sinner like you through the blood of His only begotten Son.
The Good Shepherd knows your sin! He pays for it all - once on Calvary. Stop trying to take it back from Him. He has buried it in His tomb - He walks forth alive - your sin is gone. Your despair is replaced with new life - forgiveness daily and richly in His Church as the Holy Spirit comforts you - to know Jesus as your Good Shepherd. Behold He feasts you! Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Here in the mighty fortress of His Church - your Good Shepherd feeds you forgiven. Fills you with His life! You are saved - now and forever!
How can a sinner like me be sure that this is for me? The Triune God claims you as His own. ‘I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” It is His Word, work, gift, and promise!
(Vs.16) Your living Good Shepherd laid down His life for you! Three days latter He took it up again - that He might bring you into His fold.
You didn’t decide to follow Him. You didn’t choose Jesus. Decision theology robs God of all glory, it also robs your conscience of peace. If for a moment you image that faith is your work, then the wolf will pounce and tell you that your faith isn’t enough to save you - you belong to him. Tell him - be quiet! My Living Shepherd has brought me into His fold by His grace. He spoke His Word and called my name in baptism. I am His - He saves me! Hear the Holy Spirit’s hymn of promise! Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” It was never my decision - it was only His grace!
Our Living Good Shepherd knows you! He loves you! He washes your sins away with His blood! He calls you in His Word! With David we confess: Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
What a beautiful comforting picture - Jesus our Living Good Shepherd - He is goodness and mercy! He chases you all the days of your life! He frees you from sin - now you have new life in Him every day. Now you too can invite other lost lambs to come and hear the voice of their Good Shepherd! In Jesus your future is secure! He will bring you Home to your God and Father - His God and Father! He has reconciled you by laying down His life for your sin and taking it up again to declare you forgiven - yesterday, today, and forever!
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Let us sing our Shepherd’s Triumph with David: Psa 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (3) He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Amen.
Sermon Text: John 10:11-16
Sermon Theme: Your Living Good Shepherd! I. He Will Never Leave Your Nor Forsake You! (Vs.11-13). II. He Knows Your Sin Freeing You To New Life In Him!(Vs.14-16) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The 23rd Psalm fixes our eyes upon Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and the Son of Man. This beloved Psalm of David was the first many Christians memorized in their childhood. They have learned that it isn’t only a Psalm for their deathbed, but a comfort for every stage of life. If you haven’t memorized this Psalm and taught it to your children, use this week of Misercordias Domini to place this Word more precious than gold, into the treasury of your memory and prayer life.
Misercordias Domini, the Latin, translation for “The goodness of the Lord” from the 33rd Psalm of today’s introit. Psa 33:5-6 The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. (6) By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Our crucified and risen Good Shepherd, Psa 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Richly and daily our God and our Father “provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. provides everything we need for our bodies and lives.” As the 33rd Psalm teaches us to sing: Psa 33:18-20 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, (19) that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. (20) Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
We live on the resurrection side of history. We know that Good Friday wasn’t the end of our Good Shepherd’s rescue mission for us sinners. Jesus preaches, Joh 10:17-18 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. (18) No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Good Friday with the beatings, twisted justice, and crucifixion of the Innocent Man wasn’t an accident. It was according to God the Father’s plan from eternity to rescue us lost sinners through His only begotten Son’s sacrifice for us on the altar of the cross. Now our Risen Brother and Savior breathes forth the Holy Spirit in His forgiving Word of the Gospel making us alive by the gracious gift of faith that looks only to Jesus: Your Living Good Shepherd! I. He Will Never Leave Your Nor Forsake You! (Vs.11-13). II. He Knows Your Sin Freeing You To New Life In Him!(Vs.14-16)
I. It was the feast of booths in the fall of the year. Jews gathered around Jerusalem, built temporary shelters from leafy branches and for a week lived in tents. It was a yearly remembrance of the forty years of wilderness wanderings of their forefathers. It was a celebration of God’s faithful shepherding of His children through Moses to the promised land.
Jesus is again publically teaching in the Temple. (Vs.10) Jesus is the Good Shepherd prophesied by the prophet Ezekiel six centuries earlier. The children of Israel broke faith with God’s Word. The northern ten tribes made up their own flesh pleasing religion. In 722B.C. God allowed the Assyrian empire to destroy their nation and lead them away to destruction. The children of Judah were preserved by God’s promise to David the shepherd king. They stubbornly refused to listen to the prophets God sent to preach His Word. Instead they loved men who preached peace, when there was no peace. Men who called good evil and evil good. False shepherds - hirelings.
In 586 B.C. Judah would fall and Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Babylonian empire. A decade before the first group of exiles were taken captive to Babylon. God did not leave them without His Word. He called and sent Ezekiel to be His prophet. The priests and prophets of Judah had proven themselves false hirelings. Now the Lord God would enter human history. He would seek out His lost sheep. He would rescue us from all the dark places sin and the lies we tell ourselves drive us to hide.
