John 10:22-30

22Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. 23It was winter, and 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.”

Listen to Your Shepherd's Voice

Do you know who this is? It’s David Attenborough. You might know him from any of his many nature documentaries. David Attenborough turned 99 on Thursday. Did you know that he was born before Anne Frank? Did you know that he’s literally older than sliced bread? The man has lived through some of the most interesting history.

Do you know who this is? It’s Laura Ingalls Wilder. We just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods for bedtime, and it’s sparked the thought of how different life is today than it was back then. If I compare my life to the time when Laura Ingalls Wilder lived, one of the biggest things I notice that’s different today is the incredible, exponential growth in content consumption.

What kind of content did Laura Ingalls Wilder consume? She heard her dad sing songs that he had memorized, and she and her family read the Bible. There wasn’t much more content available to consume.

What kind of content do we consume? I did some research. What do you think are the top 3 forms of content that Canadians consume today? TV, Social Media, and Radio.

90% of Canadians watch TV each week with the average Canadian over the age of 18 spending more than 20 hours/week in front of the television.
82% of Canadians have a social media account with the average social media user spending upwards of 14 hours/week on social media.
70% of Canadians listen to the radio each week with the average amount of time they spend listening being over 16 hours/week.

Maybe you’re better at math than I am, but if I’m reading that right, that means that the average Canadian spends more than 2 full days of their lives each week consuming content – and I don’t mean working hours, I don’t mean waking hours, I mean 50 hours every week consuming content. And doesn’t include podcasts, newspapers, magazines, books, video games. We are a generation of content consumers.

Now, there are advantages and disadvantages that come with content. If it weren’t for TV, we wouldn’t be able to watch the Oilers beat the Knights in the playoffs. But here’s the most disconcerting thing for me as I consider how much content we consume:

54% of Canadians trust the editorial content in newspapers.
53% of Canadians trust the editorial content on TV.
51% of Canadians trust the editorial content on the radio.
21% of Canadians trust the editorial content on social media.

But notice, this is editorial content. This isn’t factual content or the news reporting that there was a fire on the West End of Edmonton. This is communication that is meant to persuade you to agree with some random person’s opinion. And for most media – especially the media we consume the most – more than half the time, we trust it.

Now, I want to be clear about this: I’m not here to sow distrust in “the Man” or in media. I’m not here to talk about “Fake News.” I’m not even necessarily here to convince you to consume less content. The reason I bring these statistics up is because of their correlation to your spiritual wellbeing. The content you consume, the people you listen to, the information you believe has a direct effect on your soul. And the words of the Gospel that we heard earlier illustrate that perfectly.

Jesus is in Jerusalem. John calls it the Festival of Dedication; we know it as Hannukah. It wasn’t one of the “High Festivals;” there wasn’t a Mosaic requirement that every Jew must be in Jerusalem for it. But Jesus was there anyway, because that’s what Jesus did. We saw it when he was 12 years old. The Temple was his Father’s House. It was where he loved to be the most. Not because the Temple served the best snacks. Not because it raised his public profile. But because it was at the Temple that Jesus heard the Word of God and was able to talk about that Word with the other people who were there. The Word was the content that Jesus wanted to consume, and he did, at a rate far higher than the bare minimum. He didn’t just listen when he had to. He actively sought out extra opportunities to listen to his Father’s voice.

The same could not be said of all the people who were there that day. John tells us about a group of Jews that surrounded Jesus and asked him a pointed, challenging question:

“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”[1]

They weren’t there to listen. Jesus’ answer tells us as much:

“I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me.”[2]

I mean, let’s be fair to the Jews for a second – just a very short second. Jesus never came right out and said these four words: “I am the Christ.” But there was a very good reason for that, and he had said everything but those four words.

Why do you suppose to this point Jesus had never said those four words, “I am the Christ”? What would have happened to him if he had? Exactly what they were hoping to do at this Hannukah festival. They would have arrested him on the spot and executed him for blasphemy. But the time wasn’t right yet. There was more work for Jesus to do. So, he conveyed clearly the message that he is Messiah without using those exact words. He performed miracles. He referred to himself as the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies and he did what those prophecies said he would do.

Jesus wasn’t being coy. They just didn’t believe, because they weren’t his sheep. Jesus tells us what his sheep do –

“My sheep listen to my voice”[3]

– which is the one thing that these people were unwilling to do.

