4th Sunday of Easter – Sermon 51

13th February 2011 Off By Derek Buckthorpe

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

AMEN

Introduction

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Chris is the resurrection and the life , – raise us who trust in Him – from the death of Sin to the life of righteousness –

The opening lines in our collect – emphasizing the importance of trust – and faith in Jesus Christ – for receiving forgiveness and eternal life –

To trust someone is to be totally honest and dependent on them – to believe that they will not let you down – to allow them to have a major influence on our lives –

Is that how we feel about Jesus?

Our Gospel reading recounts – the discussions between Jesus and some Jews in Jerusalem – in the Temple precinct – when they ask Him who He is and why He is here – He tells them what it means to be one of His disciples –

We are going to look at what was said – to see if it helps us in our relationship with Jesus

First Point Knowing Jesus

Our Gospel reading begins with the words “It was winter” – and as we will see from the reading – this phrase not only describes the time of year – but also the mood of Jesus’ hearers.

I was the time of the Festival of the Dedication – also known as Hannuka – or festival of lights – which is still – held today on the 25th day of the Jewish month Chislew (December) and very near our Christmas time.

The Festival celebrates events that happened in Jerusalem nearly 200 years before Jesus’ time – when Judas Maccabeuas defeated the Syrians and re-established Temple worship after the they tried to replace it with a pro-Greek culture. It was one of the greatest times of ordeal – and heroism in Jewish history. Over 80,000 Jews perished at the hands of the King (Antiochus) – and many were sent to slavery – people were crucified for possessing a copy of the Law or for circumcising their children. .

So when the Jews around Jesus asked – Him
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense – Tell us plainly – are you the Messiah?”

They were really asking Him – Are you the new Maccabean deliverer – are you going to free us from the Romans? – Are you the new light of freedom for Israel?

But Jesus’ reply wasn’t aimed at glorifying Himself –

“I have told you” said Jesus “and you do not believe – my deeds done in my Fathers name are my credentials”

Jesus draws their attention to two things – their lack of faith – and that they should know who He is from the miracles and deeds that God does – through Him –

Jesus’ miracles were performed for a specific purpose – not to cure or reverse death – but to bear witness to God – and His message of salvation – through Jesus.

For those who are healed – like Tabitha – in our reading from Acts – it was only a temporary reprieve – eventually she would die – the miracle was performed for salvation of the soul – which is much more important – and permanent.

I enjoyed immensely the recent television series “Son of God” presented by Jeremy Bowen – it was a telling comment that he made on breakfast television – just before the series came out – that even with His knowledge of Jerusalem and the Jewish people – and his involvement in putting the series together and researching Jesus’ life – he still remained a non Christian

It’s a sad fact that even in today’s high tech world of communication, the internet and television – where a large amount of documentary and scientific evidence of Jesus’ life and death are available to us – there are still many like those Jews – who don’t believe –

To know the facts about Jesus is one thing – to believe and have faith in Him as Lord and Saviour – is quite another – if we are to trust and depend upon Him we must get to know Him as a person – for who He really is – the Son of God –


Point 2

Faced with their wintry response Jesus directs the conversation towards a familiar metaphor – that of the shepherd and His sheep – in fact – This is the only parable in John’s Gospel which is given in the first 5 verses of the chapter – taken from the 35th chapter of the book of Ezekiel – one of the lessons assigned in the Synagogue during the Feast

Jesus tells them what it means to be one of His followers
“My own sheep listen to my voice, I know them and they follow me”

Jesus’ expression “my own sheep” points to the close relationship He has with His believers –

In Palestine the shepherd lives with his sheep – and leads them all over the countryside searching for grass and water – (they don’t have sheep dogs) – He gives them individual names often as a description of each ones peculiarities – they know his voice – and respond to it –

On a trip to the Holy land – a few years ago there was a great example of this -when a shepherd and his flock approached our bus – the shepherd only had to say one word – and all the sheep immediately changed direction – and went the other way –

Sheep are faithful animals – and have complete trust in the shepherd – Just as the sheep listen to and follow the voice of the shepherd – so we must listen to and follow – Jesus

Jesus said – “I give them eternal life and they will never perish, no one will snatch them from my care – My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s care”

Jesus provides us with a special kind of security – reinforced by the creator Himself – He gives us a free right to heaven – to join – the great multitudes – as our reading from Revelation puts it

“who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”

Jesus the great Shepherd – became the sacrificial lamb – and saved the flock –

Under the old covenant sheep were offered as blood sacrifices for the shepherd – under the new covenant – the shepherd offers Himself as a blood sacrifice for the sins of His sheep –

Sin is failing to give God a proper place in our lives

Jesus died on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven – so we can be led back to a relationship with God – He is the shepherd who has a love for us – that is stronger than death

“never again shall they hunger or thirst”

He rescued us from ourselves – reached down to the deepest point of our need – and satisfied it –

“never again shall the sun beat on them or any scorching heat”

through the cross we are led to a new freedom from life’s torments – freed from failure and frustration

Through the cross – the strength of God’s love more than matches the power of sin – there is no longer any need for hostile feelings – towards ourselves – others – and God –

Love is at the center of Jesus’ relationship with God – and at the center of His relationship with us – through love we are all one with Him and the Father –through love we can become the people God wants us to be

Point 3 So are we His sheep ?

So we’ve heard from the Jews – we’ve heard from Jesus – what about us? – what about our relationship with Jesus – are we part of His flock?

Do we – “listen to His voice – and follow His lead”?
Jesus speaks to us through the Holy Spirit –

When we read the Bible – the Spirit interprets it for us – He illuminates Jesus’ teaching – and helps us apply it to our situation –

Jesus speaks to us through Prayer – when we pray we receive as well as send – we need to take time each day – listen for a message – a thought – an impulse – the best time is in the morning – so we can get the maximum benefit – for the day ahead

Jesus talks to us through other Christians – He uses our everyday conversations and gestures to direct our thoughts –Jesus works through others to build up our faith and commitment to each other – and to Him –

But Jesus says Listening is not enough – the great test of hearing – is to give a response –

When a parent – calls to their young child to come in – from playing outside – in the garden – or with their friends – it is not until there is the answer – “I’m coming” – that they know everything is alright – if there is no answer they go and look for them

It’s the same for Jesus – when we don’t respond He wonders if we’re safe – and comes to look for us

And as we learn from our reading from Acts –

When Jesus does call on us – He asks us to do something – – that is within our means and capabilities –

Jesus values the gifts and ministry of every member of His flock – everyone hear has something to offer – we may think our talents are insignificant – but when yielded to God for His blessing – they possess the potential for greatness

Our reading from Acts tells us how the simple offerings of a dressmaker and her needle – were able to spread the love of Jesus to all she cam into contact with – our true value is not in what we are by ourselves – but in what we can achieve when put in the hands of the God –

Conclusion

Faith that doesn’t involve a change in our behaviour is not a genuine faith – its one thing to listen to the word – its another to allow it to take authority over our lives –

God calls out to us – through His Son – to come to Him – to listen to Him – and to go where the shepherd leads – everything we have to give will be used for the benefit of His Kingdom –

And if we are prepared to become part of Jesus’ Flock – He promises us a quality of life that cannot be beaten – and that will last for eternity


Prayer to Finish

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit –
 
AMEN

Video of Sermon 51 on You Tube