Scripture Study for
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:8–12 / Psalm 118:22 / 1 John 3:1–2 / John 10:11–18
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Understanding the Word
By Br. John R. Barker, OFM
This week’s first reading continues from last week. After Peter has declared that the lame man was healed through the power of Jesus, the religious leaders have Peter and John arrested for teaching and proclaiming resurrection of the dead in Jesus (4:1–3). Now they question Peter, who responds by ironically wondering aloud that he and John have been dragged before the authorities for doing a good deed, a point that highlights the parallel between the apostles and Jesus himself, who was also interrogated after doing good deeds. Peter then repeats that it was in the name of Jesus that the man was healed. All salvation (healing, forgiveness, well-being, deliverance) comes only through Jesus.
In his First Letter, John has been exhorting his audience to follow God’s commandments. He has also assured them that if they do sin, yet “abide in Christ,” they will be saved because in Christ believers have been made children of God. The world, that is, that aspect of human society that is opposed to God, does not recognize this great dignity in Christians, and Christians themselves may have difficulty recognizing their own status as God’s children. Just as a human child is like the parents and also the siblings, so children of God are growing into the likeness of God and of Christ. This reality is still obscure, but one day this perception will become clear, and then Christians will see more clearly who they themselves are, as children of God and siblings of Christ.
The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd has deep roots in the story of Israel. The metaphor of shepherd was standard for kings and religious leaders, who were expected to guide Israel in the ways of God, and thus protect them from spiritual and social harm. In Ezekiel, God accuses the shepherds not only of leaving the people at the mercy of the wolves, but of ravaging them themselves. In response, God promises to shepherd the people himself (34:1–31). Jesus, then, is taking up this divine role, to the point of even laying down his life for the sheep, rather than allow them to stray or suffer. Jesus also alludes to the fact that God’s flock is not confined to Israel, and that one of Jesus’ tasks is to unite all of God’s flock into one under his (Jesus’) care.