Dear Trekker,

November is Thanksgiving month, always, to me. I have written extensively in years past about Thanksgiving Day…its origin, meaning and opportunity to give thanks to the Giver, not just “thanks” for His material blessings.

But this year a new November blessing crossed my life path. On Veterans Day, November 11, I saw a new connection between soldier and shepherd for which our “thanks” can be even more meaningful! To include Veteran’s Day in an American Thanksgiving seems proper and necessary in today’s “take it for granted” culture.

What is a veteran? A veteran is simply a soldier who has done his duty and been blessed to return home and resume non-soldier, normal activities in a culture. But his (or her) service-oriented soldier duties should not be taken for granted. They are the foundation of any successful human endeavor!

This Thanksgiving/soldier veteran connection came to me while meditating on John’s gospel, Chapter 10. The symbolism is powerful! Let’s look at it together this month! (Trekker, read John 10:1-18 in a modern translation now. You will be glad you did, as the Holy Spirit unfolds this apt and appropriate connection.) To understand Jesus as the perfect soldier-veteran, and to understand why we fight and serve and die as soldiers for our country, this passage is a must.

The idea of shepherding is woven all through scripture, in language and imagery. People are like sheep. They mean well, but are themselves quite defenseless alone against any predator. History is the accounting of what we do, positively and negatively, to each other in the name of so-called progress. So it is quite appropriate to outline the Savior’s activities on earth with shepherding. The land of Jesus, Judea, is more pastoral than agricultural. So, a familiar figure for leading/protecting grazing sheep was and is the shepherd. Sheep never graze without the need for a shepherd. The Shepherd is the protector of the sheep. Shepherds serve willingly, laying their life on the line daily to protect the sheep who unwittingly are allowed therefore to safely graze/live. Wolves love to gobble up sheep, as human wolves love to abuse, use and gobble up people. To the wolf (thief or robber) people are expendable and their liberty means nothing to the predator. William Barclay has a wonderful quote for the shepherd’s life and his type/life of Jesus: “On some high moor, across which at night the hyaenas howl, when you meet him (the shepherd), sleepless, far-sighted, weather-beaten [and from personal experience I might add…smelly to high heaven], leaning on his staff, and looking out over his scattered sheep, every one of them on his heart, you understand why the shepherd of Judea sprang to the front in his people’s history; why they gave his name to their king, and made him the symbol of providence; why Christ took him as the type of self-sacrifice.” Constant vigilance, fearless courage, patient love for his flock, were the necessary characteristics of the shepherd. Yes, fearless courage and patient love for his flock were the ingredients of a shepherd then, and a soldier now.

Let’s be clear upfront…there are astounding similarities between soldiering and shepherding: 1) Sheep need a shepherd; people need a soldier to defend their values and values of the culture; 2) Soldiers and shepherds volunteer their service; 3) Soldiers and shepherds lay their lives on the line, daily, habitually, for the sake of the people and the sheep; 4) Thieves and robbers are bent on disrupting the soldiers’ and shepherds’ defense. (Trekker, as a soldier/veteran I’ve never written extensively on the nature of warfare, others more qualified have done so. But make no mistake, the essential nature of legitimate warfare is defensive, never offensive. We are willing to die for what we believe! Veterans are/were simply willing, but by God’s grace alone did not pay the ultimate sacrifice for liberty.); 5) Sheep and soldiers follow the commands (voice) of the leader. They do not follow those they do not trust! These are just five similar characteristics. The similarities are multiplied many times over.

So, how does Jesus stack up in this soldering/shepherding relationship. Before we leave John 10, let’s notice the lesson Jesus gives to his disciples. First note, the disciples were not tracking with him and the shepherd metaphor. Verse 6, Jesus used a figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. So, Jesus was more specific in verse seven…“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” Another way of saying no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). But the real clincher is verses 17 and 18. “The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I am laying it down of my own accord (will). I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again (i.e. resurrection). This command I received from my Father!”

One might ask, what is so unique about Jesus among soldiers. Genuine human soldiers only die once! Jesus died “once for all.” He came to serve. But God brought his life back to Himself through the Holy Spirit and resurrection. What makes Jesus the soldier of all soldiers and veterans is his merger of human death with spirit life in resurrection! Human soldiers never rise from the dead. Only Jesus achieved in resurrection what death can never do for the earth-bound soldier. He gives life, freely, voluntarily and shares it with all who believe.

I’ve shared often in this newsletter my love for Romans 8:11, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” The Savior indeed took stripes upon Himself for our sins, but he gives back supernatural life to guide, protect, enable, encourage, and provide strength for the resurrected life. If any man is in Christ, he’s a new creature (II Cor 5:17).

The writer of Hebrews adds to “good shepherd” the moniker “Great Shepherd.” Indeed! Shepherd, yes; soldier-like, yes, a veteran in death, yes, but a Lifegiver to finish the plan of protection for dead “sheep” and lost souls. Jesus Christ did for us what no man can do. He is the consummate soldier/veteran, protecting the sheep as no other.

Trekker, let’s thank the Savior this Thanksgiving for the greatest gift possible known to man ever – the gift of Himself, His nature, His divine presence.

Thankful to be a soldier and shepherd on all counts,

Your friend,

Jim Meredith