Lectionary for Easter 4 B
Opening sentence. This is God’s commandment, we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. 1 John 3:23-24
Collect. O God, Creator and Father, you show the risen Lord resplendent in glory whenever healing is bestowed in his name upon the infirmity of our human condition. Gather your scattered children into the unity of one family, so that, following closely after Christ our good shepherd, we may taste the joy of being your children. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reading. Acts 4:5-12. This reading follows on from the healing of the lame man. The Sanhedrin was the ruling council of the Jews and comprised all the Key leaders from around the region. The chief priest and leader of the Sanhedrin Annas, had been appointed by the Roman governor Quirinius. (He was already the high priest at the time of John the Baptist). The Sanhedrin was tasked with keeping traditional religious purity. Its members were mostly Sadducees who were more in favour of supporting Roman rule in order to keep the peace. Sadducees did not believe the Spirit of God nor did they believe in a Day of Resurrection, but they did insist in the strict keeping of the Law of Moses. Peter and John’s sermon caused quite a stir and so the Sanhedrin had to take action after the temple authorities had raised a complaint.
Being put in prison would have been a frightening experience and then being hauled into the presence of the top council in the land would have been very intimidating, just as it was intended to be. The size of the council was between 25 to 70 men depending who were available at such short notice. All knew each other and many were close relatives; they were all family. This is a very hostile environment in which to place these two fishermen and so no doubt the Sanhedrin were determined to nip this new aberration in the bud!
The question from the Sanhedrin shows that they saw Peter’s statement as a religious threat. Peter responds firmly and yet respectfully: as the text says he is filled with power from the Holy Spirit. The “good deed” done was irrefutable and this allows Peter to point most clearly to the power of Jesus for it was done in his name. Peter quotes from Psalm 118 which talks about the way to righteousness, ( the Law was intended to lead to righteousness but had failed due to constant disobedience) as the prophets had announced many times before. Peter’s reference would have reminded his listeners of the “new day” that the Lord was bringing in and this new day is founded on Jesus.
Their private discussion shows the deep concern they held because the healing had been done in a public place which had been seen by all the crowd. Their hands are tied and so they order them to no longer preach in the name of Jesus. Again Peter’s response is very respectful for he acknowledges that the Sanhedrin does have authority but he is being lead by an even higher authority than theirs.
Once again, the power of God to change and equip people to take out the message of Jesus is apparent. Looking back after two thousand years we can still only marvel at the certainty of their faith in the Risen Jesus and the courage that this faith gave to them.
Prayer. Holy Lord, as we think of the boldness of Peter and John, we pray for your church throughout the world: We pray that it may share to the full the work of your Son, revealing you and the salvation you bring to all humanity. In word and deed may the message of Jesus ring out, declaring a message of how great is that salvation. Teach us all to love each other as you have loved us. May your church exhibit that unity which is your special gift to us. We pray that we and all Christians may be what you want us to be, and do what you want us to do: that we may use your gifts of salvation and peace wisely. May the Name of Jesus be lifted high. Amen
Reading John 10:11-18. Jesus’ declaration the he is the Good Shepherd would have given a powerful message to those who heard him. There was a long tradition of the shepherd in Israel. In the first place the Lord God was the Shepherd of Israel. (Genesis 48:15). Then the appointed kings were the nation’s shepherd who had the responsibility under God to protect and care for the people. As the nation divided and became two kingdoms there was a steady movement away from the obedient worship of God and failure of the leaders to shepherd the people effectively. The prophets railed against this failure yet through the failure came a message of hope like the one expressed in Isaiah when he prophesied that the Lord God would once more, “feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom”. (Isaiah 40:11) The time that Isaiah was pointing to was a time when the Lord would take control of the Nation‘s destiny. This “day of the Lord” would be a time for great rejoicing and the true shepherd would effectively lead the people to security and peace. This was the promise of freedom, a freedom that they had not known almost back to the time of king David.
When Jesus made his announcement it would have sent a thrilling message to the people and they would have understood all the implications that were suggested. Through his words, Jesus was drawing the nation together with a message of expectant hope, a hope that would not disappoint.
In addition, Jesus is announcing that the original promise to Abraham would also be fulfilled: Namely that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through the Lord God’s covenant. (Genesis 18:18) In this combined kingdom, Jesus the Good shepherd will be Lord of all.
Then Jesus emphasizes his choice to obey the Father’s command and with that choice comes the power to fulfill all that God requires. The Lord God has given Jesus the power to lay down his life and has also given him the power to take it up again. For us today this prefigures the resurrection on which our whole faith is based and so the message of the Good Shepherd still has special meaning for us just as it did for Jesus’ hearers long ago.
Prayer. O God, the fountain of joy and peace, you have subjected to the royal power of your Son the destinies of all peoples and nations. Sustain us by the power of your Spirit, and grant that, in the midst of all life’s varied changes, we may never be separated from our Good Shepherd, who guides us to the springs of life, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Uniting in Worship)
Lord Jesus, you have said that you are the true shepherd of the sheep, help us to believe that so strongly that we will trust you and follow you wherever you might lead us. May your whole church be bound together in a unity which cannot be broken. Help us to be so fixed on you that we will perform those deeds that you desire. May the ministry of your church be conducted only in the power of your Holy Spirit and so achieve great things for you. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
Collect. O Christ, you gave yourself for us; help us to hear your voice that we may give to others; draw your Church into the unity which is your gift and call, that in your name we may be one flock, one Shepherd. Amen.
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