John’s gospel in Chapter 12,verses 20-33. Turn with me to this passage which John alone tells. 

Jesus had entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival having just raised Lazarus from the dead, and was receiving an enthusiastic welcome from crowds of people gathered for the event. This was the major festival held annually to remember how God saved Israel. This was Jerusalem’s big annual religious festival: we might compare the Passover to our Christmas, when the Churches attract many people who attend not so much from a religious attitude, but see it as a social event.

At such a time as this, many non-Jews would go to the city to join in the celebrations. Some Greeks were amongst the crowds who had heard of Jesus, and were determined to meet Him. They were from a settlement in the North of Galilee, and went to Philip who came from near their area and said to him, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’ Philip went to fetch Andrew who took them to Jesus knowing He would never turn anyone away.

Having heard the stories of what Jesus had done, they realised something was missing from their lives and wanted to receive from Him that something. So when they said they wanted to see Jesus, they were in fact seeking a meeting with Him.   These were sincere people, not sightseers anxious to see a celebrity figure; they didn’t want to see the temple or any other prominent figure.

The word ‘see’ here, has the sense of ‘have a meeting with, being able to talk with Him’.  Like so many people today, these Greeks were not content with what they had in their own lives; they must have felt there was something missing. They thought there must be more to life than they had experienced, and were searching for the truth.      

These words, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus,’ were the words the preacher used in his address when I was ordained.  They are carved on the pulpits of numerous evangelical Churches in both England and the United States, to remind the preacher that his duty is to teach about Jesus Christ; not to entertain, or engage in politics, nor speak about climate change, nor be intimidated by political correctness, remembering he is there to bring people closer to God, and there is no other way people can come to God, except through Jesus Christ.  The Bible states, ‘how can they believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?’ 

I have witnessed slide shows, drama, and guessing games from the pulpit.   I believe such action from the pulpit lowers people’s respect and reverence for the Church, even if they feel amused at the time.

    When Jesus was told of the Greeks’ request, He was pleased and responded immediately. He had not gone to Jerusalem to enter for the same purpose as the crowds had in mind; events were building up and were leading to the time of our Lord’s road to the Cross. So when He heard a group of people were genuinely seeking Him, He said, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.  Jesus said this to show the kind of death he was going to die, and the word ‘glorified’ was a substitute for crucified.

The term Son of man, would have been heard before as it was used in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, and was used to mean the world would end.  The Jews dreamed of a golden age, when life would wonderful  and they would be masters of the world.  The Son of man would be the conquering hero, sent by God to lead Israel to world glory.  This made the Jews listen carefully to what Jesus was saying, as they thought the time had come to be victorious.

  When He met those Greeks it was as the first sign that the gospel was to go to all the world, and part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles, the symbol of the great harvest for which He came. If He had not died, we probably would not know any more about Him, for He would have just been another figure of history, of no greater significance than any other great religious leader. Because of the cross, He was able to do something He could never have done otherwise.

Jesus was glorified as his hands and feet were nailed to a wooden cross, which was then lifted up causing him to bleed and suffocate to death.    Crucifixion was the most prolonged, painful and horrific form of execution ever invented by man. 

Jesus said this was His greatest hour.  The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified, Jesus who died in the place of His people, taking the punishment, so they could be forgiven.    This is what Christianity is all about. This is the centre of what it means to be a Christian. 

He went on to say "Truly, truly, I say to you." Whenever Jesus used those words, it meant that He was going to say something important. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone." He was pointing out that when a seed,  it brought forth fruit. Likening this to man, it was by people dying for the faith, so other people would learn the gospel.

As Christians were martyred for the faith, so the Church grew, and He was here meaning that He was like the grain of wheat, and unless He went to the cross, His whole purpose in coming to earth will have been in vain. He knew what He had to face, and that He is going to be glorified through the sacrifice the cross, because by that cruel death, the way to forgiveness for all believers was made possible. If He had not made the sacrifice on the Cross, you and I and everybody else, could not have forgiveness. His death meant eternal life for all who believed in Him. 

The Jews would not have understood what Jesus meant. For them the Son of Man conveyed an image of someone who would lead to world conquest and so attain glory, but Jesus meant it was time for Him to make the supreme sacrifice for the world by dying on the Cross so bringing glory to Him and to God. 

Jesus said the one loves their life will lose it. He was referring to those who live solely for themselves, and out to get as much as they can without thought for others. Christians generally are called to put service of the Lord first, and indeed there are many men and women who could have followed brilliant careers for rich rewards, but chose to go on mission fields far away from their homeland and work for very little.

We see the humanity of Jesus displayed when He expressed his fear at the thought of the Cross, but was ready to give obedience to God and suffer much pain, which would ultimately lead to triumph. No one wants die at the age of 33 years, and no one wants to die on a Cross. 

God spoke to Jesus in His hour of torment, just as He did at His baptism and when on the Mount of Transfiguration. God is always ready to give strength when we seek it for the tasks we face in His name and cause.   As Jesus sits in the condemned cell contemplating his death, it’s hard.  Just because he knew it was God’s will, didn’t make it easy.    His heart was troubled.   

And if Jesus was that stressed out, why are we surprised when the Christian life seems tough and hard.  Jesus never promised it would be anything else.  We follow a crucified Lord who said:  follow me. 

