4 EASTER C John 10:22-30 David Eck
04/25/10
I. A shepherd and his sheep.
---This is one of the indelible images Jesus uses
---To describe our relationship with him.
---If we went to Sunday School as a child
---Chances are we saw a picture of Jesus
---With a lamb gently cradled around his shoulders.
Perhaps our teacher read us the parable
---Of the faithful shepherd who left the ninety nine
---Until he found the one missing lamb. [Luke 15:1-7]
Perhaps we glued cotton balls on a piece of green construction paper,
---Gave them legs, eyes and ears,
---And drew our best stick figure Jesus right beside them!
Even if we don't know a single thing
---About shepherding, or what it's like to work on a farm,
---The image of a shepherd and his sheep
---Is comforting and reassuring to us.
It reminds us that Jesus has our back.
---It reminds us that when we get lost, Jesus will find us.
---It is an image of nurture and compassionate care
---That speaks volumes about the kind of relationship
---Jesus wants to have with us.
II. This brings us to our gospel lesson where Jesus says
---"My sheep hear my voice.
---I know them and they follow me.
---I give them eternal life, and they will never perish."
This sheep reference is one of many
---That appear in the tenth chapter of John.
The chapter begins with Jesus referring to himself
---As the "gatekeeper" of the sheepfold.
To give you a visual image to go along with this
---In the hill country of Judea sheepfolds or sheep pens
---Were often constructed out of stacked stones.
These stones were placed in a rectangular or square configuration
---And shepherds would often build several of them side by side
---In order to take advantage of adjoining walls.
Each of these sheepfolds had a single gate.
---At night the shepherds would gather their sheep
---And place them in the pen
---In order to guard against predators and sheep rustlers.
The image Jesus paints here is one of safety and security
---Where Jesus says "the sheep follow him
---Because they know his voice.
---They will not follow a stranger…
---Because they do not know the voice of strangers." [Jn 10:5]
The language used here is similar to our gospel lesson
---It reminds us that Jesus is the one who is our Protector and Defender.
---He will keep us safe and sound.
---Snug as a bug in a rug, as the saying goes!
Who among us does not find this image of Jesus
---To be comforting and reassuring?
Who among us has not experienced a time in our lives
---When we felt unsafe, or vulnerable?
Jesus promises us that he will be our safety and security.
---However, the sheep have to rise to the challenge
---Of learning to recognize his voice
---And not be lured away by the voice of strangers.
It is Jesus' desire to protect us and keep us safe.
---However, that protection is limited
---If we choose to follow the voice of strangers
---And keep on making bad choices in life.
---[More on that later!]
III. As the chapter continues, Jesus switches his metaphor
---And compares himself to the gate or door of the sheepfold:
---"I am the gate for the sheep," he says.
---"Whoever enters by me will be saved,
---And will come in and go out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
---I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." [Jn 10:9-10]
This image is similar to the first
---And continues to expand the theme.
---Here Jesus employs salvation imagery
---And says that he not only desires to save us
---He also desires "that we may have life,
---And have it abundantly."
I believe this abundant life is not something
---That is ours only after we die.
---The abundant life Jesus desires for us
---Is meant to be enjoyed right here, right now.
As sheep who follow the gatekeeper's voice
---We are promised the fruits of the Spirit:
---Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
---Generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [Gal 5:22-23]
We are promised abundant life,
---Which may include financial blessings from time to time,
---But it's primary focus is spiritual blessings.
When we do receive unexpected financial blessings
---The Spirit of generosity that arises within us
---Knows we must give a portion of those blessings away
---To those who are in need.
The abundant life Jesus desires for us
---Is not meant for us alone.
---It must be shared with the other sheep!
IV. The final image in John 10
---Is where Jesus compares himself to a shepherd.
---"I am the Good Shepherd," Jesus says,
---"The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…
---I know my own, and my own know me." [Jn 10:11,14]
The reference to the cross is unmistakable, here.
---Jesus reminds us that those who listen to his voice,
---And trust him as their Shepherd, will have abundant life
---Not only here, but even after death.
To borrow imagery from Psalm 23,
---Even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
---Jesus will lead us to the green pastures and still waters
---Of his heavenly kingdom.
---There we will find shelter and safety for all eternity.
This shepherd image is the climax of the chapter.
