Text: John 10:22-30
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Last weekend at Confirmation we talked about discerning the voice of the Lord. Also, hearing, listening and obeying that same voice. At times, God’s voice is clear, direct and powerful and it is easy to discern what he means and what he expects of you and of me.
You shall have no other Gods
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet
Other times, God’s word causes us to wrestle with the truth of his word and how best to understand it as we deal in this life with sin, death and the devil.
Honor your father and Mother
Well, what if a mother or father has been or is an abuser of their children?
You shall not kill
How might this apply to warfare and accidents or unintended death? What about capital punishment?
Go, and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … Matt. 28:19
Is Baptism God’s work or mans?
Take eat, this is my body which is given for you … Take drink, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22: 19-20
Is Christ’s true body and blood in with and under the bread and wine or, as some denomination maintain, that it is simply a remembrance? These and other questions must be answered by God’s word in an honest and truthful way and though divisions exist we pray that by his word our lord would guide and direct.
Our gospel for today begins:
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. [Today this feast is known as Hanukkah or the festival of lights] It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.
The Feast of Dedication commemorated the reconsecration of the temple in Jerusalem after it had been desecrated. So here in the temple is Jesus, the true temple, who had said in John chapter 2: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again." speaking of his own death, burial and resurrection that we celebrated during Holy Week and Easter. This was in answer to the Jews who had demanded a miraculous sign of him.
Now, the Jews again ask, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
They ask to hear the voice of the lord but their ears are closed to his voice and they have no intention of hearing or obeying.
To this Jesus tells them - I told you and you don’t believe – and that the works that he does in his Father’s name bear witness about him. His death, burial and resurrection bear witness, His word of promise to make disciples by baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bear witness, His gift of body and blood, in and with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, bear witness.
To deny Jesus is to deny the witness and works he has done in his Father’s name.
The Jews did not believe so Jesus tells them: 26 …” you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.”
It is unbelief that damns us and separates us from Christ.
Ill.
Over the last few years we welcomed some dear Christian friends into membership here at Peace. It is always a great joy to celebrate with these new members their fellowship here at Peace. Some have been members of God’s flock at other places - for a good long time I dare say, but all are relatively new here to Peace. They all have been called to faith by the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ to believe and by the working of the Holy Spirit they remain steadfast in the faith, hearing the Good Shepherd’s voice, even through the weak vessels of Christ’s under shepherds. They have been received into this sheep fold that is Peace Lutheran church here because it is God’s church and he desires they be here with us and so we rejoice with them that they hear Christ’s voice here … and come.
But Christ also comforts with this promise … [“That] I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Christ’s promise is secure!
My friend Pastor Paul Monson who preached at my ordination gave me godly wisdom when I began my service here about the work of a pastor:
“It's about feeding sheep, caring for sheep, and running after stray sheep.”
But I would add one thing … that it’s also about joyfully welcoming the sheep from other sheepfolds that God has seen fit to send her - maybe only as visitors - to be fed and cared for at this time.
Ill.
C.S. Lewis once said:
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death. - Edited
C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed.
In the midst of sickness, test results, or impending surgery the Lord comes to mind to us all, doesn’t he? We see a great amount of souls added to the prayer list. But following the healing, good test results, or successful surgery we see some forget again the Lord Jesus and his gifts.
[Thoughts on Virginia Blasius Memorial and the word’s of Christ.]
It is certainly not what we do that keeps us in the faith. It is both God’s work that justifies or saves us, as well as, sanctifies or sustains us in that same faith … making us holy - even when we change churches.
We need to hear, listen and obey Christ’s voice.
When I first joined the Lutheran Church through adult confirmation in 1999 [coming from the Roman Catholic church through a nondenominational church] I picked out my own confirmation verse. Then I found out from Pastor Moritz that adults who come into membership don’t get to pick a confirmation verse.
Well being disappointed but not dissuaded I picked one anyway.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Over the last few years the Lord has worked to direct and guide us in aspects of mission and ministry here at Peace, many times bringing the things needed right to our door.
When Katherine gave us notice of taking a job at another church I made a call to Tammy Miller, she came on board as did Tim Prueter, Chris Kitzman Elizabeth and Amy Tkac to get us through the transition and even a guitar hymn as well.
When things needed to change because of budget issues God put things in place and Amy and Elizabeth stepped up along with the CD to keep are services in place.
It showed me once again that we just need to follow God’s leading and directing, trusting that he knows what is best for us … and listening to his word.
It is God who has worked in each of us faith and has brought us here. By his Spirit we hear and follow the good Shepherd call and by that same Spirit he will point, direct and keep us all in that same one faith.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
May the peace of the Lord be with you always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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