Shepherd Sunday 2024

 

The Second Sunday after Easter, 2024

Bethany Lutheran Church

Shepherd Sunday, 10 AM

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

The Hymn #436         The Lord's My Shepherd

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made. Psalm. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect 

God, who by the humiliation of Thy Son didst raise up the fallen world, grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Then was the Lord Jesus known of the disciples: in the breaking of bread. Hallelujah!

V. I am the Good Shepherd: and know My sheep and am known of Mine. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #269    O Lord Our Father Shall We Be Confounded

The Unique Shepherd

The Communion Hymn #409   Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus             

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #50              Lord Dismiss Us    

 

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical Care - Randy Anderson, Pastor James Shrader and his wife Chris, Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
• Greek New Testament lessons will start soon.

 

 Second Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, who of Thy fatherly goodness hast been mindful of us poor, miserable sinners, and hast given Thy beloved Son to be our shepherd, not only to nourish us by His word, but also to defend us from sin, death, and the devil: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that, even as this Shepherd doth know us and succor us in every affliction, we also may know Him, and, trusting in Him, seek help and comfort in Him, from our hearts obey His voice, and obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 

KJV 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

KJV John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The Unique Shepherd

KJV John 10:11 I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

This section of John 10 begins with the theme of the message, then repeats the same words to explain the meaning of Good Shepherd. Repetition is often used for emphasis. Simple words and phrases reveal two things at once - the Good Shepherd title and what that title means. First of all, I AM is the name of God, a word so powerful that Jesus used it when being arrested and again during the trial.

Mark 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

62 And Jesus said, I AM: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Just as there are many miracles, to show the power and compassion of Jesus, so there are many titles describing what this means. In this age of watering down everything while repeating the same things again and again, people use the name of God and the titles of Christ as expletives. These titles and descriptions are repeated endlessly as blasphemy, but no one seems to mind. That shows not only a lack of faith but also a lack of intelligence. 

The description of Good Shepherd teaches us how miraculous Jesus is. A normal shepherd guards the door and deals with thieves and wolves, but does not give up His life for His flock. The wolves and thieves shatter and kill the sheep - the ongoing persecution of the Christian Church - the Christ has given up His life for those individuals.

The Gospel of John is simple in words and yet profound in meaning. The descriptions and actions of Christ are so clear that we can easily grasp His message, or we might say - His sermon. That is a reason for teaching and learning the Greek of the New Testament. Maybe no one will want to learn a language new to them, but everyone who does will strengthen the Gospel and encourage a new generation. Like Zoom technology, what seems impossible at first is much easier with repetition. 

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Shepherd Sunday, a nickname going back to the Reformation, is especially clear in these last days. Money pastors are not shepherds. (Pastor is Latin for shepherd.) Money pastors only go through the motions to have a deluxe home, a new car, and thousands of dollars in costumes liturgical garments. They have stacks of books behind them in their videos but seem to be entirely unaware of their value, except as props. A better term today might be "actors" because they know how to impress, such as wearing a pink sweater in a worship service - that sells for $2,000. That describes the Elevation Church, so maybe the pastor is an Elevator. Seriously, the list of mega-churches with mega-pastors eventually turn into mega-collapses. I have listed them - so many and I forget their names. The Internet has a long memory, so an Elevator today is likely going to be linked with a scandal from the past. Or maybe it happened and everyone denies it, like the very corrupt Milwaukee Roman Catholic archbishop, who spoke at a Lutheran college. 

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

The wolf scatters the sheep because the hired hand has run away. Today many people will say they have given up on church and worship - the Christian Faith - because of the lies and spiritual abuse. Denominations tend to worship themselves and the "right people," but that is contrary to the Scriptures. The empty and abandoned churches have a lot more to do with being contrary to the Faith. 

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

I spoke with the neighbor at the grocery store. She had her newborn in the cart, and the baby was cooing, smiling, and paying attention. A bit later the grandparents were at my door, holding the baby, who was smiling and making happy noises. She knew I was talking about her. There is a tug between parent and child: the baby of the family is loved by everyone and everyone loves the child. 

Jesus Christ is saying that there is a constant connection between Him and His sheep. Each one knows the other. It is important to trust in this verse and dwell upon it. Our emotions and attitudes vary all the time. We can be faced with dread, sorrow, anger, and many other oppressive thoughts and feelings. We can always count on the Savior to be in touch with us and to help us in every need. We access faith when we believe in Him, and that is priceless.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

These are interlocking circles, so just as Christ is with us and we are with Him, so the Father is attached to us and we are attached to Him. That is taught by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Atonement of Jesus is the primary focus of the Easter resurrection.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

This reveals, as we should know, that the Gospel will spread over all the lands, starting with Jewish believers converted, reaching out across the Western Roman Empire (Rome - Europe) and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium, now Instanbul). There remains one true Christian Church which is made up of those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Good Shepherd.

Three of Luther’s sermons on this text:

• Misericordias Domini. Second Sunday After Easter. John 10:11-16. Christ’s Office and Kingdom; or How Christ is the True Shepherd
• Second Sermon: Preachers, Civil Authorities, and the Knowledge of Christ
• Third Sermon: The Good Shepherd and his Sheep; or Christ’s Person, Office and Rulership

The end