4th Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30
My sheep hear and follow me, and no one will snatch them from me (John 21:27-28). Jesus speaks plainly to us on this Good Shepherd Sunday. All who confess him as Savior and Lord belong to him and are heirs of his promise.
The sheep, however, have a mission to accomplish.
In Acts, Peter, the fisherman transformed into a shepherd, who remains a sheep called to follow Christ (John 21:15-19), goes about fishing for people. In the town of Lydda, he cures a paralytic man in the name of Jesus, causing many to believe (9:32-35). The now-notorious Peter is called to Joppa for the ultimate test of the miraculous, to raise someone from the dead. Tabitha, get up! Then she opened her eyes (40-41).
In Revelation, God invites us to imagine the promise of the kingdom for heirs from every nation, tribe, people, and language that belongs to Christ (7:9). The Lamb who is now a Shepherd will shelter all those coming out of the great ordeal and wipe away every tear from their eyes (14-17).
The psalmist sings:
“You restore my soul, O LORD,
and guide me along right pathways
for your name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me (Psalm 23:3-4; Evangelical Lutheran Worship).”
Bridging Faith 