Resurrected Jesus Feeds and Leads Us to Abundant Life
Christ Memorial Lutheran – Houston
April 26, 2026, Fourth Sunday of Easter
Text: John 10:1–10, Acts 2:42–47, 1 Peter 2:19–25
In the name of Jesus, Amen!
For people who know something about communism, especially to the older people in China, the picture painted here in today’s first reading, Acts 2:42-47 reminds them of people’s commune life under Mao, or to some people of European descent, the Utopian communities in the 19th century in Europe and the US. The Bible certainly does not promote communism here. But why does God not only allow this to happen in this time of history, but write it in the Bible and put it in such a positive way? To answer this question, we have to think in light of what had just happened and connect to the overall picture of the Mission of God to save sinners. Remember, we are still in the Easter season. Christ is risen! Right after Peter preached on the first Pentecost that this Jesus whom “you” crucified, “God has made him both Lord and Christ” by raising Him up and “loosing the pangs of death”, people were baptized and three thousand souls were added to the church. The Holy Spirit descending from heaven on the disciples enabled them to do many wonders and signs. Though this was a one of a kind event and part of God’s Mission in His salvation history, the principles that God is telling us here can apply to any time in any place. Therefore, instead of mimicking the form of commune life as communists did and failed, we need to ask the right questions such as, “For what purpose did God make it happen and write about it? And what can we learn from all of these?
It’s true that one of the main impressions that you will have when you read this reading is a shared everyday life of a community described in words like “fellowship”, “together”, “in common”, “all”, and “day by day”. However, besides possessions and belongings that they shared (about which I’ll talk more later), first and foremost is that they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. This is a life of a church. By this time, Jesus had resurrected from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. And by the same Spirit Jesus had just established the church with more power and wonders. Now, the Bible is to show us what the main elements of a Christian church are through the life of early church Christians. The apostle’ teaching is basically the Word of God by the testimony of the apostles with interpretation of the OT in light of Jesus Christ and His cross to tell us God’s salvific that was ordained before the foundation of the world. Last Sunday, we learned that Jesus taught the disciples how to read the OT. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets Jesus interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Now, from Peter’s sermon, we see that Jesus’ death and resurrection to conquer sin and death has become the core message of the church. Breaking of bread is the Holy Communion of Christ’s Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins that is shared by all members of a Christian community. The fellowship is the communion of saints confessed in the Creed. The prayers are the prayers of the church to God the Father through Jesus Christ. These are the foundational elements of a Christian church that stand on Jesus Christ and His justification of sinners so that people in Him can have a life that shall never die.
Secondly, they did have all things in common by selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. This reflected the selfless love that the church members had towards one another and their care for the needy. The sacrificial love of God that they just experienced from the cross of Christ compelled them, and they remembered what Jesus had told them before going to the cross, “Love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)” The following verses explain exactly that the reason that they loved one another was that they were fed with Jesus’ Word and His Body and Blood. Having received abundantly from Christ, they thankfully, willingly and joyfully shared with one another the love of God and the abundant life that they have in Christ Jesus. Verses 46 and 47 read, “day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” The purpose of the commune life of early church Christians is to show that their generosity comes from the contentment and thankfulness of receiving the new life that God has given them in Christ Jesus, Our Lord. And this abundant life increases even more when the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved because of their favor with God and all the people as Jesus continued His mission to save sinners through the church by being with them, feeding and leading them.
The abundant life in Jesus is exactly what the Good Shepherd has promised us. Today, as we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, we give thanks to God in Christ Jesus, who feeds us and leads us to the abundant life in Himself. He is not only the Good Shepherd, but also the door of a sheep pen. His mission is not only to forgive us our sins, but also to open the door of heaven to all who believe, to give dying humanity a life undying, and to lead us, the wayward sheep to the green “pasture” of eternal life, as He says in today’s Gospel reading, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. … I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” In the stewardship of a Christian living, people tend to have a deficit thinking, meaning to think of managing what God has given us, especially money as a zero-sum game, namely, when giving, for one to be blessed, someone else must suffer. This is a sin in Christian stewardship. It is a sin because not only do they distrust the Good Shepherd Jesus’ ability to feed us, but more importantly they place their hope in God’s creation rather than God as Creator. They desire material things to satisfy their souls instead of the Water and the Bread of life from heaven. Somewhere in their hearts, they have false gods of power, status, security, or influence. That’s why in the time of trials and tribulations they would rather complain or even grumble against God than trust in Him for His Goodness to feed us and for His wonderful plan to lead us all the way to eternal life.
So, what do we learn today? We learn that the life together as Christians is not about what kind of political system or ideology you have, it’s about Christians gathering around the Word and Sacraments to be fed and led by Jesus. It’s not about sharing one’s possessions, but sharing the love and the generosity of God in Our Good Shepherd. It’s about trusting in His grace and mercy that at every time in every place Jesus will feed us and lead us in any circumstance. He will also protect us from the devil and the sinful world of evil men who try to destroy us, snatch us from Jesus, and scatter His sheep, because He is not only God, but also the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. By laying down His life on the cross, Jesus has already defeated the devil and death by rising up again to give us an abundant life that shall never die. I pray that God’s goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and the Good Shepherd Jesus will feed you and lead you all the way to life everlasting. Amen!
May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus, Amen!
