Easter 4 C

Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30

“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (John 10.24 NRSV)

• Jesus is asked this, but universal desire
• Who hasn’t, at some point, asked, “God…if you are my God…why don’t you make it clear? Black and white. In words I understand.”

This is the appeal of fundamentalist religion, whether Christian, Jewish, Islamic, etc. It seems easier to follow a religious path that answers every question for us. Plainly. In ways we understand.

“If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” (John 10.24 NRSV)

When Jesus’ challengers say this, essentially that are saying, we will recognize God only when God makes sense to us. We will only believe when God appears in the box we have created for God.

They are not interested in learning, growing, discovering…they are interested in answering, proving, and winning.

This attitude is a mistake — both for these folks arguing with Jesus in the Gospel of John, and also for us modern believers.

Wanting only answers. To be proven right. Wanting to win the argument.

It is looking for God on our terms; in our image. It limits our conception of God. It causes us to miss when God is doing a new thing.

Even worse is the temptation for everyone, from all beliefs and creeds, yes, even Lutherans, to abuse the freedom and righteousness in our faith. When we believe that our faith gives us the privilege of always being right no matter what, we become insufferable at best, and violently oppressive at worst.

Since before the time of Jesus to the present day, people have used their religious certainty to control others, and to consolidate power.

And Jesus knows it. When he’s asked to declare plainly that he’s the Messiah, he gets right to the heart of the matter.

“but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” (John 10.26 NRSV)

• harsh way to explain faith
• not about exclusivity; but about real relationship; not about power but love
• my sheep hear my voice (recognize in a different way)
• I know them; they follow me

This is important because real faith is not so much about black and white answers. It’s not so much about rules and being right. It’s about being in a trusting relationship with God.

About recognizing our place in that relationship. And God’s place. We are the sheep not the shepherd.

Although we don’t always act like it, most religious believers would say that God is the almighty one in the relationship. That the universe revolves around God, and not us. If we’re not careful, though, we start to identify ourselves with that power more and more until we get excited about God’s power, because we believe it’s ours.

That’s why this reading from Revelation is so striking and profound. It’s describing basically a worship service in which all people gather around God, ascribing honor and glory and power and might forever and ever. At the center of this power and might, you might expect to find the greatest, strongest shepherd of all time.

Instead we find a lamb.

“for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,” (Revelation 7.17 NRSV)

When we expect a strong, clear, powerful, black and white image of God on our terms, in our understanding — God appears instead unexpectedly. In love and sacrifice. In weakness and humility.

Our shepherd is the one that not only walks with the sheep but becomes one like us.

We recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd not in outward signs of power and might. That would be on our terms. Instead, we recognize the shepherd in the lamb.

Our faith is a relationship with God who is both the Good Shepherd, who protects us and seeks justice in this Kingdom, and also the lamb, who suffers with us and forgives us.

We know the voice of the Good Shepherd and we follow — not in search of power or control or being right — but in search of real relationship.

In that relationship, we discover the real power of our Good Shepherd: that no one and nothing can ever snatch us out of God’s hand — not our shortcomings nor the shortcomings of others; not frustration; not right or wrong thinking; not even death.

Because even in death the Shepherding Lamb holds us in relationship raises us to eternal life.

Our faith will not give us all the answers. It will not make the world appear as black and white. It will not give us the authority to wield power over others.

But it does give us the opportunity to gather with others before the unexpected Grace of God where we hunger no more; thirst no more; where God wipes away every tear.

Where we live secure in our relationship with the Good Shepherd who lives among us. Jesus knows us, and we follow him.