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there heard it, and said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.   Jesus told them, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine’.  Jesus was meaning this showed the intimate and unbroken union He had with God the Father    

Let us think for a few moments how this relates to us in our time.  Maybe something has happened in your life to make you think things are not as you had hoped.  Perhaps the thought of drawing close to God seems attractive, and you would like to meet with Jesus.  Sometimes people can come to Church for years, and then they hear a word which makes them think there may be something more for them.  

This is why it is so important that all preaching should be based solely on the Bible.  If society doesn’t like what we preach, then that is their loss. But we should not under any circumstances apologize for quoting Scripture, as so shamedly recently happened.

We can never know what is in people’s minds, often more than we would expect.  We see here Jesus being sought by people from a distant land, when there many in his own land who wanted him dead.  I don’t know what was in the minds of the Greeks, but they were really seeking Jesus for honourable purposes, 

If and when, we want to see Jesus, He is ready waiting to meet us in our Bibles; obviously not in the physical sense, but an equally powerful way, and we can meet Him whenever we want to without restriction.   

 God still speaks directly to us to encourage us, and will always respond to the seeker.  If you have loved ones in your family or amongst your friends who are not saved, keep praying for them that they may come and see Jesus.    God is always ready to give strength when we seek it for the tasks we face in His name and cause.
At the cross, Jesus underwent the judgement we deserve, and paid our debt to God. His death gives us hope of everlasting life with Him one day. He wants to give us that hope in our life today. He alone can give you that new life that can never fade, and you can find that new life by meeting Jesus.

People in these high pressure days are so often weary and depressed, and looking for that spiritual something. People are looking for something beyond themselves, looking for a way that gets the most out of life, yet carrying a load of guilt, fear and worry.

So many men and women these days are doing things and behaving in a way that once would never have been thought of, so carrying all sorts of moral problems.  Then they feel guilty and ashamed, become troubled in mind, and turn to drink and/or drugs.  Jesus said, ‘come unto me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.’   

Everyone today has to decide how to respond to Christ. People can be attracted to Christianity by its morals, but won’t commit themselves to Christ Himself.  For many the price is too high, for it would mean giving up some of the world’s standards and ways.  Nor is an emotional attachment to the Church is what our Lord is seeking. 

Our Lord said death was the way to spiritual life and glory.  This was meant to teach the purpose of the Messiah, which was not  like other kings of the world.  He didn’t come to seek a life of honour, ease and magnificence, but to have a painful death on a wooden Cross.  The crown he would wear was one for crucifixion, not coronation. His death would be a source of spiritual life for the world, and like a seed of corn would bring fruit to the praise of God, and redemption for many people.

When he said he who would hate his life would keep it; for those who wanted to be saved, must be ready for salvation.  Those who love their life with all its pleasures, but may lose their souls; those who deny life here to serve Christ, will duly gain life.

Christians know when this life ends, a new life begins.  Without the death of Christ there would be no life for the world, but those who live by the Spirit reap everlasting life.

We learn that those who profess Christ must follow him, just as a soldier follows his Commander, and sheep follow a shepherd, a Christian must be true in following Jesus. Real Christian show faith and obedience.  To serve Christ in name and form is easy, but to follow in faith and life can be too demanding for others.

The Lord offers encouragement when he says, ’where I shall be, so shall my servant be, and God will honour him. When the Father honours us on the last day, we shall find his praise makes up for all we gave and lost.

 A day is coming when we will all see Jesus. The Bible says everyone will assemble before Him as He sits on the judgment throne. Some will go one way with the goats, some the other way with the sheep. We will have either joy in the after-life with Jesus, or eternity with the lost. The criterion is how we respond whilst we are here on earth. The bible says ‘now is the time of God’s favor, now is the time of salvation’. It will be too late after we have died, and no amount of intercession will then save us. 

To see Jesus is to see God’s salvation.

 

To see Jesus is to see God’s Light and revelation.

 

To see Jesus is to see God and His way revealed

 

May we ever be like the Greeks in our passage today and want to see Jesus and seek Him with all our hearts.

May God’s Holy Name be praised and God be glorified.

 

 

