“The Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
—Psalm 23, KJV

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Pastor Tom Johnson, April 25, 2021

Psalm 23—written by King David about his own personal account of his relationship to God. Even God himself says of David that he is “a man after his own heart.” God finds in David a kindred spirit.  You’ll remember that the prophet Samuel found David when he was a young man working as a shepherd in the fields. David grew up with sheep and was a skilled shepherd himself. And of all the things he learned about shepherding, the greatest lesson was how much of a great shepherd his Lord and his God is to him. Psalm 23 is often quoted by the prophets that followed David—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah. Jesus himself uses the shepherd imagery in many teachings and parables to explain the love of God and himself as the Good Shepherd.  Psalm 23 is popular among Jews and Christians alike. It is used at the bedside in hospitals and in funerals. It is beautiful poetry, bucolic imagery, and tells a powerful story of David’s faith journey with God. He invites us along. It is familiar in the old King James Version because of all the music set to it and oral tradition. Many believers have committed this psalm to memory because of its encouraging power as we contemplate and recite this Scripture. I encourage you to commit it to memory if you haven’t already. I am confident that you will find strength and joy.

“The Lord is my Shepherd.” Just as David cared for sheep—just as he killed lions and bears to protect his sheep, so YAHWEH—his Lord shepherds and protects David. He finds in his own story of nurturing the flock God’s nurture of him.

“I shall not want.” In his relationship with God, he finds contentment and personal peace. God gives him everything he needs. Although he may not have everything he wants, he has experienced God who gives us all we need for life and godliness.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” God so satisfies David’s soul that he is like a sheep who simply cannot eat anymore of the colorful array and nutrient rich bounty. What’s so good to feast on is now good and soft to sleep contentedly on.

“He leadeth me.” The shepherd does not drive his sheep with threats and the whip. He goes on ahead. He leads us. And how do you make any creature follow? By kindness, goodness, and cultivating trust. The sheep know the Shepherd’s character and his voice. And so we follow.

“He leadeth me beside the still waters.” David appreciates not only the hydration God gives but also the empathic way God leads him. God knows how easily startled his sheep can be by tumultuous waters. With the Lord we are not swept away by the flood but drink deeply of his living waters.

“He restoreth my soul.” David remembers the times the sheep would get caught in a thicket, cast on their backs in a crevice, or trapped in a steep ravine. The shepherd does not despise the sheep for their waywardness but always brings back what is lost. The Lord restores our souls and places us safely on solid ground.

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” God puts the sheep on the right path—the path that leads to love and gratitude toward the Shepherd and love and respect toward the other sheep in and outside the fold. We manifest the righteousness of the Shepherd because of his goodness toward the sheep.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Sometimes the right path goes through dark and terrifying valleys where death looms large. But the sheep do not fear. The Shepherd takes us safely through—not to—but through.

“For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” The perfect love of the Shepherd casts out the fear that threatens. He does not leave nor forsake the sheep as orphans. His rod can take out the lions and the bears. His staff can crush the serpent’s head. It is by the rod of his Word that we are delivered. The Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep on the wooden beams of the Cross. “All of us like sheep have gone astray—each to their own way. But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him” [Isa 53:6]. He triumphs over death and evil for us. By the staff and power of his Word, he is always near to guide us.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” The Shepherd prepares the feast of victory. He has us for supper—not to be the meal—but as those who take and eat as his beloved daughters and sons. We are no longer mere sheep but members of his family. He raises us up to sit at table with him.

“Thou anointest my head with oil.” We are now Christened in our adoption as royal children. We are the baptized. He fills us with the Holy Spirit. We have the indelible mark as the redeemed people of God.

“My cup runneth over.” Jesus drink of the cup of his suffering so that he can pour out his lavish grace of forgiveness and strength for the remainder of our life’s journey. God’s grace superabounds toward us.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” The sheep have the confidence that the Shepherd’s love will pursue us all our days. He will not give up on bringing us back and setting us on the path of life. No one can snatch us out of his hand. Our salvation and life in him is secure.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” The Shepherd has gone before us to prepare a place for us in his mansion and his eternal Kingdom. We will always be at home with the Father just has Christ has made his home in our hearts.

The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
          (“The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” LSB 709, v. 1)

“Koinonia” (Psalm 133)

Psalm 133

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Pastor Tom Johnson, April 11, 2021

Our reading from Acts begins with the early church brothers and sisters who would not allow any of their members to suffer want. They had everything in common. The word for common is the root of the word for fellowship—koina in koinonia. Koinonia occurs four times in our reading from First John. The Apostle John reminds us that we have fellowship with God the Father and his Son Jesus. We have fellowship with one another. In our Gospel reading from John, the disciples are in fellowship with one another—sharing the same home and sharing an encounter with the risen Lord. They were breaking bread as they shared meals together. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul calls this breaking of bread Communion—the same word, koinonia—a sharing of—a participation in the Body and Blood of Jesus as we break bread together and pass the cup of blessing.

