St. Andrews’ Pictou, May 7, 2006; Holy Communion

 

The Distinguishing Mark

 

Acts 4:5-12

1 John 3:16-24

John 10:11-18

 

There is an aspect of the human condition that is extrememely odd as to its need, character, and promotion.

 

Another way to describe it would be to say that this reality is something that we desperately need for progress and even life to happen. We are greatly appreciative when it does happen, but for some reason, we don’t want to talk about it.

 

It might seem odd to you that there is something that we really need and like, but at the same time, we don’t ever want to talk about it.

 

This reality that we like and want, but don’t like to talk about it has a name.

 

This reality is found is all of our scriptures today and it is called, “sacrifice.”

 

In the first Reading from The Acts of the Apostles, Peter tells the truth about Jesus to the very people who are trying to persecute him.

 

In the second reading John proclaims the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ action and the consequences that it is to have for our behaviour.

 

In the Gospel reading Jesus claims to be the good shepherd, the one who is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.

 

Jesus Christ has always been in his life and in his death a threat to those who want control. Jesus Christ is the enemy of those who would withhold health and freedom that you might desire for yourself and those you love.

 

After Jesus had been resurrected, the church began in earnest. The book of Acts is the history book of the early church. Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples had conducted a healing and the religious leaders were upset. Word got around that the healing had been conducted.

 

“The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly families.”

 

They were closing ranks to protect their turf. They thought that killing Jesus would have gotten rid of this “Jesus problem,” but, as we know 2,000 years later, the ministry of Jesus just keeps going on and on.

 

The disciples were prisoners; they stood accused for being part of this Jesus movement. They were arrested and questioned about the healing:

“By what power or by what name did you do this?”

 

Peter “filled with the spirit” used their accusation as a platform to show his faith. It is amazing how incisive and powerful was his answer:

“Rulers of the people and elders,

if we are being questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.”

 

To drive the truth home, Peter than quoted Psalm 118: 22 and phrased it into their action:

“The stone that was rejected by you, the builders;

It has become the cornerstone.”

 

Then he goes on to give us the theology:

“There is no salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

 

Jesus sacrificed himself for us; the disciples sacrificed themselves to start the church and the list goes on:

-we sacrifice our childish wants to become mature adults,

-husbands and wives sacrifice for marriage and children,

-soldiers are being sacrificed in Iraq and Afghanistan for peace,

-a policeman this week sacrificed himself for law and order in the city of Windsor Ontario. He was in plain clothes, on duty and was killed outside of a convenience store when he investigated some suspicious individuals. He was 37 year Old Constable John Atkinson was a 14 year veteran officer who leaves a wife Shelly and two young children: Mitchell and Nicole. Constable Atkinson sacrificed his life to put two 18 year old drug dealers out of business.

 

It almost looks like anything worthwhile in human history needs human sacrifice to make it happen.

 

Can we do anything worthwhile… without sacrifice?

 

But we never seem to sit down and talk about it.

 

Do we ask a minister what they will sacrifice to become our minister?

 

Do I ask men and women proposing to get married what they intend to sacrifice to make their marriage work?

 

Not everything called “sacrifice” is sacrifice.  A man old me about buying his son brand new hockey gear and using second hand great himself. This is not sacrifice. This is an example of how to teach a child “entitlement” and that his father is unimportant, even though he thinks he is doing well for his son. This child will expect subservience; he will expect the best at no cost to him because that is his experience. Constable Atkinson’s children, Mitchell and Nicole will learn that keeping a city safe is an extremely expensive affair where even at their young age; they have to massively help to pay the cost.

 

Jesus has some good advice for us on the topic of genuine sacrifice:

“I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. Sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away….”

 

“Sacrifice” is THE distinguishing mark of the Good shepherd, Jesus, but it is also the distinguishing mark of a good spouse, a good parishioner, minister, politician, craftsman, poet, artist, teacher, fireman, doctor, nurse, or volunteer.

 

We can take anything in life and find that people are divided into two categories: “shepherds” and “hired hands;” one does what it takes and the other collects their wages and holds the title or position.

 

We follow a Jesus who carries the distinguishing marks on this hands feet, and side. We follow him because he has passed the test of the one who truly loves us. We follow Jesus because he is worthy of our faith and trust.

 

Not only did he say that “I lay down my life for the sheep.” But he did it willingly: “I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it up again.”

 

Where did the idea of this kind of giving come from? “I have received this command from my father.”

 

It is God’s intention that we live with a generosity that will often appear as sacrifice.

 

Sacrifice is the distinguishing mark of all that is worthwhile.

 

The bread and wine we share was given to us from a sacrifice willingly given for only one reason: to demonstrate the amazing love that God has for us.

 

Our calling is to love each other in amazing ways.

 

“O taste and see that the Lord is Good.”

 

AMEN                 Rev. Alan Stewart