Sheep are prey animals. They don’t hunt other animals. Other animals hunt them. Bears, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and even dogs can attack sheep and try to drag them away from the flock. When that happens, sheep don’t have much they can do besides try to run away. They don’t have sharp teeth or claws that they can use to defend themselves.
That’s why a shepherd is so important. In many ways, the shepherd is the sheep’s most powerful defense. When a predator tries to snatch a sheep, the watchful shepherd will drive the predator off. He will do whatever he can to prevent anyone or anything from snatching even one of his sheep. David, the Old Testament king who was once a shepherd, is a good example. He once said, “When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it” (1 Samuel 17:34-35).
Spiritually, we are sheep. We are the prey. Satan and all his allies are our predators. The Bible says, “The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). When the devil attacks, we are not able to defend ourselves. Spiritually, we are defenseless unless someone comes to our rescue.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has come to our rescue. When Satan was seeking to devour us, Jesus came and fought Satan directly. He willingly put his own life on the line—actually, he willingly laid down his life to rescue us from Satan. Now that Jesus has given his life to keep us from being taken from him, we can be sure that there’s nothing he won’t do to keep us close to him. Satan will still try to snatch us away from Jesus. But he will not succeed. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, holds us tightly in his hand. And no one can snatch us from his hand.
Prayer:
Good Shepherd who laid down your life for me, hold me close to you forever. Amen.
A group of tourists was visiting a farm in Norway when the farmer took them to see his sheep. The farmer taught the group the call he used to summon his sheep. He then allowed three of the tourists to try to use that call to summon the sheep. The first tourist stepped up to the fence and gave the call. The sheep just kept grazing as if nothing had happened. The second tourist gave the call. The sheep still just kept grazing. The third tourist took her turn, still nothing. None of those voices could summon the sheep, even though they gave the farmer’s call.
Finally, the farmer himself stepped up to the fence and gave his call. Immediately, the sheep stopped grazing and looked up. He gave his call again. The sheep looked directly at him. A couple more calls from the shepherd and the entire herd ran toward him. The farmer was able to do what no one else could do because his sheep recognized his voice and would follow only him.
The people who had gathered around Jesus refused to believe that he was the Messiah, even though he clearly had told them that he was the Messiah. To Jesus, this was not surprising. They were not his sheep, so how could they listen to him? If they were his sheep, they would listen to him because sheep know their shepherd’s voice. When the sheep hear their shepherd’s call, they eagerly follow him.
We are Jesus’ sheep when we believe in him. When God the Holy Spirit leads us to trust in Jesus as our Savior, he opens our ears to recognize Jesus’ voice. We hear Jesus speaking to us in his Word. We hear how he rescued us from all our sins through his perfect life and his death on the cross. We hear his promise always to care for us and bring us safely home to him in heaven. Like sheep who know their shepherd’s voice, we recognize Jesus’ voice and eagerly follow him wherever he may lead us.
Prayer:
Jesus, my Shepherd, I praise you that you have opened my ears to hear and recognize your voice. Lead me to follow you always. Amen.
The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me.” John 10:24,25
Sometimes people simply refuse to see what is right in front of their eyes. The Jewish people who gathered around Jesus in today’s Bible reading are a perfect example of this. They still weren’t sure whether Jesus was God’s promised Messiah. They felt as if Jesus was keeping them in suspense. Why wouldn’t he just come right out and tell them if he was the Messiah?
Jesus, however, had been telling them plainly that he was the Messiah. In fact, he’d done it many times. He’d spoken that truth to them repeatedly using words. In addition, he had spoken to them using his actions.
If they wanted to know if Jesus was the Messiah, all they needed to do was open their eyes and see what Jesus was doing. Who else but God’s chosen Messiah could heal the sick as Jesus did? Or cast out demons with a single command? Or feed thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and fish? Or raise the dead? Or give sight to the blind? Or do any of the countless other miracles that Jesus was doing?
The miracles that Jesus performed demonstrated who he was. He was indeed the Messiah God had promised to send. But they refused to see it. Even though all the evidence they needed was right in front of their eyes, they could not see it because they didn’t want to see it.
On our own, we couldn’t see the evidence that Jesus is the Messiah any more than the people in today’s Bible reading could. But God the Holy Spirit has worked faith in our hearts so that we see all that Jesus has done. Jesus’ miracles, his perfect life, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead clearly show us that Jesus is our Savior who has paid for all our sins. Praise God that he has opened our eyes to see!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for opening my eyes to see that you are my Savior. Amen.
