The Bible tells us of real events in time and space. John 10 records
the winter Feast of Dedication, or Hanukah. Jews remember for 8 days Judas
Maccabees' work in 165BC to cleanse the Temple after General Antiochus
dishonored it with pigs. There was only enough holy olive oil to burn for
one day after the cleansing. But they say "a great miracle happened there".
That one day's oil burned for 8 days while more was pressed.
By John 10, folks had been observing Hanukah for 2 centuries by
lighting an oil candle menorah outside the front door and praising God for
sending that salvation.
Here is God's Full Salvation in-the-flesh, Light-of-the-World, 3 months
before the cross. The Messiah was walking in the area of the old Solomon
Temple.
Some people get in His face. "IF You really are the Christ, tell us
plainly!" The Jews were trying to gather evidence to get rid of this Man.
When they asked, Jesus gave a clear reply.
(25) He HAD told them. They would not believe. And, beyond His Words,
Jesus had done works or signs only God could do always to glorify His
Father's Name. These people refused the witness of the miracles or signs or
Words.
(26) "You do not believe because you are not My sheep," says Jesus.
Please note the Son of God did not say you CANNOT believe as if God prevents
them, or predestines them to hell. The Bible does not teach that. Nor does
the Holy Spirit try to explain election to us. The blame for unbelief rests
on the hearers, entirely. (To look into this, read the Book of Concord, FC
Ep XI 5-7, and also FC SD XI 14-23; OR Luther's Small Catechism Q. 191,
Romans 8:28-30 Eph. 1:3-6).
These Jews did not want to believe in Jesus of Nazareth as the only
Savior. It would have meant a complete change of heart, mind, and life.
They refused to believe.
But Christ's sheep? The elect? How are they described? What does the
Bible say? Jesus says His sheep keep hearing His voice, He always knows
them, and they continually follow His voice.
When you hear a true pastor preaching Christ's cross as the full
payment for all your sins, and His empty tomb as the certainty of your
resurrection: you are hearing Christ's voice thru him.
When you hear hymns of Christ's triumph over death, hell, and Satan for
us; when you hear the Bible verses that make up our worship liturgy; when
you hear the Gospel confession at the cemetery assuring believers of
Christ's victory for us sinners over all our enemies: you are hearing
Christ's voice. Not mine. Not your neighbor's. Christ's voice.
And, as you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, you can be sure He
knows you. As you sing: "I am Jesus' little lamb. even calls me by my
name," you can smile in joyful faith. Our Savior knows each sheep in His
flock, the invisible church of all Christian believers. He calls us into
His flock in Holy Baptism. He keeps us thru the power of His-Word-to-us:
Holy Scripture.
How can I be sure I am in His flock? Not by looking at my actions,
which are soiled with sin. Not by looking at my feelings, which come and go
all the time. I can't be sure by some decision I made long ago, or actions
I do. What would become of you when you sleep or God-forbid have
Alzheimers? In fact, no one can be sure of salvation by their reason or
strength, what he or she does, feels, or experiences once; or often. You
are not saved because you know Him. Rather, by grace alone you are saved.
He knows you -His sheep- personally.
God provides your security. Christ has lived perfectly in your place
as your Substitute. The Son suffered all the wrath of the Father against
your sin on the cross - once, for all (Heb 10:10). The Messiah rose on
Easter as promised in the Scriptures. The Son of God appears on our behalf
(Hebrews 9:24) now, in heaven - He will never lose a case.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them," Jesus promises. That is why
we Christians can be certain of God's love. He promises so in His Word.
"I give them eternal life," (only God can say that!) "And they shall
never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand." Eternal life is
given to us NOT because we earned it by moral lives, we've loved our
neighbors, or even loved God. Eternal life is not given in view of future
faith; or past actions. As Nora learned from Luther's Small Catechism.
"All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy;
without any merit or worthiness in me" (hymnal page 322, 1st Article). 'For
God so loved the world', He gives eternal life as a gift thru faith in
Christ. It's free. He paid for it. For us and for our salvation. For
Nora.
"They will never perish." He sustains our weak faith. He has given us
His pledge of His strong arms around us. He will not release us from
eternal life. Nor can anyone snatch us from His almighty, protecting hand.
The One we listen to, the One knows us, and the One we follow freely
gives eternal life. He is One with the Father. Not just one in purpose,
but one in essence. Jesus of Nazareth IS God. Apart from God-given faith,
it is NOT possible to recognize Jesus OR understand the Bible. THAT's why
they wanted to kill Him.
"My sheep DO hear My voice," Christ says. The very next event in John
11 is Jesus calling out to four-days-dead Lazarus. A dead sheep hears the
Good Shepherd's voice {Lazarus, come forth!} and he follows that Voice out
of death. Even though some day we will be in a grave, just like Lazarus, we
will hear the voice of our Good Shepherd and continue following Him into
heaven. (John 5:25-29) (Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:23).
This was the faith Nora was taught and she held, even as her life
faded. Even as the wages of Original Sin worked in her body and mind, she
loved to hear God's Word and promises. And hymns.
She never moved out of south eastern Minnesota in her life. She had
many friends, many experiences, many vocations. I have heard she was a
faithful wife, a good mother, a hard worker and a kind owner of a
gift-shop/greenhouse; and shoe store. All the while, this sheep kept
hearing her Shepherd's voice and she followed Him in faith.
When I would visit her at Chosen Valley Care Center, she loved to hear
how God claimed her as His own dear child. Her mind was dimmed by disease
and her grasp on the present became tenuous. She was still His sheep.
The child of God I knew, Nora, lives on. She is a sheep that will
never perish. She no longer looks thru a glass darkly; but sees Christ face
to face in eternal pastures.
Nora rests in the promises of Christ in heaven. Here body will remain
here for now, lying next to her husband Edwin. Both awaiting "when Christ
will appear a Second Time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who
waiting for Him." Hebrews 9. Awaiting the resurrection of all flesh. "It
is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." Hebrews
9:27. We will see Nora there.
Again, you are not saved because you know Jesus. You are saved because
He knows you. Rest in Christian faith. You are saved by grace alone, thru
faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone. If you should die while you are asleep
and know nothing, you still have eternal life because God knows you. If you
breathe your last breath in an auto accident, during surgery, in a coma or
stricken with Alzheimer's and unable to know anything: your life goes on
eternally NOT because you know Jesus, but because the Good Shepherd knows
you. No one can snatch you out of His hands. As Paul writes in Romans
8:39, nothing in all creation. Cling to that faith in Christ.
Christians confess "the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His
mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His
faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, therefore I will hope in Him." He
gave Nora that in Christ. It is a gift for you. And all who believe.
"Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ." In Him we have "the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the
body, and the life everlasting."
Through the cross of Christ, we can be certain we will see Nora again;
along with all the saints of all times and places and groupings and races
with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven.
The LORD God bless you to believe and to listen for the voice of our
Good Shepherd. He knows you. Follow Him in faith, all of your earthly
life. He gives eternal life. And no one can snatch you out of His hand.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
A larger print version of the sermon, and the gravesite committal are posted
on the following website in the "Sermons" section:
http://stjohnswykoff.weebly.com/downloads.html
Pastor Michael Harman
St. Johns - Wykoff, MN 55990-0128
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