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4th Sunday of Easter

Our lessons for this Sunday keep the implications and impact of Jesus’ resurrection before us. Psalm 23 and John 10 combine the themes of shepherds and sheep and recall Jesus’ words about how a good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus has laid life down but the Shepherd is back. The Luke-Acts story provides a glimpse into the continuing ministry of the Shepherd; the account is about a member of the flock who dies but is brought back to life through the ministry of the Shepherd extended through the Apostle Peter. The lesson from Revelation continues the theme of the resurrection of believers with the focus on the Lamb. Taken together, a homily could easily provide logical movement between lessons.

PSALM 23 & JOHN 10:22-30-THE SHEPHERD IS BACK

The theme of Shepherd and Sheep becomes the connection between Psalm 23 and John 10; in both God is the shepherd that leads the sheep of God’s pasture. The most familiar will probably be Psalm 23; this text is usually proclaimed in a relational, idyll context about God journeying through life with us, leading us, providing for us, comforting us through all the twists and turns of life. In our lesson in John 10, Jesus and "them," presumably the Pharisees, are in a heated argument which does not make for a very pastoral context. However, our passage holds before us the metaphor of shepherd and sheep, and suggests an intimate relationship between the two. This twin-lesson is especially appropriate given the springtime and the lambing season.

ACTS 9:36-43--TABITHA

In this lesson, Luke provides a narrative-account of a woman ("Tabitha," aka "Dorcas") whom Peter raises to life. The mighty deed demonstrates the work of the Spirit and the witness of Jesus as the Lord who still lives and ministers. The story of Tabitha is framed in three segments-the death of Tabitha, the call and response of Peter, and the resultant mighty deed in the resurrection of Tabitha. Logistically, the event places Peter in Joppa and right at the door of perhaps an even greater miracle: the Caesarean Pentecost where the Spirit will fall upon those "outside" the box of Judaism.

REVELATION 7:9-17-HEAVENLY DOXOLOGY

What a great doxology and vision! The passage begins with a context-John sees a numberless multitude, global in culture and language, yet all white-robed and brandishing palm branches. Their unity-in-diversity is expressed in the corporate doxological statement: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" John describes the incredible sight of angelic and creaturely beings that extend and deepen the doxology. One of the elders raises the question that John has probably wondered about but hasn’t voiced: "Who are these white-robed, globally diverse folks?" The answer is striking: they are the ones that have kept faith even through the valley of the shadow of death-they’ve died with their martyr boots on. The passage closes with a powerful eulogy spoken over the martyred saints.