Awesome!

Scriptures:  Acts 2:42-47,    Psalm 23,   I Peter 2:19-25,  

Here’s a test to see whether you’ve been paying attention – can you detect a theme throughout today’s choice of hymns, along with the use of the 23^rd Psalm and the 10^th chapter of John’s Gospel.   If you came up with “something about shepherds” or “something about sheep” you’re right on target.  Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, when every year – often on Mother’s Day – we consider the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep.  (If you thought the theme of today’s service is “something about iguanas”, that’s not quite right, but good try, and thanks for playing.)

In our reading from John’s Gospel, Jesus is trying to explain himself and his ministry to his disciples – and apparently was not getting very far, because his image – that of the gate for the sheep – sailed right over the disciples’ heads.  It may sail over our heads as well, because nobody here is a shepherd and few if any of us have had contact with shepherds.  Probably the closest image we may have to a gatekeeper is a bouncer at a night club, letting in the beautiful people and keeping out the riff-raff.   That’s not exactly the image Jesus is going for.

But in Jesus’ context, the shepherd literally was the gate for the sheep.  When the sheep came in from pasture, they would be led into the sheepfold, an enclosure made of stone, with one way in and out.  The shepherd took control over the entrance, letting in the sheep, driving off any animals that would harm the sheep.  In order to keep the sheep from wandering off when he was sleeping, the shepherd would sleep with his body across the opening of the sheepfold, literally putting his body between the sheep and any harm that might come to them.

In making this statement, Jesus was likely drawing on imagery from the 23^rd Psalm, which we read together earlier in the service.  In the 23^rd Psalm, God is shepherd of the people, making them lie down in green pastures and leading them beside still waters – places that are not only beautiful to look at, but that have ample food and drink, so that their bodies might be strengthened and their souls restored.  The Psalmist has confidence that the shepherd is leading the people on the right path – that is to say, in paths of righteousness.  Even when the shepherd has to lead the people through very threatening places – the valley of the shadow of death – the Psalmist fears no evil, for the shepherd, rod and staff in hand to drive off enemies and guide the sheep, is with the flock.  Comparing the people to the sheep, the Psalmist writes that the shepherd prepares a table before the sheep in the presence of enemies.  Of course, the sheep don’t actually sit at table to eat, pinkies extended – rather, the shepherd “prepares a table” by pulling out any weeds that might be poisonous to the sheep.  Of course, the sheep are literally eating in the presence of enemies - animals who would devour the sheep are nearby, licking their chops, but they’re outside the sheepfold – so the sheep are safe.  And, of course, the Psalm ends with the promise that the shepherd will be faithful to the people, using the words that surely goodness and mercy will follow us, all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.

As Jesus described himself as the Good Shepherd who lays his life down for the sheep, he compares himself to thieves and robbers who might steal the sheep from the shepherd, and the hired hand who cuts and runs at the first sign of trouble, because the hired hand is only there for a paycheck.  In making this comparison, Jesus is saying that he will stay with the sheep no matter what, will protect the sheep even at the cost of his life.

We may find ourselves asking why, in these passages, people are being compared to sheep.  After all, our society tells that we’re individuals, that we’re independent.  We surely don’t like to think of ourselves as dumb animals that can easily be led here and there.  And yet, the imagery of sheep being led by a shepherd reminds us that if we wander off by ourselves, we’re vulnerable, just as a sheep that wanders off away from the herd is likely to end up being some wild animal’s dinner.  Our American culture tells us that we’re individuals, but our Scriptures remind us that, indeed, we are not just isolated individual persons, but a people – God’s people.  There’s safety in numbers.  We need each other, and we need the shepherd. 

