May 8th, 2022

The Fourth Sunday of Easter also has the title of ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’, and the Gospel reading is from some part of John 10, and in that chapter Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd. We have been looking at how Christianity has been supported in the book of Acts, and that is supported by the fact that we do have a GOOD Shepherd as the Head of His Church.

The reading from Acts is, first of all, a long one [20:17-35]. But it does fit with the theme of the day. The reading is St. Paul’s farewell talk to the elders—the ‘overseers’—in Ephesus. Their job is to ‘shepherd the church of God’ (verse 28). They basically could be called shepherds, but they are preferably ‘under-shepherds’, since Jesus is THE Good Shepherd. He is to be the true focus.

The speech (in a somewhat-literal translation) is given below, separated into sentences, to make it more helpful to see both its message and its structure (without using something as modern as an outline). With each successive and significant phrase, another new line is started, a little farther to the right, to see the point of the progression. After all, the speech ends with some very special words of Jesus; and that is another positive thing!

Now St. Paul also talks a little bit about himself, but the way he deals with that topic is important. For one thing, he is NOT the important thing. To make this point clearer, the use of the word ‘witness’ will be followed. This important word appears four times and is in bold print, with the first three being a ‘solemn’ witness, which is even more serious. Another point to be made is that Paul brings up a lot of negative words (like the words ‘no’, ‘not’, or ‘nothing’). This also points out that he is NOT the important thing. The three sentences which have no negative word within them are quite positive (obviously), and they are in italics below.

You yourselves understand…
     from the first day from which I set foot on into Asia,
          how with you the whole time I was,
               serving the Lord with all humility and tears and trials,
                    happening to me in the plots of the Jews,
                         as nothing I kept back of the things beneficial not to declare to you,
                              and to teach you publicly and according to house,
                                   solemnly witnessing both to Jews and to Greeks
                                        repentance and faith toward God in our Lord Jesus.
And now, behold…
     having been bound, I, in the Spirit, am going into Jerusalem,
          the things in it going to meet me not knowing,
               except that the Holy Spirit, according to city, solemnly witnesses to me,
                    saying that bonds and afflictions remain for me.
But…
     of no word I make the life precious to myself,
          so, I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,
               to solemnly witness the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold…
     I know that no more you yourselves will see my face no more,
          all among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom.
Wherefore…
     I witness to you on this day that I am clean from the blood of all;
          for I kept not back, not to declare all the counsel of God to you.
Keep watch…
     to yourselves and to all the flock,
          in which the Holy Spirit placed you overseers, to shepherd the church of God,
               which he acquired through the blood of his own.
I know…
     that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in, into you all, not sparing the flock,
          and out of you, men of you will rise up, speaking things having been perverted,
               to drag away the disciples after themselves.
Therefore, stay awake…
     remembering that for three years, night and day,
          I ceased not with tears, admonishing each one.
And now I commend you to God
     and to the word of his grace,
          being able to build and to give the inheritance
               among all the ones having been sanctified.
Silver or gold or clothing of no one I desired;
     you yourselves know that to my needs and to those being with me
          these hands ministered.
All things I showed to you…
     that in this way it is necessary to help the weak
          and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus
               that he himself said, “Blessed it is rather to give than to receive.”

The word that is translated here as ‘solemnly witness’ is not used in too many places besides the book of Acts. The only time it appears in the four gospel accounts is in Luke 16:28, the story of the rich man in hell, and he asks Abraham if could send Lazarus to his brothers who are still alive, to WARN them about how bad hell is. To SOLEMNLY witness is serious business.

St. Paul is solemnly witnessing about repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit is solemnly witnessing to him about the difficulties ahead for him, and Paul is solemnly witnessing THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. (Now this word ‘gospel’ is extremely rare in Acts, appearing only in Acts 15:7 as well.) How different a direction St. Paul heads when faced with such difficulties!

There is a note of negativity within this talk. And there is a lot of weeping after this talk, since St. Paul said that he would not see them again. There are only three sentences that do not have any negative words within them. In the midst of so much bad news, there is, definitely, still some very good news. And those three sentences are about God, the Lord, the Holy Spirit, and especially about the words that are given to bless the Lord’s people.
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That is certainly a positive view of Christianity. Therefore, the following words are still appropriate during this season of Easter: ‘Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!’