GSPV Series: Your Destiny Awaits. Pr Rolly Stahl, 22.11.2020 When the Good Shepherd Returns John 10:14-16, Matthew 25:31-46

I wonder: Do you have a favourite verse, passage, or story in the Bible. What is it – and why do you like it? Do those closest to you know why it’s your favourite?

One of the most treasured prayers in the Bible is the 23rd Psalm: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want… It’s a prayer of trust in God’s provision, presence, protection, and promises. The LORD is my shepherd - who feeds and leads me, is with me every step of my life, will bring me to his table, and I will dwell with him forever. No wonder it’s a favourite at funerals.

Ancient kings of Israel were also called shepherds. They were anointed by God to protect and look after God’s people; and to lead his people in covenant faithfulness to the LORD as their Good Shepherd. Some kings were faithful in this (David, Hezekiah, Josiah); while others were right royal ratbags (Jeroboam, Ahab, Manasseh, Zedekiah)

So friends, it’s hardly surprising that the promised descendant of King David, Jesus the Messiah, identifies himself as the Good Shepherd. In John 10, Jesus says:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 NLT)

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me…” (John 10:14 NLT)

“…the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:3-4 NLT)

As our Good Shepherd, Jesus always has our best interests at heart. He wants us to listen to him, to trust him, to do life with him, to share in his work in this world, and to inherit eternal life.

Today is last Sunday of the Church year, known as Christ the King Sunday. Today we’re looking at his last parable in Matthew:

Jesus' parable of the sheep and the goats “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.” (Matt 25:31 NIV)

In Matthew’s account, Jesus refers to himself as “the Son of Man” when talking of his sacrificial death and resurrection:  “As you know, the Passover is two days away - and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” (Matthew 26:2 NIV)

 In the Garden of Gethsemane: Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:45-46 NIV. See also Mt 12:40, 17:9, 17:12, 20:28, 26:24)

Jesus also refers to himself as “the Son of Man” when announcing his return in glory as the end time Judge. Ironically, Jesus makes this claim at his trial before the Jewish Council.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.” (Matthew 26:63-65 NIV. See also Daniel 7:13- 14, Mt 9:6, 12:8, 13:41, 16:27-28, 19:28, 24:27, 24:37)

Jesus - whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, whose stories and deeds we reflect on throughout the year, whose death we remember on Good Friday, and whose resurrection we celebrate on Resurrection Sunday – this same Jesus will come in divine glory as King and end time Judge. Jesus’ resurrection in history is God’s guarantee of his return at the close of history. All his followers will share in his victory over death. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

“All the nations will be gathered before him…” (Matt 25:32a NIV) While many remain sceptical about coming face to face with Jesus, his majesty will one day be obvious to ALL.

As Paul writes in his Christ-hymn in Philippians chapter 2: Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NLT)

In Acts 10, Peter declares to the Roman officer Cornelius and his household: “He (the risen Jesus) commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42 NIV) Hmmm. The living and the dead. Who does that include? You, me, your family, friends, neighbours, relatives, work colleagues, school buddies…everyone you’ve known, and every person who’s ever lived on this planet!

Once all the nations are gathered before him, what will Jesus do?

“… he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.’ (Matt 25:32b-33 NIV)

In the Middle East, sheep and goats look much alike. During the day, they graze as one mob. Being better scavengers, the goats help the sheep to find food. But at night time during the cooler months, the sheep and goats are separated. Why? Having hair, the goats need protection from the cold… and thus better shelter. Having wool, the sheep can remain outdoors.

But here's the point: the shepherd knows how to distinguish one from the other. Jesus knows every human heart. Jesus knows who the real sheep are; and the goats who just look like sheep… but whose hearts are far from him (See Matthew 15:7-9).

So according to Jesus, what is the difference? Whether or not they have extended HIS mercy, love and kindness to others in need.

To the sheep: The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. v.40

To the goats: He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' v.45.

Who were “the least” in Jesus’ day? Children, orphans, widows, foreigners, people reduced to poverty, or with any lingering condition that made them “unclean” – eg lepers, bleeding, contagious diseases…

Who are “the little people” in our day? People with disabilities or mental health issues, victims of crime/exploitation, indigenous peoples, refugees and asylum seekers, the unborn, the elderly who live alone, those with addictions/afflictions, single parents, children of broken families, people in nursing homes, prisoners, the homeless,…

Such people easy to label, dismiss, judge, overlook. Yet each of them bears the image of God – and therefore deserves to be treated with dignity, love and respect.

Do we see people through Jesus eyes – as people who matter to God…and therefore matter to us?

How we treat people reflects whether or not Jesus is alive in us; whether he is ruling our hearts and directing our lives – or not.

Jesus' examples are simple acts of kindness that most of us could do: providing food, drink, clothing, shelter; giving hospitality; caring for the sick and hurting people of our community/world.

Those who refuse to participate in Jesus’ care and compassion for others will end up in the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Note: this is not what God envisaged for human beings – but for the prince of darkness and his sidekicks. Yet some people will end up in that place because they refuse to surrender the throne of their heart to Jesus as their King – and honour him by serving others.

Faith is a gift of God – lived out in our everyday attitudes, words, and actions. As these three passages make clear:  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26 NIV)

 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6b NIV)

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)

What does King Jesus want for us? Jesus wants us to participate in his kingdom work in this world. And the fruit of that will last forever. First, such acts of kindness may open hearts to the Good News of Jesus – so they too can know him and come into his kingdom.

And second, the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (Matthew 25:34 NIV) Like any inheritance, this isn’t something we earn, but the gift we receive by trusting Jesus, sharing his love with others, and following him all the way home.

May God grant this to us all! Amen.