John 10:22-30, Revelation 7:9-17, with Psalm 23 The question in both of these passages is “Who are God’s sheep?” In John 10 Jesus tells the Jews that they don’t believe since they do not belong to his sheep. He then lists the qualities of the sheep who do belong. They hear his voice and follow him. In return he will give them eternal life – they will never perish. He assures his sheep that no one can snatch them from out of the Father’s hand. He then declares that he and the Father are one. Revelation 7 tells about a great multitude standing before Christ, the Lamb clothed in white who state that salvation (being one’s sheep) belongs to God and to the Lamb (Christ). After the angels praise God, the elder asks who are these people dressed in white and where do they come from? The answer is those who have been saved by washing their robes white in the blood of the lamb. This Lamb is not only the one who brought salvation but is their shepherd who will guide his sheep, those who belon...

John 21:4-17, Acts 9:1-20 In our John passage we have the disciples returning to their trade of fishing yet they are catching nothing. Jesus appears the third time but they don’t recognize him until after he tells them to cast to the right side and there are so many fish it is too heavy to haul in. Then John realizes that it is Jesus. The Lord then serves them breakfast. Afterwards he asks Peter three times if he loves him. This counters with the three times that Peter denied him. After Peter answers yes each time Jesus tells him to tend to his sheep. Christ here is commissioning Peter to shepherd – take care of Christ’s sheep – these being the Jewish people – proclaiming to them the gospel that Jesus is the Messiah. Peter becomes the instrument that God has chosen to reach out and take care of the souls of the Jewish people. Our Acts account tells of another chosen instrument of God – the apostle Paul. It tells of his dramatic conversion to Christ. When Ananias is told in a vision...

John 20:19-31, Acts 5:27-32 Our John account tells of Jesus appearing to the disciples after his resurrection. They are in a locked room due to fear of the Jews – not the Romans. Later in Acts we have Peter openly preaching about Christ’s resurrection even when the Jewish High Priests have told him not to do so. He seems to have no fear now. What’s the difference? In our John passage it tells how Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them. Now does this differ from the Pentecost account or did the disciples gathered there get a head start? Did Thomas have to wait until Pentecost? The Pentecost event included all of Christ’s followers – so all are given the Holy Spirit. Now Peter in the Acts account tells how the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Christ – including those who converted after Pentecost – including contemporary Christians. We are the ones who did not witness Christ’s reappearance or see the nail prints and mark on his side, like Thomas did. Christ commends us future f...