THE FATHER AND SON CARE TEAM

John 10: 22-30

In 1920, Mr. Arthur, as he was called, completed his plan for going into business for himself. He gave up a promising career as a railway agent to manage his backyard egg business. His son, Frank, started helping him as soon as he could hold a baby chick. As a 10 year old in 1930, his 4-H project of raising a flock of laying hens was earning him $20.00 per month, a lot of money for a boy in depression era America. His father had built his business on the motto of “Quality, Integrity, Trust, and Teamwork.” By 1950 Frank took over leading his father’s business and spent decades expanding into fresh poultry, buying grain facilities, feed mills, and processing plants. He added his own motto “A stubborn commitment to Quality.” And he became the spokesman and the point man for his father’s original plan only bigger. When asked he responded “The tenets on which this company was built were all his; all I did was expand on them.” So the original power of a pen and any decisions passed from Papa Arthur to son Frank, his mind and signature built their family company Perdue: an industry leader in chicken. And today, the son of the son, who name is Jim is the only one still living, still committed to quality, still being the spokesman. Arthur, Frank, and now Jim Perdue. That is one of thousands of family businesses in America.

Our Savior Jesus, who grew up as a faithful Jew, knew Torah like the back of his hand; he also knew Jewish custom. He knew, for example, that to have any testimony stand, he had to have two witnesses, so the gospel of John records, in chapter one, that Jesus had not only a forerunner in the faith, his cousin, John, but also Andrew (Simon Peter’s brother), Nathaniel, and Philip to call him Messiah. Jesus knew the proof required of his people. Likewise it was customary for the father, as long as he was well, to be the protector of and provider for the family, the one who would choose a suitable bride for his son, the one who would train his son in his trade or profession. If his son was his first born, he would receive the greatest portion of the father’s estate, even if there were other sons. And the first born would be trained and expected to take over the Father’s work. These days it works differently doesn’t it? There may be first born, or second born, or third born sons who work in the family business. There may be first born or second born or third born daughters who do so as well. Wives help husbands, and vice versa, in a number of family-owned businesses and practices I know today. If the family owns a restaurant, many times all family members have a role. But the original model was for a first born Jewish son to take over the work of his father. Note: today we are in the Gospel of John. While Matthew and Luke describe Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his earthly father, Joseph, in John we are clearly pointed to Jesus being from above, one who had lived before his earthly birth; one who had a relation with his Heavenly Father. Now hear this: in the manner that one could look at Jim Perdue and see his Father, Frank in him; and in the manner that his signature had and has the authority of his father, the son and the father are one in business. In a church situation, Robert H. Schuller founded the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, but his son, Robert A. Schuller, is now the pastor as the father’s authority has passed to the son. These are imperfect illustrations of what Jesus did so beautifully in his teaching: he took something with which people were familiar and taught from it. He did that with a field of lilies, with a vineyard, with a sower, and with a Samaritan. This time he is teaching us what is critical to understand; that he is God on earth and there is the same God in Heaven and the same God elsewhere. Today he uses the human understanding to describe them as Father and Son; later we will hear John deliberately including words about the Spirit. God is God, but relationally in his day, the image of the power, protection, and profession passing from father to son helped him describe who he was and what power he possessed. It is in that context that he says, “The works I do in my Father’s name bear witness to me;” and “My Father has entrusted his children, who are helpless like sheep, to me, their Good Shepherd. My Father is greater than all. (paraphrased)” And “I and the Father are one” now means a relationship and a shared power, so that I know the words: “Those who have seen me have seen the Father” means something like what people said to me while I was growing up: “You look just like your father!” Jesus has many other statements in John’s Gospel that are relational statements like, “The Father is in me and I am in the Father” helping us mortals understand something of the mystery and omnipresence of God. When we understand the context, we can hear the titles “Father and Son” as relational terms rather than as deliberately male pronouns.

With all of that said, this passage tells us about our Father—Son care team. We have Care Teams at this church and many other churches do to. Care Team members have helped with chores around the house, have sat with a child or adult while another family member got a break, have helped arrange for nursing care, and have brought in food. In the Father – Son team that Jesus describes, even greater blessings are offered: the first is eternal life and protection (verse 28). The great Reformation figure, Martin Luther, wrote in “A Mighty Fortress is our God,” the words “the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.” Using Jesus’ illustration of comfort, that means our spiritual bodies will have a home in the Father’s house. The wiles of no predator can snatch you from the flock of the Good Shepherd if you want the protection of the Good Shepherd! Trust Jesus, who says he is the shepherd for us sheep like us! Don’t let other voices become stronger! Trust Jesus! Then Jesus tells his listeners, “I have shown you many good works from the Father;” and the care team is clearly in place! “I am continuing the works of my Father” says the Savior.

Finally, when Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come, only in John do we read, “In my Father’s house are many (mansions) dwelling places. I go to prepare a place for you; and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to take you unto myself, that where I am you may be also.” What words of comfort! Again Jesus counted on his listeners knowing the unique roll a father had in helping his Son prepare a room on the Father’s house, who then went to get the bride his father had picked for him and brought her to live under the strength, family, and protection of his Father. Jesus, the good Jew, who knew the next plans of God and had the very substance of God in him, hearkened back to passages like Psalm 23, and brought two of the most comforting images in the Bible back into the minds of those who needed to hear them: “The Lord is my Shepherd,” said David. “I am the Good Shepherd,” said our Lord. “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” said David. “I will come again and take you to my Father’s house so that we can be together forever,” said Jesus. What a blessing to find the power of the Old Testament reclaimed in the New. May you affirm what Jews and Christians have known about God for centuries as we, together, affirm our faith singing the words to Psalm 23.

Jeffrey A. Sumner April 29, 2007