First Lesson: Acts 2: 42-47 Responsive Reading: Psalm 23 Second Lesson: 1 Peter 2: 19-25 Gospel Lesson: John 10: 1-10 Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him the sin of us all.”- Isaiah 53:6 I want to tell you this morning the story of an 8-year-old girl that I’ll call Sally[1]. The early years of Sally’s life were rough[2]. She was orphaned shortly after being born. At four years old, Sally was adopted. Sally’s hat a hard time fitting in with her new family, the biological children could never accept Sally. After a couple of rough years with this adopted family, the adoption was dissolved and Sally returned to the orphanage. Sally struggled every day with the pain of this rejection. At eight years old, Sally was adopted into another family[3]. Sally was hesitant to leave the orphanage again after a previous bad experience being taken in by strangers. The man now claiming to be Sally’s dad (Timothy) committed himself to welcoming Sally like she had never known. Timothy quickly found out that Sally’s previous family would vacation yearly at Disney World; the biological children would go along, whereas Sally would stay behind with a family friend. Sally had become convinced that the reason she couldn’t go to Disney World is that she was deficient compared to the biological brothers and sisters in some way. Sally had heard plenty about Disney World, she heard about rides, characters, and parades. Every year though Sally was unable to go. Every year, Sally would hurt over this. Timothy hears this about Sally’s previous family; Timothy realized this situation was not right. Timothy was going to make it his number one priority to have Sally see Disney World as soon as possible[4]. Timothy’s offer to see Disney World changed Sally and not for the better. In the months leading up to the trip to the Magic Kingdom, Sally got in trouble every way possible. She would sneak food and then fib about it. Sally would think of the meanest things that she could say to hurt her older sister. The closer to the trip to Disney World, the worst Sally seemed to behave[5]. Timothy was frustrated beyond belief, a few days before the trip Sally is in trouble yet again. Timothy takes Sally aside. Timothy begins trying to explain to Sally why what she had done was wrong yet again when Sally interrupts[6]. “I know what you’re going to do… You’re not going to take me to Disney World are you?” Timothy was speechless. All Sally’s life she had heard reasons why she couldn’t attend the Magic Kingdom, she rebelled because she didn’t want to be disappointed once again.” Timothy began thinking about Sally’s question. Timothy struggled with the temptation of the easy out in that very moment. Timothy had a great carrot to offer Sally “If you don’t behave better, we won’t take you.” Timothy though for reasons that he couldn’t figure out thought to say something different instead. He asked her. “Sally, Is this trip something we’re doing as a family[7]?” With tears in her eyes, Sally nodded “Yes.” “Sally, are you a part of this family?” Sally nodded once again. “Then you’re going with us… You’re part of our family, and we’re not leaving you behind[8].” What happened once Sally got to Disney World? We will get back to her story in a little bit. Today’s Gospel Lesson comes to us from John 10[9]. It’s a lesson where Jesus promises to be our Good Shepherd. To understand our lesson, you need to understand what takes place right before it. Jesus comes across a man born blind[10]. In Jesus’ day, blindness had been considered a curse brought about by some nasty sin (even Jesus’ disciples previously believed this.) Jesus heals this man born blind[11]. Not everyone though is happy with this healing though. When the blind man and his parents return home “Praising Jesus,” the religious leaders are not happy that the blind man was healed on the Sabbath, by someone far outside the religious mainstream of the day. So the religious leaders got nasty, they told the blind man and his parents to get lost. They were out of the synagogue and out of the community and they never wanted to see them again[12]. Now picture this situation, imagine being told that the only community you’ve ever known wants nothing to do with you ever again. Imagine being forced from your home out into the elements. Such a terrible scenario was the situation that the blind man and his parents found themselves. They were abandoned by their community, no different than Sally had been abandoned going to Disney World by her previous family. Jesus then hears the story about the blind man’s family situation and declares them to now be part of his family “forever.” Just like Sally and the trip to Disney World, this promise was not going to be dependent on conditions of good behavior being fulfilled. The promise that Jesus gives the blind man and his family is our Gospel Lesson for Today[13]. Jesus promises to be the “Shepherd of the Sheep.” Jesus used this