

Four Steps

To

Eternity

REVEREND RODNEY FEREDAY

OKS Publishing

FOUR STEPS TO ETERNITY

By Reverend Rodney Fereday

Published in August, 2017 by OKS Publishing.

Copyright © Reverend Rodney Fereday 2017.

Other books available

By this author

Keys to the Kingdom

Knocking on Heavens Door

Steps to Prayer

Dedication

To Josey my wife, for all her support and love over the past fifty years. Also my son, Shaun for encouraging my writing and for his creativity in bringing this book to publication.

Thank you all for reading.

Basics of the Synoptic Gospels Debate

Which are the synoptic gospels?

The three 'synoptic' Gospels are Matthew, Mark and Luke. All tell the same basic story. Yet there are important differences which help identify the special individual interests of each author.

The definition of synoptic

Stated simply, the word synoptic can be defined as meaning, 'to see things in common' or 'having a common view!'

The synoptic problem

Many refer to these similarities and differences as 'The Synoptic Problem.' There's been an awful lot of time and an avalanche of academic interest spent trying to resolve this issue.

All of which revolves around the SOURCES the authors used in completing their Gospels, which also calls into question the SEQUENCE in which the Gospels were written.

Personally I don't have a difficulty with this. I believe the authors all came from a different angle and gave their own account. The differences do not compromise but complement each other and add a greater richness and authenticity to their stories.

Think of it like this, if three witnesses to the same crime gave statements to the police. The statements would differ but point to the same truth. The differences in the statements would provide the authenticity and believability.

If the three statements were completely and totally identical then they would be compromised, police would think they had colluded with each other. Basically three identical statements would be 'too good to be true.' Totally Identical statements wouldn't be authentic, and humanly impossible.

It's beyond my ability, and beyond the scope of this book to major on the synoptic 'problem.' All I aim to do, is make the reader aware of these synoptic questions. Giving a simple guide as to the options and allow the reader to decide how or if they wish to delve further and try to find the answer for themselves.

The synoptic problem briefly stated, is the attempt to understand just how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke actually differ in three literary areas.

  1. Content. b) Wording. c) Order

It describes the task to determining the precise literary relationship between the first three Gospels.

To give just two examples,

FIRST.....about 90% of Markan material also appears in the Gospel of Matthew.

SECOND......About 50% of Markan material also appears in the Gospel of Luke.

In addition there are over 235 verses contained in Matthew and Luke's Gospels which do not appear in Mark's Gospel, which suggests there is another unknown and so hypothetical source which Bible scholars have designated 'Q' from the German word 'Quelle' (meaning source).

It is unknown if 'Q' existed as an oral tradition or if it was a written source, which is yet to be discovered and so hypothetical.

There are also verses and other material in each Gospel which is unique to their authors,

I believe the differences in the three texts, of content, wording and order, help in their own way, add a great richness and authenticity to the Gospels.

All this means that the reader will have to decide for themselves if they wish to delve further into this literary conundrum. Some of which is lost in the dust of history, some of which like 'Q' is still unproven and so hypothetical.

Some of the main theories

Here, to help the reader to decide whether to go further, is a brief overview of the current speculative solutions to the synoptic problem.

Very basically and moving from present solutions and going further back to more historic solutions.

The modern two source theory

  1. Puts Mark as the first Gospel to be written, with Matthew and Luke drawing independently on his work as a source.

  2. As well as Mark, both Matthew and Luke both independently draw on 'Q' (the unknown hypothetical source).

Farrar theory

  1. Puts Mark as first Gospel.

  2. Matthew uses Mark as a source.

  3. Luke uses Mark as a source (dispensing with 'Q' as a source).

Griersbach theory

  1. Puts Matthew as the first Gospel to be written.

  2. Luke uses Matthew as a source

  3. Mark uses both Matthew and Luke as sources.

Augustine theory

  1. Puts Matthew first.

  2. Puts Mark second.

  3. Puts Luke third.

We now move forward to look at the four individual authors in more detail, before reading a number of sermons from the text of each Gospel. Which will stimulate thought and help the reader to better understand what the Gospels are teaching. Ideally this may challenge us in our daily lives, to understand and implement Gospel imperatives as naturally as blinking. All the study and all our words mean very little if they are not put into action.

It's when we automatically put God's teaching into action, when we work at the 'Coal Face' of humanity, amongst the pain and suffering of a waiting world ... that our faith will become real, become truly authentic, and will see and feel God's power flowing through us as it flowed through the disciples of old.
Introduction

This is simply sermon outlines, on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's Gospels. There are by no means pretend to be anything other, than my own simplistic thoughts, about the various sermon topics.