---It is the message of Good Friday and Easter Sunday
---That we have recently celebrated.
Jesus is our Great Shepherd, the Gatekeeper, the Door of the Sheepfold.
---He is the one in whom we will find safety, security and abundant life.
I don't know about you, but sign me up for that!
---O Lord, I want to be in that number
---When the saints go marching in!
---When the sheep make their final journey
---To the green pastures of the Kingdom of God.
---Can I get an Amen?
V. Jesus is our Good Shepherd
---He is the Gatekeeper and Gate all rolled up into one.
Perhaps the only question we need to explore this morning
---Is how can we be sure we are listening to his voice
---And not the voice of strangers?
How can we be sure that we are entering into Christ's Sheepfold
---And not fall into the hands of sheep rustlers?
Well, it will not come as a surprise to anyone in this room
---That Christians argue about this all the time!
Some Christians have a list of things we must believe in
---If we are going to be considered part of Jesus' sheepfold.
Others say it's all about our desire to have a relationship
---With Christ, the Good Shepherd, and the rest will take care of itself.
So, how do we know that we are listening to the voice of Jesus
---And not the voice of strangers?
---Is it about belief? Is it about relationship? Or a combination of both?
Well, there are about a million ways I could answer this question.
---But the way I'm going to answer it this morning
---Is through Abiding Savior's Guiding Principles
---Which the Church Council adopted in October 2006.
Hopefully, everyone in this room is familiar with them.
---If not, they are posted on our church's web site
---And there are printed copies of them available in the narthex.
These Five Principles are what we use as a church
---To ensure that we are listening to the voice of Christ our Shepherd
----Instead of the voice of strangers.
Believe me, there are Christians out there
---Who would vehemently disagree with us
---On these five principles,
---But they are the way that we have chosen
---To define ourselves as a church.
1. GOD ALWAYS COMES DOWN
We believe there is NOTHING we can do to earn our salvation,
---Win God's forgiveness or buy eternal life.
---Romans 3:28 says, "we are made right with God through faith
---And not by obeying the law [NLT]."
God came down to us in Jesus.
---God still comes down in bread and wine, in water and word,
---And in the fellowship of believers.
----The only thing we can do is accept this gracious gift through faith
---And say "Thank you."
2. JESUS IS OUR CENTER
We believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
---John 3:16 says, "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
---So that everyone who believes in him may not perish
---But may have eternal life [NRSV]."
This is the center of our faith and our church.
---However, we also believe that godly people
---Can disagree with one another on a variety of issues.
We honor this diversity of thought and affirm
---That we can learn a great deal from those
---Whose opinions are different from our own.
3. EVERYONE IS WELCOME
We believe that everyone is welcome at Abiding Savior
---No matter who they are or where they are on life's journey.
Galatians 3:28 says, "There is no longer Jew or Greek,
---There is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female;
---For all of you are one in Christ Jesus. [NRSV]"
This means we strive to make Abiding Savior a community of grace
---Where people do not have to be afraid
---Of being rejected or excluded because of who they are.
4. EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER
We believe God has blessed everyone with a diversity of gifts
---"to equip the saints for the work of ministry,
---for building up the body of Christ." [Eph 4:12, NRSV]
We are committed to helping everyone discover their unique gifts
---And encourage them to use these gifts to serve the church and the world.
5. LOVE CHANGES PEOPLE
We believe people aren't changed by rule books, lectures or laws;
---They are changed by love.
---Something happens when we meet the God
---Who loves us and welcomes us home.
In John 15:12, Jesus said, "This is my commandment,
---That you love one another as I have loved you."
---We seek to follow Jesus' example
---And strive to love God, each other and the world
---Through acts of justice-making, compassion, service and prayer.
These Five Principles are the way we ensure
---That we are listening to the voice of Jesus
---And not the voice of strangers.
There are those in other churches and denominations
---Who would disagree with us on these Five Principles.
---However, I challenge anyone to spend some time with us
---And see if they can come to any other conclusion than
---Jesus is the Shepherd of this Sheepfold!
---Abundant life is springing up everywhere!
---God's people are being loved, fed, equipped
---And sent out into a world where many
---Are lost sheep in search of a shepherd.
Friends in Christ, let us rejoice today
---And give thanks that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
---May we follow his voice, now and forever.
AMEN
0 comments:
Post a Comment