Here’s a common temptation when reading Bible passages like this: “Those Pharisees... Shame! Shame!” But I’m not preaching to a room of Pharisees. I’m preaching to sheep who nevertheless don’t always do what sheep are supposed to do.

“How long will you keep us in suspense?”[4]

they asked. Don’t you feel the same way sometimes? What about those doubts and fears you feel in your heart? “Jesus, would stop beating around the bush and tell me straight whether I’m forgiven or not. I don’t feel forgiven...” “Jesus, could you cut to the chase and tell me whether I’m going to be OK? I don’t know how I’m going to get through the end of the day, let alone the next week, month, or year of my life!”

And why should we feel that way? It’s not as if Jesus hasn’t been clear! He may not have held your hand and said, “Christian, I forgive your sins.” But look what he did! He died on the cross because he loves you and was willing to suffer the punishment that your sins deserve, even for the times that you fail to listen to him. What he said of the soldiers at the site of his crucifixion is true for you too:

“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.”[5]

Jesus may not have looked you in the eyes and reassured you in a soothing voice, “Everything’s going to be OK.” But look what Jesus did! He rose from the grave. The worst thing that his enemies could do they did. They separated him from his family and friends; they abused him verbally and physically; they killed him. He walked through the valley of the shadow of death, but he came out the other side. He rose from the dead! He demonstrated his power over sin, death, and the devil! He won the victory for you, because he loves you like a shepherd loves his sheep.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”[6]

Your Good Shepherd knows you. We heard it in the hymn:

For my Shepherd gently guides me,
knows my need and well provides me,
loves me ev’ry day the same,
even calls me by my name.[7]

Look what he provides you!

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”[8]

Your Good Shepherd has obliterated the obstacles that threatened to stand in the way between you and heaven. He forgave your sin. He conquered death. He rose from the grave, so that you could live with him forever. That’s why you listen to your Shepherd. He answers your worries and concerns, your doubts and fears with the truth not only of what he has promised you, but what he has done for you. You are forgiven. Because your Good Shepherd gave you eternal life.

Look what he promises you!

“No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”[9]

Notice the verbs here. No one will. No one can. Your Good Shepherd can make you this promise because he has the power to back it up – the same power he put on display in his resurrection. You will be OK. Because your Good Shepherd holds you in his hands.

So be his sheep. Listen to his voice. There is so much content vying for your attention. There are so many things that fill our eyes and ears every day. I won’t tell you to stop watching TV (after all, Game 4 is tomorrow night). I won’t beg you to limit the content you consume. But I will encourage you to be discerning about what you do digest. Make the most important thing your Shepherd’s voice. Be in his Word, in devotion and prayer. Be consistent in worship and Bible study.

But not just that. Silence the other voices that contradict his, i.e. that rob you of the peace he gives, that question the certainty of his promises. Stop listening to them. Instead surround yourself with other sheep who love their Shepherd’s voice too and together with them follow him.

It doesn’t matter when we were born. It doesn’t matter how much or even exactly what content there is to consume. Listen to your Shepherd’s voice and receive his peace. Enjoy the eternal life he gives and find your rest in his powerful hands. Amen.

[1] John 10:24

[2] John 10:25

[3] John 10:27

[4] John 10:24

[5] Luke 23:34

[6] John 10:27

[7] CW’21 804:1 I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb

[8] John 10:28

[9] John 10:29

What Do You Hope to Get Out of Your Faith?

What do you hope to get out of Christianity? What is the practical, tangible benefit of your faith?

I used to keep a journal. And while it certainly served as an insight into what was going on in my life at the time, what’s really interesting is the insight it gives into the state of my soul at the time. There are stretches where I was writing more regularly and consistently – sometimes because we moved to Bulgaria and I thought that was noteworthy, but other times because I was struggling with something spiritually. At the time, I thought I was just pouring my heart out to get these thoughts off my chest. When I go back and look at them now, I see that what I was really doing was asking for divine intervention for behavioural modification. I was struggling with sin. I was asking God to help me break my sinful habits. And, as good as that was for me to do, looking back on it now, I can see that while I was on the right track, I was still miles away from where I needed to be.

My grandpa was a good man. There’s a story I remember from later on in his life, only a couple years before he died. My aunt was making him lunch and before they ate, they prayed together. My aunt had been doing this almost every day for months, and after Grandpa was done praying, she shared an observation with him. She said, “Dad, I notice that every time you ask God for something, you say, ‘Lord, help me with ______.’ You know you can just pray to God to solve your problem for you, right?”

