Hear and Follow His Voice 26th April 2026 Easter 4A

2026   04   26  Easter 4 A

Acts 2:42-47     Psalm 23     1 Peter 2:1-10     John 10:1-10

In the time of Jesus there were many voices.  Many ideas about how life works and how the spiritual world works.  The Romans had different gods, as did the Greeks…..  and every other nation around.  Into this world came Jesus, who died and rose from the dead, and it seemed that there was another “voice” in the wilderness.  But this voice was different – Not just a voice – but eye-witnesses that he had risen from the dead.  And then there were the numerous signs and wonders that followed his apostles.  These all gave testimony to the authority of this voice – this way – this truth.

 

 During this time between Resurrection Sunday and the Day of Pentecost, instead of having an Old Testament reading, we have readings from the Book of Acts.  Notably, Acts chapter 2 verses 1-4, tell the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit, but our reading begins at verse 42, meaning that we are reading about the impact of the Holy Spirit on the community of believers – the church.  We are given a snapshot of the aspects of the life of the church, and we are told that day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

 

Note the incredible things about that early church, and that those things are because of the impact of the Holy Spirit.  I have been harping on a bit – and I make no apology – about how the plan of God was not complete at the day of resurrection.  It was only completed on the day of Pentecost.  We have these readings from Acts to draw attention to the working of the Holy Spirit and to prepare us to celebrate the day of Pentecost.  So, it stands to reason that we should explore this impact of the Holy Spirit.

 

Our reading from Acts paints the picture of a vibrant and united group.  This is the kind of community that we become when we allow the Holy Spirit to impact our church and us as members of the church.  Vibrant and united!  Generous, loving and genuinely dedicated to learning about God and growing in spirituality!  There were many wonders and signs being done through the apostles also.  How great is that?  That is what we’d love all our churches to look like.  That is this kind of community that will impact the world around them, and it is this kind of community that will grow - and we are told, day by day the LORD added to their numbers those who are being saved.  Consider; With that same Holy Spirit working through our Church, we can look the same!

 

An important aspect of this, is that it is the LORD who adds the numbers.  It is God’s Holy Spirit that does this.  God wants our church to grow.  But absolutely NOT so that we can justify our existence by having bottoms on seats.  On this ANZAC weekend it is pertinent that we see the Church as the Army of God.  The place of learning and training and most importantly, of being an active Army – here is where we mobilize the forces to be God’s body on earth.  It is God’s desire that the church should grow, and the reason is that God, in his love and mercy, wants people to be saved.  “Saved” is a word that we don’t use a lot.  The name “Jesus” means “God Saves”.  We are saved by Jesus.  We are saved from the consequence of our sin – which is death.  Not natural death – but spiritual death.  We need to know that this “being saved” is vital.  We also need to be clear that we are ONLY saved by Jesus.

 

We don’t like to talk in exclusive ways when it comes to our faith.  It doesn’t feel very politically correct or “NICE” and we know that God’s love is INCLUSIVE – God loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved.  But there is only one way to be saved – JESUS – who is God, is who saves us.  In our Gospel reading Jesus explains that he is the gate.  This is Jesus making a statement about how it is only through him that we can be saved.  He is the only legitimate way to God and eternal life.  Any other form of spiritual life is from a thief or liar. 

 

It sounds harsh and definite, and that is because it is! But I’m only saying what Jesus said, and Jesus said this because it is important.  Surely, we know that there are other ideas about connecting with God and the spiritual world.  It is all around us.  It is in the shows that we watch, and on the lips of people talking about life.  We need to know that there are spiritual thieves and liars.   I don’t say this to put anyone down, but I say this because it comes from Jesus – who, surely has proved, is the authority.  These “other ways” to god and spirituality, will offer a form of spirituality which seems true and legitimate, but it is a deceptive lie that leads to death.   God loves everyone and wants all to be saved, but we can only, according to Jesus, come in through him.  Do we trust Jesus or not.  Do we agree with Jesus or not.  Jesus who died to bring us life says that he is the gate – All others are thieves and liars.  It is important that we know this.

