Acts 4:5-12.                         The Good Shepherd powers on!!                             26/4/15

Also John 10:11-18  and Psalm 23.

  The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. {6} Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. {7} They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" {8} Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! {9} If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, {10} then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. {11} He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' {12} Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Again this week we are reminded that Easter and Jesus Christ goes on into the rest of life for us. This Sunday is referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday – a day that we reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd – the one who cares for his flock – his people – you and me. Even today his love and power is at work in the midst of a broken and dysfunctional world.

Here in this reading Peter and John are brought before the Church Council because they had shown kindness to a cripple and healed him in the name of Jesus Christ. So we have here after Jesus had already ascended into heaven, Jesus working through his disciples doing miraculous things so that his message might be proclaimed.

The work of the Good Shepherd goes on as he now works through his disciples to bring his love and care to people in need and to people who need to hear his Good News. The message goes out loud and clear, that: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

This Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' This Jesus even though he was rejected by the religious leaders of his day and put to death as criminal has not only risen from the dead, but even now continues to be active in our world for good.

With that we are able to even today go forward with confidence and certainty. Despite the fact that many around us have rejected him, and who suggest that Christianity is simply a relic of a bygone past: Despite the fact that many have turned this Christianity into a ‘feel good’ religious experience that is centred in one’s own ego: despite this and many other aberrations of what Christianity truly is all about, Jesus Christ is still present and active for the good of his people.

Again he does so in the midst of a broken, dysfunctional world. Our world today is desperately trying to portray itself as having the answers and is progressing to a better and better society. We are desperately trying to convince ourselves that there is no God and even if there is, we have no real need of him in our daily lives. Yet, we see ever increasing evidence of loneliness, depression, lack of purpose and more. No matter how good the idea or system we put in place, it never produces the ultimate good that is promised.

As Christians that should not surprise us. Sin will always corrupt and spoil any and every idea and system that is in place. Because we as individuals choose to go against God and any idea or system that is in place, things will go wrong. Greed and corruption will be ever present. People will use others for their own benefit; and more. Since every one of us is corrupted by this sin, life will never always be easy.

Even in Christian circles this will still occur. Even though we are connected to Jesus Christ and all that he has won for us at Easter we still have a sinful human nature that gets in the way. So even within the Church and our own personal lives we find that things go array. Dysfunction and brokenness is ever present for us all. On top of this, we will also be hurt by other and their selfishness toward us. Our time in this world will never be free of sin and its consequences.

It is here that we often hear the comment, that if there is a God why does he allow all this to happen. Surely if he is God he can rid all of this from our lives. Yet that would take away our freedom of choice – we would simply be robots. Here also remember that God made the world very good, it is we and our sinfulness that has messed things up. We cannot blame God, but our stupidity alone.

However in the midst of all of this we are reminded again today that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who is here to help us through this life and then to take us to a better world beyond. He is at work in our world and through us his people to bring his care and power to bear in the midst of our brokenness. He is here so that we can have hope and a better future despite what we are experiencing at the moment.

Because of Easter we can be sure of this. We can be sure that he cares about us; and we can be sure that he has the power to bring us to the better world that he has promised. Jesus told us already before Easter that he would lay down his life for us and that he would take it up again. He tells us that he did all of this for us.

He died so that he might take the punishment that we deserve, on himself; so that we in turn  might be forgiven and be accepted back into God’s family. He rose again so that we can be sure that in him there is eternal life. So there we have taken care of our most important and pressing needs. We can be sure now that he is for real and that he has done what is needed for our salvation.

So now our brokenness does not stand in the way of our being in the presence of God; and eternal life is now there for all who are connected to him. Along with that we are assured that he loves each and every one of us, no matter who we are or what we have done. The things that really matter to us have thereby been taken care of. So we can now get on with life in a new and positive way.

Now instead of being selfish and self-centred we can be more outward focussed toward others and their needs. After all we know that the Good Shepherd will look after us. Now we can and will more and more want to do what God tells us is good for us, instead of following like sheep the failed philosophies of our day. We will listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd rather than hirelings who are here today sprouting forth and tomorrow are running for their lives when they are under attack.

We, like those early disciples in our reading, will now be wanting to care for those around us who are in difficulty. We will want to bring God’s Good News and power into people’s lives, who are lost, lonely and helpless. We will be bringing Jesus Christ into their lives so that he can give to them what they need in order to for them to be able to live with confidence, hope and meaning also.

We too will want people to know that their Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection are all important for us all. So we will want to share with them that which will truly be able to be of help to them.

That task is surely a difficult one for us in this day and age, for we are a society that is not all that interested in God or think that we need him.  We are a society that seems to be interested only in self and our narcissistic views of life. However the loneliness, depression and hurts of so many around us, surely indicate that the need is there. Deep down many want more from life than they currently have.

For us to be able to do this we ourselves will need the Good Shepherd to be with us and to help us to carry out this task that he has for us.  So we will carry Psalm 23 with us always as we go about our lives as his people.

We will remember that:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul: he guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

With that we will be able to go forward and do what needs to be done. We will care for the needy and we will bring Jesus and his power to bear in their lives. We will want them to know that Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection is important for us all.

So always remember that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who seeks, today and always, that which is good for us and for his kingdom. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish