Sermons

Pay attention to the responsibilities that the Holy Spirit has given. He wants all to be alert, like good shepherds who know that the wolves are coming.

Our Shepherd is the Lamb who was slain and by His blood “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9b). Jesus, the Lamb of God and Good Shepherd, went through the valley of the shadow of death for us. Now our risen and reigning Shepherd wants to lead us safely through that same valley.

These are the actions of a man who knows that Jesus loves him—even to the point of death and resurrection. And we stand in the same place Peter did, because Jesus loves us with that same forgiving, redeeming love. What else can we do for Him but love Him back?

Because of Jesus, we are not slaves or prisoners anymore. We are not under the power of death and the devil. We are in God’s kingdom, as God’s beloved children—because Jesus loved us. Praise Him!

But we are not the only ones He has done this for. Look at how He deals with Saul, the would-be murderer. Once Jesus makes His point about the true nature of what Saul is doing, Jesus moves briskly on: “But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” There’s no more blaming, no more digging up the past.

We are forgiven in Christ, and the foe can no longer overcome us with his accusations and fear because “now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down” (Revelation 12:10b).

The promises of Jesus often seem too good to be true. He promises us peace that the world cannot give, peace that the chaos in the world can’t chase away. He promises to take away sins that the world will not ever forgive. He promises life and love. So, if you doubt what God has done for you in Jesus Christ, your doubts are misplaced.

Thomas believes. And so do I, and so do you—because Jesus sees our needs and meets them. Jesus may take His time about it—He certainly did with Thomas. But He has not forgotten us. Jesus has not given up on us. How could He, when He already loved us enough to die and to rise again for us, His ordinary people?

God gives us His peace. In this world so filled with tension and uncertainties, God has stepped into our lives. This He did in the life of His Son who loves us and gave Himself for us (see Galatians 2:20).