John 10:22-30
Apparently factions
formed among Jews who knew of Jesus and there was debate about whether or not
he was the Messiah. We might
imagine that it had become a heated, partisan debate.
So they said to
Jesus: “How long will you keep us
in suspense? If you are the
Messiah, tell us plainly.”
We also might
imagine, that no matter what Jesus said, the partisan debate would go on.
Jesus, perhaps
in some exasperation, said: I have
told you. I have showed you. “The works that I do in my Father’s
name testify to me…”
Personally, I am
not in suspense about whether or not Jesus is the Messiah whom the Jews of his
day were expecting. To a large
degree the question has been answered.
Also, it isn’t a pressing question for me. But that charged social/political atmosphere is the context for
this portion of John’s Gospel.
This Fourth
Sunday of Easter is unofficially called Good Shepherd Sunday. On this Sunday we always pray the 23rd
psalm and we always have a reading from the tenth chapter of John. John 10 is that extended discourse
where Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd.
As familiar and
cherished as this image is, there are complications and complexities.
A commentary on
John’s Gospel, written specifically for those whose task it is to preach warms: “In expounding the text, wariness is
the homilest’s best posture” (Sloyan, Interpretation Commentary on John).
One issue is the
political setting of this passage.
Jesus’ words were not offered as individual pastoral comfort. (Not that they can’t serve that purpose
today!) The “Good Shepherd” is a
leadership model offered specifically and only for the people in Jesus’ “flock.”
Belief is a
central issue in this passage.
There are clearly people who do not believe that Jesus is the
Messiah. To them Jesus says: “You do not believe because you do not
belong to my sheep.” This passage
and others in John 10 raise the huge and long-debated question of divine
election. Does God determine or
predetermine who will be saved?
Predestination versus the power of human beings to choose or secure
their own salvation or favor with God.
Is access to God, through belief, only available to those whom God has
already foreordained as “his sheep?”
In John 10 “the mystery of divine choice seems to be why some believe and
some do not” (Sloyan).
Important as this
issue is, I’m going to dodge it today.
John 10 presents divine election as a given. For us, it is a broader question and worthy of a more
thorough discussion at another time.
This same
commentary, speaking to us today says, “All we can say from this passage with
certitude is that deity is far more powerful than humanity.” And we could add that that power is
life-giving for us. God’s power is
far greater than anything we can muster, individually or as a group.
Do you believe
that? Really? I think this is a much more relevant
and important question of belief than whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. Do you believe that God’s power is far
greater than ours? Do you order
your life based on that belief? We
probably all think we “should” believe this. We “want to.” But do you really believe that deity is
far more powerful than humanity?
It is a glorious
truth for people who have known or who need the saving power of God’s
love. It’s really bad news for people
who like to be in charge. Which
are you? Today?
This sort of belief
is not so much a choice of the mind, a reasoned decision. It comes from experience. Knowing, seeing, experiencing God’s
power is the source of belief. To
believe in the power of deity, the power of God, isn’t gained by anything Jesus
could have said then or might say today.
But his works, then and now, testify to that power.
So if you seek
belief, seek experience. Seek
experience of God’s power.
The power of
life overcoming death, as we heard in today’s reading from Acts. Certainly a power greater than humanity’s.
God’s power to
generate hope and new life in the midst of despair, when no human power could
succeed.
The power of
recovery overcoming addiction when all human power had failed.
The power to create
peace where there had been only conflict in settings where human efforts at
peace had not and could not succeed.
The power of
reconciliation to heal estrangement beyond all human imagining.
Have you seen or
experienced God’s power at work in the world? In other people?
A power greater than human power?
Look for it.
Have you let God’s
power into your life? It only
takes the tiniest crack.
It is a
life-giving power. So strong that
for those in its power, nothing can snatch them away from the life and love of
God. Nothing.
