Silliman University Church Reflections

There’s a story of a little boy who attended a Sunday school in one city church. When his parents moved to another part of the city the little fellow still attended the same Sunday school, although it meant a long, tiresome walk each time. A friend asked him why he went so far, even as she told him that there were plenty of other Sunday schools just as good nearer his home. “They may be as good as others, but not for me,” was the boy’s reply. “Why not?” she asked. “Because they know how to love over there.” The boy replied.

In our text this morning, Jesus shows that he knows how to love. It is this love that attracts us to him. So great is his love that He is willing to lay down his life for his flock. He is the Good Shepherd. Let’s enumerate some characteristics of the Good Shepherd in Jesus.

1. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep and cares for each one of them. Just by using his voice, the sheep will know he is the shepherd and they will follow him. There is a bond between the shepherd and the sheep. We see how strong that bond is in the parable of the Lost Sheep. A shepherd had 100 sheep and found that one of them was missing. What did he do? He left the 99 grazing and went off to find the one that was lost. And when he found it he came home rejoicing!

2. Shepherds protect their sheep. David was a Shepherd before he became King. It was as a shepherd that he slew Goliath. He said this to King Saul as he went out to battle Goliath –as a shepherd of my father’s sheep, I would attack the lion or the bear and rescue the sheep from its mouth”. The Good Shepherd protects his sheep.

3. The shepherd wants the best for his sheep. John 10 is the best commentary available on Psalm 23. It begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters, he restores my soul …” that‘s exactly what our Lord promises us in John chapter 10. When He is our Shepherd, we will not lack for anything. There is nothing more assuring than these words in Psalm 23, and in John 10 Jesus makes it clear that all the blessings of this Psalm are to be found and experienced in Him—and in Him alone.

Easter reminds us that Christ the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep.

How do we experience the love of the Good Shepherd? Well like that boy in the beginning of this story, that love is experienced in church.
The church is the gathered people of God (Greek - ekklesia) like a sheepfold. It is for the church that Christ died. We are the church that is called to be the Body of Christ, the whole community of persons reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. And we are the ones entrusted with God’s ministry. In a sense we are the heart, the arms, and legs of Christ today. It is through this body, that the world is to know that Jesus loves and lives. The church is therefore not only the salt of the earth, the light of the world, but also the shepherd of the flock.
We are called to possess the characteristics of a good shepherd so that we can shepherd one another.

God loves, calls, and cares for His sheep individually, but much of His care and guidance comes through the organism of the church.

We live in a very individualistic age, when personal independence and autonomy are paramount in value. Lets remember that it is both arrogant and ignorant for us to expect and demand personalized ministry and attention from human “shepherds,” whenever we want it. In the first place, it is not possible. In the second, it is not necessary or good. Even empowered by the Spirit, shepherds can only be in one place at a time. Human shepherds cannot possibly live up to the expectations that many place upon them. This is why God deals with His church as a flock.

It is clear that God instituted the church so that the needs of His people can be met in the context of a flock & because the greatest commandment to love God and neighbor is best tested in church.

Silliman community is composed of about 8,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni guests. How can we shepherd all 8,000 of the flock every day? I think this will mean, that the BOT will shepherd the administration. The Administration will shepherd the deans, the deans will shepherd the faculty, the faculty will shepherd the students, and the students shepherd one another.

I think this means Sillimanians are called to develop an attitude of love towards everyone. Notice how shepherding and loving one another are the same. This attitude of love will make us courteous to one another, will make us responsible students, competent teachers and caring staff. It will make us feel at home and loved, fix a constant smile in our faces, make our hands extend in greeting to one another.

Are you vitally involved with the flock of this church? Are you ministering to others, and are others ministering to you? Are you part of the small Bible Study groups and clusters, for ministry of students and faculty here in church and in the dormitories. In these smaller groups, individual sheep can be known and cared for individually. Remember God provides care for His sheep only in the context of a flock – the pastors to the council, the council to the boards, board-committees, committees-members, members-to one another.

Sometimes human shepherds find it flattering when people depend upon them entirely for shepherding. The Lord’s sheep are His sheep, not anyone’s sheep. It is He alone who saves His sheep and makes them secure. It is He alone who knows His sheep intimately. Let us not dare to be like the false shepherd, who want His sheep as their own, for their own selfish needs. They were referred to in Scripture as the hirelings, the thieves, robbers and wolves. I am reminded of the recent raid on Warren Jeff’s  Fundamental Latter Day Saint sect in Eldorado, Texas , where underaged girls were alleged to have been married off to some elderly members.  As shepherds, it is our calling and privilege to point persons to the Great Shepherd, whose sheep they are. We are shepherds of Christ’s flock. If we truly love our Lord, then, like Peter we, will devote ourselves to the passion of our Lord—shepherding His flock:

When we shepherd His flock, we should do so as He did. We should give special care and attention to the lost, the hurting, the sick, the weak, the failing student, the troubled couple, the disturbed teacher. We should “be the arms and legs of the good shepherd,” giving of ourselves, caring for the sheep. May God grant that each of us who know and love Him will take up His work of shepherding His sheep. At the same time, let us never cease being the Lord’s sheep who know and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Sermon delivered April 13, 2008, Silliman church

It is a curious coincidence that our lectionary reading today is John 14:6 when Silliman is going through a strategic planning process. Via Veritas Vita –”The way, the truth and the life” is as you know the Silliman motto. Did you know that that was an answer to a series of questions that the disciples were asking Jesus? Do you know what those questions were that warranted the answer “Via Veritas Vita?” Before that let me tell a story.

