LIVING INTO THE RESURRECTION 3
Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30
4th Sunday of Easter, May 8, 2022
Pastor Ritva H Williams
Good morning and welcome to Episode 3 of my Eastertide sermon series, Living into the Resurrection. Episode 1 introduced us to Jesus the Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth who loves us and frees us to know, live, and share God’s love for all creation.
In Episode 2, we were shown a vision of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth singing praises to God and the Lamb, and to give encouragement and support to each other. Here the Lamb is an image of the Christ who rules with “Lamb power,” a lifestyle centered around self-giving love, nonviolent resistance and courage in opposition to injustice, solidarity, and forgiveness.
Today’s episode begins with another glimpse of the spirit world. This time John sees a great multitude that cannot be counted, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. This reveals that the community gathered around the Lamb is all-inclusive. It is has no borders. It does not sort humans according to ethnicity or race, age or size, gender or sexuality, legal, economic or social status. The community gathered around the Lamb grows out of the love and freedom each one experiences in Christ. This community stands together, endures patiently, and resists without violence. The community gathered around the Lamb proclaims the truth that “Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb” not to empires or rulers or armies, or any other humanly devised institution or system.
An important feature of this community is that its members have come through “the great ordeal” or “tribulation.”
Professor Israel Kamudzandu writes, Revelation calls Christians to remember that they are not sealed or baptized from the challenges of life but rather we are made ready to go through whatever comes against us in our faith journey … baptism does not exempt us from sickness, betrayals, wars, and other calamities … While many Christians want to go to heaven, many miss the point that before heaven, there is tribulation … all Christians [indeed all human beings] are candidates [for] tribulation in one form or another … whatever comes their way, it is paramount to follow the Lamb’s way. (workingpreacher.org, 2016)
The good news is that in the midst of whatever trials and tribulations we experience in life, God is with us, sheltering us like a canopy shielding us from hunger, thirst, sunburn, and scorching heat. Best of all, the Lamb at the center of the throne is our Shepherd, guiding us to springs of living water, and wiping away our tears.
The fact that the Lamb is also our Shepherd was hinted at last week, when we heard the Risen Christ instruct Peter: “feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep.” And then discovered that the Risen Christ is the Lamb who was slain yet stands. Today that hint is turned into certainty as John’s vision clearly states that the Lamb of God and will be our Shepherd. So it is no surprise that the Revised Common Lectionary links Revelation 7 with a reading from the Good Shepherd discourse in John’s Gospel.
This morning’s Gospel lesson comes at the end of that discourse, so first let me remind you how that goes. Jesus begins with a parable about the relationship of shepherd and sheep:
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep … the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger … because they do not know the voice of strangers (John 10:2-5).
When Jesus’ audience doesn’t get the point he is trying to make, so he boldly declares:
I am the gate for the sheep … I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture … I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:7-10).
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep … I am the good shepherd, I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold, I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (John 10:11, 14-16)
Jesus’ words cause some in the crowd to think he is demon-possessed and out of his mind, while others are certain he is God’s anointed one (John 10:19-21). When Jesus comes to the Temple again at Hanukkah, they ask him to tell them plainly whether he is the Messiah or not. Jesus points to the evidence of his words and words, ending with, “you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:26-27).
There is a tension and mystery between God’s purpose and human response. God sent God’s Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:16-17). Some hear Christ’s voice, follow, and are saved. Others neither hear nor follow, and so condemn themselves. Neither we, nor even Jesus himself, can talk or argue people into faith.
The challenge for us is to discern the Shepherd’s voice amidst all the other voices clamoring for our attention. Many claim to speak for God, but we do not always recognize how contrary they are to the voice of the Good Shepherd. For instance, there are voices that tell us we must have a particular kind of religious experience, or believe a certain doctrine in order to be saved. Other voices insist true Christians must hate certain sins, take a specified stance in the cultural wars, or vote for particular positions. By way of contrast, the voice of the Good Shepherd says, “You belong to me already, I know you, I love you, listen, and follow.” The Good Shepherd always speaks of Lamb Power, of self-giving love, nonviolent resistance and courage in opposition to injustice, solidarity, and forgiveness.
So here’s the bottom line. Each of us is a lamb of God called to listen and follow the Good Shepherd in living in compassionate and life-giving ways, and to live our own leadership – as parents, educators, business or community leaders – as good shepherds, providing, protecting and guiding those under our care.
Please pray with me this prayer adapted from one written by Pastor John van de Laar: Lamb of God, Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you to care for all that are close to us, to protect those who are threatened, to welcome those who are rejected, to forgive those who are burdened by guilt, to heal those who are broken and sick, to share with those who have little or nothing, to take the time to really know one another, and love as you have loved us.
Lamb of God, Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you to spread compassion to those who are far away, to speak for those who are voiceless, to defend those who are oppressed and abused, to work for justice for those who are exploited, to make peace for those who suffer violence, to take the time to recognize our connectedness, and to love as you have loved us.
Lamb of God,
Teach us to to be faithful shepherds in your name.
Amen.
