Sermon for Easter 4: "The Shepherd and the Sheep" (John 10:11-18)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Hey, Sheep!]

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14).

Some time ago, a seminary professor visited two of his students who lived on a farm.

While there, the students’ father asked the professor if he would like to help call the sheep. The professor enthusiastically agreed.

“Go ahead,” the father asked. “Call them in.”

“What do you say?” the professor asked.

“I just say, ‘Hey, sheep! Come on in!’”

This sounds pretty easy, the professor thought. So, he began calling for the sheep, “Hey, sheep! Come on in!”

Not one sheep moved. He tried again and again. “Hey, sheep! Come on in!” No change. Not one sheep even twitched an ear.

Then the father smiled and said to the professor, “Have you ever read, ‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me’?” Then raising his voice slightly, the father said, “Hey, sheep! Come on in!” Then all 25 sheep turned and walked toward them.

You see, the shepherd establishes a relationship with his sheep. The shepherd knows his sheep and his sheep know him.

[The Good Shepherd]

In today’s gospel reading, our Lord Jesus Christ says, “I am the good shepherd.” Now, what does it mean to be the good shepherd? Well, in today’s world, the word “good” has changed. Today, most people understand “good” to be suitable or pleasant and implies that it could be better. What Jesus is saying here is the historic or traditional understanding of “good”, which means that He is the best or greatest shepherd. That is what He is saying.

And take notice to what Jesus is saying. He isn’t saying that He is a good shepherd. He is saying that He is the good shepherd.

And as the Good Shepherd, He knows His sheep.

In our First Reading, Luke — with the help of the Holy Spirit — writes, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Christ is the Good Shepherd. He alone is the only way to salvation by grace through faith in Him. Outside of the Good Shepherd, there is no hope for salvation.

By being the Good Shepherd, Jesus is saying that He is the only one “who lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11b). No other shepherd does that. No other shepherd is willing to die for His flock. This is what makes Him good.

[The Hired Hand]

Now, as sheep, we are prone to wander. We may even find ourselves following another shepherd, because we are attracted to teachers who preach what we want to hear.

Jesus said: “He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep” (John 10:12-13).

Jesus knows the sinful desires of men. Here Jesus is reminding everyone that the hired hand is not a shepherd.

Now, the hired hand is not totally wicked — unlike the wolf, who is wicked — but he is simply more committed to his own well-being than to the well-being of the sheep. He wants to be liked and does things that get the approval of the sheep.

Instead of preaching Law and Gospel, the hired hand may preach the “prosperity gospel” – which is all about your life now and refuses to mention that death is the result of sin and that Jesus has won salvation, life everlasting and forgiveness of sin to all who believe in Him. “Prosperity preachers” forget to realize that when we die, we can’t take our worldly possessions to heaven.

Or, the hired hand may preach gospel reductionism – or gospel only sermons – which refuses to mention the Law of God and why the Gospel truly matters.

Both of these “gospels” have no good news at all. They are all about the present and refuse to look at the future. For without the distinction of Law and Gospel, the sheep don’t know what to think and how to live as forgiven Christians.

As Martin Luther wrote[1], “(Hired hands) are never true shepherds who, in preaching, have their own popularity, profit and advantage in view. They are surely hirelings; for they seek their own advantage, even when they dispense the true doctrine and Word of God.”

You see, since the hired hand cares nothing for the sheep, they are “fair weather fans” of Christ. The hired hand retracts and denies the Word of God. Then when the wolf comes — who is Satan — he flees and lets the wolf destroy the sheep. 

So, in order to preserve the sheep, there must be pure teaching and God-pleasing unity in the Church. This is to done by the pastor – Christ’s under-shepherd – who presents pure, beneficial teaching correctly, and at the same time striking down false teachings, and he is there for Christ’s sheep, whether at church, a shut-in call, a hospital visit, or a prison visit. And, of course, the sheep should tell the under-shepherd when the pastor is needed, since we aren’t all-knowing like the Good Shepherd. For Christ’s under-shepherds are to pasture and feed the sheep and ward off the wolves.[2]

For this is why under-shepherds preach Law and Gospel, which afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted. We preach Law and Gospel to keep Christ’s sheep safe from the wolf — the devil — who would enjoy to devour each of us. 

You see, the devil seeks divisions. He also seeks compromise. But for Christ, He wants none of that. For Jesus says: “There will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16b). 

As one flock that follows one Shepherd, we are to be loyal to our Lord Jesus Christ. We look at ourselves and guide other Christians into following right teaching and tell others in love who are faltering on how to get back to the flock of Christ.

