Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 28, 2026
John 10:1-10

Sunday by Sunday, I still marvel at it. That you all bother to take the time, to spend the energy, to come to church. I marvel at it. Because, goodness knows, there are lots of other things you could be doing right now. You could be at brunch, you could be getting coffee, you could be playing golf, you could be watching the Sunday news shows – you could be in bed. That’s what we call the Church of the Holy Comforter. But you bothered to take the time, to spend the energy, to wake up, to get dressed, to get to church. Even though all those other things were vying for your attention. This morning, you have decided to follow Jesus, to listen to his voice.

It’s like Jesus said, “When [the shepherd of the sheep] has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:4). This is the voice that you listened to this morning, this is the one you have decided to follow, the one you have decided is worthy of your worship, your time, and your energy. Because you know his voice. You said “no” to all those other voices – and you said “yes” to Jesus Christ.

It may not seem like much, but just the fact that you are here, is huge. I’m being sincere. Your very presence shows that you do know the voice of Jesus Christ.

See, to be a disciple, to be a follower of Jesus – there is no trick. There is no secret. I almost feel bad when people ask me how they can grow closer to God. Because the answer is so simple, I don’t want to come across as glib. But it really is – go to church, say your prayers, love your neighbor. There is no magic formula. No special thing that you have not yet accessed. Some level you need to unlock spiritually. No, it’s all about listening for the voice of Jesus, a voice that you already know. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. 

Simple, but not easy. That’s where we fall. We still think that we have to buy it, to earn it. And that’s the key difference between the voice of Jesus and all those other voices out there. See, those other voices, those other things and ideas and people that are calling to you – they want something from you. They want your money, they want your attention. They don’t want you for who you are – they want you for what you can get them. More money, more power, more notoriety. See, that’s why Jesus warns us about those other voices, the thieves and bandits. They come only to steal and kill and destroy. Because when you follow those voices, and you keep giving and giving and giving to them – you end up empty.

You could be at brunch, but you’ll be hungry again. You could be at coffee, but the caffeine will wear off. You could be watching the Sunday news shows, but you’d probably just be getting aggravated; that’s the whole point of those shows. When we follow those other voices, they keep taking from us, and demanding more from us. You think you are getting something from them, but in reality, they are sucking you dry. That’s why it never feels that you have enough money. That’s why it never feels that you have enough friends. That’s why it never feels that the world is in a good place. The thieves and bandits don’t want you to think those things, they want you to feel empty. They want you to be enraged. The powers of this world – they don’t want you to be happy. They don’t want you to be content. That’s not how they make their money. When you listen to their voices, and start following them, we lose sense of what’s important in the world. And meanwhile, they make a fortune off us. You see it, right? It’s just one big grift.

And that’s the promise, and that’s the difference that Jesus offers. The thieves and bandits come to steal and kill and destroy our souls. But Jesus, he says that he came so that we could have life, and have it abundantly. Not an abundance of things, but an abundance of grace, of love, of mercy. That’s the difference. Jesus, Jesus gives, to us, more than we could ask or imagine. Think of it – Lord God Almighty, the Creator and Maker of all that is seen – chooses to give us more than we either desire or deserve. Jesus chooses to give us life, and life abundant. This means that we can have meaning, and connections, and fulfillment. And you already know how to do it, because you are already here, because you already know the voice of Jesus. 

And that’s why I’m here this morning. Because Jesus has given me new life. I’m here because I’ve heard the voice of Jesus – and it’s made all the difference in my life. I’ve heard Jesus say that it’s better to love than to hate. I’ve heard Jesus say that it’s better to give than to receive. I’ve heard Jesus say that I am beloved, that I have a place in God’s family, and that you all are my family, too. It’s so simple, but it is so hard. Because of the other voices. The other voices tell me that I should distrust people I don’t know. The other voices tell me it’s better to get than to give. The other voices tell me that I should be worried, afraid, anxious. 

That’s why I’m here this morning. Because I need to keep listening to the voice of Jesus. To remind myself that this life, this life of grace and love and religion – this is the best of life. This, in fact, is as good as it gets. A loving God who knows me by name. Forgiveness for the things I have done and left undone. A life of worship and praise. 

And that’s what I promise to you as I leave for my sabbatical over these next twelve Sundays. I will be in church on Sundays, worshiping the Lord God, because I still hear the voice of Jesus calling on my life. And get this. The last time I went on sabbatical, in 2019, from my last parish, you want to know where I was on the first Sunday I had off? Right there. About ten pew backs on the south side at this 10:30 worship service. The Holy Spirit has a way of keeping me coming back to this old place, and this people, as the Spirit will call me back at the end of the summer.

And this summer, I intend to keep listening to the same Spirit. I will be in study – I have a stack of books for my classes. You wouldn’t believe how excited I am about this. I will be in prayer, as I am daily. Tuning my ear, and my heart, to hear Jesus more clearly. I don’t go to church because it’s my job, I’m not just some professional who does this for work – I go to church because this is my life. It’s the only life I want. And it is in the church that Jesus found me and it is in the church that I follow Jesus.

Organized religion gets a bad wrap sometimes. But for me, organized religion, founded upon Jesus Christ, is what has made all the difference in the world. I could not follow Jesus on my own. Like you, following Jesus, listening to his voice, means turning away from all the other voices and going to church, saying my prayers, offering my worship. It’s because I am not the Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. I am simply one of the flock. And being one of the sheep will give you life, and life abundant.