As you will see, I am not an academic, my thinking is not linear. I was described at theological college as a 'Blob' thinker. Each individual thought dropped seemingly ad hoc here and there, but like the spokes of a wheel, each thought pointing towards the hub of the wheel, or to the core of the gospel.

My words don't flow as the pages of a novel, because, basically they are the musings of my mind as I seek to understand the teachings of Jesus in the four Gospels. Their true effectiveness lays in the timing of delivery, and in silent pauses, and in the emphasis on words, please bear this in mind as you read this book.

Because each sermon is individual and is a story in its own right. We may find it easier to read with more short breaks for reflection, before moving on to the next text. This enables us to pick it up and put it down without breaking the flow.

I truly believe that the Four Gospels of the New Testament, when considered together, and studied prayerfully, can be seen as 'The four stepping stones to eternity.'

Preview Of

Matthew's Gospel

Authorship

We know only a little about Matthew, except in Mt 9:9' we are told he was a tax collector, and therefore literate and systematic in his approach, and able to put his account into the written form.

Whilst the majority of the disciples were fishermen and would not be so able or as literate as Matthew. The main point to remember, is that Matthew was a Jew and he was writing for a Jewish readership.

One of his main themes was linking Old Testament prophecy to New Testament theology. Teaching that Jesus came not to destroy the law but to fulfil the law. We can see that sixteen times in his gospel Matthew's recurring saying was 'This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.'

There is also a strong apocalyptic interest in Matthew's writings, a strong interest in all that Jesus said about his second coming, which Matthew knew was important to the Jews.

The tradition of the apostle Matthew being the author of the Gospel bearing his name lays at the core of this Gospel. It would have originally been written in Aramaic or in Hebrew for a Jewish readership. Much of it may have also been in oral tradition, we could see this as an earlier edition collating Matthews's eyewitness accounts and the recorded sayings and teachings of Jesus. The final or second stage, may have been completed as we know it today, written in Greek by a Greek scholar, well founded in Jewish culture.

Because of the amount of Jewish culture and Old Testament scripture contained within, it was likely written by a Jew for a Jewish readership, some of the clues to this are as follows.

Often the author concludes many passages with the use of Old Testament Jewish scripture, which emphasises that Jesus both in word and action had come to fulfil Old Testament promises and prophecies in full. The author also majors on the use of the phrase 'Kingdom of Heaven' (31 times), whereas the other Gospels prefer the phrase 'Kingdom of God' (61times).

This was because the Jewish tradition would never profane Gods name by writing it down. Therefore by these two examples and many others in the text, we can assume by the authors understanding of Jewish culture and attention to Old Testament Scripture, it was written to appeal to a predominantly Jewish readership.

Date of writing.

Various estimates exist for the date of authorship of Matthew's Gospel, but we can certainly say somewhere between 50 a 100 AD. This wide range of fifty years is due to the yet unresolved conundrum of the previously mentioned 'Synoptic Debate.' Therefore we can't with any certainty be any more accurate.

Purpose / theme.

Matthews overriding theme is to promote Jesus as the Messiah of the Old Testament and the fulfilment of Old Testament promises and prophecies. Followed by the ideas of the 'Kingdom Of Heaven', the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day. And of the glory of the Lord, who would return again.

Outline of Mathew's Gospel

Genealogy/Birth of Jesus Mt.1:1 - 2:23

The ministry of John the Baptist Mt.3:1-12

Baptism and Temptations of Jesus Mt.3:13 - 4:11

Jesus' ministry in Galilee Mt.4:12 -18:35

From Galilee to Jerusalem Mt.19:1 - 20:34

Last week near Jerusalem Mt.21:1 - 27:66

Resurrection and subsequent appearances Mt.28:1-20

Conclusion

Matthew's main thrust was promoting Jesus as the long promised Messiah of the Old Testament. As the one sent from God with the authority to supersede the Old Testament Law by New Testament theology in and through His own humanity, through His incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection.

The Journey

Of The Wise Men

The Journey of the Wise Men (Matthew 2: 1-12)

If we were to go on a journey half of the fun would be planning the route, where we would stay at night, the costs, the time it would take, what and where we would eat and of course distance to travel and time needed to get there. There would be so much to plan.

