The Good Shepherd Still Cares For Us based on Acts 20:17-35

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Does anyone care? Maybe sometimes you wonder if anyone cares about you? Or if God cares about you? In our world at the doctor’s office the common question to identify you is not what your name is but what is your date of birth. Sometimes people mainly want to know your driver’s license number. Or your social security number. Or your phone number. Sometimes you might feel like a number.

II. Mother’s day thoughts. Mother’s day is a good day to think about or give thanks to your mother. Mother’s day is not about numbers. Mother’s day is about the woman who gave birth to you. Mother’s day is a day to give gifts like flowers and chocolate and cards with a nice message. For mothers the celebration of Mother’s day is a day to remember that your children care about you. Mothers are a special gift from God.

III. Today we think about our Good Shepherd. Today we also think about and give thanks to Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Jesus still cares for you even when you wonder if anyone cares about you. Jesus showed His care and concern for His sheep by being born of a human mother by the name of Mary. Jesus showed His care and concern for His sheep by living a life without sin for us. Jesus showed His care and concern for His sheep by dying a sacrificial death on a cross to bring about the forgiveness of our sins and wrongs. Jesus showed His care and concern for His sheep by rising from the dead on the third day and appearing to many followers for forty days before He went up to heaven.

IV. Paul sent by Jesus for congregations like Ephesus. The apostle Paul was sent by Jesus to show care for people who were Jews and Gentiles or non-Jews. He started congregations or helped congregations to grow by going on missionary journeys to places like Ephesus. In Acts 20 Paul met with some of the elders from the Christian congregation in Ephesus in the city of Miletus. He tried to encourage these men who were more like pastors are today.

V. Read Acts 20:20-21 and comment. I especially want to focus of three key parts of the words of the apostle Paul to the elders from Ephesus and how those words apply to us today. First of all, in Acts 20:20–21 Paul reminded them of, “how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul wanted to stress the importance of repentance toward God and faith in Jesus. Repentance means to know your sins and wrongs and to admit you are helpless to save yourself from the punishment you deserve. You do not stop at repentance though. If you repent of your wrongs, but do not know and believe in Jesus, then you will not know peace with God. Forgiveness and peace with God comes only through the gift of saving faith in Jesus. When you repent in sorrow over past wrongs and have faith in the saving work of Jesus for you on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, then God’s Holy Spirit turns you around 180 degrees and moves you to live a life pleasing to God. Repentance and faith in Jesus are still crucial parts of a Christian’s life today.

VI. Read Acts 20:24 and comment. Second, Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” For Lutherans who like to interpret the Bible in terms of Law and Gospel messages these words of Paul are good words for you today. The Law of God in the Bible reminds you that you are sinners in need of forgiveness, since you cannot save yourselves by what you do to try to please God. The gospel of the grace of God is what saves you. The good news of the grace of God is that He has undeserved mercy and love for you for the sake of the saving efforts of Jesus Christ. As a Christian the most important words you can tell others is that the Law of God shows the sins of people to them and the Gospel of the grace of God shows the Savior to people in the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus.

VII. Read Acts 20:35 and comment. Third, Paul quotes a statement of Jesus that is only found in the Book of Acts and not in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Acts 20:35 gives these interesting words of Paul: “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Helping the weak and hurting is good for you to do still today. Giving is something you can feel better about because of the abundance of gifts God gives you that you can give to others. Giving is what the earthly ministry of Jesus was all about. Jesus gave gifts of healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, giving hearing to the deaf, freeing those oppressed by evil spirits, preaching the good news to people, and raising dead people like His friend Lazarus. The greatest gift Jesus gave is the redeeming work of saving sinners by dying and rising for the sinners and wrongdoers of the world, including you and me. You regularly receive blessings from God through the gift of saving faith in Jesus. Giving to the weak and hurting among you is more blessed than receiving things from others.

VIII. Conclusion. You are more than a number. You are more than your date of birth or driver’s license or social security numbers. You are baptized sons and daughters of the Most High God. When you might wonder if anyone cares for you, remember Jesus the Good Shepherd cares for you. Repent and have faith in Jesus. Tell others about the gospel of the grace of God. Be a little Christ to those in need around you, since Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.