The End – or The Beginning

•May 17, 2012 • 2 Comments

44 Jesus said to them, “While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen.”

45 Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them:

The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. 47 They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, 48 you must tell everything that has happened. 49 I will send you the one my Father has promised, but you must stay in the city until you are given power from heaven.

Jesus Returns to Heaven

50 Jesus led his disciples out to Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them. 51 As he was doing this, he left and was taken up to heaven. 52 After his disciples had worshipped him,  they returned to Jerusalem and were very happy. 53 They spent their time in the temple, praising God.

So this really is the end.

Jesus has died and risen again, but now he really has to go.  He blesses them and returns to heaven.

Jesus has left them, in body at least.  But God has not abandoned them.  They will experience him in a new way.  This is not the end, it is a new beginning.

There is work still to be done.  The disciples are to witness to all that Jesus has shown and told them.  They are to keep on sharing the message of repentance and forgiveness – the good news that Jesus brings life, hope, peace, a new start.

This is just the beginning of God’s work.  God is sending his power – just wait and see what he can do…

Lord,

we know that there is still work to do;

that you continue to call us

to share your message of repentance and forgiveness,

love and life,

peace and hope.

I pray now

for you to equip me.

Posted in calling, Jesus
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All One

•May 15, 2012 • Leave a Comment

By Davidwnoble (w:en:File:Baconbutty.jpg) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

We had a debate about bacon cobs last week at our church – all very light-hearted, but is having butter on a bacon cob, or not, the “normal” way?  In fact is calling them cobs, not barms, butties or any other colloquial name for small rounds of bread normal?  We’ve lived in placed where each of those was the local custom – you have to learn fast!It can be very easy to get hung up with what is “normal” – it usually means someone exactly like me.But what did Jesus have to say?

6 You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown them what you are like. They were yours, but you gave them to me, and they have obeyed you. 7 They know that you gave me everything I have. 8 I told my followers what you told me, and they accepted it. They know that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent me. 9 I am praying for them, but not for those who belong to this world.My followers belong to you, and I am praying for them. 10 All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine, and they will bring glory to me.

11 Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of the name that you have given me. Then they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true.

13 I am on my way to you. But I say these things while I am still in the world, so that my followers will have the same complete joy that I do. 14 I have told them your message. But the people of this world hate them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t.

15 Father, I don’t ask you to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to this world, and neither do I. 17 Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. 18 I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me. 19 I have given myself completely for their sake, so that they may belong completely to the truth.

In any friendship group you are likely to have a range of characters.  Imagine if everyone in the group was spontaneous, or comedians.  It might be great fun, but would things ever happen.  Or if everyone in the group was an organiser there would never be any spontaneity.  What any group needs to function well is a range of personalities – it adds to the whole that is the one group.

Jesus prayed that his followers may be one. Being one does not mean being identical.  The relationship between Jesus, his Father and the Spirit is the model or example of being one.  The are not all the same, but different sides of the one relationship.  They all bring something to the party that is the whole.

Jesus want his people to follow God, not each other. Being one as God the Father and Jesus are – along with the Holy Spirit, means existing together – perichoresis if you want a big word!, allowing each other to fully play their part, not demanding everyone does the same thing in the same way.  That is the picture Jesus gives us for living together as one.

If you think of a jigsaw, it is one jigsaw, but all the pieces are shaped differently – if they weren’t the jigsaw wouldn’t hold together and it would be difficult to see the picture.

And if we turn again to the picture of the fruit of the vine that God calls us to be, not two apples from the same tree will look the same – but they are both truly apples, and can be recognised as such.

So being one doesn’t mean being identical, but it does mean coming together with one purpose.  Jesus isn’t looking for us to be clones of each other, but for the church together to give a full picture of him.  Jesus has shown us what God is like, and now wants us to get on with living like him – together.

Lord, I want to look like you,

to reflect your ways,

to live the way Jesus taught us.

Jesus wants us to be one,

together to reflect you,

but we will each do that in a different way.

Lord in your church,

may I live and let live,

allow people to be followers of you,

and not try to make them carbon copies of me.

May we live and work together

to show the glorious whole that is you and your life.

Posted in Jesus, Lectionary
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A Good Soak

•May 14, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Before we go away, my seedlings have been put in a large bowl full of water.  They will need watering and this way they can soak it up from their roots.  They will not, I hope, go dry and die on me.

The Christian life is a constant challenge to keep ourselves nourished – and to find the right way to live.  The way that both pleases God and brings honour to him, that others can see his ways lived out in us.  This effects both big lifestyle choices and little ones, it all adds up to being one of God’s people, “the righteous”.

Psalm 1

So what does the Psalmist tell us?  Well continuing the analogy of the tree, the vine bearing fruit, it is the person who is like a tree planted by water, who will yield fruit, not withered leaves.  The law, God’s word, is not there as a list of instructions to be read, but something to feed us, for us to soak ourselves in, to delight in God’s word.

As human beings, living and growing we have to eat.  Eating is a function, but we also enjoy it, we take in the nutrients we need in a way that is enjoyable as well.

We take delight in feeding our bodies, so why not our souls as well?  Do you enjoy feeding on God’s word?  Do you soak your roots in it, so you are nourished and refreshed for the life you live?  If you are responsible for teaching God’s word to others, do you put it across as something life-giving and life-enhancing, rather than dry and stuffy?

The other piece of advice we are given is,

Do not sit in the company of mockers,

wise advice indeed.  For we can tend to get caught up in the activities of those whose company we keep.  Sitting with the mockers can take us to places we don’t want to be, before we know it we can be joining in.  Great if you are going to be challenging their behaviour, but not so easy.  Better to be delighting in God, spending time soaking in him that we may bear the right fruit in season.

Do you want to belike a tree growing by a stream?

Lord

may I delight in you,

long to know more of you,

for you to be the place I find my refreshment,

my joy,

my peace.

May I soak my roots deep into you

and your word,

that my life may be lived in your ways.

Posted in God, Lectionary
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