The
Second Sunday after Easter.
The
Collect.
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LMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both
a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we
may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily
endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through
the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by
the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a
thief and a robber. 2 But
he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice:
and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before
them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from
him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This
parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were
which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the
sheep. 8 All that ever
came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter
in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:1-10)
Sheep and children are closely related in character. We often refer to innocent
children as “little lambs,’ and certainly they are, not having carnal
knowledge. If the Federal Department of Education has its way, they shall
attain that knowledge as early as Kindergarten! What a disgrace to inflict such
immoral training on little children. If we trained little lambs to believe that
they were wolves, how long would they fend for themselves in the wilds? Lambs
must be provided food and shelter by their shepherd. Children must be provided
the same by loving parents. Lambs have vision that is limited to only a few
feet before them – so it is with little children as to insight and wisdom. The
wolves are forever trying to separate out the most vulnerable lamb to satisfy
an insatiable appetite. So do the wolves of the world seek out the children to
corrupt and indoctrinate against the Moral Law of God.
But, as we have discussed in many devotions, Christ is our Good Shepherd and He
brings us to safe lodging in protected folds. In fact, He is the very Door of
the Fold through which no one can enter without Him. We never mature, as
Christians, to a point in which we are mature in Christ. We may study Holy Writ
10 hours per day, and every day of our lives, but, yet, never gain a full
comprehension of all that it contains of the Bread of Heaven and the Water of
Life. If you did gain such a full comprehension of all that God has said in His
Book, where could we go for more Bread and more Water?
Jesus said to His late night guest, Nicodemus: “Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Have we deeply considered the
significance of that counsel of the Lord to the proud Pharisee? Is this
counsel of Jesus not closely related to that which He gave in the Gospel of St
Matthew? Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such
little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these
little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were
hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
(Matt 18:3-6) Are we not physically born into this world as little children?
The same is true of the Spirit rebirth. Christ did not mean that we should be
born again in the same way as our first birth, but that we become new creatures
in Christ through a re-birth of our spirit. We are then as little children in
the eyes of God. Even the sage theologian who loves, and has made the study of,
God’s Word a lifetime endeavor will also be simply as a little child in the
eyes of God. You may look long and far to find such a theologian in our day.
Do not children know and understand the voice of the parent? So do the sheep
know the voice of the Shepherd. Do not we hold the hand of our little children
when we lead them across streets and in public places? Does the Shepherd not
likewise lead His sheep tenderly along the mountain trails? Dow we not teach
our children to disregard following the voice of a stranger? So the sheep
follow only the voice of their Shepherd. Does not the parent plan for the
future of his child and do all he can to make his lifelong and healthy? Does
not the Good Shepherd offer life, and that more abundantly? So Jesus uses
things that we know of, and to which we can relate, to teach of higher truths
that are presently beyond our understanding. Poor Nicodemus could not separate
the symbolism from that being symbolized (at least at first). But Nicodemus
never came to Christ under cover of darkness again, but publicly and openly.
How are Christian saints like children? 1) Children are heirs of all that the
fathers possess: “….if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together.” (Romans 8:17) 2) Trusting in our
Father as the lambs trust in their shepherd, we are made children of God: For
ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26)
30 Children follow parents as lambs the shepherd: Be ye therefore
followers of God, as dear children (Eph 5:1)
Sheep are not born of the Shepherd, but of other sheep. But those choice lambs,
purchased by the Shepherd, become His charges even more than their natural
parents who cannot provide for them as can the Shepherd. It is the sheep of the
church that reproduce more sheep, and the Shepherd cares for them as His own.
Children are begotten of parents. Saints are begotten of God.
Children inherit physical and mental traits of parents. Saints are endowed with
the likeness and character of their God.
Children are given the ‘family’ name of the parent. Saints are called ‘Christian’
after Christ their Good Shepherd.
Children are not in every detail alike just as the children of God are not all
alike in every detail. Each is given at least one talent with which to invest
His labors for the Kingdom, but not the SAME talent!
The list of comparisons is limitless. We are all in Christ as children leaning
on every word of the counsel of God with a due reverence. We are just as the
lambs awaiting the Shepherds call to proceed or to stand fast; to enter the
fold, or to remain without.
If we are yoked with spiritual pride, we are no longer children, and if not
children, hold no part with Christ. We all, alike, must become as little
children from the moment of our salvation until the closing of the long dark
night of this life.
God has blessed me with so many children under my preaching in Saint Andrew's
Parish. It was EXACTLY that for which I craved. I LOVE children and find it so
easy to train them up in the way that they should go. When I think back on
those shiny little eyes listening attentively to my long sermons, I am amazed
that they continued to return Sunday after Sunday. They had not complaint in
singing the classical hymns of the church, or in reading from the King James
Bible though, for most, English was their second language. What an amazing gift
God gave me for more than fifteen years. I could never have brought such a
lovely congregation together on my own efforts – it was the Good shepherd who
opened the Door and invited them in. How much I thank Him for the privilege.
Regardless of their ages, those children will ALWAYS be MY children in love.
Have
you followed the Counsel given by Jesus and become (and remained) as a little
child?