The Good Shepherd is Jesus, only Jesus! (Vs.10-13) What does a hireling do when the wolf comes? He runs away. He values his own life more than the sheep. Who is the wolf? It is Satan seeking to devour and destroy the faith of the baptized. Satan catches the baptized sheep with his lies. “You are too sinful!” “God doesn’t want a sinner like you!” “Your baptism was just water - it can’t save.” With lies like these Satan traps your conscience, scattering you from the flock of a local congregation. A single sheep is easy prey for the wolf. It has no defense. A flock of sheep can herd together and kick back with their hoofs seeking to protect one another.
Beware of being led away from the flock of our local congregation. Every Sunday you stay away the wolf is scattering you. Easy prey for the devil, the world, and your fallen flesh. The hireling doesn’t care. An internet preacher, doesn’t know you, doesn’t care - he only wants your clicks and cash to continue. Only Jesus is your Good Shepherd.
Even pastors called, ordained, and sent to your congregation aren’t the Good Shepherd. None of them are willing to die in the place of their rebellious sinful sheep. We are the chief of sinners, only hirelings - don’t look to us - look only to Jesus.
How? Joh 10:27-30 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (28) And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (30) I and My Father are one." Our Crucified and Risen Good Shepherd is present in His Word. His Word preached in the Gospel, proclaiming forgiveness, rebirthing us in Holy Baptism, teaching us to pray, and feeding us the food of Immortality at His altar.
The promise Jesus makes you in baptism and His Word and doctrine taught is ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the world!” He is Emmanuel - God with Us! Our living Shepherd. He gave His life for you! Imagine a Shepherd humbling Himself to become the lost Sheep - the Lamb of God to be devoured by Satan, sin, and death FOR YOU! The wolf swallowed Him whole, only to suffer a belly rupture three days later as the Lamb of God burst forth defeating death, hell, sin, and Satan! He triumphs! He lives! Now we can confidently confess with St. Peter that us straying sheep have by the Holy Spirit’s calling us through the Gospel returned to Jesus - the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. David teaches us this song of victory: Psa 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Now nothing can separate us from the love of God the Father in our Good Shepherd Jesus! We are never abandoned! Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
II. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Our fallen flesh leads us into despair. The world entices us to follow the desires of our flesh. We idolize our bellies following our feelings and thinking calling it spirituality. It is a lie. Satan encourages us to wander into the darkness of sin calling it life. When we fall - he relentlessly attacks our conscience to drive us away from our Good Shepherd into despair and hopelessness.
Stop running away! Hear the voice of Your Living Good Shepherd! (Vs14) He knows you! He knows your deepest darkest sin. He knows all your grief and sorrow. He knows all your failures. He knows all your rebellions against God. He knows all your hate. He knows you better than you know yourself. We live in the fog of self-deception - denying our own sinfulness. Jesus knows you to your very core.
Behold the Good Shepherd didn’t turn away from you in disgust. He took all your sin, shame, guilt, and lies into His own innocent flesh. He carried them all to Calvary. (Vs.15) He laid down His life for you! This was God the Father’s good and gracious will - to rescue a sinner like you through the blood of His only begotten Son.
The Good Shepherd knows your sin! He pays for it all - once on Calvary. Stop trying to take it back from Him. He has buried it in His tomb - He walks forth alive - your sin is gone. Your despair is replaced with new life - forgiveness daily and richly in His Church as the Holy Spirit comforts you - to know Jesus as your Good Shepherd. Behold He feasts you! Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Here in the mighty fortress of His Church - your Good Shepherd feeds you forgiven. Fills you with His life! You are saved - now and forever!
How can a sinner like me be sure that this is for me? The Triune God claims you as His own. ‘I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” It is His Word, work, gift, and promise!
(Vs.16) Your living Good Shepherd laid down His life for you! Three days latter He took it up again - that He might bring you into His fold.
You didn’t decide to follow Him. You didn’t choose Jesus. Decision theology robs God of all glory, it also robs your conscience of peace. If for a moment you image that faith is your work, then the wolf will pounce and tell you that your faith isn’t enough to save you - you belong to him. Tell him - be quiet! My Living Shepherd has brought me into His fold by His grace. He spoke His Word and called my name in baptism. I am His - He saves me! Hear the Holy Spirit’s hymn of promise! Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” It was never my decision - it was only His grace!
Our Living Good Shepherd knows you! He loves you! He washes your sins away with His blood! He calls you in His Word! With David we confess: Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
What a beautiful comforting picture - Jesus our Living Good Shepherd - He is goodness and mercy! He chases you all the days of your life! He frees you from sin - now you have new life in Him every day. Now you too can invite other lost lambs to come and hear the voice of their Good Shepherd! In Jesus your future is secure! He will bring you Home to your God and Father - His God and Father! He has reconciled you by laying down His life for your sin and taking it up again to declare you forgiven - yesterday, today, and forever!
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Let us sing our Shepherd’s Triumph with David: Psa 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. (3) He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Amen.
© 2026 Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Tell City, Indiana Podcast. All rights reserved.