Menachem Mendel Schneerson served as the seventh and final Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. In 1991 he told his followers that he had done everything he could to bring the Messiah to this world.
Some followers believed that this message revealed Rebbe Schneerson as the Messiah. They sang in his presence, “Long live our Master, our teacher, and our Rabbi, King Messiah, forever and ever!” He did not tell them to stop singing.
Rebbe Schneerson died in 1994. Some of his disciples gathered at his grave, expecting him to rise from the dead and reveal himself as the Messiah. He has remained dead. True believers expect him to return soon to show himself to the world as the Messiah.
Almost 2,000 years ago the apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas spoke in the Jewish synagogue of Pisidian Antioch. They revealed a message about a certain rabbi named Jesus. Paul said, “God has brought the Savior Jesus, as he promised” (Acts 13:23).
Paul taught a Bible lesson in the synagogue. He demonstrated how the history of Israel pointed to the coming of Jesus. Even the death of Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets read every Sabbath. Paul told them the good news that Jesus had risen from his grave. This astounding miracle revealed Jesus’ death as the fulfillment of God’s promise to punish one man for the sins of all.
Paul concluded, “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39).
Rebbe Schneerson. Dead. Buried. All other false messiahs—the same. Jesus Christ. Died. Buried. Rose again on the third day. The one true Messiah. We tell you the good news: What God promised he has fulfilled for us by raising up Jesus.
Prayer:
God of the prophets, make your message clear to the world so that all may know the good news that has come to all through Jesus Christ, our one and only Savior. Amen.
Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17
A person can get lost without knowing it. A little boy in a mall wanders off from his parents to play with some toys. Two friends on a cross-country road trip miss their exit; they’re so caught up in the conversation that they drive many miles out of the way.
A man named Saul was lost, but he didn’t know it. He thought that by keeping the laws and traditions of the Old Testament, he could make himself right with God. In fact, Saul was so convinced he was right that he went after those who disagreed to bring them down. He didn’t want to hear that Jesus was the Savior, risen from the dead. Saul was a persecutor of Christians.
It’s easy to think about our relationship with God the way Saul did. It’s easy to think the way to be right with God is to do the right things. It’s easy to think we don’t need a Savior from sin. And when we think that way, we’re just as lost as Saul was.
One day God found Saul. There was a bright light from heaven, a visit from Jesus, and a bout of blindness. As terrifying as it all must have seemed to Saul at the time, clearly, God loved Saul. For the three days Saul’s blindness lasted, God gave him time to reflect on things. Jesus had been right all along; he was the only way to God. Jesus wasn’t dead; he was alive! Best of all, when the three days were up, Saul was baptized. Jesus had died for Saul’s sins too. God had forgiven Saul, and now Saul knew it.
When you are lost and know it; then there’s nothing better than being found. You probably haven’t been rescued from a deserted island, but you can imagine what joy there would be in hearing the beat of a helicopter blade. The account of Saul’s conversion is a ray of hope for all who are spiritually shipwrecked. Jesus paid for Saul’s sins, and he paid for yours too. It doesn’t take miraculous healing or light from heaven to turn you around. The Holy Spirit works through the message of what Jesus has done for you. Help has come.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, risen Savior, thank you for shining the light of your forgiveness on me too. Amen.
To the world he seemed like a defeated man: opposed and killed by his enemies, his followers scattered in fear. Yet three days after Jesus’ death he rose victorious from the dead. Nothing would ever be the same. The rest of eternity is now a victory march for the risen Christ. During Easter, we should not think of ourselves as passive observers in Christ’s victory. We are more than fans cheering for our favorite athlete! Rather, we are active participants in Christ’s tirumph. Just as his death was our death, so also his life is our life. Buried with Christ in baptism, our life is now hidden with him on high. The victory is ours, now and forever. Easter is more than a day. It is an entire joyful season. The six solemn weeks of Lent are eclipsed by seven weeks of unbridled joy. These seven weeks correspond to the period of fifty days on the Jewish calendar between Passover and Pentecost. The Church reserves its highest praise for the Easter season. We do not merely watch from the sidelines as Christ marches in victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell. We join in the festal procession!
