Eastertide

April 22, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10

‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

This scripture is somewhat confusing. Is Jesus the shepherd or the gate or both? Animals do know their leader by voice, but humans are more complex than animals. The gift of free will makes us responsible for where we obtain our guidance. God understands us completely if we choose to commit ourselves to commune with God. I love Romans 8:26-27: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Communication problems with God occur when we are drawn away from God by the world’s messages specifically designed to distract us from God’s leadership. Oklahoma was struck by multiple tornados and a hailstorm of huge hailstones, damaging many homes.  A warning on TV started immediately after the storm telling people not to be taken in by people knocking on their doors offering them too-good-to-be-true deals to fix their homes. They will take your money and run.

In the scripture above, Jesus warns of the folly of falling into such traps regarding temptations that pull us away from following God. Jesus set the example when we are told by scripture the many times he withdrew to pray. We would do well to follow his example.

Prayer: Lord, protect us from the distractions of the world that lead us away from you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.