May 8 2022

Easter 4 May 8 2022



First Reading: Acts 20:17-35

Psalm: Psalm 23

Epistle: Revelation 7:9-17

Gospel: John 10:22-30



Sermon Text: John 10:22-30
Sermon Title:



Grace to you and peace, from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, Jesus had not been to Jerusalem for about two months prior to our text this morning, but He returned for this celebration. “At that time, the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem”. (John 10:22a) Do any of you know the other names by which this feast is called? Many today call it “the Festival of Lights” or Hanukkah. This festival was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus, and it celebrated their victory over the Syrians and the cleansing and rededication of the temple in 167-164 B. C. following its desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes. The festival lasts 8 days and begins in mid/late December; thus John records “it was winter”. (John 10:22b)

“Jesus was walking in the temple in the colonnade (or porch) of Solomon” (John 10:23) which was an area on the east side of the temple, with a roof supported by columns that provided some protection from the weather. This was a popular place for rabbis/teachers to gather with their students/disciples; so, it is assumed that at least some of Jesus’ disciples were with Him, though it is not mentioned by John.

“The Jews (leaders who were hostile towards Jesus) gathered around Him and said to Him; how long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly”; (John 10:24) which, of course, He had already done. Jesus is once again face to face with His adversaries, who accuse Him of being unclear with regards to whether or not He is the Christ. The word “suspense” here literally means to keep their souls in a state of uncertainty. But, what they say about Jesus is not true. They blame God for being unclear when in reality, they understood perfectly well what He was saying; they just didn’t like it. They did not want to be corrected or repent, they wanted to be justified by their own (so called) good works. They wanted to teach, rather than be taught by God’s Word; like so many in the church today.

“Jesus answered them, I told you and you did not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name bear witness about Me”. (John 10:25-26a) Jesus knew their understanding and their motives; that they were willfully stubborn and hard of heart towards Him saying “but, you do not believe because you are not part of My flock”. (John 10:26b) So, Jesus declared them to be unbelievers who refused to hear and believe His Word. The Word of God remained hidden from them, as the Scriptures declare in many places will happen to the unbeliever.

Yet, Jesus continues to preach to them, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand”. (John 10:27-28) Therefore, eternal life is a gift of Jesus, given in and through the means of grace, as we saw this morning in the baptism of Ansley Jo. Ansley did nothing to earn God’s grace; it was given as a free gift.

These verses also mean that Jesus’ sheep actually “listen to His voice” (John 10:16b) and teaching, even when He speaks hard words to them, and calls them to repent and confess their sins. What great words of comfort these are to us poor miserable sinners. So, we pray with the psalmist, “give me understanding that I may keep Your law, and observe it with my whole heart … Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. (Psalm 119:34, 105)

Jesus’ sheep are also safe from being snatched away by the devil or other enemies of the church. This does not mean what some call “once saved, always saved”. No one can snatch us away from Christ, but we can choose to neglect, abandon, rebel against God and His Word and separate ourselves from His kingdom of grace; but Jesus’ word is clear, “My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”. (John 10:29) Jesus can say this with absolute certainty, because being true God as well as true man, “I and the Father are One”. (John 10:30)

This saying of Jesus is profound, and it quickly provokes the wrath of the Jews; for in saying this, Jesus is also “telling them plainly” that He is true God, and this is exactly how the Jewish leaders took what He said. “They picked up stones again to stone Him … (saying) we are going to stone you for blasphemy, because You being a man, make Yourself God”. (John 10:31-33)

Many of them continued to harden their own hearts towards Jesus, even claiming “He has a demon and is insane” (John 10:20a). All this, after He had spoken to them that He is “the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep”. (John 10:11) Jesus did nothing but good for people and He spoke nothing but the truth. Instead of embracing the salvation offered by Jesus, “they again sought to arrest Him” (John 10:39a) and in a little over a week, Jesus would be arrested and crucified for the sins of the world.

Jesus did not have to be persuaded to do this; for He said, “no one takes My life from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord”. (John 10:18a) Jesus is now risen bodily from the dead, thus conquering death and He lives and reigns to all eternity. He has told us that hostility and persecution will continue to be the norm for His sheep, until He comes again in glory; to judge the living and the dead. The Apostle Paul also wrote, “Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God”. (Acts 14:22)

Therefore, whatever any Christian endures for the sake of their faith in Jesus, is rightly called a cross, and we receive the same treatment from the world that Christ received. Luther said “A Christian, just because he is a Christian … must suffer at the hands of men and the devil; who plague and terrify him with tribulation, persecution, poverty and illness, and inwardly, in his heart, with his poisonous darts”. In all these things, Jesus watches over and cares for all the needs of His sheep.

Our (very familiar) Psalm today also speaks of the Lord Jesus as being our (Good) shepherd; confessing “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake”. (Psalm 23:1-3) These first three verses speak primarily of the Lord’s provision for His sheep each and every day of their earthly lives; both material and spiritual blessings; leading us on the right path.

Then in verses 4-6 we see how The Good Shepherd provides for us in times of sickness and persecution and death, and on into eternal life. “Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me”. (Psalm 23:4) The Lord Jesus Christ has suffered death and risen from the dead for us. He has walked this valley before us; defeating death by His own death, so that we need not fear death or devil or worldly powers; because “He is with us”. (Psalm 23:4)

“Thou preparest a table before me (even) in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over”. (Psalm 23:5) Even when we are harassed and persecuted for His namesake; for being His sheep; the blessings He gives to us in Word and sacrament; overflow. As the Apostle Paul wrote; “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”. (Romans 8:18) “And we know that for those who love God; all things work together for our good” (Romans 8:28) even suffering and death. He gives us the strength we need to bear our crosses and trials through His Word of forgiveness; the Gospel.

Therefore, we are certain that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”. (Psalm 23:6) “For I am sure that neither death nor life … or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”; (Romans 8:38b-39) our Good Shepherd (and leader); who has laid down His life for the sheep. As His sheep, we gladly hear Jesus’ voice in His Word, and we follow Him, no matter the cost, for in Him alone we have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Amen.

The peace of God …

Amen.











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