While our readings from Acts and I Peter don’t use the imagery of sheep and shepherds, they do give us a vivid picture of what life inside the church – or we can say life inside the sheepfold – was like for the earliest Christians.  Remember that even though Jesus was no longer with them in the flesh, God had sent the Holy Spirit – the Comforter, the Advocate, the Spirit of truth - and so these early Christians still had a powerful sense that God was leading them.  And so our readings from Acts give us vivid images of what a Spirit-led church looks like.  The images are striking, and they may be unsettling.

To set the stage, in the verses just before our reading from Acts, the Holy Spirit has come down, Peter, led by the Spirit,  has preached a powerful sermon, and about 3000 people were added to the church.  And then we’re told, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and the prayers.”  And so, as the early believers stayed together, they learned together, they had fellowship with one another, they ate together, they prayed together.   That’s a whole lot of togetherness.  Our reading goes on:  “Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.”  The Spirit’s power was strong with the apostles, and they were able to do miraculous healings – in the verses following today’s reading, we read of the healing of the man at the Beautiful Gate, and later on we read that the Spirit was so strong with Peter that even if just his shadow fell on people, they were healed.  And so these wonders and signs were not just random magic tricks, but miracles of healing.

Now comes two verses that may make us cringe a bit:  “All who believed were together” – there’s that word again, “together” – “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need”.    Oh my goodness – what’s going on here?  Were they a bunch of commies or something?  We should keep in mind that this is not a description of state socialism – though likely this passage and others like it in Acts may have influenced the early development of the idea of socialism.  Rather this statement tells about the quality of life in the early church – they had such trust in God and such trust and love for each other, the quality of community was so strong and intense, that people no longer thought in terms of “me and mine” but “us and ours”.  It was as if the church was an extended family, and so if one member of the family was in need, the other members pitched in to help.  Finally, we’re told that “day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Finally, we have that reading from Peter’s first letter, which talks about suffering.  And, yes, despite the love of the Shepherd, despite the love and deep sharing of the other believers, suffering may be part of the package.  The early church was gutsy and took risks – and we should be willing to do the same.  And so we’re told that, just as Jesus trusted in God through his suffering, we too are to trust God when we suffer.  And, Peter ends with the words, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.”

As we read these passages, we may be tempted to think of them as a lovely story from long ago, but I believe they’re a picture of the church – of the Emanuel Church – that God would have us be today.  And it’s interesting to notice what Acts doesn’t say about the early church – it doesn’t say anything about the early church having impressive buildings or contemporary praise bands or any of the things that we think today are important to being a strong church.  Rather, we’re given a picture of the early church that is simple but powerful - a picture of a church devoted to teaching and learning, to fellowship and being together, eating together, praying together, spending time together  even when it’s not Sunday morning – to being willing to dig deep in order to share with one another.  We’re given a picture of a gutsy church, a church willing to take risks and even to suffer for the sake of Christ.  Most of all, we’re given a picture of a church that is attentive to God’s voice, that can distinguish the voice of the Good Shepherd from all the other voices of our culture.  These are all things we can do, and many of them we’re doing already.  In a church like that, we really would be able to say that, day by day, week by week, the Lord added to our number those who were being saved.

As Jesus talked about being the good shepherd, he said, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.  So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”  In the context of the early church, in which all of the first believers were Jewish, the other sheep were the Gentiles who would come to join the church.  But Jesus has other sheep to gather to our church, Emanuel Church, as well.  As we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, others will come to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, and become, with us, one flock with one shepherd. 

Listen for the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd – in prayer, in meditation, in the words of our fellow believers, as we feel God’s guidance even through chance encounters with those we may meet during the week.  Listen for the Shepherd’s voice, telling us to care for the rest of the sheep.  Listen for the Shepherd’s voice, urging us to welcome those other sheep that God may send us.  Listen to the Shepherd’s voice, urging us to take risks for the take of Christ.  Christ has already done the hard work, laying down his life for the sheep.  And though we may go through some truly scary times, may find ourselves being led even through the valley of the shadow of death, we have God’s promise that “surely goodness and mercy will follow us, all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Amen.