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What a joy it is to be united with all of you
on this most important day of the year,
when we’ll observe
the Memorial of the death
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Wherever you may be in the world
and under whatever circumstances,
may you be filled with joy in knowing
that you are among those
who have not forgotten
the two greatest gifts of love
that we’ll discuss tonight
during our Memorial observance.
But now let’s discuss together
our text for today.
Brother Christopher Mavor
will read it for us.
Memorial, Thursday, April 2.
“Have no fear, little flock,
“for your Father has approved
of giving you the Kingdom.”
—Luke 12:32.
Our text this morning
has only a few words,
but they’re filled with so much meaning.
Jesus addressed his words
to the “little flock.”
So in our discussion,
let’s consider five questions
concerning the “little flock.”
First, who is the “little flock”?
Well, Jesus himself answered that question
at Luke 12:32, when he said:
“Have no fear, little flock,
for your Father has approved
of giving you the Kingdom.”
Obviously, then, Jesus was referring
to those who would rule along with him
in the heavenly Kingdom.
Why did he call it a “little flock”?
In Revelation chapter 5,
we read about those
who will rule with Jesus Christ.
Let’s read together verses 9 and 10:
“And they sing a new song, saying:
“‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and open its seals,
“‘for you were slaughtered
“‘and with your blood
you bought people for God
“‘out of every tribe and tongue
“‘and people and nation,
“‘and you made them to be a kingdom
and priests to our God,
and they are to rule
as kings over the earth.’”
Verse 9 clearly shows
that through his sacrifice,
Jesus would buy individuals for Jehovah
from “every tribe and tongue
and people and nation.”
Verse 10 says that they would be “priests”
and would “rule as kings over the earth.”
But that still doesn’t answer the question,
Why did Jesus call it a “little flock”?
In Revelation chapter 14,
we read about this same group
that are bought from the earth
to rule with Jesus.
But Revelation chapter 14
reveals a very important detail.
Let’s read together Revelation 14:1, 3:
“Then I saw, and look!
“the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
“and with him 144,000
“who have his name
and the name of his Father
“written on their foreheads.
“And they are singing what seems to be
a new song before the throne
“and before the four living creatures
and the elders,
“and no one was able to master that song
“except the 144,000,
who have been bought from the earth.”
Did you notice the important detail?
The Bible reveals the number
that would be bought from the earth
—144,000.
So why did Jesus call it a “little flock”?
Well, it seems obvious now, doesn’t it?
144,000 is a small number
when compared with the number of people
alive on earth today
—over 8 billion people.
Yet, why is it reasonable
to think that Jehovah would choose
a limited number from the earth,
like 144,000,
to rule along with his Son?
Consider a simple example.
Today, about 190 different nations
have some type of parliament
made up of representatives
from their country.
How many representatives are included
in these 190 parliaments?
About 46,000.
Isn’t that interesting?
A small number are chosen
to represent the billions of people
who make up these nations.
So it’s very reasonable
that God would select a limited number
from every tribe and tongue
and people and nation
to rule along with his Son.
And we can be sure
that Jehovah will select them perfectly.
That raises another interesting question
about the “little flock.”
How are the members
of the “little flock” selected?
Is it because of power, wealth,
or family position?
The Bible answers this question
very clearly.
Let’s read what the apostle Paul said
at 1 Corinthians 1:26-29:
“For you see his calling of you, brothers,
“that there are not many wise
in a fleshly way,
“not many powerful,
not many of noble birth,
“but God chose
the foolish things of the world
“to put the wise men to shame;
“and God chose
the weak things of the world
“to put the strong things to shame;
“and God chose
the insignificant things of the world
“and the things looked down on,
“the things that are not,
“to bring to nothing the things that are,
so that no one might boast
in the sight of God.”
What does that teach us?
The calling of the members
of the “little flock”
is not about power, wealth,
or family position.
But it’s absolutely about
the qualities Jehovah values
—humility, faith,
and willingness to serve.
The fact that those of the “little flock”
are ordinary in the sight of the world
magnifies Jehovah’s wisdom and power.
He can accomplish his grand purpose
using his simple, faithful,
humble servants.
It emphasizes
that “God opposes the haughty ones,
but he gives undeserved kindness
to the humble ones.”
And certainly, the way Jehovah
has chosen the “little flock”
leaves no room
for any of its members to boast.
What’s our next question?
How will the “little flock” benefit
all of the people who will live on the earth?
Revelation chapter 21
describes the 144,000 as a heavenly city,
New Jerusalem,
and they’re called in verse 9
“the Lamb’s wife.”
Verses 2 to 4 say:
“I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
“coming down out of heaven from God
“and prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband.
“With that I heard a loud voice
from the throne say:
“‘Look! The tent of God is with mankind,
“‘and he will reside with them,
“‘and they will be his people.
“‘And God himself will be with them.
“‘And he will wipe out every tear
from their eyes,
“‘and death will be no more,
“‘neither will mourning nor outcry
nor pain be anymore.
The former things have passed away.’”
These are wonderful blessings!
