191. Second Sunday after Easter. I.
Lord Jesus, may we be of thy people. Amen.
Gospel Lesson, John 10, 11-16. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
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Of a certainty, he has given his life for us. Now, we had at one time belonged to him, but had sold ourselves to the devil. So the precious Lord and Savior determined to make us his own once more by purchasing us with his life and blood; and hence we now belong to him as his special and peculiar property, bought with a great price. But who are his sheep? He gave his life as a ransom for all; from which it follows that all might be his sheep. But are they? Alas, many will not be; and they refuse to be gathered into his fold. In our gospel lesson he mentions two marks by which they who belong to him may be known. The first is, that they know him; the second, that they hear his voice.
1) If you do not know him, you are not one of his sheep. There is between him and them an intimate acquaintance, even as there is between the Father and him. Is not this a truth to impress us with its gravity, as well as to give us the greatest joy? “I know mine, and am known of mine, even as I know the Father, and am known of the Father.” How intimate the knowledge, and how close the relation! He knows them by name; he knows their condition and their needs, their longing and love and sorrow; knows each one of them as if he were the only one, and understands them better than they understand themselves. And the sheep know the Lord in faith. They do not see him, but they know him; know him better than they know any other; for they experience in their heart that he is love and mercy and life itself, holy and righteous, great and mighty, patient and faithful, and that in him the heart has all that it needs. They do not know the whole depth of his nature, and they do not know the full greatness of his grace; neither do all know him equally well; but each of them knows him as his Lord and God, and gives himself to him, and trusts him with heartfelt confidence. It is not a superficial and slight acquaintance, but a daily, unceasing, confidential intercourse, a communion of life and heart in spirit and in truth. After a short acquaintance they have put his kindness, his faithfulness, and his patience to the test so often that they can say with truth that they know him, and in truth must say that he surpasses all knowledge.
2) The second mark is that they hear his voice, and let him gather them into the fold. The sheep follow the shepherd, and obey him. The sheep of Jesus answer to his call, and obey him; they are willing to receive chastisement and comfort and instruction from him, and they congregate where his word is to be heard. If you do not love the word of Jesus, it is certain that you are not of his fold. If you do not delight in them whose delight is in him, you are not of his fold. But come for all that; he calls you, and he will receive you.
Lord Jesus, thou great Shepherd of the souls; thou alone canst save from the wolf and from death. Let us be thine own, and do not surrender us to our own foolish devices. Call us to thee, and keep us in thy fold. Amen.
Shepherd of Israel, from above
Thy feeble flock behold;
And let us never lose thy love,
Nor wander from thy fold.
Thou wilt not cast thy lambs away;
Thy hand is ever near
To guide them, lest they go astray,
And keep them safe from fear.
192. Second Sunday after Easter. II.
Lord, make us acquainted
with thy sufferings. Amen.
1 Peter 2, 21-25. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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You who are returned to the Lord are called to endure suffering. For Christ suffered for us, and we are to walk in these his footprints, not elsewhere. For the flesh it is a hard road to travel; but that which makes the flesh wince is the very best thing for the soul. — However, there is no virtue in suffering, if you do not endure it in the right spirit. Jesus suffered patiently, uttering no complaint. In this way only can suffering be said to be holy. But in order that we may be able to suffer in this way, we must above all know and believe in the grace contained in the suffering of Christ. He suffered for our sins, not for his own; and yet he did not murmur. How much more reason for us to endure suffering, and hold our peace, we who have so richly deserved to suffer! His example is striking; but that alone does not give us the needed strength. Another circumstance in connection with his suffering is the one which gives us strength to follow his steps: “His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” He took away our guilt by suffering our punishment. When we believe in him our suffering is, therefore, not a punishment under the lash of the judge, but a correction administered by a loving father. Understand this; and the sting which especially tempts to impatience is taken away, and in its place you will find that suffering soothes the soul. Christ took away also the power of sin; he sacrificed himself with our sin on his shoulders; the pure fire of his holy love, which consumed him, consumed our sins also; and hence in Christ you are dead from sin, and live in righteousness. His stripes are your healing. Faith knows this mystery, and possesses this grace. — Thus the Christians are able to shew forth the power of Christ’s sufferings. But the greater number of those who call themselves Christians are such in name only; and they neither will nor can suffer as Christians. — Ye are the ones whose lot it is to suffer, ye believers, who are returned unto the Shepherd of your souls. For even hereunto were ye called. Suffer patiently, and praise God, thereby giving proof that your Christianity is genuine.
God, give us this great mercy that we may suffer afflictions and thank thee for them. Amen.
Lead, kindly Light! amid th’ encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on;
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on.
I love the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.