These days with satellite navigation systems and computers, which give every detail of the journey, things can be so much easier and give the traveller so much more confidence. But if you are anything like me, I ordered one of the satellite navigation systems for my car from the television-shopping channel. When it came, I found it so complicated that I sent it back by return post.

Today we read in the text the account of the three wise men (The Magi), and their journey to see the Christ child. With no satellite navigation, or inboard computer, no kind of technology at all, set out on their great journey without actually knowing any facts (or information) about where they were heading; any sensible person would request this information before undertaking even the shortest, most insignificant trip. But the wise men's journey was no ordinary venture – it was a journey of FAITH.

There are so many things we are not told about the Magi and their journey like; where did they travel from... how long did their journey take... what did they leave behind... where did they go next? Well, in a way these things don't really matter because they would not alter the story.

What we do know is that they were believers and sought Jesus at birth so they might worship him. Later in his life, Jesus called his disciples to follow him. They also set out on their journey, leaving family and friends behind. Their journey was also a journey of FAITH.

In the letter to the 'Hebrews' we are told: 'It is impossible to please God without faith.' It doesn't say it's hard, nor difficult but impossible.'

People of faith, have been following Jesus for centuries. You and I can count ourselves as one of them. Even though we have no knowledge or details of our journey. Even when we stumble and fall, we are encouraged by scripture to 'keep on, keeping on.'

The Magi symbolised their worship by their gifts - each gift telling a story of its own. They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Gold: the symbol of Kingship, reminding us to give God only of the very best we have.

Frankincense: mentioned seventeen times in the bible. An incense to purify, and a scent used in sacrifice, reminding each one of us that the fragrance and holiness of Jesus surrounds and sanctifies each one of us.

Myrrh: which was used in Old Testament times to sanctify the temple, but mainly it was used in burial rites to perfume the body when embalmed. This reminds us, that later, Jesus was destined to die on the cross when he was only about thirty-three years of age.

So far, we have identified the Magi's journey was one of FAITH and of WORSHIP. Their journey also involved CHANGE. In Matthew 2: 12 it says, 'When they came to leave, they returned by another route, because God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.' This reminds us that once we meet with, once we encounter God, it changes everything. We can't travel or continue in the same way that we did before meeting him. Our priorities are changed and our lives take on a different, Godlier course.

So, to the Magi's journey we can also add CHANGE. Their journey involved, FAITH, WORSHIP and CHANGE.

The next thing we can learn from the Magi is DIRECTION. Although they didn't know their route, they sought it in scripture. In the Old Testament they found the prophecy: 'The town of Bethlehem in Judea, is by no means the least of the leading cities of Judea, from you will come a great leader, who will guide my people Israel.'

If God, through scripture, can guide the Magi then for sure, God will guide you and me in the same manner. Do not be surprised what God uses to get your attention. It may be a film or a book, a conversation, a friend or neighbour. For God can and will use anything to prod us, to turn our faith into action. You know its one thing to know something... but quite a different thing to have faith to the point where it becomes life changing.

So to the Magi's journey we can add DIRECTION, which gives their journey FAITH, WORSHIP, CHANGE and DIRECTION.

What then can we learn from the Magi and how can we apply it in our own life today?

ANECDOTE: there's a story of three frogs sat on a log in the middle of a pond. One frog decided to leap into the water.

Question: who can tell me how many frogs were left sitting on the log?

ANSWER: well the answer is three because although the frog decided to leap in to the water, he never did, he never actually took the plunge, never began his journey. The fact is we too, like that frog, sometimes never actually take the plunge. Maybe today we are like that frog, still sat there on our log, and may be its time for us to begin our journey and actually leap in. The image of three frogs sat on a log can be that gateway to call each one of us into action. Let's ask ourselves afresh... are we really ready to take that plunge of faith? Are we ready to allow God to begin using us in whatever way?

One thing is for sure, God would never be like some old fashioned swimming teacher at school. He would never simply push us in. Today, God awaits our leap of faith, awaits each one of us to open up to Him.

Let's take that challenge today. Let's pray for Gods guidance. Let's make ourselves truly available. Let's look for a simple task, visit someone who is sick, phone someone who needs support, repair a broken friendship. Make sure we come closer to God, know His heart, and actually do something with the faith we have. The challenge is to then choose a simple task by becoming aware of the needs of others, which surround us each day. Scripture promises that putting our faith into action will encourage everyone and also pleases God.

And I promise it will be life changing.