Order of ServiceThe Service Setting 1 with communion – pg. 154
Hymns888, 552, 551, 883
Psalm23A
Special MusicSunday at Emmanuel & St. John’s: Choir “The Potter’s Hand”
SermonRevelation 7:9-17 “Behold a Host, Arrayed in White”
Let’s learn…
1. Where they come from
2. How they got there
3. What’s in store for them
Rite of Teen ConfirmationSunday at St. John’s
LESSONS
Acts 13:15-16a, 26-3915After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” 16Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: 26“Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30But God raised him from the dead, 31and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 32“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ 34God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 35So it is also stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ 36“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 38“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
Revelation 7:9-179After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
13Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
John 10:22-3022Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
– For the sick and others facing trials…Caryl Bassett, Gale “Blackie” Boyd, Ed Buchholz, Darlene Burrough (Judy Fandrey’s niece), Gene & Sharon Crook, Florence Dahlke, Vicki Davis (Marilyn Riemer’s sister), Marlene Draeger, Reinold Eckelberg, Ken Elmer (Sally’s husband), Earl Ewert, Judy Freitag, Donna Gatzke, Kelleen Grucza (Judy Fandrey’s daughter), Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Geri Kerl (Sue Brown’s mother), Bob & Sandy Klapper, Robert Lederer (Jackie & Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Thomas Marcelain (Dawn’s son), Brian Ninneman, Karen Radke, Wayne Riemer, Sierra Schmidt (Linda Lou Wacholtz’s grand-daughter), Wanda Sellnow (Principal Larry Sellnow’s mother), Ben Smith (Judy Fandrey’s friend), Tom Stempniak (Carol’s husband), Dennis & Ramona Wacholtz, Dixie Wagner, Stacy Weisensel (added this week: )
– For our teen confirmands: Cody Schultz, Kaleb Schumann, Jack Steuck, Haiden Van Treeck
– For mothers
Cody Lyle Schultz
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Kaleb Donn Schumann
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him ?and he will do this.” Psalm 37:5
Jack Wayne Steuck
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
Haiden James Van Treeck
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.” Psalm 37:5
CHURCH NEWS
ST. JOHN’S LADIES, PLEASE VOTE! All confirmed women are eligible to vote for officers on the International Board of Directors of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) and for mission projects for 2022-2023. A voting station is located in the linkway today. Voting ends on Sunday, May 22. Results of this voting will be announced at the 2022 LWMS Convention, in Rochester, NY, June 23-26. If you have questions, please contact Reporter Linda Wachholz. Your vote is very much appreciated!
Attendance St. John’s Emmanuel
4-23 –
4-24 38
SCHOOL NEWS
CLASS TRIPSLittle Lambs-2nd grade CHANGED to Monday, May 16 and 3rd-8th Wednesday, May 18. Details TBA.
KINDERGARTEN/8TH GRADE GRADUATION & CLOSING SERVICEJoin us for our all-inclusive Kindergarten/8th Graduation and Closing Service starting at 10:30am at St. John’s. All are welcome to join!
CHRIST ALONE LUTHERAN ACADEMY (K-8)
OPENING FALL 2022!
Register by June 1 to get your $50 registration fee credited towards your tuition!
Registration is complete when we receive your student registration fee.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, how many times did his disciples tell the story of what happened near the beginning of that ministry—the time when Jesus told Peter to let down his fishing nets into deep water for a catch? When Peter, James, and John let down their nets as Jesus had directed, pure pandemonium broke out. Before these sleepy fishermen knew it, the nets were so full of fish that the nets began to break. And when they hauled the fish into the boats, the boats were so full that they began to sink.
It’s not hard to imagine watching one of the disciples tell that story around a campfire, backed up by good-natured laughter. It’s also not hard to imagine Jesus and his disciples exchanging looks with each other during the story—looks and nods and knowing smiles. After all, that’s typically what happens when people bond over a shared experience.
That bond of shared experience must have become poignant the day the resurrected Christ showed up on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here’s what happened: Peter, James, John, and several others had decided to go fishing overnight, but they caught nothing. Suddenly there was a man on shore, but they couldn’t make out who he was. The man called out, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They did. And suddenly, they had on their hands a repeat of the fishing story they knew so well. The man on shore was Jesus. The man on shore was their Savior, their dear, dear friend.
Jesus has that same bond with you and me. Not only is he the One who lived a sinless life in our place and who suffered and died to cleanse us from every wrong. As our living Lord, he has been with you and me every moment of our lives. Every experience we’ve had, good and bad—Jesus has been there for it. He’s been there to carry us through. He’s been there to guide it all for our good.
That’s the kind of friend we have in Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for being by my side always. And thank you for being my dearest friend. Amen.
In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12
God has wired us for stories. Our own experience reflects this. If someone presents us with endless bullets of factoids on a PowerPoint screen, we will likely lose interest. Weave that same information into a gripping story, however, and our attention remains. It’s simply how our Creator has put us together.