language to illustrate how he was going to care for the blind man’s family moving forward? Sheep herding was one of the most common professions in Jesus’ day[14]. Shepherding was probably the first century equivalent of being a laborer, you would hire people to watch “your flocks, ” and they would have one job “keep your sheep alive.” The nature of shepherding is that it was a transient profession by nature, people would often leave “flocks” if they could get a little more money just down the road. Jesus wants to let the blind man’s family though that he intends to be a different type of shepherd “a good shepherd.” Jesus promises to “Gather the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he will gently lead those who have young[15].” We might know the famous Sunday school painting of Jesus holding the lamb in his arms[16]. What Jesus is saying to the Blind Man’s family today is that the promises of our faith are as secure in my arms as the lamb that Jesus holds in the painting. Jesus’ promises belong to the little Sally as she’s previously never truly “belonged” to a family in her life. These promises belong to us as our hairs get grayer and our bodies get weaker[17]. These promises go even to the Valley of the Shadow of death itself. The Good Shepherd promises to be with us in both good and bad times. The Shepherd promises to call us by “name” in Baptism; he promises to sustain our faith in his heavenly supper. The Good Shepherd promises that even as we encounter the grave, we shall soon encounter resurrection. What happened to Sally once she got to Disney World, Did Sally behave better on the car trip down to Orlando[18]? No, she didn’t. Still, Timothy was thoroughly committed to showing Sally Disney World. Sally has her day at Disney World, the day was nothing out of the ordinary, lots of money spent, lots of lines spent waiting in, with just enough “Disney Magic” sprinkled in so Sally would never forget it. Later that night, Sally was in the hotel room, looking across the room at her “new” Dad. Sally was tired, but Sally was different. Sally and Dad had prayed their prayers before Dad asked Sally “So how was your first day at Disney world[19]?” Sally seemed to drift off to sleep before answering the question, only to slowly open her eyes and then saying “Daddy, I finally got to go to Disney World. But it wasn’t because I was good; it’s because I’m yours[20].” Here’s the thing about shepherding. The whole nature of being a shepherd is because of the commitment to one’s sheep. A shepherd leads the sheep to water; a shepherd leads the sheep to pasture, A shepherd guards and protects his sheep from all wolves, thieves, and robbers. A Good Shepherd promises that the Sheep will always find their way home. A Good Shepherd promises never to stop trying to find the lost sheep. A Good Shepherd’s promises extend even when we wander away, even when we find ways to get in trouble in every way imaginable. A Good Shepherd’s promises extend forever. Sheep start out like Sally unsure whether the voice they hear can truly be trusted. Sheep eventually get more and more familiar though with the promises of their Shepherd’s voice. Eventually, Sheep realize that they need to trust in this voice, more so than any other voice that they don’t previously know[21]. Sheep pretty soon come to realize that they shall never stray from the Good Shepherd because the Good Shepherd promises never to stray from them. Amen [1][1] The name is creative license. Timothy is based on her father Timothy Jones the author of the book from which the story is taken. [2] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” Taken from Daniel Montgomery and Timothy Paul Jones’ book Proof: Finding Freedom Through the Intoxicating Joy of Irrestible Grace published by Zondervan in 2014. Web. May.1.2017. [3] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [4] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [5] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [6] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [7] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [8] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [9] John 1:10 [10] Lewis, Karoline. “Abundant Life.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. Saint Paul, MN. 7.May.2017. Web. May.1.2017. [11] John 9:1-12. [12] John 9:34. [13] John 10:1-10 [14] Schultz, Don. “The Good Shepherd Will Never Abandon You.” Sermon Central.com. 9.May.2003. Web. May.1.2017. [15] Isaiah 40:11. [16] Stier, Leon. “348)The Good Shepherd.” Email Mediatations. 25.Mar.2014. Web. May.1.2017. [17] Stier, Leon. 348)The Good Shepherd.” [18] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [19] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [20] Stories for Preaching. “Because I’m Yours…The Little Girl Who Finally Went to Disney World.” [21] Steir, Leon. “348)The Good Shepherd.” Comments are closed.
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