Luke 2, v.22/40

The story in this passage begins just after the shepherds who had visited the baby Jesus left. It is essentially a Jewish story telling of three ancient Jewish ceremonies, and this relates to emphasise the close relationship we have (or should have) with Israel in the Judeo-Christian tradition.
The mother and father are Jews, so the baby is Jewish. We worship the same God, the God Israel, we have a holy book written by Jews, and worship a Jewish Saviour.
Like every Jewish boy, Jesus was circumcised on his eighth day after a Jewish tradition carried out over thousands of years. This was a sign of a covenant God made with Abraham,+ that every male child must have that operation or be rejected as a Jew, and in return God promised to care for Israel. If Jesus had not had that ceremony he would not have been accepted.
God commanded that the child would be called Jesus, which means Savior, and he would be the One to deliver the world from sin and evil. The fact that he went through the ceremony when he was the Son of God, should encourage us to make sacrifices and readily perform tasks in the service of God.
Jesus being the first-born son, made him sacred to God as every first son was as such. According to Jewish tradition, the parents could buy back their son for five shekels, which had to be paid to the priest within 31 days after birth. This ritual was to remind the Jews of the night when the Israelites were in Egypt, and all the Egyptian first sons were slain, and the Jewish children were spared. It also helps us all to remember God has the right to the first things in our lives.
There followed another ritual, which meant Mary and Joseph going to Jerusalem to fulfil a duty, the rite of purification and the offering of a sacrifice. Until this was done, Mary could not worship in a Synagogue.
When a woman bore a child, she had to wait a period of 40 days if the child was a boy, and 80 days if a girl, before being allowed to join in worship. When she returned, she was obliged to take to the Temple a lamb, or a pair of turtles. If a woman was poor, two pigeons were allowed. The fact that Mary took the poorer offer, suggests the home in which Jesus was brought up in was not a luxurious one. This dispels the belief that religion was not for poor people.
On arrival at the Temple they did not try to buy Jesus back, they just said they gave Jesus to God, who had chosen an ordinary Jewish village girl to be the mother of his Son.
For a period of 450 years in Jewish history, God did not speak to his people. God had promised the prophet Malachi, that he would come into the world by a Messiah, who would bring salvation and judgment, and would be preceded by a messenger who would prepare the way for him. For all those years, people of God waited for the promised Messiah who would destroy God’s enemies, and fulfil their dream and belief of a rightful place in the world as supreme, and this would be seen as a king who would be like David to obtain world supremacy.
We move on to meet two older people. The first is a man named Simeon, who is described as a devout man with the Holy Spirit upon him, but otherwise we know nothing about him. He didn’t have the same kind of guidance as others had, but he had the Holy Spirit in his hear, indicating the powerful anointing and manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. All who have Jesus in their hearts, Jews or Gentiles, will receive the same kind of guidance, which will guide them to Jesus Christ.
Simeon was in the Temple when Mary and Joseph took Jesus there, and he took the child in his arms, and said the words which have been used in every Anglican Church Evening service since its inception, known as the Nunc- Dimmitt us.
Simeon believed things had to be left in the hands of God, who had given him assurance that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah, God’s appointed one. There was therefore excitement in Simeon’s voice when he heard that he would actually see this great coming. He knew that whilst others had waited years, wondering when how and when, he knew then that the promise had come true.
When he saw Jesus, he knew the time had come and was ready to die in peace, and foresaw Jesus to be the light of the world. He prayed from his heart when he saw the little boy. This is faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen by the great names of old like Abraham, Moses, Elijah who all played a part in this story but never lived to see.
The kingdom brought by this baby is not just for Israel, but for the whole world. God was unveiling a plan of salvation for the world without distinction. This will be the true glory of Israel, the nation in and from whom came the Savior and ruler of the world.
Now Simeon is ready to die, and his face changes from gladness to sadness. He tells the parents that Jesus would cause division, as some would accept him but others would reject him, and it has been so and still is.

Whenever Jesus is mentioned people either rise or fall, but many stay the same. Simeone knew a sword would pierce Mary’s heart, for there was a shadow of the Cross, and 33 years later Mary would see her son die on that Cross in a cruel and horrifying death.

We see in Simeon a devoted believer. He gave the world wide Church a song, which has been sung at every Evensong service of the Anglican Church, which shows believers can be delivered from the fear of death. Only strong faith can avoid fear. Which is a gift from God.

We see in this good man, speaking of the baby Jesus as the salvation promised by God.

In an age of early deaths, there came a woman on the scene, a woman of 84, who had been married for only 7 years; her name was Anna, which means grace. She spent much of her time in the Temple worshipping and praying night and day, and when she saw the holy family, at that very moment she gave thanks to God who reveals His secret purposes in history to humble servants who continually live in His presence.  Anna spoke to all about the child, who many were looking forward to be the redemption of Jerusalem.

The world was in darkness, but Jesus would be a light for the world. He would be the One to make many people in Israel to rise again. He and His people, were to be a city on a hill shining on the world.  But Jesus would also be a stumbling block for the self-righteous Jews.

Luke shows us there is a plan for everyone in God’s Kingdom, older people able to wait on the Lord; a young woman having a baby to dedicate to God; a husband going to Church with his wife, (that not seen often) all having a role to play. How wonderful it is when men put aside their macho image and go with their wives to Church.
All Christians should be comforted by the fact God never leaves the world without a witness. Where there is a hard core of believers, God will be with them to support them who are faithful, and grace can flourish even when men and women in the Church, who have been given the privilege of serving God in His Church, become betrayers and traitors to the One they vowed to serve. We witness them instituting, endorsing and accepting false doctrine and trying to force it on those in their charge.
The words of Simeon in which he saw the light of Jesus, will one day shine bright on our nation if those who love the Lord work and pray. Christ has spoken and had many darts aimed at him; he has been despised and rejected, but has proved to be the Savior of many who at one time forsook him.
Simeon and Anna were aged saints who kept the faith and run the course. Will we be able to say the same; can we say Lord dismiss our servant in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation? Is there any doubt, scepticism, or are you truly godly in believing and trusting?

The passage closes telling that Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom the favour of God.  He experienced physical and intellectual growth as any child would, but He also experienced the favor, of God in an unusual  and increasing way.

Let us thank God for giving us Jesus, And may God be glorified

 

JOHN 8 v 12-30

 

The Pharisees continue to dispute with Jesus when he claims to be the light of the world, but the Jewish leaders would not accept his claim. Jesus said they were judging him by the flesh, which means by human standards.