AMEN

The Holy

Innocents

The Holy Innocents (Matthew 2: 13-28)

We hear the Christmas message each and every year, complete with carols, trimmings, turkey, presents and all the trappings of what Christmas has become. Oh, and don't forget mince pies and mulled wine! But today, I would like to share with you another side to Christmas - an altogether darker side. It's the gruesome account of the slaughter of the holy innocents, which happened shortly after the Magi left to travel homeward, whilst avoiding King Herod's invitation to tell him where the Christ child could be found.

The accounts are so horrible that we don't even like to think about them, or (sometimes) even preach about them.

In our gospel text from Matthew 2: 13-15 today it tells us of Mary and Joseph fleeing toward Egypt with the baby Jesus to avoid the forth coming massacre. Soon afterwards we have the account of all male infants under the age of two being put to the sword in the town of Bethlehem and surrounding area by Herod's soldiers - see verse 16 to 18. Then the return of Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, from Egypt sometime after Herod had in fact died – verse 19 to 23.

Today, I would like to concentrate on verse 16 to 18: at times the neglected side of the Christmas story but a side that is vital for us to understand. On one-hand we have the joy of Christ's nativity, the birth of our Messiah, followed a few days later by Herod's slaughter of all male children under two years of age in Bethlehem. But yet, in our humanity we prefer to be transfixed by the blissful manger scene, for us it is more idyllic, giving us a cosy feeling of Christmas cheer. Almost like the two sides of the same coin, the joy and the pain somehow hang together.

ANECDOTE: This text reminds me of one of the many tapestries, which Josey (my wife) has completed and hangs on the walls of our home. Exquisite needlework, almost like a painting in the frame... and under the glass. Yet, I know when they were being stitched that the back of each tapestry had threads hanging out of it in a tangle go knots and blurred colours. Life can sometimes be like that. We often have to take the rough with the smooth. It is inevitable... in life there will be pain.

We need to look deeper into biblical history to fully grasp this reading and its meaning. Notice, that in the Old Testament... in Exodus... we have a similar account of another earlier massacre of babies; this time by the Pharaoh of Egypt. In this story another baby escaped the massacre by being floated - in a basket – down the River Nile.

His name was Moses.

This story from Exodus, later with its account of Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, outlines their journey towards the Promised Land. In fact, it's almost a mirror image of what Jesus came to achieve in the New Testament. But where Moses came to save the chosen nation of Israel on a human, temporary, level. Jesus came to achieve freedom for men of all races and their freedom now had an eternal dimension. The mission of Jesus was both INCLUSIVE and ETERNAL.

Then in Matthew 2: 17 it goes on to say, 'a voice is heard in Ramah, weeping with great mourning: Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.' This poses the question who was Rachel? And where is Ramah? Let's see why Ramah is so significant:

a) It is a city just a few miles south of Bethlehem

b) Jacob and Rachel were the parents of the twelve sons who went on to become the twelve tribes of Israel. The whole family was well known in Ramah and Rachel was buried there.

c) Ramah was the city, which was used as a staging post when the Israelites were exiled and sent to Babylon after they were defeated by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar.

As we consider the biblical history which Matthew weaves into this text, we come to more fully understand the connection to Matthew 2: 13-23, because the 'exodus' and the 'exile' were both significant landmarks in scripture. As we study these connections we can we see that it adds an incredible depth and richness to the Christmas story.

Matthew clearly explains that the 'good news' (hope) will always have its enemies. But the Herod of our story and the Herod's of today can never kill hope however hard they try. King Herod failed to kill hope in its infancy, and a later Herod (Antipas) failed to kill hope when Jesus was crucified.

The truth is, that despite the horror of the slaughter of the holy innocents, and despite whatever personal circumstances affect our own lives, at Christmas time the fact remains: As Christians, regardless of personal circumstances, we will always have a triumphant Christmas because of that hope, which Christ brings with his birth. All Christians can enter the full joy of Christmas. Yet, some due to circumstance will look on both sides of the same coin - be aware of the good and tangled side of the same tapestry.

What kind of Christmas will you have this year? Many will have challenging memories at this time of year, empty chairs around their table, missing loved ones, perhaps family living overseas, perhaps coping with illness or pain, or loneliness. Many a Christmas has passed for many of us here today and God willing we will celebrate many more to come.

Really, the ultimate message of today's gospel is that Christmas will come and Christmas will pass. Despite our personal circumstances, a true Christmas can only be celebrated in the light of the Eternal dimension of our gospel today. Our hope is that through the massacre, Christ was spared so that later He could save you and me; and that He has accomplished. The Christ of Christmas had to live in order that the Christ of Calvary might die and rise again in final victory so all sinners may have that choice of salvation.