 

In the time leading up to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit celebration of Pentecost we are reminded of these important facts because those miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit can lead people to think that anything supernatural is from God.  We need to know that Jesus is the gate we only receive our spiritual life through him.  All spiritual truth is found in him alone.

 

Recently I saw a post on facebook.  It was someone who wanted to see a psychic because her Aunt had died and she desperately wanted to know where her Aunt was now.   It frustrated me, because I know that this lady was someone who went through the Catholic school system and should know better… but do we?  The “better” that we should know is two things; One is that it is forbidden by God to seek answers through “Mediums” or psychics.  The reason being is that these are not of God and, often, are doing what they do through demons and lying spirits –in other words; they are thieves and liars!.  If we have been involved in these things we need to renounce them in Jesus’ name and repent.   Two, is that scripture gives us the answer.  It says that we are not to say who will ascend and who will go down.  These things are between the person and God. BUT we must understand that God does desperately love everyone and desires all to be saved.  God always respects our free will.  The choice is ours.  I can’t make that decision for you and you can’t make that decision for me – but what we can do is make it clear for each other, what IS the way to life.

 

Our Psalm today is the famous Psalm 23.  The Lord is my Shepherd.  There is a line at the end that reads; “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”  This, in the original language implies that God actively and persistently follows us – kind of like a blood hound – God relentlessly and persistently pursues each of us, to bestow on us His goodness and mercy.  God does all He can to bring us to salvation.  We still have free will to say yes or no.  The job of the church, therefore, is to be God’s body on earth and also actively and persistently reach out to those around us with the message of God’s goodness and mercy.

 

It was always God’s plan to bring us life.  In our Gospel reading we note that Jesus said he came that we might have life and have it abundantly – to the full – overflowing….  When Jesus suffered and died on the cross, he took the sins of the world.  He was the lamb of God to which our sins were transferred, and we are redeemed because the debt for sin was paid through his sacrifice.  Jesus rose from the dead, proving that he is God and he has power over the grave, and we identify with him through our baptism.  We accept his death for our own spiritual debt and through baptism, we are told we rise with him.  Jesus came to bring us life.  – abundant life.  And that abundant life comes to us through the Holy Spirit which was poured out on the day of Pentecost.

 

It had been prophesied, hundreds of years before Jesus was born, that God would send his Holy Spirit, and we are told that through the Holy Spirit we are born anew of a seed that is eternal.   We read about this last week.  We know that the followers of Jesus were overjoyed at discovering that Jesus was risen from the dead.  But it is significant that they remained a small, frightened group until the day of Pentecost. 

 

None of us, in our own strength, has the power to live the Christian life and effect any change in the world.  But what we can achieve if we invite the Holy Spirit to live through us is ….????  It is the power of God working through us.  How much are we willing to allow him to live through us?  We saw what impact it had on the early church when the followers allowed the Holy Spirit to live through them…. And eventually the whole world was changed.  Today, pretty much, the whole world needs changing.  Our world needs the LIFE that Jesus offers.  But we need to be happy to be sheep.  Sheep who trust the shepherd completely and only follow his voice.  We trust this shepherd because he doesn’t leave us when we go astray, but he pursues us to bring us back to his goodness and mercy.  He has proven himself, as he laid down his life for us.

 

The Israelite shepherds differ from Australian shepherds.  Where we herd from behind, urging the sheep on with threats of pain for going astray, the Israelite shepherd led from the front.  The relationship with the shepherd is the reason to move in his direction.  This tells us that in all our worries Jesus goes before us.  His ways are good and he makes us rest in green pastures where there are waters of refreshment.  How good is that!!  He leads us in paths that are right, and cares for our every need.  Even his rod and staff are a comfort because though it may seem harsh, they keep us safe. But to follow him we must listen to His voice only.