The scene of the argument was in the Temple Treasury. This was situated in the Court of Women, so named as women could not proceed further than that, unless they were offering a sacrifice at the altar of the priests. Around the Court was a colonnade or porch, where chests for offerings were placed.

In this passage, Jesus made his claim in a vivid impressive setting. The Feast of Tabernacles was being held, and a ceremony called the Illumination  of the Temple. There were four great candelabra, and when the dark came they were lit up, and ablaze of light shone around Jerusalem, and all the courtyards of the city.  They were lit until dawn, and all kinds of men danced before the Lord, and sang psalms of praise to God whilst people watched.

Jesus was saying you have seen the blaze of light piercing the darkness, I am the light of the world for those who follow me.  There will  be light for only one night , but followers of me will be for life.  The light in the Temple in the end dies, I am then the light that goes on forever.

The phrase light of life, means two things, the light which gives life; Jesus is the very light of God.  Jesus was talking about following him, which means to be a follower who gives body and soul, and one’s spirit to the obedience of the Master. When we walk alone, we are likely to fall or go the wrong way, we need heavenly guidance to walk the right way.

When Jesus made his claim to be the light of the world, the Jewish leaders  reacted with hostility. To them it would be a claim only God. could make.  The Rabbis declared the name of the Messiah is light.

Jesus deals with his right to judge. His coming into the world was for judgment.  His claim was for love, for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, and all who believe  in him, would have eternal life.

Jesus told the Jewish leaders bluntly, they had no real knowledge of God.  The fact that they did not recognize him for who he was, and what he was, was the proof they did not really know God.  The whole history of Israel was so made they should have recognized the Son of God.

Jesus was told his opponents he was going away, and after he had gone they would realize what they had missed, and will search but not find him.  this is a reminder for us. For everyone there is an opportunity to decide to accept Christ into their life, but the time is limited, and know not when their limit will end.  There is good reason to decide now Just as there is opportunity there is also judgment.

When Jesus spoke about going away, he was talking of his return to his Father and glory, and he could not be followed.  The Jews thought he might mean he would kill himself. Jesus said if they refused him, they would die in their sins.

The one who refuses to accept him as Lord and Savior will die with life frustrated, and life incomplete.  Sin separates us from God,  To refuse Christ, is a stranger to God, to accept him is to be a friend to God.

Jesus went on to draw contrasts.  His opponents belong to earth, he is from heaven. They are of this world, he is not. The world is the opposite of heaven. He came  from heaven

to save this world, he was sent by God.  The world is God’s creation, it was through God’s Word that the world as made. However bad the world is, God would never abandon the world.

But when the creator came into the world, the world did not recognize him,  the world does not know the spirit of  God, and there is hostility to God.  The world is separate from God, yet between God and the world. there is no gulf that cannot be spanned.?

God so loved the world, that He sent His Son into the world.  God would never abandon the world it is His love and the recipient of His greatest gift. But, at the same time there is something wrong with it, there is a blindness, for when the creator of the world came into it, the world did not recognize Him.

The world cannot receive the spirit of truth. There is a terrific blindness which does not recognize God or Jesus, the world is hostile, and the followers of Jesus can only expect trouble.

There is only one conclusion, the world is not what it was meant to be; something went wrong and that was sin. Sin is that which separates God from the world; it blinds the world from God.  Jesus came with a cure; he brings forgiveness. He brings grace and strength for one to live as God meant it to be, but a cure can be ignored.

A doctor may prescribe a cure for a patient to cure some disease, or some operation to restore the patient back to good health and strength.  He could point out that any failure to respect the prescription could lead to death.  This what Jesus was saying; if you don’t believe I am what I say I am, you will die in your sins.  If we do not accept the cure Jesus gave, we die.

Anyone can see the world is evil and there is a loss of peace. The world needs to recognize Jesus as a cure, only disobedience to His wisdom and he acceptance of Him as Savior and Lord can individual souls be cured.

The opponents of Jesus demanded to know who Jesus was, and Jesus replied. ‘I am the One I claimed to be.  I have much to say to you, and much to condemn, but I will not. For I will only say what I gave been told to say from the One who sent me, and He is completely truthful. I always do things that please Him.

The passage closes affirming not only the lack of sin and the avoidance of sin, but that Jesus is doing things which are pleasing to God.

 

May God’s Holy Name be praised and He be glorified.

 

LONELINESS
I have taken the subject of loneliness, which causes a kind of mental illness and other problems, and a great deal of unhappiness with breakdown, with medication becoming necessary.
Loneliness happens in varying degrees, much depending on why one is lonely. A temporary absence of friends, illness, fear of going out. In recent times, loneliness has become very prevalent, with the pandemic forcing many people, especially the older age groups, to remain in their homes for months to avoid catching the virus. I know the medical profession has had to deal with a rising number of people incurring mental disturbance because of living alone.

It was never God’s intention for people to have to face loneliness. The Bible. has shown how important it is for people to be with another; separations and being out of touch with people was to be avoided.

In the creation story, God said after creating man, that it was not good for man to be alone, so he created woman to be his companion, so making the perfect partnership.
In Hebrews, the writer called for Christians to be with each other, and the well-known saying became well known, ‘no man is an island’. Dwight L Moody, a famous American preacher, encouraging a young man to be with other Christians, used an illustration of a piece of coal falling from a fire and dropping on a stone plate, where it stopped burning. People can burn out if left for long period.