There was a missionary traveling to a remote village deep in the jungles. A local guide was selected to take him because the only way to reach the village was to walk through the forest. The journey started out well; the path was good and easy to follow. Soon, however, the path literally disappeared and the guide was forced to cut away at the dense undergrowth with his machete. As time went by, the missionary grew more and more worried, and asked, “Where is the way? Are we lost?” The guide smiled, looked back and said, “I am the way to where we are going.”

Jesus words “I am the way, the truth and the life”, was to the disciples somewhat like that. The disciples were asking so many questions. Where are you going? If you are going, and we cannot go with you, what happens to us? Why are you going? What do you hope to gain by leaving us? If you go, then who is the Messiah? If you are not the Messiah, who are you?
You see. “I am the way, the truth and the life” answered all those questions.
The questions began in Ch. 13:33.

Jesus was trying to break his coming death, gently to his disciples. “My children, I am leaving you. Where I am going, you cannot come. Alarmed Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow, but you will follow later.” Peter resisted. I will follow you now anywhere. Jesus told Peter you will deny me 3 times before morning.
The disciples did NOT understand what Jesus was telling them about his upcoming arrest, torture, trial, and death. Thomas summed up the feelings of the group. “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

1. Where are you going? I am the way.

Jesus used that one desperate question — Lord we want to go with you, but how? With the answer — I am the way to where I am going. It is a question that all of us have asked some time, or will one day ask, Lord we want to go with you, but how? And Jesus answer is: I AM the Way. Know me. Trust me. Believe in God. Believe also in Me. For I am sent by the Father to save you. Follow me, and I will take you there.

2. Why are we here? I am the Truth.

Behind the question, where are we going, is the deeper one – why are we here? It is the ancient question of the whole human race, what are we here for? What is the purpose of life? Who is the Creator who will provide that purpose and explain this life to us, and who will tell us what role we play in this vast Creation? In other words, why are we here, is the same question as What is the truth? And Jesus answer is – I Am the truth. Believe in me and you shall understand, and have eternal life.
Because Jesus is the truth you can have light for your journey. You can see clearly towards where He is going. As long as you hold to the truth, you don’t have to fear being lost. The WAY is illumined by the TRUTH. And both are found in JESUS.

When we ask WHERE AM I GOING? Jesus answers I AM THE WAY. When we ask WHY AM I HERE? Jesus answers I AM THE TRUTH. But the disciples needed to know more than their destination and their purpose for living. They needed to understand an even more basic question: WHO AM I? To this question, Jesus answers: I AM the Life.

3. Who am I? I AM the Life

The interesting thing is that WHO I AM has everything to do with WHO Jesus is. It is through Jesus that we understand our own identity. Jesus is the life because He was the Son of God who became a human person and who lived in this world, and who still lives. Jesus died in order to conquer death.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the life because he alone has authority to bring life out of death. We don’t have that authority within ourselves. But if you put your trust in Jesus, you will have “the life” within you.
People talk about living The Good Life. Jesus explained to his men that knowing and being connected to Him is the good life. It is the promised abundant life.

APPLICATION: The university is in the middle of a strategic planning process. Those questions are still very much relevant today. Where are we going? Why are we here? Who are we? Are questions that lead to the answer, Via Veritas Vita. We are going with the Lord, not with any hot market trend. We are going to be witnesses to God’s love in the world. We seek for new knowledge and truth, which may be exciting, mind boggling, but all these will be pointless if not given in service to the least of the brethren whom Jesus loved. He is the ultimate truth we know. We are his people, and because we are, we seek to glorify God with the best service we can give. We give our best, as excellent forms of thanksgiving and praise for all his blessings.

Our tasks are: 1) to build up the community of witnesses. 2) build up community of disciples; 3) build up community of worshippers.
Jesus said that he is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the revelation of God in human form, and he is the representative of humanity to God.

If your question is, Where am I going? Your future is assured in Jesus Christ. He is the way.

If your question is, Why am I here? Your purpose is found only in Jesus Christ. He is the truth.

If your question is, Who am I? Your true identity is found only in Jesus Christ. He is the life.

(Sermon delivered April 20, 2008 Silliman church)

John 20:19-20:31

Easter tide is the season to rise from the ashes of devastation.

Mark Twain was weary of life. Shortly before his death, he wrote, “men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little advantages over each other. Age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to grief.” 

The question that begs to be asked — Is there hope?