Whether Christmas seems to have been good, bad or indifferent – and despite personal circumstances \- Christmas is, and will always remain, triumphant because of the eternal hope it brings through what God did in giving us his Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

AMEN

John The Baptist

Prepares The Way

John the Baptist Prepares the Way (Matthew 3: 1-12)

You know it's a year or so ago that I preached here on John the Baptist. Time really does fly. John was the cousin of our Lord Jesus and he came to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. The last time we looked at John, we concentrated on John being the prophetic fulfilment of the Old Testament. We also looked at the man himself, painting a kind of word image, a kind of tousled-haired man, with clothing of camelhair and a leather girdle around his waist; a kind of wild hermit living in the wilderness on wild honey and locusts.

But today, I would like to share with you three reasons why John was such a great man and New Testament prophet. It was Jesus himself who said of John: 'John was the greatest man who had ever been born.'

So let's look at some of the reasons Jesus considered John so great. Firstly, John was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a true man of God. Luke 15 tells us: 'For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor any strong drink, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.'

You know, as Christians we tend to forget, or never realise, that the Holy Spirit is living within us. We mentally minimise the overall effect the Holy Spirit has on our everyday life. The truth is, as Christians, we simply cannot function effectively without the Holy Spirit being active in our lives. Have you ever warmed up a cup of tea in the morning or topped it up from the kettle? When we do this it becomes more warming to our bodies. May be, we too, like that cup of tea can become spiritually cold and empty at times and also need topping up with the Holy Spirit. At times, we can also be tempted to live in our own strength. John's example of living in the power of the Holy Spirit should serve to remind us all to continue afresh, asking God to top us up, to fill us anew with his Holy Spirit.

Secondly, John was so great because of his honesty and uncompromising steadfast nature. We too should follow John's example, we too, as Christians, should be honest, and uncompromising in our truth and commitment. The world often wants Christians to dilute their faith down, tempting us to water-down the message of the gospel in order that the gospel will conform to the world's needs; rather than the world conforming to the needs of the gospel. So, we must remain steadfast and resist being enslaved by the standards of this world.

You know, there was a time in the early church when as Christians entered a town the Pharisees would cringe, afraid, because the Christian message would stir things up for those in authority. Martin Luther King in his great letter from Birmingham jail wrote: Things are different now, today the church is muffled, and we can so easily have an ineffective voice with an uncertain sound.

The church still stands in that shadow. We could so easily loose our authenticity unless we rediscover, recapture, that same sacrificial spirit of the early church. We could so easily be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with nothing of worth to say, and with no meaning or message for the twenty-first century.

When it comes to the Kingdom of God, Jesus and his cousin John make it abundantly clear that our message, the Christian message, is not a crowd pleaser. Jesus goes on to demonstrate that His message is no crowd pleaser, by his trial and by his crucifixion.

Thirdly, John was so great because he was a soul winner. Luke 16 tells us that: 'John the Baptist would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.' Therefore, in exactly the same way we like John should point people in the direction of Christ. General William Booth founder of the Salvation Army once said to his students: 'If I had my way, I wouldn't send you to Bible College, but instead, I would send you to hell for only five minutes, and surely you would return as real soul winners.'

You and I should be preparing people, our families, or friends and neighbours, all we meet in our everyday life; preparing them for the coming of Jesus Christ into their lives. Great missions and Crusades such as Billy Graham are fantastic and fruitful. But for you and me it's more likely to be simple everyday kindness to those we work, or live with, that will gently be that witness on the path of life.

John's greatness, his legacy is:

a) Being filled with the Holy Spirit.

b) Being steadfast and not conforming to the world.

c) Winning souls for God's Kingdom.

This is John's legacy to each one of us. So, we can follow in the great man's footprints. John calls each new Christian even today to be in this world, but not of this world.

AMEN

The Baptism

Of Christ

The Baptism of Christ (Matthew 3: 13 to End)

This morning we shall be looking at the baptism of Jesus: our text is taken from Matthew 3: 13 to end.

By the way of introduction, I would like to share a true story with you from a book called No Hiding Place, written by Corrie Ten Boon. In her book she tells how her great grandfather Wilhelm Ten Boon started a prayer group in 1844. It was held in Haalam, a Suburb of Amsterdam. Although her family were all Christians, the prayer group was held mainly for the Jewish community living in Amsterdam. Amazingly, this group continued for more than a hundred years, until in 1944, when the Ten Boon family were sent to concentration camps by the occupying German forces for helping Jewish families escape persecution - even though the Ten Boon family were not Jewish themselves.