Psalm 133 is a celebration of koinonia. “How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity!” How wonderful and a joy it is when we live in loving community! How great a blessing when the people of God are a true family! After more than a year of physical distancing and social isolation we see how, in our effort to protect our physical health, it can be devastating to our mental health. In the creation account in Genesis, God says that what he made is good. On the sixth day, he said it was very good. But even before humanity’s fall into sin, he said it was not good for Adam to be alone. So he made Eve so that they both could experience the goodness and pleasantness of fellowship.

Perhaps more than ever, we realize how good and pleasant it was—to be in person—to extend a hand of fellowship, and to see each other’s faces. How good and pleasant it was. How good and pleasant it will be what we may have taken for granted. One of the things we learned from the recent congregational survey, is how much people miss coffee hour—a time dedicated to fellowship, friendship, and conversation. We recently had a virtual coffee hour and plan to again in a few weeks where we can enjoy this once again. I hope you all can join us. But this is not just being together—it is dwelling together in unity—to be in genuine, authentic community of unconditional love—a place where people can be themselves and accepted—a place where no one feels judged. We need genuine friends and companions in life’s journey—people who are truly interested in you—who really do pray for you—who encourage and cheer you on!

How high a call it is for us to love one another as Christ loved us—self-sacrificially—laying one’s life down for others—selflessly giving of yourself to your sisters and brothers in Christ—and to always be ready for another friend! How beautiful it is when the power of the Resurrection transforms us, heals broken relationships, and keeps us close to our heavenly Father! How precious is the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of his people! “How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity!” 

How sad and disappointing it is when we live in disharmony! How tragic it is when we cannot resolve conflict in a God-pleasing way! How disheartening it is when we are less church more like a social club! How shameful it is when the church has junior high politics—when we have cliques, gossip, and don’t settle disagreements as children of light—with the faith that every conflict we have is an opportunity to glorify God. How discouraging it is when we major on minors—choose our battles unwisely—where being right or winning an argument is more important than winning a friend. How much it grieves the Holy Spirit when we harbor bitterness—when we lack the courage to face conflict head on—when we do not trust God to bring about peace which the world cannot give. How tragic it is, in the words of the writer of Hebrews [10:25], to “neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some.” 

“How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity!” It is like the consecration of the high priest—the pouring of oil on Aaron’s head. It’s so lavish that it drips down his beard, saturates the collar of his robe, and anoints his ephod which has the twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel—the whole family of faith. Togetherness in Christ’s Church is like wine spilling over the brim of the cup of blessing that runs over into everyone’s life.  The Word Messiah and Christ means the Anointed One. As the Baptized—those who receive the lavish washing of water, the Word, and the Holy Spirit—we are also now the anointed ones—that is what the words christen and Christian mean.

“How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity!” It is like the dew of Hermon flowing down on the hills of Zion. Mt. Hermon in the north is always saturated with moisture unlike the dry, arid hills of Zion.  Life together in Christ is like living in a desert oasis. Our fellowship together as the people of God is like a lush garden in the middle of a dry and barren wilderness. The world may think it is a mirage. But we know it to be a miracle of God. The family of God is the strong tower of refuge from this embattled world—it is the living proof that the Kingdom of God is among us—the manifestation of the Gospel for the world to see—as Jesus said, “They will know you are my disciples by your love for one another” (John 13:35).

“How good and pleasant it is to live together in unity!” For it is in this place—the gathering of the people of God—where God has uttered his decree and commanded the blessing—life forevermore! It is in our assembly where the power of the resurrection is put on full display. It is here at the font where God washes away our sins and declares that we are his royal, adopted children. It is here at the pulpit where his Word goes out and does not return void but assures us of his grace and forgiveness. It is here at the Table where Jesus gives his Body and Blood with the bread and the wine. He assures us of forgiveness and strengthens our faith. It is in this sweet koinonia—where we confess in the communion and fellowship of the saints—where God has commanded the blessing, life forevermore! 

“Do not be afraid, he is risen!” (Mark 16:1-8)

Mark 16:1-8

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Pastor Tom Johnson, April 4, 2021

Light travels faster than sound—a lot faster. It takes five seconds for sound to travel one mile. In five seconds, light will travel 931,410 miles. Light is almost a million times faster than sound. As I child, I learned to count the number of seconds between lightning and thunder to get an idea of close lightning struck—a fifth of a mile per second. I could also listen to find out if the storm was approaching, if the light and sound grew closer; or had passed by, if the light and sound grew further apart. 

