Well that is the Brechin City Football Club season
over for a couple of months. That means for the basic observers of the sport
that there is a wee break. But for the serious fan and those in management this
is just the beginning to get ready for the new season. So it was in the early
church in those days after the resurrection and though it seemed quiet and the
Pharisees seemed off the hook for what they had done in arresting Jesus and
having Him crucified. There was this absence of that Jesus guy and his annoying
disciples. But behind the scenes there was a lot happening and Jesus was
teaching and preparing his disciples and followers for the work that was soon
to be set before them—the start of the Church.
So as we prepare for this the Forth Sunday After
Easter the gospel text shares that Jesus in John 10:1-10 compares himself to a
shepherd as he talks about the relation between sheep and their shepherd. The
fact that sheep don’t follow strange shepherds but rather the one whose voice
they recognize. Then in verse 11 Jesus says quite plainly “I am the good
shepherd, the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
Peter then in the New Testament text, 1 Peter 2:19-25, says in verses 23-25 “…He did not
threaten, but committed Himself to
Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the
tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose
stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now
returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” This was both saying that
Jesus was the shepherd who gave his life and a reminder that we are to be the
sheep.
We know it is not the building
that makes up the church but rather the people who attend and participate. We
should be the sheep that follow the shepherd and make up His church. It is
about learning to follow the guidance of the shepherd. Just as in football the
team must follow the manager and the rules of the game. So it was for the early
church. They had to follow Jesus and the doctrine that he had taught.
So the Reading from
Acts 2:42-47 tells us the response of the new sheep, the new members of that
early church. “And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through
the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had
need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.”
This should guide us on our own journey through life and as we seek to
see our own response to the manager and rules, Jesus and the Scripture texts. I hope our response is like
the disciples in that we come from fear and doubt to following our shepherd.
Learning
to follow,
Rev. Jon Bergen
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