[The Sheep]

As Christians, we are Christ’s sheep. He purchased us at our baptism when we were born again with the water and His Word. We are also united to Christ through His body and blood for which He gives us in His Supper, which forgives our sins and strengthens our faith. In being one flock, this is why we examine ourselves to be in agreement with Christ’s body and blood and to the teachings of His Church.

Christ also tells us that He knows His flock and His flock knows Him: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14).

As His sheep, we listen when the Good Shepherd speaks, much like that father on the farm who calls his sheep and they listen and follow their shepherd.

We listen to Christ when He speaks, because His Words spring forgiveness of sins, salvation and life everlasting. You see, at His crucifixion on Good Friday, Jesus laid down His life for the sheep — His fallen people, both Jew and Gentile. Through His death, He purchased us at a price. But that wasn’t the end. And how were we purchased?

Jesus answers that: “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again” (John 10:17).

We know we were purchased and redeemed by Jesus, because He rose from the dead! Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

“By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for His sheep — all of us. Through His death and resurrection, He gives us life. He gives us hope. He gives us joy. 

As John writes in his epistle, as followers of Christ, we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in the faith to preserve the truth of Christ.

So, like Jesus, we lay down our lives that our brothers and sisters might be saved.

This is exactly what Stephen, Peter, Paul and countless others have done. They died for the truth of Christ. They did not bend or change Christ’s teachings. For it is never loving to bend to the world’s desires in hopes of being liked by the world and leave the flock to the wolves.

As Christ died and rose for His flock to grant us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. We, too, are to be aware at all times when God’s Word is threatened by the wolf. That is why we are to be in God’s Word and repent of our sins by asking God the Father for forgiveness.

Through Christ alone, our hearts and minds are comforted, because He is the one and only Good Shepherd, and not only that, He is also the very Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world for those who believe in Him.

By God’s grace, we have been given forgiveness, life and salvation through the Good Shepherd – who has laid down His life for you, the sheep. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 

 

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

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[1] Luther: “A Sermon on the Good Shepherd”, Church Postil, 1523.

[2] Book of Concord: The Formula of Concord (Solid Declaration), 529-530.

Sermon for Easter 2: "Light in Darkness" (1 John 1:1-2:2)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Don’t Look at Me, God]

 

A little girl discovered the secret to making mud one day, which she called “warm chocolate.”

 

After her grandmother cleaned up the mess, she told her granddaughter not to make any more chocolate.

 

The little girl soon resumed making her chocolate, saying sweetly, “Don’t look at me, Nana. Ok?”

 

Nana agreed.

 

So, she continued to work the mud, but three times she said, “Don’t look at me, Nana. Ok?”

 

Thus the tender soul of a little child shows us how necessary it is that we be unobserved in our wrong.

 

You see, anytime we choose to do wrong or to withhold doing right, we choose hiding as well. It may be that our most common prayer is simply this: Don’t look at me, God. Ok?

 

This was the very first prayer spoken after The Fall. God came to walk in the Garden to be with Adam and Eve and said, “Where are you?”

 

Adam answered, “I heard you in the Garden, and I was afraid, so I hid.”

 

Whenever we know we are doing something wrong, we do like to hide. We don’t want to be seen. Yet, God always knows.

 

[Walking in the Darkness]

 

In today’s epistle, John the Evangelist – with the help of the Holy Spirit – wrote about walking in the darkness and walking in the light.

 

John wrote: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6).

 

Now, we’ve all heard the sayings: Talk the talk, walk the walk, and practice what you preach.

 

This is what John is writing about. You see, the “walk” reveals the truthfulness of one’s claims and confession.

 

To walk in darkness is to live in sin and death. This is choosing death rather than life.

 

So, are you walking in darkness?

 

We are living in a world full of darkness: Shootings, stabbings, rape, stealing, and this list goes on. This is exactly what the Prince of Darkness likes. He is in favor of conflict, doubt, fear and quick response. He doesn’t want us to have rational thoughts. He doesn’t want us to think. All he wants is a reaction that causes more conflict.

 

So, could we have fellowship with Jesus while we walk in darkness?

 

No! But, we see this all the time. This is a problem that most of us have and it’s called hypocrisy. This is most easily seen in public life – such as politicians, who claim to be Christians, yet they vote or speak against Biblical truth.

 

So, if we say that we have fellowship with Jesus, yet walk in darkness, we are the living-dead in this sin-sick world and the consequences of this are dire indeed – eternal damnation in the darkness of hell.

