The Collect for the Second Sunday after Easter
Almighty God, Who has given Your only Son to be to us both a Sacrifice for sin, and also an example of Godly Life ; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive His inestimable benefit, and also to daily endeavour to follow the Blessed Steps of His Most Holy Life ; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle 1 St Peter 2:19-25
19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
The Holy Gospel of St John 10:11-16
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Bishop Ian’s Thoughts
Today’s Epistle Reading is taken from St Peter’s first Epistle Chapter 2, Verses 19-25.
It is generally accepted that the Epistles of St Peter, like the Epistles of St John, were not written to any one particular Christian Community, but to all the early Christian Communities. These young Churches shared many common hardships and experiences.
The Epistle was physically written, in around 60-64 AD, by Silas (mentioned in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15, Verse 22), who acted as St Peter’s amanuensis (a person who takes down dictation or copies manuscripts).
St Peter mentions his appreciation of Silas’ help in writing this Epistle in Chapter 5, Verse 12 of today’s Epistle:
“12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.”
The purpose of the St Peter’s Epistle was to instruct new Christians in applying the Truths and Lessons taught by the Lord Jesus, during his Earthly Ministry, to His Disciples and the many other people who heard Him preach.
As St Peter preached and taught (and caused his Epistles to be written), his hearers and readers could tell that here was a man who was a faithful servant, and close beloved friend, of the Lord Jesus.
In this portion of his Epistle St Peter gives instruction to those, both servants and slaves, who suffered persecution on account of their Christian Faith.
In St Peter’s time there would have been many slaves and servants in Roman households located throughout the Mediterranean area.
Many of these slaves and servants were highly valued by their masters and were treated very kindly.
Regrettably many others were not treated well.
Many slaves and servants had become Christians, as the freedom, equality and value placed on their lives by the Lord Jesus, and fellow Christians, was prized by those who had none of these things in their life of servitude.
Many cruel masters often beat their slaves and servants because they had become Christians and their masters resented their allegiance to any person or faith other than that imposed by their master’s will.
St Peter commended those who suffered unjustly and accepted it without complaint out of thankfulness for the sufferings of the Lord Jesus, unjustly inflicted, but which Cleansed their sins and Secured their Salvation:
“19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God."
He then pointed out that just punishment, without complaint, is not praiseworthy because it deserved. He then repeats his teaching that unjust punishment, without complaint is commendable before God.
“20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”
St Peter declares that the Lord Jesus endured unjust and brutal punishment that lead to His Death.
St Peter further declares that his readers are called to follow the Lord Jesus’ example:
“21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
This quote, used by St Peter, is taken from the much loved Old Testament Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 53, Verse 9, wherein the Prophet Isaiah is speaking of God’s Holy Messiah coming to His People as the Suffering Servant:
“He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.”
St Peter continues his description of the Humiliation and Suffering of the Lord Jesus, without retaliation, leading to His Death on the Cross, by which Sacrifice He bore the sins of His Chosen People, so that they might “die to sins” and Live through being cleansed by His Holy Blood and clothed in His Holy Righteousness:
“23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
St Peter begins the conclusion of this passage, of his Epistle, by drawing on the Lord Jesus’ declaration of Himself as the Good Shepherd, heard by St Peter with his own ears as his Master spoke them during His Earthly Life, and recorded in the Holy Gospel of St John Chapter 10, Verses 11-16:
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
In this description of Himself, the Lord Jesus uses the term “I Am” which is a direct referral to the Holy Name of God given to Moses approximately 1,500 years prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus.
God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and commissioned, and instructed him, to inform the Israelites that God was sending him to Pharaoh, to demand the release the Israelites from Bondage in Egypt. This event is recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus Chapter 3, Verses 13-14:
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am" This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
St Peter concludes our Reading by declaring the final state of all Christians whose sin has been forgiven by the Holy Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:
“25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
May God give grace to always thank and praise Him for the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus, and may we, like sheep, follow Him, The Good Shepherd, wherever He leads us. Amen.
Today’s Holy Gospel Reading is taken from the Holy Gospel of St John Chapter 10, Verses 11-16.
St John opens this portion of his Holy Gospel with his record of one of the most beloved of all New Testament addresses given by the Lord Jesus.
In this Address the Lord Jesus portrays Himself as the Good Shepherd Who guards and guides His flock, which is composed of all God’s Chosen People, those who have responded to His Call through the Ministry of the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus contrasts the Good Shepherd against the hired hand who does not own the sheep, but only minds them for payment of a wage, that does not include facing danger:
“11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
The Lord Jesus then revealed the deep personal relationship which the Good Shepherd has with His Sheep, and the Sheep with Him.
This personal relationship shared between the Good Shepherd and His Sheep is equated with the intimate relationship that the Great Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, shares with His Heavenly Father:
“14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
The Lord Jesus then further declared “I lay down my Life for the sheep.”
The Greek wording makes it clear that the meaning of “l Lay down my Life” is that it is a completely voluntary action, and not forced upon the Lord Jesus.
The Lord Jesus then revealed that He has other sheep that are “not of this sheep pen” (other translations use the older English word “fold” instead of “pen”).
"16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
The majority of scholars agree that the Lord Jesus was referring to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to whom the Holy Gospel would be proclaimed, by St Paul and his co-workers, in the years that lay ahead after the Lord Jesus had been Crucified, Buried, and had Risen from the dead, and had Ascended, with Glory, to His Father in Heaven.
The Lord Jesus, in declaring that He had “other sheep that are not of this fold,” revealed that the Chosen People of God, who are the adopted sons and daughters of God, will be a diverse people from all backgrounds and nationalities.
They will, however, be intimately united to each other and God by their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus and His Mighty Work of the Holy Gospel. They will be many Folds, making up One Flock, under One Good Shepherd, Who willingly laid down His Life for them.
Let us thank God for His Holy Gift of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, God’s only-Begotten Son. Let us also thank God that through the Love of the Lord Jesus in His Work of the Holy Gospel, whereby He sacrificed His Life to cleanse our sins, and in so doing He clothed all believers, including us, in His Holy Righteousness, and made us God’s Adopted Children and Heirs of His Eternal Kingdom. Amen.
Bishop Ian