We like to congratulate those who pass the Nursing or teacher licensure exams or the bar exams. But think of those who did not pass. Think about the preponderance of defeat. Despair. Hopelessness. Are we able to hope, are we able to rise from the ashes of defeat?

This was how the disciples felt, after Calvary . Jesus is dead. The disciples were a dismal failure. They feared the Jews come knocking on the door crucifying them as they did Jesus. They hid behind locked doors. They sat silently in the dim corners of a room. The disciples recalled the events of the week. Someone even stole the body of Jesus.

Picture them in that room — a bunch of people who feel betrayed, and who have betrayed each other. They are disappointed with themselves. They are confused, blaming each other for opportunity lost. What do we see the morning “after” a tragedy? We see 3 Fs.

1. First F is “Fear.” It is very obvious and real – the disciples are fearful of the Jews, according to John and the doors are locked. After disappointment and betrayal, there is fear. Fear and Loathing.

Fear is something that we all have had to deal with. “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear,” it is said, and fear makes us do things we would not normally do.

Examples of fear — During the first EDSA revolution, when Cory called for a boycott of crony enterprises, there was a bank run, panic buying in grocery stores and Malls, everyone who could, took a flight out of the country. Others stayed indoors and stayed glued to the TV, fearing the unknown.

Or the fear of an only son, the fear of displeasing his mother. I have seen fear lead to suicide. Fear of hurting someone. Taking all the pain on oneself, and committing suicide. Suicidal, is how Judas felt.

2. Second F — forgiveness. As the disciples cowered in fear, Jesus appears and says “Peace be with you.” Not “Where were you guys?” Not “How could you have let me down?” But, “Peace be with you” – and we see the wonders of loving forgiveness.

Forgiveness is seen in the immediate task he gives them. “I am sending you as the Father sent me.” He immediately indicates his trust in them by giving them an assignment, a task, a command, to carry on his work.

We see forgiveness demonstrated by the gift Jesus gave them, the gift of the Spirit. This was a gift to enable them to accomplish the task he had just given them. Forgiveness after the disciples had finally believed in both the death and resurrection of Jesus.

And we also see forgiveness demonstrated by the authority he gave to his disciples. Jesus indicated his forgiveness by authorizing them to carry on the work that he himself had begun. Not only does he send them and enable them. He gives them his own authority.

3. Finally, We see faith. Easter is a season of renewed faith.

We see faith restored. Into that dark room walked someone full of light. Hope sprang fresh from the darkness of their defeat. They witnessed in person the Living Lord, and rejoiced. Their faith was restored. New life rose from the ashes. Greater faith rose from the ashes of failure and defeat.

John’s Gospel shows us that there are different kinds of faith, coming with differing intensities to different people. In verse 8, John the beloved believes the Lord, upon seeing the empty tomb. In verse 16, Mary believes when the Lord calls her name. The disciples here in verse 20 actually see the risen Lord and believe. But in verse 25, Thomas, one of the disciples who was away, does not believe. People have differing needs and find various ways to faith.

The disciples try to convince Thomas to believe. He had been zealous for Jesus, but his worst fears are realized. The crucifixion has broken his heart. Thomas believed, but his belief was betrayed. Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (v. 25). We sometimes reach that point where we too, cannot believe.

So Jesus, without condemning or scolding, invites Thomas to examine his wounds – put your finger here…and to my side and believe. Thomas did so and could only say “My Lord and My God”!  Thomas believed, and his faith was restored, his faith grew greater, Thomas believed, lost faith and regains a greater faith. Tradition has it that Thomas was the disciple that went the farthest distance among all disciples. He went to India , where today, a Christian church is called Mar Thoma church which many believe he founded. I visited Thiruvala & Kochi, Kerala, India , once and saw Jewish and Christian churches, established there circa, 70 AD after the Roman persecution. The doubter Thomas seems to have gained the greatest faith by going the farthest.

A scientist gave 3 suggestions on how we can rise from the ashes of our failures:
1. honestly face defeat; never fake success; (recall the only son)
2. Exploit the failure; don’t waste it. Learn all you can from it; every bitter experience can teach us something.
3. Never use failure as an excuse for not trying again.

We are in many ways like the disciples of Jesus. Like Thomas, Judas, Peter. Strong in faith. Weak and discouraged. Inconsistent. There will be times of failure of faith. Whatever our faith, Jesus invites with gentleness, kindness, recognizing our need for evidence and time, and then blessing us with greater faith. He asks only that we are honest in defeat. Learn from failures. But rise up and try again. He does not condemn, nor does he resort to name-calling. He invites us to examine him, to know him. He allows faith and life to rise from the ashes.

Easter is a season when - Greater faith has risen out of the ashes of failure. We may not be able to reclaim a loss, undo the damage, or reverse consequences, but we can make a new start– wiser, more sensitive, renewed by the Spirit, more determined to do mission for the Lord –this is Eastertide, a season of new & stronger faith. Celebrate new faith.

Sermon delivered SU church, April 6, 2008