 

And yes, Hell – is – real. If you aren’t aware of what I am referring to – it was reported last week that Pope Francis said that hell “does not exist.”[1] Now, the Vatican quickly rebutted this. Frankly, I don’t care what the pope says, but his words do have influence – even if he said it or not.

 

In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ is quite clear – hell exists for those who have turned against God.

 

The world of darkness is focused today on catchphrases, such as “Co-exist” and “being inclusive.” Sadly, this has even found inroads within many Christian church bodies.

 

For thousands of years, the entire Christian Church was in full agreement on morality – knowing right from wrong – but in the past 30 years, there has been a shift toward the darkness. But, why? – To be liked by the world – darkness, itself.

 

These denominations have changed morality without any evidence from God’s Written Word found in the Scriptures. Many denominations have fallen into the darkness of the world by saying that homosexual marriage is God pleasing, changing one’s gender is God pleasing, saying that murdering a child in the womb is God pleasing, assisted suicide is God pleasing, and cohabitation is God pleasing.

 

The thing is – they never consulted God with these changes. Instead, they are following the darkness of the world. They think they are eliminating sin, but God is quite clear on what is sin and His Word never changes, even if in our sinful minds we believe it has.

 

So they are saying: Don’t look at me, God. Ok?

 

[Walking in the Light]

 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

 

Every time we confess the one true Christian faith in the Nicene Creed, we confess that, “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God…”

 

You see, God is light. In John’s day, light was associated with excellence, purity, integrity, happiness, holiness, and wisdom. This is Jesus Christ.

·        He is excellent.

·        He is pure.

·        He is trustworthy.

·        He is happiness.

·        He is holiness.

·        He is wisdom.

 

Within all the darkness of the world, Jesus is the light shining in the darkness.

 

When we walk in the light, we live openly and honestly, without covering up our behavior. Now, it is impossible to become perfectionists when it comes to avoiding sin. We have a sinful condition –we are all by nature sinful and unclean – so we confess our sins to God our Father and ask Him for forgiveness.

 

You see, as children of the light, we live according to Jesus. We know that in this dark world, there is light by grace through faith in Jesus Christ – our Lord and Savior.

 

As Christians, we know that God is the only authentic and reliable source of life, hope and blessing – and not just for a select few – but for all people!

 

The promise of the gospel is for all people! Therefore, Christ commanded preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations, because the Lord does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance. Our Triune God is calling to all walking in darkness to repent and walk in the light of Christ.

 

As walkers of the light, we have fellowship with one another and we know that the blood of Jesus – shed on the cross – cleanses us from our sin, because Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!}

 

As sinners in need of a savior, Jesus suffered, died and rose to grant us forgiveness. For it is only His blood,

only His offering of Himself on the cross,

only His suffering and death that has the power to save –

·        the power to cover

·        the power to cleanse

·        the power to blot out every sin.

 

To sustain faith, Jesus instituted “the new testament in His blood,” given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. In the Sacrament of the Altar, He grants us to drink His blood, which redeems, purchases, and wins from all sins, from death, and from the power of the Prince of Darkness himself – the devil. This Sacrament strengthens and preserves all believers in both body and soul to life everlasting.

 

All of this was accomplished not with silver or gold, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. And how do we know this to be true? Because Christ did not remain in the grave! Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia!}

 

As John writes in his gospel, “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Amen!

 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

 

 

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

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[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/03/29/did-pope-francis-say-there-no-hell-not-quite-vatican-insists/470442002/

Sermon for Easter Sunrise: "Hope and Certainty" (John 20:1-18)

 

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!}

 

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead!” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 20a)

 

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

[Christ Triumphs]

 

Before the Communists seized control of Russia, it had been a long-established custom for relatives and friends to exchange verbal Easter greetings.

 

But when the Bolsheviks took over Russia, they wanted total control of thought and mind. Anatoly Lunatscharsky, the Bolshevik commissar for public education, delivered a public lecture in a large Moscow auditorium. He said that the Christian religion was now completely overthrown and that the Bible could easily be disproved. He felt so sure of himself that he challenged anyone in the audience to find a flaw in what he had just presented.

 

A young priest came forward, turned to the audience, and said, “Brethren – Christ is risen!”

 

With one accord, the vast audience cried out, “He is risen indeed!”

 

The priest then said, “I have finished. I have no more to say.”

 

Immediately, the meeting was closed. Fast-forward to today, communism did not destroy the Christian church in Russia. As the church in Russia was persecuted, it only became stronger, because as things turned bad, only Christ gave hope.

 

[Where’s Jesus’ body?]

 

On that first Easter day, Christ’s disciples did not know what to expect. For many of them, they thought all hope was lost. They saw their friend, Jesus, taken away on Thursday – then die nailed to a cross on Friday.