Some thing must change! Easter 3 A 19th April 2026

Acts 2:14a, 36-41    Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19     1 Peter 1:17-23      Luke 24:13-35

 

Where are you on the road to Emmaus?  Somewhere along that journey, a change took place.  Many things were “laid on that table” – matters of God, doubt and faith.  In the end, we too, can explain the facts to others, and lay it all out so that we can know that our faith has a reasonable and logical base.  However, more often than not, conversion happens because of something almost intangible.  In many ways it is very much like the two people who were on the road to Emmaus.  Those two people knew the story of Jesus.  They had even accepted and hoped in the message of Jesus.  Yet, on that road, they didn’t recognise Jesus. 

 

Many people in our world today have heard about Jesus, but they fail to ‘recognise’ Jesus.  These travellers were even Jesus’ followers.  They still failed to recognise him.  They didn’t understand that Jesus is the Messiah.  They didn’t understand that Jesus had died to save them, and they didn’t understand that Jesus is God.  Something had to change. 

 

The travellers, after finally recognising Jesus, reflected; "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" While this explanation of the scriptures was happening, something was moving and changing in them.  They started out with a lack of understanding, and then their understanding grew …But they still didn’t recognise him until he blessed and broke the bread. 

 

In the Hebrew culture, hospitality was very important.  Sharing a meal was not simply a case of taking in sustenance, but the blessing and breaking of bread signified peace and connection and a sharing in something intimate and sacred.  

 

In the days of Jesus, there was an understanding that the authority to bless the bread always belonged to the host as the head of the house.  But there was also an understanding that the exception to this rule was for the coming of the Messiah.   It was acknowledged that the true blessing of bread belonged to the Messiah – and until he came, authority to bless the bread always belonged to the host—UNLESS the Messiah was present.   So, understanding this, we now know why the blessing and breaking of the bread brought the travellers to that point of recognition.

 

The travellers on the road to Emmaus, and all of us, need our lives interrupted by Jesus who can explain the scriptures to us.  They and we, also need Jesus to take the role of the head of our household.  We need to see Jesus as the King that he is.  We need to know that he is the Messiah.  We need to acknowledge the reality of who Jesus really is and this means we need to change. 

 

We cannot remain simply as someone who knows the story of Jesus but doesn’t accept Jesus as the “Head”.  Also, there is more needed than to simply studies scripture.  Scripture tells us that even Satan believes and knows scripture completely.  We need to recognise and receive Jesus himself as our king – our Lord – our saviour and we need to make a conscious choice to follow him.  

 

We have just celebrated the death and resurrection of Christ.  People in our country know that the holiday begins with Good Friday, but they don’t “recognise” Jesus.   Something needs to change.

 

Change starts with us walking along with people and by studying the scriptures with them, and by proclaiming the message of Jesus– which is what we aim to do when we present things like The Way of the Cross – retelling the story to a public audience.  But after doing our part, the thing that changes in others is something that God does when he reveals himself to them. 

 

The thing that needs to change in all of us is that we chose to do more than know the story of Jesus…. We need to so immerse ourselves in that story that we feel our hearts burning, growing and changing within us as we hear the word of God.  Likewise, in our first reading, the listeners who heard Peter speak were the same ones who called for the death of Jesus only a short time prior.  As Peter explained the truth to them, something changed.  It isn’t that they didn’t hear the truth before.  They did.  Jesus had his ministry among them.  They knew the story of Jesus, and they heard the message, but they couldn’t receive it, because they saw Jesus as a mere mortal.  They didn’t recognise who Jesus really is.  Now, with the message of the resurrection and the witness of the Holy Spirit, something changed – Jesus is the Messiah – the saviour – the son of God - they realized – and acknowledged their great error. 

 

How do we respond when we have made a huge, life altering decision, that we fought to win, only to find out down the track that we were wrong?  Do we stand by our decision and continue to justify ourselves and refuse to listen to the possibility that we were wrong, or do we recognise the facts and change our mind.  To change our mind may take humility.  Changing our mind is what it means when we use the word “repent”.  

 

Those listening to Peter were cut to the heart.  They realized in great alarm, the enormity of how very wrong they were, and asked what they should do.  Peter explained that they should repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 

 

Before this time special types of baptism were used prior to one getting married and we know that John baptised people, calling them to repent and turn back to God.  This baptism we read about today, was the first baptism into the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and it is essentially the same baptism that we use when we become Christians.

