Six weeks in lockdown and I guess most of us are desperate to come out of our homes, go where we want and mix with those we love again. We were not designed to be cooped up. Jesus speaks to us from John 10 about being safe penned in when we are with him in his fold. He is the gate to the fold and won’t let enemies enter. Those who wished the sheep harm in ancient times would have to literally get over the shepherd’s body stretched across the doorway where he slept during the night.Today we are penned in because of a virus that would steal kill and destroy our lives if we mixed freely. We are less afraid of wolves, lions and human thieves, than an enemy that is unseen which appears to be killing randomly.Jesus speaks to us of a place of safety where we can be free from fear. When we come into his sheepfold, we have to come through him first because he is the gate by which we enter. He is also the means by which we are able to leave safely. Jesus is the good shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep.He gave his life upon the cross to save us and keep us safe from sin. 1 Peter 2: 24 reads, “He bore our sins in his body on the cross so that free from sins, we might live to righteousness.”The government is asking that we keep in our pens to save lives. If we go astray we may be infected and infect others. We are seeing doctors, nurses, care workers and ambulance drivers laying down their lives so that those infected by the virus might live.Our sinfulness cuts us off from Jesus who said he has come so that we might have life. Sin is a much more dangerous enemy than COVID 19. We need to return, Peter says to the shepherd and guardian of our souls. We can do this by asking Jesus to forgive us and by following himWhen we have a relationship with Jesus we are never alone. He says my sheep hear my voice and follow me. Being penned in is an opportunity to listen to Jesus, to read his word and to commit ourselves and those we love into his hands. As our values change, we can think about how our world might emerge a better place in which lives are placed before economics and consumerism as people have become more kind, gentle and less selfish. Jesus does not save us from viruses or from suffering. Instead, God entered our world in Christ and gave us an example of how to behave when suffering comes. That does not mean that he wants us to suffer. His desire for his world is that we have the fullness of life, the life of abundant generosity he came to bring.We will not be penned up forever. Jesus leads his sheep out into green pastures and besides still water. Whether staying at home or serving him in the world, we are safe in him. Let us follow as he leads us into all that is life affirming and good.Risen Christ,faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:teach us to hear your voiceand to follow your command,that all your people may be gathered into one flock,to the glory of God the Father. Amen
Jesus walked alongside his friends on the road to Emmaus, but they were so full of pain they did not recognise him. When we are full of grief and despair and cannot recognise Christ with us, we are reminded that he walked the way of suffering himself and draws alongside those who are suffering.It is easier to talk and listen when we are walking alongside another. Grief is more difficult to bear when we do nothing and face memories aloneTo listen and find the breath to talk you have to walk slowly.Jesus walks with us. Will we walk with him?We walk with Jesus by welcoming him and acknowledging his presence even if we cannot feel him and he has become a stranger to us.Like the friends on the way to Emmaus we need to ask questions of Christ. Why is this happening? Why are so many dying? We had hoped our business would thrive. We looked forward to a long life together. All we had planned for has been destroyed. Why Lord when you love us and have the power to end this suffering are you not doing anything?Jesus may not give answers. For his friends walking the way of suffering, believing the rumours of resurrection the women had brought was beyond belief. They needed to grieve properly and come to terms with the new reality they found themselves in.As they walked, they listened to Jesus as he opened up their scriptures about how the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead to them. Jesus asks his friends, “Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer to enter into his glory? Suffering is not something strange. Jesus suffered and we will all suffer distress at some stage in our journey. Suffering and death are part of our journey to resurrection life and glory. Even though the disciples were full of confusion and despair, they walked with the Messiah, their King. Their lives were not going to descend into chaos. Jesus promises to be with us even to the end of the world.Jesus revealed himself to his friends in the breaking of bread before vanishing from their sight. Jesus is with us today through his spirit and whilst we cannot meet to share bread and wine as we would like to, we can receive his presence spiritually as we remember his journey and maybe take bread and wine in remembrance of him in our homesWalk gently and slowly with JesusAsk him to help you on your journey through this crisisListen as you spend time with him in prayer and read the scripturesKing Jesus will lead us out of crisis into new lifeSpirit of Jesus reveal Christ’s presence to us and to your world today. Amen
Jesus walked alongside his friends on the road to Emmaus, but they were so full of pain they did not recognise him. When we are full of grief and despair and cannot recognise Christ with us, we are reminded that he walked the way of suffering himself and draws alongside those who are suffering.It is easier to talk and listen when we are walking alongside another. Grief is more difficult to bear when we do nothing and face memories aloneTo listen and find the breath to talk you have to walk slowly.Jesus walks with us. Will we walk with him?We walk with Jesus by welcoming him and acknowledging his presence even if we cannot feel him and he has become a stranger to us.Like the friends on the way to Emmaus we need to ask questions of Christ. Why is this happening? Why are so many dying? We had hoped our business would thrive. We looked forward to a long life together. All we had planned for has been destroyed. Why Lord when you love us and have the power to end this suffering are you not doing anything?Jesus may not give answers. For his friends walking the way of suffering, believing the rumours of resurrection the women had brought was beyond belief. They needed to grieve properly and come to terms with the new reality they found themselves in.As they walked, they listened to Jesus as he opened up their scriptures about how the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead to them. Jesus asks his friends, “Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer to enter into his glory? Suffering is not something strange. Jesus suffered and we will all suffer distress at some stage in our journey. Suffering and death are part of our journey to resurrection life and glory. Even though the disciples were full of confusion and despair, they walked with the Messiah, their King. Their lives were not going to descend into chaos. Jesus promises to be with us even to the end of the world.Jesus revealed himself to his friends in the breaking of bread before vanishing from their sight. Jesus is with us today through his spirit and whilst we cannot meet to share bread and wine as we would like to, we can receive his presence spiritually as we remember his journey and maybe take bread and wine in remembrance of him in our homesWalk gently and slowly with JesusAsk him to help you on your journey through this crisisListen as you spend time with him in prayer and read the scripturesKing Jesus will lead us out of crisis into new lifeSpirit of Jesus reveal Christ’s presence to us and to your world today. Amen
Jesus came to his friends, who were locked in as we are today because of fear. Theirs was not a fear of COVID 19 but fear of their neighbours and fellow Jews; fear of torture and death.They had watched Jesus who they loved dearly die in a horrendous way.However isolated and fearful we may feel today, locked in, unable to attend our places of worship; unable to see our friends, children and grandchildren, we are reminded that there is no door or condition that Jesus cannot enter.The risen Lord speaks peace to our troubled hearts and breathes life and health into us.His presence reminds us that death does not have the final word.Let’s welcome Jesus as our Lord and our God into our hearts and homes, believing and trusting in him.