A most regular cause, is after the loss of a wife or husband, when you are left in isolation, with a feeling of solitary confinement, where every minute seems like an hour. When two people commit their lives to each other at a young age, and live with dependence on each other for many years, the loss cannot fully be described. Only by experience can the hurt be understood.

We all know life has to end, but no one can anticipate the profound feeling and effect on the remaining partner.   It has been so often said, the grief will pass with time, memories and friends will help. This is nonsense; memories may bring some relief, but they can also emphasise the loss, and from experience over many years, I have found friends have a habit of disappearing.

No words can adequately describe what it is like, half of one’s own life goes too; the loss of any family members can be greatly felt, but none I believe can equate with the loss of a wife or husband if the initial love is still existing.

I have found from experience that men over  large, take the loss of a wife far greater than women do at the loss of a husband. This does not mean in any way that do not grieve, of course they do, but I am speaking from what I have noticed and felt over the years.  I feel enormous sympathy with women being the survivor of a marriage, for men can despite the grief cope financially perhaps than women.  In either case, the loss is devastating.

We all suffer, but as an example of real loss and suffering, is the story of a man named Joseph Scriven. He was a son of a family in Dublin, a University graduate, who at the age of 25 fell in love and was engaged to be married.  On the night before the marriage, his fiancée fell in a lake and was drowned.  He subsequently moved to live in Canada.

Ten years later, his mother became very ill in Ireland, so despite the expensive cost, went to see her before she died.  He devotedly  wrote that magnificent hymn, ‘what a friend we have in Jesus’,  I would expect all Christians to know the hymn. Which tells in Jesus we have a friend who is always ready to share our grief, and we have the privilege of carrying all are burdens to God in prayer.

On returning to Canada, he fell in love again and intended to marry, but shortly before the wedding, his fiancée fell ill with pneumonia and died.

Here was a man who really knew suffering. He was a real Christian who turned to a loving God, and spent the rest of his life helping people who were hurt in life and gave manual help in repairing damaged furniture.

I cannot imagine the feeling of divorcees, when the separation involves a breaking of vows, and you know the other partner is alive, but you are deprived of their presence. There must surely be feelings of betrayal and desertion, and in such cases women are the more likely to feel the effect in middle class families. The words of Henry Ford, the motor magnate, are so wise. Asked how he managed to have such a long and happy marriage, he is quoted as saying, like with a car, keep the same model.

Yet again, men are more prone to wander away, and even in equally faulty circumstances, the wife is left to fend on her own with reduced finance, sense of betrayal, and coping with the children.

Young people becoming University students, and leaving the protection and comfort of living with a family to go and live alone, problems arise when sometimes dubious circumstances arise in a city, distant from their own. I have seen my own children and grandchildren having to live in student accommodation, which was so different from home. In one case, the accommodation was deplorable, made worse perhaps by the fact that some young people are not use to cleanliness and hygiene, and if prisoners were housed in public prisons of similar type, there would be an outcry.
Problems arise, when in desperation of loneliness and new environment, they are vulnerable to the vultures tempting them with drugs, alcohol, and unfitting sexual contacts.

Whatever the cause of loneliness, Christians can get encouragement from knowing they can call on God who stated, ‘I will never leave nor forsake you’. He promised would not leave anyone who called on him, because of the death of Jesus on the Cross, who in that loneliness died to gain forgiveness for us, and so made us righteous in God’s sight to give us salvation.

Jesus stated, ‘come to me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’
Remember too, the long list of people in the Bible from Abraham, the prophets, David the king of Israel, to Paul who spent time of loneliness in a Roman prison, which he eloquently expressed in his very last Letter to Timothy before being executed; to Peter and other Apostles.

Most of all to Jesus, who stood alone on the Cross for you and me, even calling out to God as he faced the walk to the Cross, but was ready to obey God and continued to do what God had planned.

There are numerous things you can do to ease feelings of distress in your loneliness. You can keep a loving photo of that lost wife or husband, and think what you would say if he/she was there. Keep a chair or a favourite possession nearby, and think of all the happy times. People will tell you things will get better as time goes on, but don’t believe that, it gets worse as the time apart lengthens,

I spent t a life-time dealing with people, and facing reality, the words fidelity, loyalty, trust, love, and tolerance, I know to a great extent, a very great extent, lost their traditional meaning. What makes it worse, is that people are not feeling any guilt.
True love will not fade, but you need to get involved in some activity. Visit your local Church where you will make friends. You can always ask God to help you.

I close with something uplifting. The Bible tells that for when husband and wife are true Christians, (the essential word is true,) and not just those who give an occasional thought, leave this earthly life, God has promised that for you, a day will come when you will be lifted into heaven, and see that precious wife/husband, you have missed so much, and resume the love you always had.

We give thanks to God for His care for us and those we love.

May God be glorified

 

34             

       John 2 v.1/11

The Gospel passage for Sunday, is the story of the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding, and we see God’s intention for mankind.

This story takes place in a village Cana, which is situated near Nazareth, and is the story of a wedding.  An Eastern wedding was a very special occasion, different from a Western one, where the bride is the main figure. Here, she enters a Church in all her glory to the playing of organ music, and the congregation standing to greet and admire her. In the East the groom is the main one and he pays for it, the bride just turns up.

