Acts 13: 14, 43-52, Rev 7:9 14-17, John 10: 27-3
4th Sunday of Easter Acts 13: 14, 43-52, Rev 7:9 14-17, John 10: 27-30
The readings for the 4th Sunday of Easter present Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lovingly lays down His life for his sheep, calling His followers to listen attentively to His voice and follow in faithfulness. In the first reading from Acts, Paul, and Barnabas boldly proclaim the Good News. They are driven by their call to be shepherds, guiding others towards the love of Christ. However, this mission is not met without challenge; they face rejection and hostility. Yet they continue to share the message, knowing that their efforts are part of a larger divine plan. It is a vivid reminder that while we may encounter resistance on our faith journey, we are called to persevere, spreading God’s love to all. Today’s Psalm beautifully calls us to joyful worship, urging us to “enter his gates with thanksgiving.” It celebrates our identity as God’s people, a flock under His care. This joyous expression roots us in our identity as God’s beloved. When we recognize that we are part of His flock, we find true joy and purpose in our lives, which calls us to be grateful even in difficult times.
In the second reading from Revelation, we catch a glimpse of the heavenly banquet, where a multitude stands before the Lamb, clothed in white. This passage offers us hope and assurance that our struggles are not in vain. The image of being shepherded to springs of living water speaks to the peace and nourishment that awaits us. It reminds us that God is always leading us toward healing and renewal. In today’s Gospel from John, Jesus declares, “my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” This beautiful promise reassures us of His constant presence and guidance in our lives. John begins this passage by giving both the date and the place of this discussion. These words are spoken during the festival of Dedication, a time commemorating the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple after its desecration by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (2 B.C). The festival symbolized purity, divine authority, and deliverance, all themes that resonate in Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd and to be one with the Father. As Jesus walked on Solomon’s porch the Jews came to him. “How Long”, they said to him “are you going to keep us in suspense? Tell us plainly, are you or are you not God promised anointed one? Jesus’ answer was that he had already told who he was. However, the majority of the Jews had not accepted that claim. As we have seen in Palestine the sheep knew their own shepherd’s special call and answered it; these were not Jesus’ flock.
“My sheep” indicates a personal intimate relationship. Jesus’ followers recognize His voice, just as sheep know their shepherd by sound. “I know them” not just intellectual awareness, but deep, covenantal knowing (Gen. 4:1). Jesus knows His followers as God knows His people- intimately and lovingly. But though most did not accept Jesus, some did; and to them, Jesus promised eternal life. “They will never perish” assurance of salvation, a radical statement, especially to a Jewish audience steeped in conditional covenant theology. “no one will snatch them out of my hand”. Echoes prophetic promises of divine protection (Isaiah 49: 16). Jesus speaks of a security grounded not in human faithfulness, but in divine commitment. “My father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the hand of the Father. I and Father are one.” This indicates a shift to the Father’s role, reinforcing the divine origin and authority of Jesus’ mission. “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.” This emphasizes: the father is supreme. The gift of the sheep (the faithful) from the Father to the Son showing divine initiative in salvation. The double assurance: Jesus’ hand and the Father’s hand perfect unity in protection. Now we come to the supreme claim. “I and the Father are one”, said Jesus. One in purpose, action, and essence. The ‘one’ indicates unity of will or essence, not identity of personhood. This is a Christological high point in John’s Gospel: a direct claim to divine unity not just moral agreement but ontological oneness. It provokes immediate hostility, showing how radical this claim was in 1st-century Judaism.
As the Good shepherd, Jesus has a personal interest in every one of His sheep. Being a caring and providing shepherd, Jesus does what is best for the sheep, even to the point of laying down His life so that the sheep will live. Unlike the hired shepherd who is only looking for pay and what can be obtained from the sheep, Jesus establishes a close connection with all of His sheep. They recognize and respond to his voice, and He responds to them. Jesus fulfils and surpasses Israel’s shepherds- He is the true Shepherd, leading not just Israel but all people to life, safety, and eternal communion with God. So, to grow spiritually, we must actively listen to Jesus. This involves engaging in prayer, reading Scripture, and being attentive to His guidance. Just as sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd, we need to cultivate an ever-deepening awareness of Christ’s voice in our lives.