The Second Sunday after Easter
for Legionary Nathan and his Friends
ALMIGHTY God, who gave to us your only Son for a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life; Give us grace that we may always be most thankful, and help us to try each day to follow Jesus more closely in a holy life, through the same, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read the Bible Story
Read the Lesson
Do the Lesson Exercises
Gospel of John 10:11
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him.
I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They'll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again.
LESSON
Grace and Peace be with you Legionaries!
This Sunday we hear Jesus call himself a Good Shepherd. Do you know what a shepherd does? He takes care of the sheep and protects them. Now if a big wolf were to come around to kill the sheep, what do you think a good shepherd would do? Would he run away and let the wolves eat all the sheep? Would he try to make the wolves leave the sheep alone? That's right. He will protect the sheep.
Jesus' very great grandfather was King David. David as a boy was a shepherd. He used to take his slingshot and chase away bears, lions, wolves and thieves. He became a great soldier because he was not afraid. David defended his friends and King. Jesus may have been thinking of David when he told the people he was the Good Shepherd.
Jesus is your shepherd and mine. He will defend us from the devil and all his mean ways. Like the sheep, we listen for the voice of Jesus to help us find our way. He speaks to our heart and minds.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being our Good Shepherd; please defend us. Amen
- Can you draw a picture that tells the Gospel story? Do so and then explain it to your friends.
- Write or share a little story about a time that you were with animals and how you had to take care of them or lead them.
- Can you think of a time when you were afraid and your parents or a friend helped you. Can you think of a time when you helped a friend of yours? Say a little prayer to Jesus and ask him to help you to be like a Good Shepherd.