It was Jewish law, that a virgin got married on a Wednesday, with the ceremony in the late evening after a feast, and the festivities would go on for days, often with relatives of both families joining in the celebrations. After the ceremony, the bridal couple would be conducted to their new home, through the village streets by the light of flaming torches, with a canopy over their heads. They were taken by as long a route as possible so as many people as possible could wish them well.

In a land where there was so much poverty and constant hard work, this week of festivity and joy was a significant occasion, and it was this that Jesus came to share in. An added problem was he brought with him five Apostles, which meant more people to wine and dine.

For a Jewish wedding wine was an essential, but there would be no drunkenness for that would be seen as a disgrace, and the wine would be two or even three parts water.  In the East hospitality was a sacred duty, so failure to provide would have meant humiliation.

Mary heard of the problem and told her Son, and Jesus answered her by what seems rudeness, ‘woman what have you to do with me, my hour has not yet come.’ Jesus was kindly stressing that she must not see him only as her son, for when he will suffer, the more she will suffer. She must the see him as her Lord.

Standing there were six large jars each holding about two or three measures, that is about twenty gallons of water, making a total of over a hundred gallons of water intended for purifying or cleansing. The roads were dusty, and as the men wore sandals the men’s feet needed washing, but Jews also washed hands before each course of food.

Jesus sorted out what normally would take hours in preparation, by cutting out the normal procedure of crushing and fermenting, and turned the water into wine. This is included in the story to emphasize the greatness of the Lord’s gift. The head waiter then praised the quality of the wine produced.

These verses tell of a miracle with special meaning for all true Christians.  It should be noted that Christ did not touch the water pots, He just commanded and willed the change

The ceremony was a time for happiness and joy, but also a time for reverence, and there is a place for both.

  We see Mary’s faith in Jesus. She turned to him when a problem arose, and even when he answered her sharply, she told the waiter to do what he asked, giving us a message to trust Jesus even when we do not understand is happening.  In every life, there comes period of  darkness when we despair and wonder what the outcome, happy are those who still trust.

Every Bible story has a meaning and a lesson for all the Lord’s followers, including this story. We see Jesus ready to share in all our celebrations.

This was the first of the Lord’s miracles, and it took place at a marriage of a man and a woman, which has a significant meaning, and it tells us how honorable and important marriage was in the eyes of Jesus, it having been ordained by God for society’s benefit when he made a man and a woman.

There is no more wonderful and beautiful union than a man and a woman, and that it is why God created us so. God told us He gave woman to be an essential part of a man’s life, and men have found what a great blessing He gave.

God created marriage as the first institution before all others, with two distinct people of different bodies, to have children and create a human family. Other relationships are condemned in Scripture.

Two people of the same sex cannot produce children, and so extend the human race. God knew what He was doing, giving them different personalities and bodies, with different genes and chromosomes, which cannot be medically changed, to fulfil His purpose for the world.

Since the creation of the world, thousands of years past, marriage has taken place in every country in the world, being recognized as a stabling factor in society, In the last twenty years, it has been attacked by secular activists, liberal politicians seeking votes, and shamefully by bishops and other Church leaders, who have actually called for the Bible teaching to be abandoned. We have reached a stage where marriage has no significance in public life, and now can even be ended without stated reason.

This has caused much distress and poverty, principally to women, and social study has established that children’s lives greatly affected. How ironic that Western nations where there are more material benefits, there is less marriage success than poorer Eastern nations where marriage is more honored.

What any two people decide they wish to do, is a matter for themselves to pursue without interference; God is capable of forming His judgement and any action He sees necessary. For the Church to formally give approval is to violate God’s teaching and our Lord’s commands.

For Jesus a home was special, no family abuse such as we see in so many homes.  A great loss in our time, is that Jesus has no place in the majority of homes in this country. The bedrock of our society was once a family home of a man and woman in a happy marriage, raising children with a Christian faith. Now, such a situation is mocked as old fashioned, but we never had so many teenage pregnancies, child abuse, and a divorce rate of more than 1 in 3 marriages. So many children do not know love, security and fellowship of a loving home. A lot of children don’t even know who their father is, and have brothers and sisters of different parents.

Jesus showed his glorious powers, and bestowed his blessing on marriage at a village girl’s wedding, and his Apostles accepted him as God’s Son.

This wedding took place probably in a village hall, no need for fancy mansions and plush hotels with large number of guests; Jesus is ready to take part in the ordinary things of our lives. 

Today the Church is almost performing a miracle in reverse, turning wine into water by diluting marriage into something having no greater significance than any other relationship.

Don’t be discouraged. When we let God and Jesus into our lives, all ordinary activities receive new power, so don’t close the door of your life on the Lord, for if you do you reveal your lack of faith and trust. Give God a chance to do want you cannot do.

Jesus said I have come that you may have life in all abundance; be prepared to accept and believe him.

One day a great marriage feast will be held, at which Jesus will be the bridegroom and his believers will be the bride.

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It is the first miracle our Lord Jesus performed, and reveals the importance which the  Lord places on the honorable act of marriage.  This is the state ordained by God, and is a lesson for all the leaders of Churches, should especially take note. Marriage should never be treated with levity nor be disrespected or altered, thereby abusing God, for this is here signifying the mystical union between Christ and HIS Church. Society is never in a healthy state, nor is true religion when marriage is not properly esteemed. To blatantly change and ignore Christ in order to please society, is offending the mind of Christ, and should never be taken inadvisably, but reverently in the fear of God.      

