Acts 4: 8-12 ; 117(118); 1 John 3: 1-2 ; John 10: 11-18
After healing the cripple in Jesus’ name and calling on the people to repent, Peter and John were put in prison overnight. Peter then repeats his preaching to the Jewish leaders. The leaders cannot deny “a notable miracle has been worked”. Undecided, they order the Apostles not to speak in Jesus’ name again, and release them without punishing them – at least this time.
The psalm is from the Passover psalm heard on Easter Sunday, thanking and praising God for repeatedly saving us.
John’s first letter insists that the love the Father has given us makes us his children now, anticipating already in some way what we shall be “when he appears”. John goes on to contrast the righteous who do not sin with those who commit sin. You are either for God or against him – there is nothing between.
In John’s gospel, after healing the man born blind, Jesus describes himself both as the door through which we can enter and be saved, and also as the good shepherd, whom the sheep know and follow. In contrast to the false shepherds criticised by Ezekiel, the good shepherd cares for his sheep, even at the cost of his life. Jesus emphasises that he is in control of his life, causing division among the Jews.
Psalm Response: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
(Acts 4: 8-12 ; 117(118); 1 John 3: 1-2 ; John 10: 11-18)