The angel appears in blinding light to tell the good news that Jesus has been raised. The angel tells the women to go and tell the other disciples the good news. But “they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” I believe this is exactly how Mark wants to end his account. The thunderous proclamation of the Gospel is already trailing far behind the Light of the resurrected King. It’s sound is so far behind, in fact, it does not make it into Mark’s account. This is no surprise to the angel or to God. In fact, the angel says, “Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.” The Light of Christ is already ahead in the next step before the women begin their first step.

There is a clear thread throughout this passage that keeps these women from catching up or keeping up: fear. Fear of religious authority makes the women wait until the end of the Sabbath to go and anoint the body of Jesus. To touch a dead body would make them ritually unclean. Fear of the heavy stone covering Jesus’ tomb and their lack of human strength make them question how they will overcome that obstacle. Fear comes when they see the stone already rolled away. Even more fear comes when they do not see the body of Jesus but, instead, a young man dressed in a bright robe. Fear almost keeps them from realizing the wonderful truth of what has happened. Fear almost prevents them from discovering the empty tomb. And, at the very end, fear seizes them—paralyzes them—from telling their story.

If we are painfully honest, these women are not very different from us. Fear is impeding progress our lives. Fear takes hold of us. Fear debilitates and paralyzes us from living the lives God wants us to enjoy. Fear may come from religious authority and tradition—like the women who feared breaking the rules of religion of the day. Religion should not set us back in our journey toward the light but move us forward. Our faith community should be a place that sets us free from fear and propels us ahead toward the Light.  Christ does not call us to judge one another and put legalistic burdens on one another. He calls us forgive one another, pray for, encourage, and serve one another just as he “came, not to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). 

Fear comes from feeling powerless to overcome obstacles. Like the women who fear the prospects of a heavy stone they cannot roll away, there are things that make us confront our powerlessness—things that we cannot fix by our own strength—such as broken relationships, addiction, illness, an ongoing pandemic and isolation, resentment, anger, anxiety and many other things. But Jesus says, “What is impossible for mortals is possible with God.” (Lk 18:47). Fear even holds us back when we witness the impossible like the women who see the stone rolled away and the angel sitting there. It seems to be too good to be true. Maybe fear overcomes us because we have grown so cynical. A lot of advertisements and sales pitches are too good to be true. “Nothing is free. There is always a catch,” we’ve learned. Fear of being disillusioned may keep us from believing the story of Jesus that IS good news, free, and where we are God’s catch.

Fear, not doubt, will hold back. Doubt is part of true and living faith. But fear—fear will keep us from even embarking on a faith journey. Fear will prevent us from considering the claims of Christ. Fear will end our pilgrimage before it even has a chance to begin—like it does these women. Fear also comes when something great is expected from us. The angel tells the women, “Go and tell the disciples and Peter the good news.” Responsibility can be scary—especially for these women in a patriarchal culture. It can be frightening when people entrust us with important things. We don’t feel worthy. We can’t control how people will respond. We fear failure. 

But light travels faster than sound. Jesus is way ahead of us. The Apostle Paul says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God causes the growth.” He goes before us and makes a way. And by the light of his grace, he overcomes all our fears. The Christian journey is a lifelong process of catching up with what the Lord has already done. We will always lag behind in our understanding of just how good and glorious the truth of the Resurrected Light is. But this should not cause us to beat ourselves up. It should rather expand our wonder and marveling at the grace of God.

Scripture says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jn 4:18). Scripture also says, “We love”—don’t miss this—“because he first loved us.” Light travels faster than sound. He already loves you. He already likes you. “Do not be alarmed,” the angel says, “You look for Jesus of Nazareth. He is raised from the dead!” Jesus lives! His light has already found you. And by his grace, and in his time, the sound of the resurrection will reverberate in and through our lives. Mark wants us to go and share the good news realizing that it is a message about the grace and power of the resurrected Christ and that we also need the grace and power of the resurrected Christ in order to proclaim it to the world. 

Light is faster than sound. Whom shall we fear? Christ has overcome death. What is that great stone but a grain of sand for God? The empty tomb says it all! Death could not hold Jesus there. Fear cannot hold us back. Death and fear no longer have the power to seize and paralyze us. Jesus has given us the victory when he rose in blinding light. We have the assurance of his forgiveness. We have the certainty of eternal life.  Do not fear. He goes before you. Light is a million times faster than sound. Alleluia! Christ is risen!