Fourth Sunday of Easter
Text: John 10:22-30
Pastor Jean M. Hansen
Whenever I hear today’s Gospel reading, I think of a gentleman I met in Alexandria, Egypt ______ years ago. I was with a clergy study group and had the privilege of staying in his home with his wife and two daughters for a few nights. They were Christians in a country where Christians were persecuted in both subtle and overt ways. They spoke Arabic, which I do not speak, and I speak English, which they did not speak. But one of the daughter’s fiancé knew some English. So, one evening the father, definitely the family patriarch, brought out the Bible and indicated through his future son-in-law that he would share his favorite verse with me.
It was John 10:27-28. “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. No snatching allowed.
Given his age and situation, I’ve always wanted to know what made that verse so significant to him, especially the snatched part, which he emphasized. No doubt he encountered real dangers because of his faith, while I have not. How I wish he could have shared his story with me!
I’ve remembered that event often since then and may have described it to you previously. What I don’t recall reading until now, though, is that the Greek word translated “snatch” is a strong one, it’s often associated with violence or war. In other words, being snatched was something to fear. Who knew that these thousands of years later the news would bring real-time examples of how being snatched is something to fear and the promise of scripture continues, “…no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Now, let’s do a little context. This text is part of the “Good Shepherd discourse” in which Jesus used a metaphor of a shepherd protecting the sheep from thieves and bandits to describe his relationship with his followers. In doing so, he indicated that he sensed an acute threat to his followers from those who sought to kill and destroy them. The events in today’s reading occurred sometime after he shared that metaphor and its warning.
It was the Festival of the Dedication, or Hanukah, which celebrated the rededication of the temple following its defilement by Greek ruler Antiochus IV, who called himself “God made manifest”. The location of this debate is the portico of Solomon, the place from which the kings of Israel would render judgement.
It’s not clear with whom Jesus is having this conversation, but it’s probably not those who support him. They want to know, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” It’s likely that they want him to say something that will make it possible to bring charges against him. Jesus questioned their sincerity because he pointed out that he had both told them and shown them who he is, but they do not believe. It’s not that the message was not getting out, it was that these people do not like the message they were getting. They were looking for a particular type of Messiah; a liberator, not a healer and forgiver.
Then Jesus told them plainly who he is, saying: “The father and I are one.” WOW…it’s no wonder that the next verse, which we didn’t read, tells us that crowd had picked up stones and were ready to attack Jesus. There he was, in the place of judgement, on a holiday that celebrates the defeat of one who claimed divinity, saying that he is one with God … he is God! Then, as if to clarify, he tells them, “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe in me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (John 10:37-38)
Pastor JoAnn Taylor sums it up with these words, “Christ’s identity is clearly demonstrated in what he does. He is doing the work of the Father. That’s his job. Our identity as his sheep is just as clearly demonstrated in what we do. Our job is to follow him. And the only way we can follow him is to listen to his voice and go where he calls us to go. The way we act tells the world who Jesus is. The things we do tell the world who Jesus is. What we say tells the world who Jesus is. And what we do and say also tells the world who we are, and whose voice we obey.” (1)
If we are serious about it, being sheep will be simultaneously challenging and fulfilling, especially in an environment where what it means to follow Jesus is often misrepresented and unnerving things are happening all around us. Yet, we have the promise of Jesus that meant so much to that gentleman is Egypt. “No one will snatch them out of my hand,” not now and certainly not in eternity.
This week I talked with our preschoolers about the church’s stained glass windows. We marveled about the window over the organ, looking for the sun, moon, stars, buildings, flowers, and, of course the Lamb representing Jesus in the middle. Then we went into the SJ/SP Foyer and looked at a different type of stained glass, the Jesus the Good Shepherd window.
A child asked why Jesus was holding a lamb, and I noted that it’s a reminder that just as a shepherd loves the sheep and keeps them safe, Jesus also holds us close and keeps us safe. With wide eyes came the next question, “How can Jesus hold us? followed by, “How can Jesus hold grown-ups?” I said “that’s a good question” twice to buy time, and once again marveled that children ask what we all want to know.
We are held in God’s heart, which often reveals itself as unaccounted for peace and trust in the lives of those in the most difficult situations. Mostly, though, I think Jesus holds us through each other. One of our most important tasks as sheep is to communicate through our words and actions that God will not abandon us, and that Jesus will hold us through all things. It’s a vital message when people feel unsafe and unworthy. In the face of such realities, we speak and live an even greater reality, the reality of God’s unyielding love. So, we speak up, we offer support, we meet needs, we remember that what we do and say tells the world who we are, and whose voice we follow. No snatching allowed. Nothing can snatch us … any of us … out of the hand of Jesus. AMEN
“The Shepherd’s Voice – Sermon on John 10:22-23” by JoAnn Taylor, May 8, 2022, www.pastorsings.com