An order of service for the third sunday after Easter

An order of service for the third sunday after Easter (Easter 4)

Call to Worship

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations, (Psalm 100)

Prayer of Confession

Lord Jesus, our good shepherd Please forgive us where we have not listened to your voice and have thought, said and done things that have been wrong.

Lord have mercy

Please forgive us where we have followed the crowd rather than following you.

Christ have mercy

Please forgive us where we have been stubborn, wanting to go our own way instead of going your way.                                                                    

Lord have mercy                                                     Bernhard Plockhorst (1835-1907)

Words of Assurance

Thank you, Lord Jesus that as our good shepherd you laid down your life so that we might be forgiven. We receive your forgiveness today. Bring us back onto your safe path and help us to listen to you and follow you. Amen.

Bible 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. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

REFLECTION

On the fourth Sunday after Easter, we see something of a ‘shift’ in context in today’s gospel reading. We have left behind resurrection, the empty tomb and various appearances of the risen Christ. We find ourselves suddenly in John chapter 10 with Jesus’ teaching on the Good Shepherd.

The third Sunday after Easter is often referred to as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ because of the readings, and is meant to be a day when we give thanks for ‘shepherds’ within the church – not just ordained ministers and pastors, but all those who are involved in different ministries within the life of the church, for God’s church is the made up of a priesthood of all believers.

While it is common to read Jesus’ teaching on the good shepherd as a separate teaching, it is best understood when we link it with the events of chapter 9. In that chapter, Jesus has just healed a man born blind and the on-lookers are divided on this. There are those who believe that Jesus acted in the power of God and therefore believe in Jesus. The religious leaders however were unable to accept this and are unwilling to believe in Jesus. There is a confrontation about who is a true religious leader – Jesus or the so-called religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees and Sadducees. Thus, the healing of the blind man and the encounter between him and the religious leaders and the debate about Jesus leaves us with the distinct impression that the Pharisees and Sadducees were false leaders who tried to prevent the people from following Jesus.

It is in direct continuation of this heated conversation between the blind man, the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the onlookers that Jesus delivers his good shepherd teaching. This background helps us to understand the wider context for that teaching. It is about who is a true leader, a real shepherd and guide. It is here we get to chapter 10 and the contrast between the good shepherd and those who Jesus describes as thieves and bandits (v.1).

Interestingly, although we talk of John 10 as the good shepherd passage, in the first 10 verses (today’s reading), there is no reference to Jesus being the good shepherd! That comes only in v.11. Rather, in our passage, Jesus uses a strange self-description. He calls himself “the gate”: “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep” (v.8) So let us reflect today on what this means and what the implications are for us.

In the ancient world, sheep enclosures or sheep-pens were not the nicely fenced enclosures that we see in our fields and farms today. Rather, because shepherds would take their sheep far out into the rugged hillside, they would build temporary enclosures with shrubs and thorn bushes, gather the sheep inside, and the shepherd would lie across the entrance. In other words, the shepherd became the gate. In order for a sheep to escape it would have to trample the shepherd and he would be awakened immediately. The caring shepherd therefore became the access point, the point of entry and exit. The shepherd literary ‘stood in the gap.’ On the one hand he provided security for the flock within the fold. On the other, he led them out into fresh pasture land, to food and to water: “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice” (vs.2-4).

Think about this. The bible often refers to God’s people as ‘sheep’ (Ps 100:3). In the sheepfold, we are secure. Jesus offers us security. He is our keeper. He is our protection. He is the ‘gate’ that keeps us in a safe place (in his presence), the gate that prevents us from wandering away. Then, he uses the term again, for the second time: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (v.9).

Both inside and outside the fold, the sheep are safe; safe from the perils and dangers around. The sheep can safely pass in and out of the gate in security. When we pass ‘through’ the gate outside of the fold, we are called to follow the shepherd (v.4b) because we know his voice (v.4c). The shepherd knows the way. We know that he will lead us on right paths, near green pastures and still waters. The shepherd provides for us. We lack nothing (Ps 23:1).

But in the midst of this comforting imagery of the “gate”, Jesus concludes this part of his teaching by saying: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (v.9). Anything that leaves us feeling oppressed, drains us, steals our peace, robs us of life, are in direct conflict with the abundance of life that Christ brings. These are moments indicative of the thief, he refers to (v.9), the enemy of human nature. In direct contrast to this, Jesus promises us fullness of life: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (v.10). What are those things that are life-giving to us? What lifts our spirits, satisfies our souls, and brings us peace? These are the times that come from the presence of Christ within us. It is his will for us that we experience life in all its abundance no matter whatever else is happening around us.

Therefore, we begin to see the richness of Jesus’ imagery. He is the access point, the ‘gate’ and the giver of abundant life. His life is the source of our life. It is here where we return to the great Easter theme of Christ’s risen life. Life in all its fullness. Abundant life, the gift of the risen Christ to all who believe in him, who listen to his voice, who follow him. All who enter by the ‘gate’ will be saved.

Amen

Prayers of Intercession “praying Psalm 23” with the response: You are the good shepherd. Help us to listen to and follow you  © Jane Hulme 2017

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

Thank you  Lord that you are our good shepherd. Thank you that you give us everything that we need. Help us to share your good gifts with others, and please provide for those who have little to eat today.

You are the good shepherd. Help us to listen to and follow you

He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Thank you Lord that you guide us each day. Thank you that you never leave our side. Guide the leaders in our country to make wise decisions, and comfort those who are going through difficult times.

You are the good shepherd. Help us to listen to and follow you

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

Thank you Lord that you keep us safe from the evil one. Thank you that you are the One who heals us. Bring healing to those who are unwell today, and help them to know your love.

You are the good shepherd. Help us to listen to and follow you

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Thank you Lord that you never stop loving us. Thank you that we can look forward to being with you forever. Strengthen your church that we might show your love to those around us, and keep our eyes fixed on you.

You are the good shepherd. Help us to listen to and follow you. Amen.

Blessing

May Christ the good shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep, draw you and all who hear this voice, to be one flock within one fold, May you have life in all its fullness through Jesus Christ

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Prayers and liturgy from http://www.allageworshipresources.org/