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Prayer.

Thank you Father for letting us share in this special wedding in Galilee.

We thank you for creating that relationship between a man and a woman which transcends all other human relationships. We pray for those young couples who will be starting a new life together that may share the joy and happiness which you alone can give.

 

We pray that God’s Holy Name be Praised and may God be Glorified.

 

 

Be at Church on Sunday; making sure it is a Bible believing Church.

 

                              1 Corinthians 12 v1-19

This is a very significant passage. 

 In this chapter, the apostle describes how the Church should function.  It is essential to remember that Christ built his Church, and in his last words of earth told his Apostles they were to continue his work and take the gospel to all nations. The Apostles faithfully fulfilled his commands, and now his followers to-day have a duty and responsibility of continuing the work.

Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church, and has come to a point where he is dealing with spiritual gifts.  The  gifts were those of the Apostles, to authenticate their teaching when stablishing the Christian Church, following the departure of Jesus.

Paul begins this passage and relates to pagans, which was just another way of stating they were not Jews.

Those Gentiles found that some in the Church were speaking ‘in tongues’, This means they were using what was known as speaking in a spiritual way, and having come from idol worship, the new members were confused and referred to Jesus as being accursed.  Paul told them that only people filled with the Holy Sprit could say Jesus in Lord.

Paul in later times, spoke against such speaking, as it tended to make new members leave, as the words could not be understood,  and it created an appearance of delusion.

 He likens the Church to a human body, and describes it as the body of Christ.  The Church is the means by which Jesus reaches out to the world, and we keep this in mind.                                                                                       

Paul begins by describing the Church is the body of Christ, and as a body is formed by many parts, so is the Church. All the parts are to function with dependence on each other in a body, and all members of the Church are to work in fellowship together.  The Lord fully expects his people to work in harmony and fulfil their work with sincerity. There should be no identifying as different people. Men/women, black/white, employer/worker. Irrespective of nationality.

Paul emphasises the analogy of the human body to that of the body of Christ.   The major part of a body is of course, the head, where the brain controls our actions and unites all the other parts, and Christ is the head of the Church.  

An ear performs one vital function, but so does an eye; the body needs both; similarly with hands and feet.  Never consider yourself as an unimportant part of the Church. You may not be called to preach or lead a Bible study group, but there are so many other equally important tasks in their own way by which you can take an active part.  If everyone did the same thing, the Church would be ineffective.

But a body only functions properly if it is healthy, and every part is working properly.  We must accept we need one another, and there is no need for competition or jealousy.  Occasions arise when, someone feels they are not being given the recognition they feel their secular work demands, and others are doing what they should be doing.  If any organ in our body fails, the whole body is affected and any disruption in the Church affects the whole situation.

The Church is not just a group of religious people gathered together to enjoy mutually desired functions.  We should be sharing the same kind of life, belonging to the one Lord, filled with His Spirit and be working together to change the world.  Such is what makes a true and healthy Church.  Just coming to Church in itself, does not necessarily make you a Christian, you have to believe in and trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

Paul states, for in one spirit we were all baptized into one body

You may ask, in what way can you play your part?   The Spirit unites people and avoids division. Water baptism is an outward sign of conversion, being baptized in the Spirit is having been fully committed after repentance and a declaration of faith and united to the corporate body of believers

There are so many ways by which your gift can be exercised, possibly in a manner you have never considered.  In a Church I was once at, we gave everyone £5 and invited them to use their talent to increase it, with the proceeds going to the Church.  People found they had hidden gifts.  So often gifts are seen as only relating to ministry, which is so wrong and narrow an outlook.  The Church is not like a bus, with the Vicar being the driver, and all others passengers.

Often we find professional men and women who have their professional talent to use in the service of the Church, and they serve well and so usefully, especially gifts of accountancy and law.  But also valuablem is the man or woman who can do technical, work effecting repairs; or the lady gifted with flower and decorative arrangements; ladies who spend hours baking for Church fairs.  I had two sisters in their 80s who worked tirelessly, and I cannot imagine how we could have done without them. Other ladies regularly clean the Church, which is not to be seen as a meanial task, it is as worthy as any pother work, and is usually by females.

One thing I have always reegretted, is that many Churches have magazines in which are filled with events which have taken place.  There are also many seasonal fayers with members atending to stalls of various goods. The essential is, what is the individual Church doing to proclaim the gospel.   

Every Church magazine should have a Bible story, and full timetable of servicescstating the type of service.  The place of seasonal sales posted with details of the services on the entrance and leaving doors..  We miss vital opportunities to advertise our faith. Business spends thousannds of pounds on advertising and would only do so if it proved worthy,, we can do so with very little expence.  Sometimes it seems as if we are embarrassed at telling of our  presence.

Sometime of course, it may seem as your work is not appreciated, when you do not get the thanks and recognition your work has merited.  Do not be depressed or disheartened, if you have done it for God, He will be pleased and recognise you.  When all our gifts are put together we can become a strong body, able to serve the Lord as He would want. 

 

 

May God bless His Word to us, and may He be ever glorified

M A R K  1 v4

John appeared baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance.

