In the Gospel reading for today Jesus speaks about those who believe in him, those who are his sheep, as being in the hands of his Father. Many of you may be familiar with a famous Sermon from the early American days called Sinners in the Hands of an angry God. The title for that sermon is similar to a passage from Hebrews which says, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The writer to the Hebrews makes it sound as though being in the hands of God is not a good thing. So is there a contradiction? In Hebrews he is giving a warning against continuing in sin. God’s hands are signifying God’s power and his judgment against rebellious and unrepentant sinners. Jesus speaks the same way in fact- No one can snatch you out of God’s Hands because The Shepherd and the Father are greater.

The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Easter: 22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Colonnade.

24 So the Jews gathered around Jesus, asking, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I am doing in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep, as I said to you.[b] 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

This Sunday of the church year is sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday. It is not technically an official festival, but the Gospel readings appointed from John 10 always speak of Jesus as our good shepherd. This section which was read comes after the more familiar passages about Jesus being the Good shepherd, and laying down his life for the sheep. This takes place at another time but still as a follow up question from what Jesus had been teaching about himself.

The timing noted in the text is important. The feast of dedication, or you might translate it literally as renewal, is what you might know as Hannukah today. This was a more recent festival at Jesus’ time, a festival that celebrated the cleansing of the temple after it had been desecrated by the Greek ruler Antiochus and his defeat by Judas Maccebeus. This restoration of the temple and its purification was a shadow and a sign of what Jesus would do too. During this time the Christological expectations of believers would be stirred up, mixed up with political fervor as well.

They ask Jesus to tell them plainly if he is the Christ. It becomes clear by Jesus’ response and what happens after he answers that they were not asking and actually wanting an answer. They would not believe in him anyway. They wanted to hear a clear answer for him so that they would have good reason to kill him. So Jesus points back to the clarity of his miracles and his teaching. They would not believe because they are not his sheep.

Who are his sheep? Who does believe in Jesus? Jesus says it clearly, My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. First, we should notice that being a sheep comes first, and then listening. Jesus also says that the Father has given him his sheep. Faith and the salvation that comes from it is given by the Father through the voice of Jesus and the Holy Spirit granting faith. There were many in Jesus earthly ministry who heard his physical voice, and were convinced by his preaching and his Word to believe in Him. The Father gave them to Jesus.

We hear Jesus voice today as well. Jesus voice is heard in the preaching of forgiveness of sins to the world through the ones Jesus sent out in the world and continues to send out. Jesus speaks to us in his Word. You who have been granted faith by God’s grace can hear Jesus’ voice in the Scriptures. You should understand when Jesus says they hear my voice that it means a full “hearing and obeying” of Jesus. It is Jesus through the Word that truly teaches us about salvation, “Scripture is God-breathed and able to make you wise for salvation”. God’s Word is clear and able to be understood by those who have the Holy Spirit.

Jesus as our shepherd watches over and protects us from those who would seek to harm us. He gives us eternal life as a certainty. “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” The Good Shepherd defends his flock with all his strength. Consider the way that David used his experience as a shepherd. When he is speaking about fighting Goliath, he points out that as a shepherd he has had to fight off bears and lions. Sheep are vulnerable to these wild animals and to thieves. The shepherd then must be capable of violence.

What kinds of dangers do we face? What fears might trouble us today? Scripture describes Satan as a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Certainly Satan would seek to harm you any way he can, but especially he is looking to devour souls. He does this by undermining the Word of God, our only defense, in any way possible. Satan introduces doubt about the certainty of salvation and about the truth of God’s Word in the same way he has done since the Garden of Eden: Did God really say?

An big danger that recent events in the world give an opportunity to discuss is the Pope. You are probably aware that Lutheran doctrine identifies the Pope as the Antichrist spoken about in Scripture. The Scriptural reasons are not that complex but perhaps suitable to dive into at another time. However, what spiritual danger does the Pope really pose? We are not Roman Catholic. And is the Pope all that bad? Isn’t the Pope a lot different than during the Reformation?

Many non-Roman Catholic Christians might like to criticize the Pope for various reasons such as politics or social issues. There have been more conservative or liberal popes at various times in recent history. However, that is missing the point. If the Pope lines up with political views, he is not less dangerous spiritually. The Vatican claims authority over all souls everywhere. This claim of authority is one part of the doctrine that points us to the Pope being the Antichrist. The Antichrist as described in Scripture arises in the church and puts himself over God. To this day, the papal teaching is that salvation comes not as a free gift of grace, justified by faith in Christ, but in connection with the office of the Papacy. The papacy continues to burden millions of souls with uncertainty of salvation. Forgiveness of sins is not proclaimed freely in the name of Jesus Christ, but forgiveness is attached to the works you do and the satisfaction that one makes. No one can ever be certain of salvation because of the theological and hierarchical system overseen by the pope.

The Bible is suppressed by the Pope as well. Historically, they have discouraged Bible reading by lay people because you need to have an authority to interpret it for you. They reject the Bible’s claim of clarity and promise of the Holy Spirit working through Scripture.

There are many people who find Roman Catholicism appealing for various reasons, perhaps because of historical claims or because of aesthetics. And we don’t want to make decisions about worship or aesthetics strictly based on whether it is “too catholic”. But that doesn’t mean that the Roman church is not harmful to souls and dangerous.

But the claims of the Pope in Rome need not trouble you. Salvation is granted by Jesus. Eternal life is not dished out by the Bishops but by Christ. Nothing can take that away from you, no pope or council or even any external danger. Jesus Christ will come and slay the power of Satan and the Antichrist with the sword of his mouth, as he is pictured in Revelation, which is the very Word of God that he has given us to put into use.

You who are here today are Jesus’ sheep. He has been given you by the Father. The Father has surely chosen you. Jesus has spoken to us today about the doctrine we call election or predestination. You believe because you are sheep, and you were made sheep by the giving of the Father to the Son. No one can snatch you from the Hand of the Shepherd. Amen.