All One

•May 9, 2013 • Leave a Comment

John 17:20-26 (CEV)

20 I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. 21 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.

22 I have honored my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. 23 I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.

24 Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created. 25 Good Father, the people of this world don’t know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me. 26 I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them.

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus prays for his followers?

Does that make you feel odd?  Unworthy?  Privileged?

I think I probably feel a combination of those – and rather awed.  But yet it seems so obvious.  Why wouldn’t Jesus be praying for us?

Yet the important thing is what he is praying for.

 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us.

Within that statement are three wishes:

  • Jesus wants us to be one with each other

As Christians, we are not individuals each ploughing our own course – we have a corporate work to be done – of being God’s presence in the world.  Faith is personal, but not solitary.  It is a team activity.  All of those who follow God supporting each other and working to the same end.  We will all have our own ways and our own places we are called to be, but we do it as one.

  • He and his Father are one with each other

Jumping ahead to Trinity Sunday, but Jesus makes it quite clear that he and his Father are as one.  You’ve seen and encountered one, you have the other too.  Their is no difference between their substance.  What Jesus says and does is what God is.

  • He wants us to be one with them

Just as being a Christian is not solitary from other Christians, it is not done apart from God either.  Our ways should be God’s ways.  People should look at us and see God.  Hmmmm – that’s a sobering thought…

Lord
I long to be one with you,
that my life may show
your life.

Lord,
may I be one
with those you call me to live alongside,
that we may support and care for one another
together in you

Posted in bible, calling, church, faith, God, Jesus, Religion, theology
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Full Circle

•May 8, 2013 • Leave a Comment

The Empyrean (highest heaven), from the illustrations to The Divine Comedy by Gustave Doré

What do you imagine heaven to be like?  What do you imagine Paradise to be?  The place where heaven is, where God lives?  Over the past couple of weeks we’ve explored the River of Life and God’s comfort and restoration.

The vision concludes:

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

Epilogue: invitation and warning

12 ‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 

16 ‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.’

17 The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

20 He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

So not only does the fruit grow on the tree – but we can eat of the fruit.

This is Genesis coming full circle.  The Bible ends where it began:

9 The Lord God placed all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of the trees gave life—the other gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong. (Genesis 2:9)

The eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge took us away from God and the tree of life.  Now Paradise is restored.  The tree of life is still there – and we are invited, nay entitled, to enjoy.  We can come and drink of the water of life.

God is home – and we can join him, in all he ever intended life to be.

What a hope.  What a future.  What a reality of life lived forever in God’s presence.

Thank you Lord
for the promise,
the promise to eat from the Tree of Life.

May I take,
and fill
and know
your presence,
your life,
your hope.

Come Lord,
soon,
I pray

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, life, Religion, theology
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God Brings Justice

•May 7, 2013 • 1 Comment

Psalm 97  (CEV)

The Lord Brings Justice

97 The Lord is King!
    Tell the earth to celebrate
    and all islands to shout.
2 Dark clouds surround him,
    and his throne is supported
    by justice and fairness.
3 Fire leaps from his throne,
    destroying his enemies,
4 and his lightning is so bright
    that the earth sees it
    and trembles.
5 Mountains melt away like wax
    in the presence of the Lord
    of all the earth.

6 The heavens announce,
“The Lord brings justice!”
    Everyone sees God’s glory.
7 Those who brag about
the useless idols they worship
    are terribly ashamed,
    and all the false gods
    bow down to the Lord.

8 When the people of Zion
    and of the towns of Judah
    hear that God brings justice,
    they will celebrate.
9 The Lord rules the whole earth,
    and he is more glorious
    than all the false gods.

10 Love the Lord
    and hate evil!
God protects his loyal people
    and rescues them
    from violence.
11 If you obey and do right,
a light will show you the way
    and fill you with happiness.
12 You are the Lord’s people!
    So celebrate and praise
    the only God.

Justice – a sign of the presence of the Lord.

The presence of the Lord brings justice.

And it’s our job to make sure that we are part of making that happen.

Posted in bible, calling, faith, God, justice, Lectionary, Religion, theology
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