Jesus, our Good Shepherd, help us to hear your voice and to follow you. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Picture the scene – a flock of sheep are grazing contentedly on a hillside – the day is turning towards evening and the golden light slants across the grass – its peaceful and quiet, the mothers call to their lambs and nearby is the shepherd, lazing in the early evening light, and looking forward to a quiet night ahead.

Suddenly, over the shoulder of the hill appears a wolf. Instantly, the sheep freeze, before a great cacophony of frightened bleating breaks out. The shepherd leaps to his feet and the sheep, in terror, do what animals always do in the face of danger – they scatter, running in all directions, bumping into each other in their fear and confusion, and losing all sense of direction.

They need the shepherd to take charge, to gather them back into the flock and to lead them to the safety of the sheepfold.

But this shepherd drops his staff, and runs away – leaving them to the mercy of the wolf, who now has no problem picking off several of the undefended sheep, one by one.

There is carnage and mayhem.

The shepherd, the hired hand, does not really know the sheep or care for them – its just a job – and he has decided its not important enough to put himself at risk for the sheep. Leave them to their own devices – they can take their chances!

The poor sheep! What chance did they really have?

Jesus so often looks at the people and, loving them, is full of pity for them, for he sees that they are like sheep without a shepherd.

So when he describes himself as the good shepherd – it is in exact opposite to the hired hand sort of shepherd and is precisely what the people need.

The good shepherd knows the sheep, each one by name. He has cared for them, and they have learnt to trust him – they know him, and they know the sound of his voice.

When the wolf comes, the good shepherd goes to stand between the wolf and the sheep – and is even prepared to give his life if need be, to protect them, so that they can come safely back to the sheepfold.

When, in times of darkness, or danger, the good shepherd calls them by name, they don’t scatter, but huddle together as one flock, even in their fear and trembling, they stay together, because they trust the good shepherd, and they know that they are to follow him, to follow the way he has shown them, and they will be safe.

In the reading from Acts – this is exactly what we see Peter and John doing. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit – with the very life force of Jesus himself, they are continuing in his way, and continuing the work that he began – of healing and transformation. They have healed a lame man and then preached to the crowd who had witnessed this – all this we heard in last week’s reading.

This all took place in the Temple in Jerusalem itself, and Peter and John have been arrested, and now stand before the Temple authorities and the High Priest.

It seems like there is an easy way out, if they can come to terms with their accusers. By whose name have you done this – they ask?

If Peter and John were to say that they have done this through God’s power, they could be off the hook.

But this is no time for fudging it – this is the time for courage – for stepping up and facing down the wolf – for claiming the name of Jesus – the stone that was rejected by those who are supposed to be the builders of God’s kingdom on earth, but who have basically run away from their duty, just like that hired hand shepherd.

Jesus, the rejected one, has now been shown by God, in raising him from the dead, to be the cornerstone – to be in effect a new Temple – to be the place where God’s people will gather – the sheepfold where all who hear the good shepherd’s voice will find safety, peace and life.

Peter and John are unequivocal – we have healed this man, they say, by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

At the name of Jesus we will sing at the end of this service, as we began, by singing Christ is the sure foundation and cornerstone.

Peter and John claim this, and live it out – they proclaim it even in the face of hostility and they hold onto it even through the dark times of suffering.

They trust in the name of Jesus, they trust in him as the Good Shepherd and they continue to do his work – becoming good shepherds themselves.

Proclaiming Jesus in word and action is what the reading from the first letter of John is all about – ‘let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.’ We are to follow God’s commandment, to believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and to love one another, recognizing that his love is so great that he chooses to lay down his life for us.

In the same way – we give over our lives to one another, in love, care, service, acts of kindness, standing up to the threats and dangers, protecting one another and helping one another hear the voice of the good shepherd.

And there will be one flock, one shepherd – this promise and command is not for one type of sheep, or people, alone – it is for everyone – friends, family, neighbours, those we like and those we don’t, those who are like us and those who are different, those who already call themselves Christians and those who have not yet met the Lord Jesus, those we love and those we hate – one flock, and one shepherd.

All this couldn’t be further from some of the divisions going on in the world right now. But it was just such a divided and troubled world when Peter and John spoke out in the Temple. What we have to do, like them, is live out this way of love, trusting the good shepherd, and leading others to the good green grass and the refreshing still waters and walking with them through the dark places, even through the valley of the shadow of death.

At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess him King of glory now!

Amen.

Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 15th April 2024. (St John’s Church Peterborough UK)

Readings: Acts 4.5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3.16-end; John 10.11-18