Fourth Sunday of Easter

5Verse 5. The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6Verse 6. along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. 7Verse 7. They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8Verse 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9Verse 9. If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, 10Verse 10. then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11Verse 11. This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12Verse 12. Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

16Verse 16. By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17Verse 17. If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? 18Verse 18. Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. 19Verse 19. And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: 20Verse 20. Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. 21Verse 21. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, 22Verse 22. and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. 23Verse 23. And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. 24Verse 24. Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

11Verse 11. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12Verse 12. The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. 13Verse 13. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. 14Verse 14. I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15Verse 15. just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16Verse 16. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17Verse 17. The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18Verse 18. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”