Sermon for Sunday, May 11, 2014: 4th Sunday of Easter

Sermon for Sunday, May 11, 2014

4th Sunday after Easter, year A

John 10:1-10, Psalm 23

PREACHER: Pastor Carrie Smith

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!

In my family, the grandkids call my mother “Mormor.” Mormor is the Swedish word for grandma, or more specifically, “mother’s mother”—a little nod to my family’s Swedish heritage. Now, Mormor as a name for Grandma has a lot of advantages: it’s easy for little ones to say, for example, and fairly easy to remember. But a few years ago I learned that my kids didn’t get the Swedish connection at all. In fact, they told me they had always assumed her name was “Mormor” because, when they went to her house, they got “more”. More hugs. More junk food. More time to watch television. More minutes until bedtime. At Mormor’s house, there was “more” of everything! 

I had to laugh when I heard this, but it makes sense, doesn’t it? Grandma’s house—or mom and dad’s, or wherever you call “home base”—is where we usually experience an abundance of the things we value most: food, comfort, familiarity, and of course, love.

In this morning’s Gospel reading, we hear the words of Jesus, who tells us he is the one who provides for us abundantly. In this famous passage of Scripture, Jesus is shown to be a good shepherd, calling out to his sheep, who recognize his voice immediately. Jesus acknowledges there are thieves who will sneak in and try to steal, kill, or destroy the sheep. But Jesus, the good shepherd, came that we would have life, life, and more life.

Jesus came that we would have life, and have it abundantly. This is a powerful and enticing promise. But what does that abundant life look like? I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently, as I’ve been going through the exhausting process of selling, giving away, or cleaning out almost everything in our home. My family’s move overseas will happen with about 8-10 suitcases and a crate the size of a small closet. Paring down to this small amount of possessions means coming to terms with the reality of how much stuff we have collected over the years. It turns out, we have an abundance of nearly everything.


Of course, there are the books. You know you have a problem when you have bookshelves in the bathrooms! Having earned seven college degrees between the two of us, Robert and I knew getting rid of the books would be a huge project.

But there are also the old magazines. And craft supplies. Cake pans, in every shape and size. Shoes that fit and shoes that don’t. Towels with holes in them. Bins of decorative items for every season. Empty boxes—and full, opened ones—from our last move. Legos. Garden tools. And three Christmas tree stands, the extras purchased in years when I couldn’t find where I had stashed the original.

In short: We have SO. MUCH. STUFF. It’s been humbling, in fact, to confront the abundance in our home. Preparing to move across the ocean has made clear to me just how much comfort, convenience, and privilege I enjoy. But is this what Jesus means by saying he comes that we may have life, and have it abundantly? Does having more stuff equal having more life?

It’s easy to answer this question, of course. We all know, on some level, that our stuff is not what gives our life meaning. We all know, in our hearts, that if our home was destroyed, if thieves broke in and stole, or if we, like so many others in the world, became refugees and had to leave it all behind, that we would pick right up and go on living. As Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress”, puts it: “Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse, though life be wrenched away, they cannot win the day. The kingdom’s ours forever!” Amen!

So abundant life with Jesus cannot be about having an abundance of “stuff.”

But we do often hear people offer this phrase: “As long as you have your health, that’s what counts.”

And it’s true—good health is something to be treasured.

But what about when you get the news you didn’t want to hear? The cancer’s come back, for example. Or you hear the words “Stage 4”, “Alzheimer’s” or “Negative prenatal diagnosis.” A health crisis is when many people suddenly realize the value of each day, and find themselves wondering if Jesus’ promise of abundant life still holds true. If abundant life cannot be counted in pounds of stuff, can it be counted in the number of days given?

Hear again the words of Jesus, who said: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” This clear statement comes at the end of a passage of Scripture which provides, at best, a confusing image. Is Jesus the gate, or the gatekeeper? Is he the shepherd, or does he hold the gate open for the shepherd? And wait—can he be the gate and also go through the gate?!

I think the best answer to these questions is: YES. Think of it the way you might answer this question: Is a mother a chef, a chauffeur, a counselor, or a nurse? The answer, of course, is YES. All of the above, as needed.

In this case, in John chapter 10, we do best not to try and make the analogy work perfectly. It’s enough to say this: Jesus cares for us as a shepherd provides for his sheep, and as a fence protects the sheep from enemies, and as a gate which lets the sheep enter into pasture. And he proclaims, several times: “I am the gate! I am the gate! There are other gates to choose, but I am the gate that leads to pasture. I’m the gate that leads to security and safety. I’m the gate that leads to abundant life.”

 

Jesus, our good shepherd, came that we may have life, and have it abundantly. We know for certain that the way to life is never through possessions. But we also know, in light of the resurrection, that life also cannot be counted as merely the number of days we have been allotted. For we know that Christ has been raised, and just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too will walk in newness of life.

Therefore, thieves may be climbing the fence, looking to steal, and kill and destroy, but we have nothing to fear. Debt bangs at the gate. Cancer sneaks in under the fence. Racism, sexism, and homophobia sneak in with a friend. Anxiety and depression just show up, and we have no idea how they got in.

The thieves and bandits are always there, looking for a way to take life away. But we have abundant life because we live under the constant care and protection of Jesus, our good shepherd. No matter what we own, no matter what we face, and no matter how many days we have left, we have overflowing life when we look to Jesus for our comfort, care, provision, and guidance.

“I am the gate!” says Jesus. “I am the gate!” Oh, but we like our options, don’t we? We’re accustomed to cafeteria style everything. We like buffet lunches, especially on Mother’s Day! We want to have choices. So we’ve tried other gates. We, like sheep, have gone astray.

In our search for more security, more comfort, and more life, we’ve looked to a savings account, a pension, a house, or the promise of tenure. We’ve counted on good health, popularity, and family traditions. We’ve even gone through the gates of power and privilege, seeking the greener pastures promised on the other side.

And, often, we do find a measure of happiness there. There is much joy that comes with health, and a beautiful family, a comfortable home, or a successful business. These gates can certainly lead us to the good life. But Jesus didn’t come to bring us to the good life! The good life is an easy target for thieves and bandits. Jesus came that we would enjoy abundant life.

Jesus came, so we would never lack the credentials to enter into God’s kingdom: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

Jesus came that we would be at peace with God, with our neighbors, and with ourselves: “He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.”

Jesus came to show us how to live in a way that pleases God and honors our neighbor: “He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.”

Jesus came that we could face anything (chemo treatments, divorce, unemployment, graduation, or a big move overseas) without fear: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.”

Jesus came that we would have courage even to feast in the presence of our enemies, not giving them the power to control our lives: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

And Jesus came, that we would live lives of joy, trusting him with our ultimate protection and care: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.”

Jesus, our good shepherd, came that we would have all these things and more. Jesus, crucified and risen, has brought us abundant life! In light of that gift, and in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life, go now and live lives that bear witness to the abundance you have received. Go now, under the loving protection of Jesus, whose arms outstretched on the cross provide all the security you ever need.

Alleluia, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!