Easter 4 John 10:22-30

I have had requests of my sermon manuscript for my Easter 4 sermon that was preached at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Also if you visit their website for a recording www.stpaulscolumbia.com

When and where was the last time you looked at a job description? Was it in the newspaper in prospect of a new beginning? Or was it on the internet at one of the many job search sites? Maybe you were writing one in hopes of finding the right person to fill a position at work.

What is in a job description? This is a job description for an opening position in the Beaufort county school department for an English teacher:

To create and maintain a positive, stimulating environment for students to promote a culture of learning. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students. Prepare, administer and evaluate tests and classroom assignments following curriculum guidelines. Guide and counsel students with adjustment and/or academic difficulties, or special academic interests.

This is telling us what is desired of the prospective candidate. There is an expectation of certain abilities in order to effectively teach. We can see that the teacher must be creative, clear in their objectives for students, have open communication skills and be organized in order to test the students progress. These desired qualities are necessary for a teacher to be effective. But how do these abilities tell us who the person is? They tell us how they perform. Perhaps they can tell us the education and experience of a person. They don’t however tell us who this person is. Where they grew up, who their family is, what hobbies they have and things they like to do. They don’t tell us where this person lives and what community they are a part of. They simply become a framework of what is required and expected.

What would be the job description of Savior be? One must have the ability to heal those who are sick, blind, crippled, suffering from hemorrhages and cast out demons. There must also be an inherent ability to teach in various settings from synagogues, houses, lake shores, mountains, fields and streets. The candidate must not be fearful of blood donation even when the ultimate price is required. Also the prospective savior must have the ability to walk with those who may not want to hear their teachings or witness their healings and always speak a word of grace to them. Jesus filled this position written by the hand of God, but how do these things tell us who Jesus is?

They certainly tell us what he did and still does for us today. They are the qualities of Christ’s ministry and purpose but who is Jesus?

For a moment imagine a structure larger than anything in town. You are along a wall next to this building and you see a man walking. Now its cold because its winter and you’re in town for a very big event. You recognize this man but before he comes close a few people ask him ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ By hearing this you know it’s Jesus from the little town of Nazareth in Galilee. You’ve heard things about him but never really seen him up close and in person. They say he can heal people and cast out demons. You’ve heard the scriptures and say ok so there have been those before who claim to be prophets and teachers. So you listen to see what he says as you walk closer. “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶but you do not believe.”

Jesus says I have shown you. I have healed those who were sick. We can almost imagine Jesus saying didn’t you just see the boy in the temple before the priests? My disciples and I saw this boy who had obviously been blind from birth and I made mud, put it on his eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Even then I have shown you. This is what Jesus does, but how does this tell us who he is?

Who are we? Perhaps you are a healer by vocation or teacher, layer, mechanic, business owner. Perhaps a better description would be father, mother, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, son or daughter. It seems easy to say the I am _____ fill in the blank and that suffices for who we are. I am a seminary student, former business owner and church sexton, a graduate holding a bachelors degree, eagle scout, the son of Bill and Pat Darty and above all a Christian. Surely I can say these are my accomplishment and what I have done with my life so far. But who am I? Who are you? What things describe you?

Although I do not look like one I am a sheep, you are sheep and as a church we are a flock of the Shepherd.

So what might be the job description of a sheep? To eat grass and wander through a field? I would say it goes much deeper than this. We are far removed from this culture of the shepherd. However we can still relate, the shepherd was responsible for his sheep, to protect them from dangers that might be lurking over the next hill or in the next field. The shepherd followed behind the sheep keeping an eye on them. However Jesus does it a little different, he goes before us. Jesus shakes the mold of shepherd by leading from the front. He has taken the first step on the cross for us and saved us.

What are the benefits of a job? Of course there is pay and retirement which give financial stability. Perhaps there is also health insurance as a benefit. There can also be a sense of identity related to ones work. How about the benefits, if I can use that word, of a sheep?

Jesus continues his answer “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

We are protected by the shepherd, no one can take us from him because what is in the shepherds hand is in the Father’s hand. Imagine that! We hear, believe and follow the shepherd and he is always going to protect us and be with us. Always!

So who is Jesus? We have said that he is a healer, teacher, one who casts out demons, blood donor, guide and shepherd but who is he? Who is Jesus behind what he does? He is one with the Father. He has told them plainly who he is. We have been promised safety because he is one with the Father, and we have been saved by his blood donor status. As we walk along the roads of our lives, “How do you hear Christ voice?” How is he calling us to serve those around us, to be in conversation, to take care of the least of his kingdom? How is Christ calling us into discipleship as a Church?