John 10:1-10

Fourth Sunday in Easter | April 30, 2023 | John 10:1-10 | David Brooks |

If you conduct any business online, then you know that online security is a major issue. Strong passwords, virtual private networks, multi-factor authentication, not accepting clickable files or links in email or text messages are just a starting point for making sure that your important and personal data is kept out of the hands of…what was that word? Oh, yeah: thieves.

We know this word; we use this word: as thick as thieves…like a thief in the night…no honor among thieves…thieves always count their change. A thief is marked by secrecy and stealth, distractions and deceits. Thievery is as much about the lies that are told as the wealth that is lifted, for the point is to cause confusion and uncertainty. The first theft occurred in the Garden, long ago, where the crafty serpent spread lies and doubt and stole something precious from the humans God had made.

We might remember that long ago story when we hear Jesus talk of sheepfolds, of gates and of hearing the shepherd’s voice. Of course, Jesus doubles up the danger, speaking of thieves and robbers as a way of reminding us that in abandoning walking the Way there is not only the possible loss of something valuable, but destruction and death as well. But since the Lord is especially concerned about the correct voice and hearing it rightly, we should pay special attention to his instruction regarding the voices to which we give heed.

In our world, there are many voices who would use the vocabulary and language of the Church to call us away from the sheepfold and invite us to forget Him who is our one, true Way. Like bogus links that mimic secure websites or the phishing email that pretends it’s your friend sending you pictures from a recent trip, the world uses words like “love” or “freedom” or to be frank, “transgression” or “hate” to get us to “click,” bypassing the security of Jesus our Way and the shelter of the sheepfold. All things are useful for the thief: our compassion for others, our sorrow for our sin, our concerns for the future, our hopes for society, even our desire to know our Lord better—through all these and more we are encouraged to abandon the boundaries that our Lord has set for us in his wisdom and go our own ways rather than walk in his more excellent Way.

But if the thief wishes us to abandon the way of Jesus Christ, set aside the protection that his Way provides, then walking in his Way offers us a chance to grow in our ability to recognize our Lord’s voice. There are three things particularly that I want us to remember:

• The first is perhaps most important: trust him! Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth, and he will not fail you. There is nothing that can thwart his good purposes for you. So, whenever you or I are tempted to despair, remember that Jesus has already won, and he has made us his. As Peter declared, there is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved—no scientist, no entrepreneur, no politician, no celebrity, no influencer.
• The second is seek unity in the Spirit of Truth! Remember, lies and deception are the tools of every thief; our world is not interested in truth, only “truths.” We must be careful about being diverted from our lives as children of God. While we welcome the testimony of others, we must test what is avowed by the truth that has been given and revealed to us. The truth of the Creator is woven in the fabric of creation, and those who would ask us to deny what is true, for example about each of us as men and women have entered by another way.
• The third is to keep walking the Way! Let us not neglect gathering for worship; let us not neglect our study of the Scriptures; let us not neglect prayer. These guard against deception, meaning that the more we practice the way that Jesus teaches us, the more we grow as his brothers and sisters to recognize and respond to his voice.

Finally, I say, do not be afraid! The church throughout the ages has struggled with being able to tell the difference between the false and the true, the voice of the Lord and the lies of thieves. The community to which John wrote his Gospel was not immune to it, nor are we. But we have been made a part of Christ’s sheepfold, and are called to share in his endless life, so be ready when he calls, for his ways are life and peace and joy. Amen.

—

Pr. Dave Brooks

Raleigh, NC, USA

Pr.Dave.Brooks@zoho.com