There will be no more tears of sorrow,
no more pain;
even death will be no more.
The “little flock”
will have the indescribable joy
of working along with Christ Jesus
in pouring out the blessings
of the ransom sacrifice.
Can you imagine how wonderful it will be
as the stain of inherited sin
is erased from all the people on the earth?
All mankind will become perfect
and completely reconciled to Jehovah.
And what is our fifth and final question?
What is the relationship today
between those of the “little flock”
and those who have the hope
to live forever on earth?
At John 10:16, Jesus said:
“And I have other sheep,
which are not of this fold;
“those too I must bring in,
“and they will listen to my voice,
and they will become one flock,
one shepherd.”
What’s the point?
Jehovah has united those
who have the heavenly hope
and those who have the earthly hope
into “one flock”
under our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
So tonight
as we assemble to observe
the Lord’s Evening Meal,
we won’t see two separate groups.
It’s true that only those
of the “little flock”
will eat of the bread and drink of the wine.
Yet, the overwhelming thing we’ll observe
is the unity that Jehovah has achieved.
People from all races,
nationalities, and languages
will come together as one flock
united in their deep appreciation
for what our amazing God, Jehovah,
and his beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
have done for us.
Brother Mavor, please read the comments.
“During the Lord’s Evening Meal,
“Jesus offered unleavened bread
to his apostles
“and told them that it represented his body.
“Then he gave them the wine
“and said that it stood
for the ‘blood of the covenant.’
“The new covenant is made
with ‘the house of [spiritual] Israel’
“—who will be ‘in the Kingdom of God.’
“During the Lord’s Evening Meal,
“Jesus focused on the ‘little flock.’
“That small group
started with his faithful apostles
“who were physically present with him
in the room.
They are the ones who will receive
a place in heaven with Jesus.”
Thank you, Chris.
Now, please listen carefully
to today’s Memorial Bible reading.
It’s taken from selected verses
of all four Gospel accounts.
“On the first day of the Unleavened Bread,
“the disciples came to Jesus, saying:
“‘Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?’
“He said:
“‘Go into the city to So-and-so
and say to him,
“‘“The Teacher says:
‘My appointed time is near;
“I will celebrate the Passover
with my disciples at your home.’”’
“So the disciples did
as Jesus instructed them
and prepared for the Passover.”
“Now on the first day
of the Unleavened Bread,
“when they customarily offered up
“the Passover sacrifice,
his disciples said to him:
“‘Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?’
“With that he sent two of his disciples
and said to them:
“‘Go into the city, and a man carrying
an earthenware water jar will meet you.
“‘Follow him, and wherever he goes inside,
“‘say to the master of the house,
“‘“The Teacher says:
“‘Where is the guest room where I
may eat the Passover with my disciples?’”
“‘And he will show you a large upper room,
furnished and ready.
“Prepare it for us there.’
“So the disciples went out,
“and they entered the city
and found it just as he said to them,
and they prepared for the Passover.”
“The day of the Unleavened Bread
now arrived,
“on which the Passover sacrifice
must be offered;
“so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying:
“‘Go and get the Passover
ready for us to eat.’
“They said to him:
‘Where do you want us to get it ready?’
“He said to them: ‘Look!
When you enter into the city,
“‘a man carrying an earthenware water jar
will meet you.
“‘Follow him into the house that he enters.
“‘And say to the landlord of the house,
“‘“The Teacher says to you:
“‘“‘Where is the guest room where I may eat
“‘the Passover with my disciples?’”
“‘And that man will show you a large,
furnished upper room.
“Get it ready there.’
“So they left and found it
just as he had told them,
and they prepared for the Passover.”
“Now because he knew
before the festival of the Passover
“that his hour had come for him
to leave this world and go to the Father,
“Jesus, having loved his own
who were in the world,
“loved them to the end.
“The evening meal was going on,
“and the Devil had already put it
into the heart of Judas Iscariot,
“the son of Simon, to betray him.
“So Jesus, knowing that the Father
had given all things into his hands
“and that he came from God
and was going to God,
“got up from the evening meal and laid aside
“his outer garments.
“And taking a towel,
“he wrapped it around his waist.
“After that he put water into a basin
“and started to wash
the feet of the disciples
and to dry them off with the towel
that was wrapped around him.”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
“Exercise faith in God;
“exercise faith also in me.
“In the house of my Father
are many dwelling places.
“Otherwise, I would have told you,
“for I am going my way
to prepare a place for you.
“Also, if I go my way
and prepare a place for you,
“I will come again and will receive you
home to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.”
So for all of you
who are listening to this program,
please do everything in your power
to be present tonight
at your local observance
of the Memorial of Christ’s death.
Even if you are presently inactive,
even if you are presently
removed from the congregation,
make the effort to come
and show your appreciation
for what Jehovah and Christ Jesus
have done for you.
May the blessing of Jehovah
be with all of you
who are listening to this program,
and may you know how much we love you.

2026 Memorial Morning Worship—Mark Sanderson: United in Love: the “Little Flock” and the “Other Sheep” (Luke 12:32)