 

Baptism is like a river.  Mankind is on one side and God is on the other.  It is a serious sin to stand on the opposite side of God.  So serious that it is the same as standing on the side of those who crucified Jesus.  All of mankind, at some time, has stood on the opposite side of God.  In that time, we were physically living, yet born of a perishable seed.  From the time of Adam and Eve, this was the condition of mankind, and as scripture tells us (Hebrews 10:4), it is impossible for the blood of animals to take away sin.  BUT in the letter from Peter we are told that we were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from our ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ -  forgiveness of sin was achieved through Christ’s sacrifice of allowing mankind the freedom to show exactly what they would do to God if God was one of us and walked among us….. we crucified him.

 

I often hear people say, “What kind of God would demand that kind of sacrifice for sin?”  Perhaps we should answer with another question, “What kind of people would crucify God?”  Mankind, in the garden of Eden, chose to reject the word of God.  The result was that we became “Perishable”, but we weren’t meant to be that way.  We might all cry out, “I wouldn’t have turned my back on God.”  So Jesus came to see what mankind would do -and mankind crucified him.   We rejected and crucified God.  

 

Jesus was both man and God.  There are spiritual rules that you and I don’t make and don’t have a say in, and the spiritual price for sin is death – spiritual death.  BUT when we repent (in other words change our mind to agree with God’s word) and we are baptised into the name of Jesus, not only are our sins forgiven, but we are born anew  - born of a seed that is imperishable – born of a seed that is eternal.  Something has changed.  Something in us has taken root.

 

Throughout the season of Lent, I’ve encouraged us all to remember that the story is not complete until the day of Pentecost.  This is explained by Peter as part of the promise about which Peter tells his listeners.   He told them, "… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

 

Something has changed! This promise is for us and our children and for all who are far away – everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him!  We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The sacrifice of Christ redeems us.  We are baptised and receive the forgiveness of sins, but the gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of God’s Holy and eternal spirit bringing us his eternal life.  This is the end game  - the game changer.

 

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God and through this, we become born of a seed that is imperishable - we become born anew – we are born spiritually, and we are now the children of God.  Because we are baptised into the name of Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins.  This is our redemption.  Because we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we become eternal beings.  We are not living to die, but we are dying to live.

 

Something has changed.  We’ve acknowledged Jesus as who he really is – Messiah and God.  And because of that “something”  EVERYTHING has changed.  Our destiny has changed – our life must also reflect this.  Come Holy Spirit, empower us to lives worthy of the sacrifice of Christ.

Let there be light! Resurrection Sunday 5th April 2026

2026  04  05  Resurrection Sunday

We have read a number of scripture readings today.  Did you know that this is actually not all the readings that are set?  The reason for so many readings is that traditionally the church kept vigil through the night, waiting for the resurrection.  The readings capture the story of salvation, starting with creation.  A standout memory for me was when I attended a vigil service in a church where the stain glass windows told the story of creation.  At each appropriate point in the readings a light was turned on to highlight that window. 

Each reading set down for this Paschal service, tells us something about God’s plan for us.  We start right back at the beginning, with the story of creation.  God made everything and He was pleased with all that he had made and it was good.  Then he rested.  And he declared that rest HOLY.   Now, the Hebrew word SHAVAT, translated as rest, does not imply that God was tired or needed to rest, but it means to stop or cease work because it was complete – He stopped and celebrated the completion.  

 

The next set reading is also from Genesis about God calling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  Not one of my favourites!  But, did you know that the place where it happened is supposed to be the very spot where Jesus was crucified?  In the story a lamb appeared and took the place of Isaac.  Jesus is the lamb of God.  He died to pay the spiritual price for sin that we all owe – and can’t pay.

