5-11-25 John 20: 22-30
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
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May the witness given by your life bring faith to those who see, may they also hear the voice of the Shepherd.
How do you know someone? What clues do you have for the real character of a person? We have a brief introduction to a disciple named Tabitha, in our first reading. We learn from that title of disciple, that she was a student, a follower of Jesus. We also learn that she was devoted to good works and charitable acts that seem to have extended beyond the Jewish-Christian community. We can assume her work benefited Gentiles as well, since we have listed a Greek name for her in addition to her Hebrew one. If you know some history many of the church sewing groups who have made quilts and other items for the poor have taken her Greek name – Dorcas. Her skills with making clothes were much appreciated and gave her many friends who were very sad when she became ill and died. Within a paragraph we learn much about this woman and her relationship within Joppa. Then they even sent for Peter to come, as he was at a nearby town, even though she was already dead. There was an expectation that Peter could turn this situation around, for he had not been invited to officiate at a funeral. He did come and once he cleared the room, he knelt to pray. The writer is making it known that Peter was not operating on his own accord but sought direction and power from beyond himself, from the Lord.
He speaks to Tabitha, directing her to awaken, to stand, and to become aware of a whole new situation. Those who were there mourning, see that she is alive! This miracle not only strengthens the faith of those who were there, but their subsequent witness brings many others to faith within Joppa. What began with a disciple who was giving and faithful with talents, awakens many others, changing their lives, bringing them to understand that God acts on behalf of his followers. Or as John terms them – his sheep.
In the gospel we hear that Jesus was faced with the issue of faith and the necessity of witness. Those who heard Jesus teach wanted him to claim the title Messiah. They did not want to be responsible for determining that on their own. Yet it is not really faith if you don’t recognize and trust in the truth for yourself. Jesus is looking for you to also then follow him; as the sheep will respond to the voice of their shepherd because they are familiar with him and have experienced the care and protection that he has provided. Jesus reminded them that he had already shown them by his words and by his works who he was. Yet they were not accepting that testimony. They were too timid and uncertain to believe what they had seen and heard.
Barbara Brown Taylor writes about a woman who was not sure she wanted to go on living in her book An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. “She was old. She lived alone. She was afraid to go to sleep at night for fear that she would not wake up in the morning, so she lay in bed waiting for the sun to come up before she dared to shut her eyes.
“Then someone who loved her suggested that as long as she was awake, she might as well start listening for the first bird that sang each morning. Before long, the sound of that bird became the bell that woke her heart to life again. She named the bird. She discovered what such birds like to eat and put feeders full of seed in her yard. Other birds came, and she learned their names as well. She began to collect birdhouses, which she hung from the rafters of her porch until she became the mayor of an entire bird village.”
The woman still does not sleep well, but she found reason to get out of bed every morning. In caring for the birds of the field, she rediscovered love and hope in her life. (Connections, May, 2025)
Utilizing her ability to feed those birds, by providing a gift to those beyond herself, gave her a purpose. It also became a witness to those creatures. Unlike humans, the birds were more than willing to accept the truth of the testimony of this woman’s action. They believed that she was going to provide for them.
As an organization the Calvary Women of the ELCA work together to use their skills to bring benefits to others. It may be through cooking, serving meals, sewing and in numerous other ways. They provide monetary support for other ministry arms – to Caritas, Hope in a Backpack, Homme Home, Food for Kidz, and gas vouchers. They also work through the national WELCA to give funding for work that reaches farther out into the world. Like Tabitha the goal is to give their witness of faith through lives of good works and deeds of charity.
It is in this way, of active testimony, that the world is alerted to the fact that we believe in a God who is willing and able to act on our behalf and is willing to work through us. As you hear the voice of the shepherd who loves us, you can trust that you are secure in that love and so you can dare to share your own time, skills, and treasure. Those concrete examples of your witness will make a difference in the lives of those you help. You can trust what Jesus has said: My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.