The Gospel for the Sunday service is about John the Baptist.

The Collects for Sunday’s service pray that we who are born again by water AND the Spirit; and may we recognise Jesus as your Son and our Lord.

 I have been asked (1)if I believe in infant baptism

                                       (2)have I baptised infants and if so why.
                                       (3)what kind of baptism do I believe in.

I do not believe in infant baptism as I think it un-biblical.

Yes, I have because as an Anglican priest I was morally obliged to do so.  Fortunately this was not in great numbers as my parish did not require it.  But I tried to limit this to parents who were prepared to come to Church before the service. I never included the section which asks if they have repented of their sins. It is hypocrcy to ask two unmarried people that question when they have two children.

At one time. the Church suggested that people planning marriage, could if they wished bring any child they wanted to be baptized.  A sort of two for one.  That didn't last long;perhaps someone realized how irresponsible it was 

I believe in the baptism for believers.  I do however respect the views of those who take a different attitude to me, and trust they will respect my understanding.

Following on from the events recorded in Acts, we find a confession of faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit happen together. Nowhere in the Bible is there a separation.   I believe this means that within Churches we need to have a deeper understanding of baptism and confirmation.  Whilst I have often preached on baptism, I have never been at a service when this has been preached upon by others.

 I think this is very regrettable, especially when people come to a baptism service who do not normally attend Church. It seems to be so essential that they should know exactly what baptism was meant to be. I have been at a baptism service when the name of Jesus and the word ‘Cross’ have not been mentioned once in the sermon. On other occasions there has been a good sermon in the normal course of things, but totally beyond the understanding of the non Church member.

 

Looking at the events recorded in Acts, the normal pattern to becoming a Christian is that someone ‘repents, believes, is baptized, and then receives the Holy Spirit’.  This, however, is not a chronological order.  These are the essential components to becoming a Christian, but God can change the order in which they happen as was the case with Cornelius and the Ephesian believers.

 

It is because Acts and the New Testament do not give a chronology that has lead the overwhelming majority of Christians over the Church’s history to feel that it is right to baptize the children of Christian parents.  However, it is the fact that, in Acts, it is the normal order that has also led some equally sincere and committed Christians to refuse to baptize anyone not old enough to decide for themselves.

 Whilst it may have been the intention that infants being brought for baptism should be of Christian parents, in practice it is now accepted that the infant of any parents irrespective of belief (or none) is accepted.

 Baptism has always been a problem for me.  I have read, listened and pondered hard, but cannot bring myself to accept the case for baptising infants indiscriminately.  I find myself compelled to sympathise with those who believe baptism should be for those who can make a decision for themselves. I do however respect the view of those who are in favour of infant baptism, and hope they will respect mine.

 As an Anglican priest I was morally required to do so, but felt distinctly uncomfortable in doing so.  It still distresses me when I see people coming to a Baptism service showing no respect for the place they are entering, and only being concerned to have their cameras and camcorders ready, without taking an interest in the whole service.  Fortunately for me all that is now over, I can choose which services I take.

 I believe when the Church first decided to baptise infants it was intended to be for the parents of worshipping members.  This can be deduced by the fact that the Canon relating to the subject states, parents and godparents must fulfil their responsibility to bring up the child within the Church, and by their own example. 

 Whatever the practice was in past years, it is now the common practice to accept anyone who requests, without any requirement other than being told to attend on the relevant date. 

 The Church of England liturgy in Baptismal services asks the parents and godparents if they turn to Christ as Saviour and submit to Christ as Lord, and are allowed to affirm without question.  Similarly they vow to bring up the child in the life and worship of the Church, but the falsity of this is shown by the fact that Church congregations do not reflect these promises.  Further, to state ‘this child who has been born again’ is theological nonsense.

 I cannot find any reference in Scripture to babies being baptised.  They were welcomed and treasured, but not baptised.  I accept it has become tradition to do so in  our Churches, but there is the question do we put tradition before Scripture.?

 Baptism is a most sacred act. There is a joint action between God and man. Man repents, God washes sins away and there is then forgiveness and a person can really say they are ‘born again’.  Can a baby have sins to be washed away?

Within Scriptural terms a person is baptised when he/she realises their life can be different and better if Jesus Christ is part of it; they therefore repent of past failures; believe that by His death on the Cross, Jesus Christ became their Saviour, and they promise to follow His teaching for their future life.  How such can be fulfilled by people who never have any intention to attend worship, never read a Bible, never contribute anything in effort or finance to the Church, or really seek to know the Lord, I have yet to understand. 

 I know it is often said to be a means of outreach, but apart from it being wishful thinking, it hardly justifies departing from the true purpose.  If all who have made the promises of the Baptism service and adopted the words used, we would need to build more Churches as they all joined us on Sundays.

 Where we can agree, I think, is that we ALL should have repented of our sins, believed in Jesus, been baptized AND received the Holy Spirit.

 Most of us, I think, can agree on the first three components of the Acts formula, but how many of us feel comfortable in saying that we, personally, have received the Spirit?  Received, that is, in a way that we know it to be true.

 In the Gospel of John, Jesus is stated to have said, ‘unless someone is born of water AND the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God’.  And also, ‘whoever does not believe (in Jesus) is condemned because he has not believed in the Son of God.’

May God's Holy Name be Praised and may God be glorified