 

Following on from this is the story of the exodus from Egypt.  Once again there is a substitution that happens.  A lamb is slaughtered and the blood of that lamb on the door posts provides protection from the Angel of death.   The lamb of God saves.  Then the whole nation is pursued by the Egyptian army.  Moses prays and the water is parted.  The nation passes through… from sure death and annihilation, to life, through the waters.  This is then symbolically represented by us receiving spiritual life through the waters of baptism.

 

Then we have the reading which we had in Lent week 5 about Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones.  The important message in this is that, although the bones gained flesh and a form of life through the proclamation of the Word of God, there was still another important element required; the HOLY SPIRIT must come and bring life, restoring us as the people that God intended us to be.  (NOTE – our story is not complete until God sends us His Spirit). 

 

Then, to summarize the Gospel message, our letter to the Romans makes it abundantly clear when it says we have been baptized into Christ Jesus and therefore we are baptized into his death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too might walk in newness of life. 

 

LIFE!  That is what today is all about.  We have passed over from the darkness of sin and death and, just as the sun rises, we enter into the light of redemption and life.  LIFE!  God’s plan is to bring us life – the life that we lost when sin entered the world.  Jesus rose from death to life!  That is what was declared to Mary Magdelene and the other Mary as they went to the tomb.  They went to a place of darkness and death, expecting death, but also significantly, they went on the first day of the week – the first day after the day of rest – the first day!!  What do you think?  Is this all a coincidence that this occurred on the first day?  Rule number 39 (for those who are NCIS fans – you will know what this means), there are no such things as coincidences. 

 

On the very first day, God commanded, "Let there be light," to dispel the initial darkness.  On the first day – the day that Jesus rose from the dead he again dispels the darkness.  All the dark spiritual powers and principalities are pushed aside to make way for the light – For Christ - For God’s light that dispels the darkness.  In the song, In Christ Alone, it sums up the story when it says; “The light of the world by darkness slain.  Then bursting forth in glorious Day up from the grave he rose again”. 

 

We don’t know what it was like on the first day of creation, but some suggest it was a mighty roar as God spoke.  God spoke the Word of God (Jesus is the Word of God), and there was light.  On the day that Jesus rose, we are told there was a great earthquake.  I’m imaging that there was a mighty roar as the light of life pushed all the darkness aside as he rose from the grave. 

 

An Angel appeared, rolled back the stone that was over the tomb and the guards possibly fainted, or at least were frozen in fear.  The Angel spoke to the women, explaining that Jesus had been raised from the dead and was going ahead of them to Galilee.   Before Jesus had been crucified, he told his followers that after he was risen, he would go ahead of them to Galilee.   The phrase that we read as “go ahead of you” was a pastoral term that was used of Shepherds leading the sheep.  Galilee was where the ministry began, but the “sheep” had been scattered through the time of Jesus crucifixion.  Now the Good Shepherd would gather the sheep and lead them.

 

It was the first day of the week…. It was the first day of a new story.  A story where light dispels the darkness and where the shepherd leads the sheep.  We may have experienced great sadness and great darkness in our own lives.  We may feel that all our hope for the future is gone, but this is where those followers of Jesus were at, and then there was a great earthquake.  Their world was turned upside down, as the light of the world burst forth in glorious day.

 

This saving power of Christ is completely powerful.   It is the same power that brought order out of the chaos on the first day of creation – the same mighty roar.  And he achieved his victory over the grave, not for himself, but for you and me.  Out of love for you and me. 

 

We may have heard this story so many times and it doesn’t seem so new, but in our lives, we’ve become cluttered with worries and frustrations, grief and confusion.  In our lives there maybe an element of chaos.  Scripture tells us, “Today!! If you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”  May our ears be open.  Today may we hear His voice roaring into our lives – changing our lives.  He has brought us life and raises us up from death.  He dispels the darkness and brings us clarity in his love.  Scripture tells us, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;..”. 

 

It was the first day of the week when Jesus rose.  It is our first day, every day we allow the light of God to lead us into life.  His light opened the pathway of eternal life for us all, and now nothing separates us from the love of God.  We say “YES” to God, rejoice and receive that light.  Christ is risen.  Alleluia, Alleluia.  He is risen indeed!