Grandpa lived through the Great Depression. Grandpa had a great work ethic. So when my aunt said that to him, he paused, looked at her, and said, “I never thought about it that way.”

To me, whether you’re an 86-year-old man or an 11-year-old boy, what I’ve learned is that you can be so close and yet so far away at the same time. I would never fault any of you if you prayed to God to change your behaviour. I would never fault any of you if you asked God for help in your prayers. But if that’s all you’re looking for from the Lord, then you reassess what you think your problem is. Your problem in life is not that you’ve slipped into bad habits. Your problem in life is not that you need a little help from time to time. David helps us understand what our real problem is in Psalm 51:

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12)

What was David’s problem? Was it that his palace overlooked Bathsheba’s house? If that were the case, would his problem have been solved by putting up a privacy shade on his balcony? Would the problem have been solved if he had moved, so that his palace wasn’t within eyesight of Bathsheba’s rooftop? Would his problem have been solved if he had left Jerusalem and gone to war with his army like he should have done to begin with?

Any one of those options could have prevented David from sleeping with Bathsheba, in which case she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant, David wouldn’t have called Uriah home to try to cover up his mistake, and Uriah wouldn’t have returned to the frontlines carrying orders for his own murder. But would any of those options have solved David’s problem?

What was David’s problem? It was his heart. David could have set up all the obstacles and barriers to sin that he wanted, but if his heart wasn’t right, he would have just found another way to sin. Put up a privacy shade? Peek around it or through it or out another window. Move the palace? Gawk at someone else’s rooftop. Go to war? Sin somewhere else, with someone else, doing something else.

David’s problem was his heart, and no amount of behavioural modification was going to change that. David’s problem was his heart, and no amount of spiritual strength training or divine hand holding was going to get that heart strong enough that it wouldn’t even be tempted by the sins of its past. That’s not how sin works, and our hearts are worse than weak. Moses put it this way:

Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5)

These words don’t just apply to the people of Noah’s day, or the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the people of Nineveh. They apply to all of us. Our hearts are inclined toward evil all the time. That’s our natural inclination, i.e. our default setting. You drop a human being in any situation and they’re going to trend toward the wrong choice – the sinful one. It’s an uphill battle to do anything right.

We need more than behavioural modification. We need more than a helping hand or a leg up from time to time. We need spiritual transformation. Otherwise we risk what David fears here:

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11)

I don’t know that I realized it 20-30 years ago when I used to keep a journal, but this was the feeling in my heart that caused me to write down my sin; I felt the distance that my sin created between me and my God. I don’t know that Grandpa would have put it into so many words, but I have a feeling that this is what he was feeling that inspired him to ask for God’s help; he knew that he was helpless without him.

We need more than behavioural modification. We need more than a helping hand or a leg up from time to time. We need spiritual transformation. And the only person who can accomplish that is not you – not me, not some spiritual guru – it’s our God.

That’s why David prays the way he does. He doesn’t ask God to change his circumstance. He asks God to change his heart. He doesn’t ask God to help him be a better person. He asks God to give him a better spirit. It starts in here. This is where the problem was. But this is also where God applies the solution:

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12)

God saved you from your sin. He sent his Son to die for your sin, so that he could remove it from you forever; so that he could do all those things we rejoiced in last week – wash you whiter than snow; cause your crushed bones to rejoice; blot out all your transgressions.

God saved you from your sin, and he did it without your help. Jesus wasn’t sent to earth just to get you across the finish line. He ran your race for you and won the victory for you too. In the same way, God does all the work of purifying your heart and transforming your soul. He doesn’t take his Holy Spirit from you. He sends that Holy Spirit into your heart every time you hear his word to work his will inside of you – to ever-so-slowly change your desires from a craving for sin to an appetite for godliness, to give you a solid foundation of faith so you can be steadfast in your life, to restore joy inside of you (instead of fear or anxiety or depression or despair), to sustain you through whatever trial or temptation you face.

That’s what you get to hope to get out of Christianity. That is the practical, tangible benefit of your faith. It’s a God who loves you and forgives you and even continues to work inside of you by his Holy Spirit, not to modify your behaviour or help you out – those things will follow – but to transform your soul into a steadfast, willing, joy-filled spirit because of his salvation. Amen.