 

Yes, Jesus told his friends what would happen, but they still didn’t completely understand.

 

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).

 

What would you do if you were Mary? Likely, you would do what Mary did. She was shocked! Where did they take Him? She must tell someone!

 

“So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him!” (John 20:2)

 

Mary’s first thought was that grave robbers have taken away Jesus’ body.

 

Now, grave robbery was common during this era. It was so bad that Emperor Claudius eventually ordered capital punishment to be given out to those convicted of destroying tombs, removing bodies or even displacing the sealing stones.

 

But, when Peter and John arrived, they realized that the linen cloths were still there.

 

What grave robber would leave expensive linen and even more expensive spices?

 

When John saw this, he believed, but he and the other disciples still did not understand the Scripture. Then Peter and John went back to their homes.

 

[Why wasn’t Jesus in the Tomb?]

 

But Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the tomb. She still didn’t know what to believe. She then saw two angels who asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” (John 20:13a)

 

She responds: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:13b).

 

Then she turned and saw what she thought was the gardener. The man said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15a).

 

You see, Mary thought this man was involved in moving Jesus’ body. But, this man questions her saying: “Whom are you seeking?” It is likely this man is asking Mary, why wasn’t Jesus in the tomb?

 

Jesus did say over and over again that He would die and rise again, but they did not understand. He also said that their sorrow would turn to joy.

 

She responded: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” (John 20:15b)

 

Then the man spoke, “Mary.” She immediately knew this man was Jesus and she believed.

 

[Little Faith]

 

The disciples were slow to believe, just as we, too, can be of little faith.

 

If you were in that moment, how would you react to Jesus’ missing body? Would you be just like Mary questioning where they took the body?

 

Or would you be hiding out in a locked room, like the other disciples, out of fear that you could have the same fate as Jesus?

 

Unlike those disciples on that first Easter morning, we know the result of Christ’s death on the cross. For it has all been given to us through the Holy Spirit in God’s Word found in the Scriptures.

 

Yet, we can be of little faith, even with this knowledge.

 

Instead of coming to the Divine Service every Sunday to be with fellow Christians and receive God’s grace that increases our faith, we find other things to do.

 

Instead of reading God’s Word, we find ourselves caught in the affairs of the world.

 

Instead of following the Triune God, we find ourselves following the world and its values.

 

We may begin to think, “Ah, well, my sin isn’t that bad. At least I didn’t do what that guy did.”

 

But for God, all sins of thought, word and deed separate us from His love.

 

It doesn’t matter if you use God’s Name in vain, betray or hurt your neighbor’s reputation, or support the murder of unborn children – sin is sin.

 

We may rank sins, as not so bad to awful, but for God, all sin is equal to the next sin. For Satan, every sin brings you closer to him and that is his evil desire.

 

For us – living in 2018 – Satan has a definite grip on the culture at large. He has turned what is good and God-pleasing and warped it as evil. He has turned wrong into right.

 

But the good news is that when we repent of our sins and follow Jesus we are forgiven. Because Christ is risen from the dead, we know that this world is not the end. For we know that we are all strangers here. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. With hope and certainty, we know Christ has prepared a place for us – because He has said so.

 

As Christians, we live a particular way. We live knowing of hope. We live knowing of truth. We live knowing of certainty.

 

[Christ Is Risen!]

 

This hope and certainty is what we are celebrating this morning! For Christ, who was dead, is alive!

 

Christ is Risen! {He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!}

 

Because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, He alone has destroyed the power of sin, death and the devil upon everyone who believes and trusts in Him. Also, all Christians are now given the gift of sainthood, while at the same time a sinner.

 

We became holy through our Lord Jesus Christ, at which the Holy Spirit gave us faith at our Baptism. Christ covers us and wipes us clean of all our sins and shortcomings. This is what makes us saints.

 

To call yourself a saint is no presumption but an act of gratitude and a confession of God’s blessings.

 

We are made holy by grace through faith – only through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. As holy people, we still sin against God. This is why God gives us His Means of Grace – His nourishment – which forgives us our sins and strengthens our weak faith, through Confession of Sins, Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This is why we come to the Divine Service. You see, without God’s nourishment, we become frail and starve. Our faith is on life support. We wander looking for something to replace the one true God.

 

Instead, be like Mary Magdalene and say: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18) For you see Christ at each Divine Service when He forgives you and strengthens you with His Means of Grace.

 

So, let us all rejoice in knowing that our faith is not in vain! Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Just as He said! Amen.

 

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.