This probably should come as no surprise. After all, Christianity is the greatest story of all time, and a story that happens to be absolutely true. It starts with Creation, then the Fall into sin, then God’s promise to send a Savior from sin. Then, God guides the twists and turns of history until the moment is right for the Savior to arrive. When he does, Jesus Christ does exactly what needs to be done to live a holy life on our behalf and suffer and die for our every sin. Then, according to his promise, he rises from the dead.
And this drama is still unfolding. You and I are fighting the good fight. We battle the temptations of the world, the temptations of Satan, the temptations of our old sinful natures. Often we overcome, but sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we fall. When we do, The Bible brings us to repentance, Jesus refreshes us in his forgiveness, and his gospel empowers us to get back up.
Through all of this, you and I are collecting scars, but that’s all right. We know it’s all right because our Lord has chosen to tell us how this ultimate adventure is going to end. In the last book of the Bible, the apostle John receives a revelation of what you and I are going to see. In the end, there is victory and peace and joy, unbridled and pure. Jesus is at the center. Multitudes of angels are there. You and I are there, along with all those of all time who have trusted in Jesus. And we fill the heavens with our shouts and songs.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for showing me how all this is going to end. Refresh me day by day as I fight the good fight. Amen.
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man [Saul] and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem . . .” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name before the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Acts 9:13,15
Let’s take a moment to set up this extraordinary scene. Ananias is a Christian. He lives in a town called Damascus. He’s been receiving reports about a Jewish man by the name of Saul of Tarsus. Saul of Tarsus has made it his mission to crush Christianity. In Damascus, the mere mention of Saul’s name very likely creates a corkscrew sensation running up the back of every Christian.
And now the risen Lord Jesus appears to Ananias in a vision. In this vision, he tells Ananias to go to a certain house in Damascus and to ask for Saul of Tarsus, who’s staying there.
Saul of Tarsus? Poor Ananias. In that moment, Ananias cannot see the wisdom in seeking out the one who brings so much terror to many Christians. Every impulse in Ananias tells him to take a pass on paying a visit to Saul of Tarsus. The Lord’s plans, however, are different.
Ananias is not alone, of course. As Christians, you and I battle all kinds of impulses that tell us to back away from the Lord’s will for our lives. Such impulses can come in many forms. There’s the impulse of fear and resentment, There’s the impulse of convenience and the status quo or to remain where it’s comfortable and familiar.
However, the Lord’s plans are not for the sake of what’s comfortable. Often, they are for the sake of reaching the next blood-bought soul with the good news about Jesus. And that can make for some uncomfortable, inconvenient moments indeed.
But the true joy of life is in God’s plans, not ours. In him, we find our forgiveness, purchased at the cross, where we find true belonging and meaning. And in him, his gospel empowers us to embrace the Lord’s plans, leaving ours behind.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, move me to trust your plans for my life. I am yours. Amen.
For a Jewish man by the name of Saul, life had suddenly stopped. He had been embracing the presumption that the followers of a crucified teacher named Jesus were all wrong about his being the promised Savior of the world. As a result, Saul had made it his mission to persecute and root out the Jesus followers wherever he could find them.
But then the risen Lord Jesus himself had confronted Saul. After that encounter, Saul was physically blind for three days. The Bible records that, during those three days, Saul did not eat or drink anything. The Bible also records that Saul spent much of that time in prayer.
What were those three days like for Saul? No doubt they were not easy. No doubt they contained for Saul some long, difficult hours of reflection; long, difficult hours of realizing how wrong he had been and how right Jesus was about everything.
When was the last time your life suddenly stopped? When was the last time it was all you could do to sit down and try to absorb something that had just happened? Was it the abrupt loss of your job? Was it the collapse of a close relationship or heartbreak in your family? Was it the diagnosis of a life-changing illness or the death of someone close to you? Or was it something else that still, somehow, put your life into a pause or a sobering picture frame? Perhaps your life is at a full stop right now.
When life stops, Jesus is there. He’s there to bless those difficult hours of seeing those things I need to see—whether it has to do with where I’ve gone wrong, what I have forgotten about the Lord’s will for my life and his promises, or what I have forgotten about my absolute dependence upon God’s grace.
He’s also there with his forgiveness. He’s also there to cleanse me in the blood from Calvary’s cross. He’s there to start my life all over again.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when my life stops, sit with me. Move me to see what I need to see. And by your forgiveness, empower me to begin again. Amen.
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
