Yesterday was the 4th Sunday in Easter. By tradition, it is named Good Shepherd Sunday. The featured text of the day was from John 10 where Jesus describes a good shepherd as someone to be trusted. Sheep will listen to and follow a voice that they know. Unfortunately, as we well know, there are competing voices in our lives. We, like sheep, can be lead astray if we aren’t careful. And we probably know something about wolves in sheep’s clothing. Obviously, there is a distinction between the dependable and the treacherous. In a similar way, Jesus told his own followers that the sound of someone’s voice is often the difference between the trustworthy and the untrustworthy.
Sometimes, in American popular religion, I think we put too much emphasis on what we think, or what we do, or what we believe, rather than on what God in Christ does. Psalm 23, which we read yesterday, clearly asserts that the sheep are in relationship with the shepherd on the basis of what the shepherd does and not on the basis of what sheep do. Here is great reassurance for us. We are loved unconditionally. The Good Shepherd wants us, warts and all! We are good enough for him. You and I are in the flock because we know his voice and follow him. He knows us, speaks to us, and that’s what it takes.
The bottom line is this—the resurrection of Jesus has a way of penetrating down deep into our everyday lives. It is the means whereby we are enabled to see the world, not as a place of death/decay/defeat, but as the place awaiting the final victory of God. The text of John 10, in conjunction with Psalm 23, deals with the reality of how Easter gets to us and where we live. Jesus keeps coming back to us. He leads us. Easter is the first and last great promise that Jesus will not let us go. Isn’t it nice to be sheep?!!
Baa-ingly yours,
Pastor Gary
Sometimes, in American popular religion, I think we put too much emphasis on what we think, or what we do, or what we believe, rather than on what God in Christ does. Psalm 23, which we read yesterday, clearly asserts that the sheep are in relationship with the shepherd on the basis of what the shepherd does and not on the basis of what sheep do. Here is great reassurance for us. We are loved unconditionally. The Good Shepherd wants us, warts and all! We are good enough for him. You and I are in the flock because we know his voice and follow him. He knows us, speaks to us, and that’s what it takes.
The bottom line is this—the resurrection of Jesus has a way of penetrating down deep into our everyday lives. It is the means whereby we are enabled to see the world, not as a place of death/decay/defeat, but as the place awaiting the final victory of God. The text of John 10, in conjunction with Psalm 23, deals with the reality of how Easter gets to us and where we live. Jesus keeps coming back to us. He leads us. Easter is the first and last great promise that Jesus will not let us go. Isn’t it nice to be sheep?!!
Baa-ingly yours,
Pastor Gary
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