EASTER 4
On Thursday morning, as the children from St Mary’s School were all here in church, I asked them what this is....Does anyone know? Actually it’s the key to the TARDIS. You can tell because its got a map of the constellation of Kasterborous on the back, where the planet Gallifrey (the home of the Timelords) can be found. At least its what the Key looked like in the time of the 7th and 8th Doctors – as of course it changed each time the TARDIS regenerates itself…..you don't need me to explain that surely? Well, the children were very excited. But I must admit that if Jesus actually had said “I am the key to the TARDIS” then my talk would have been more coherent – but it did convey something of what Jesus meant when he said things like “I am the gate for the sheep”. There’s something about him, he seems to say, that is fundamentally essential. Like bread. Like water. Like a gate, a door. Like a key.
In today's gospel, Jesus makes much of the imagery of the sheep and the shepherd, and the gate and the fold – and of course that imagery extends beyond verses 1-10 of chapter 10 as it is not till later that Jesus finally gets round to saying “I am the Good Shepherd….” In this first section though, Jesus sets up a contrast between the shepherd and the thief. The thief doesn’t use the gate, but climbs in over the wall to attack the sheep – whereas the shepherd approaches the flock from the front so he can be recognised and the sheep are not alarmed. The sheep know the shepherd’s voice and he knows them by name and leads them; and of course, the thief is a stranger, and they not only don’t recognise him but fear him. But the most important and all–encompassing difference between the shepherd and the thief is held in the last line of today’s passage in verse 10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”
The theme of LIFE and LIVING is hugely important throughout John’s Gospel. When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman in Chapter 4, he describes himself as the living water. In chapter 6 Jesus is described as the bread of life. (those fundamental essentials again). You’ll remember that John records seven signs to demonstrate who Jesus is – the first being turning water into wine at the Wedding in Cana, and the seventh and final sign is the Raising of Lazarus. Aside from the story of Christ’s passion itself, ‘The Raising of Lazarus’ in Chapter 11 could be seen as the essence and climax of the whole gospel. In a way, the Raising of Lazarus puts into action that astounding claim of the Jesus who said I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” It’s not so much about raising Lazarus from the dead…..but raising him to life.
A few weeks back, on Passion Sunday, we heard the story of the Raising of Lazarus. I referred then to the sundial on the tower of the church next to the retreat centre at Offchurch, where a number of us have been a number of times! Above the dial on the side of the tower are the words “Don’t forget to Live”. In a way it seems out of place: metal letters in a modern typeface – and they could have made it sound a bit more oldy-worldy, but it’s a simple and direct statement. “Don’t forget to Live”……. and it is surprisingly easy to do. But Jesus says: I came that [you] may have life, and have it abundantly”
It’s worth pausing there to ask ourselves a few pertinent questions: Is that your experience of Christian faith – that it has given you abundant life? Or at least got you a bit closer to it? Is that your experience of the Church – as life giving rather than life-quenching? And in what ways can we see our ministry as a church giving abundance of life to our community and the wider world? When did you last stop and check on the things you are spending most of your time on….are they life-giving or life-quenching? You might also like to make a list of all the things which for you are life-quenching, draining….and then think how you’re going to get shot of them!
If Christ came to bring fullness of life, then that is what Christ’s church (and that’s us) ought to be bringing to the world - in his name and in his strength. But what is ‘life in all its fullness’, or ‘abundance’? Well I think on one level – a very human level - it is about life which is authentic, honest, and true to itself. And so as Christians and as a church we ought to be actively involved in denouncing anything which robs human beings of that dignity. The gospel this morning reminds us that we have a lot of work to do if we are to faithfully follow the Good Shepherd.
That’s the first thing I’d like to draw from the gospel this morning: that as members of Christ’s church we are called to enable others (whether they believe or not is actually immaterial) to live their lives as fully and authentically as possible.
The second thing is that, whilst that is true, Jesus actually meant so much more than that. For Jesus – and certainly for the author of the fourth gospel as he pieces all of this together, the answer to the question ‘What is life in all its fullness?’ is quite clear. And just as I’ve suggested an answer on a human level, this finds its answer on the divine level. Life in all its fullness and abundance was how Jesus lived. Running alongside the theme of life in John’s gospel is the theme of Jesus’ relationship to and with and in the Father. Life in all its fullness is about a life in complete union with God – being in relationship with God just as Jesus was in relationship to God.
John 10 v 10 reminds us clearly what we ought to be about – as individual disciples, as congregations, as national churches….protecting and upholding the rights and integrity of others, and inviting them to draw closer to the mystery of God’s ever-embracing love. In fact that’s a pretty good summary of what our Bishop has called ‘Living God’s Love” (and you'll know that in the very instant I mention those words, a light is flashing on a map at Abbey Gate House in St Albans and I just scored an extra 30 points!)
Life in all its fullness and abundance was how Jesus lived. Life in all its fullness is about a life in complete union with God – being in relationship with God just as Jesus was in relationship to God. Life in all its fullness can never just be for us as individuals alone, but is always about protecting and upholding the rights and integrity of others, and inviting them to draw closer to the mystery of God’s ever-embracing love. And today you are invited to draw closer and encounter afresh the One is fundamentally essential to your life. The key, if you like, to who you are, what you are, and who and what you can and will be. The Good Shepherd. The gate for the sheep. In your hands, the bread of life.
Jesus said: I came that [you] may have life, and have it abundantly”
He calls us to live God’s love.
May God give us the courage and the vision to do it – in the name of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Amen









