“Fundamentals of Discipleship. Part 1: Listen to His Voice” by the Rev. Dr. Don Wahlig, May 11, 2025, Year A / Easter 4 – Acts 9:36-43 • Psalm 23 • Revelation 7:9-17 • John 10:22-30

THEME:  Celebrate those who help us listen and follow the words of Christ.
 

When I was a teenager, my mother would tell me not to follow the examples of the other kids who were misbehaving. She would say, “Donald, don’t be like a dumb sheep.” I have always just assumed that sheep are dumb. But it turns out, sheep are not so dumb after all. Sheep have excellent memories. They can navigate complex mazes. They can remember human faces for as long as two years. They can even differentiate a smile from a frown. Sheep also have excellent hearing. They can identify one another’s voices from far away.  They can identify specific human, voices, too. It takes a few months for a sheep to trust their shepherd’s voice, but once they do they will follow him or her anywhere.  So, sheep are smart enough to recognize and follow the voice of the one who keeps them safe, nourished and happy. And that is why Jesus uses the metaphor of a shepherd to explain to his followers and his opponents alike that he is in fact God’s messiah.

Let’s put this passage into its proper context. Jesus and his disciples have come across a blind man. Everyone in town knows this man. He is the one they always see begging in the street. That’s all he is to them: a blind beggar, at best someone to be pitied, and, at worst, a nuisance. But one Sabbath day, Jesus changes this man’s life forever.  He miraculously restores the blind man’s eyesight. Amazing what a little spit and some dirt will do, right? The people are amazed at this transformation. They bring the man before the Pharisees to see what they make of this miracle. But instead of rejoicing, the Pharisees are more interested in who did it and how, and what rules they may have broken on the way.

When they find out that Jesus is the one who did it, they are immediately divided. They begin to argue. Some say it’s a genuine sign of Jesus’ holiness. Others are indignant.  How dare he perform this work of healing on the Sabbath?!  That’s a violation of the law. If he breaks the law, then he can’t be holy, let alone the Messiah. They try to get the man himself to settle this. They interrogate him. They badger him hoping he will provide testimony that Jesus is a sinner. But the man refuses. The only testimony he offers is “I once was blind but now I see.” 

That is all the proof he needs that Jesus truly is the Messiah, God’s son and the people’s savior. But the Pharisees won’t have it. They expel this poor man from the community. That is like getting kicked out of your neighborhood, your job, your credit union, your school, your church and all your social groups, all in one fell swoop.  It seems harsh, and it was. It was downright traumatic.

That is what was happening in the community for whom John is writing. They, too, were divided over Jesus. Jews who confessed him to be the Messiah were considered heretics and expelled. Just like this blind man, they were thrown out of the synagogue and the community. The question John is asking here is just who exactly are the blind ones? And who is the true shepherd of the sheep: the religious authorities or Jesus? John’s answer is crystal clear. The religious authorities lack the faith required to recognize Jesus. As a result, they refuse to follow his voice. The blind man is a different story altogether. Just as sheep trust their shepherd’s voice because he leads them into well-being, this blind man trusts Jesus because Jesus led him out of the dark of blindness and into the light of new life.

That is what Jesus does for you and me, friends. We trust that he is God’s Messiah, the Good Shepherd. Not just because we read it somewhere, but because we have experienced new life in him. And on this Appreciation Sunday, we celebrate the ones who help us hear and recognize his voice. First, our musicians. They use their gifts of music to sing Jesus’ words to us and with us. Music has a direct connection with the part of our brain that experiences emotion. Through song, we not only learn the words of Jesus, we feel them as well. Our musicians are a blessing.

Our teachers teach us the message of Jesus. Through their faith, wisdom, patience, perseverance, skill, and commitment, they teach us the words of Jesus and help us apply them in our daily living. We hear Jesus speaking to us through them. Our teachers are a blessing!

Today, we also celebrate our graduates.  They have learned how to follow Jesus’ voice in a scholastic environment that is largely secular. That is the daily challenge of every Christian. They inspire all of us to continue listening to Jesus and applying God’s word.  They are also a blessing!

Finally, the fortunate ones among us have been blessed with parents who helped us learn the words of Jesus and then showed us what following him looks like in practice. We hear Jesus speaking to us through them.  Today is Mother’s Day and so we especially celebrate those mothers in our lives. They, too, are a blessing. Folks, on this Appreciation Sunday, who in your life do you want to honor and celebrate? Who has shown you how to recognize Jesus’ voice, to listen to his voice, and to follow him?

Whoever that is, let’s make sure that – today of all days – we tell them what a blessing they are. May it be so.