Corrie tells how her father wore the yellow Star of David to completely identify with the Jewish people whom he loved, and for whom his family had been praying for over one-hundred years. Of course, Casper didn't have to wear the Star of David... he actually chose to wear it, even though it meant undergoing the same persecution, the same fate as the people he loved.

Our gospel story today tells of Jesus being baptised in the river Jordan by his cousin, John the Baptist. It poses a natural question: if Jesus was the sinless Son of God, why then did he undergo a baptism of repentance because he certainly didn't need it?

I believe the answer is mirrored in the action of Casper Ten Boon, when he voluntarily took upon himself the stigma, the shame of the yellow Star of David. By his actions he identified with those he loved; even unto death.

The baptism of Christ is a prefiguring, of the stigma, the cross of shame, which was to come. By his baptism, Jesus was identifying himself completely with the whole human race. He loved us so much He freely chose to take upon himself the penalty of our sins... yes, even unto death on the cross.

You know... we tend to see baptism as a rather nice event, a family event, a family celebration and so it is. But in biblical times religious baptism was quite a shocking thing for a Jew to contemplate. That's because the Jews considered themselves as spotless. Without sin because of their strict observance of the Old Testament Law of Moses (the Mosaic Law), which they observed to the last jot and tittle. And so, for a Jew, baptism was considered unnecessary.

The only baptism the Jews recognised was reserved for Gentiles who had converted to Judaism. Those converts were called proselytes and such proselytes were believed to be unclean, unworthy to be a Jew, unless they were baptised. The proselytes were required by Jewish Law (along with their family) to undergo a baptism of repentance.

So, our story today tells of John baptising his cousin, Jesus, as if he were a proselyte. As though (to use a first century Jewish term), Jesus was a gentile 'dog.'

What then is the significance of the baptism of Jesus, and what does it mean for you and me today? Well as ever, we can find our answer in scripture. In Paul's letter to the Hebrews it tells us: 'Therefore, since we have a great high priest, who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the son of God: let us hold firmly to the faith we confess: for we don't have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin. Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.'

ANECDOTE: When Josey and I were in Spain our balcony overlooked the beach, sea and beautiful bay of Altea. We sat many hours in the sun looking at it. But yet... the beach only became a reality when we left our balcony, went down there and mixed with other people. Only then did it become a reality.

You know, some people think of Jesus like that. Jesus looking down from the heavens observing us, His people, but it's not like that at all. We are not objects for observation, or some source of conversation for Him, because God gifted to us His only Son, sent him down to identify with all humanity, to actually become one of us. Jesus comes down, joins us on our pathway, travelling the road alongside us; sharing the pilgrimage of your life and my life.

Jesus identifies with us in all seasons, in our joys and in our sorrows, in our successes and our failures. Jesus is interested in all aspects of our lives. We can sum this up by reminding ourselves that His identification with humanity:

a) Starts with His Baptism.

b) Is completed in Crucifixion, and;

c) Is underwritten by His Resurrection.

If we still need convincing, then his baptism was prophesied through Old Testament scripture and was fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus himself. It wasn't some isolated misunderstood event but an event of cosmic proportions having an eternal dimension.

AMEN

The Temptation

Of

Jesus

The Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4: 1-11)

I begin today with the story of a fighter-pilot ace, the Red Baron. He was perhaps the most famous fighter pilot of all time credited with over eighty enemy planes shot down. Then one day over the river Somme, he spotted a Canadian plane - a stray. The Red Baron immediately gave chase, flying fast and low, banking and diving as he chased the Canadian plane. So intense was his concentration that he didn't realise he was already well behind enemy lines. Suddenly a second Canadian fighter came out of the sun, and shot down the Red Baron. It was pride, and temptation, which caused the Red Baron's downfall.

There are also many Christians who unwittingly stray into enemy territory. We could say that Satan shoots down many Christians, as they are tempted and stray from their path. The simple fact is, many Christians under estimate the Devil and misunderstand his whiles. The very word devil originally comes from the root-word meaning - deceiver.

Today our text Matthew 4:1-11, is about Jesus being tempted by Satan, for forty days and nights, whilst He wandered the wilderness. Towards the end of this time, when cold nights and hunger were really taking a toll on His humanity - when He was at his lowest ebb - that's when Satan came and tempted Him. The inhospitable desert wilderness would be scorching hot by day and icy cold by night, with no food and little protection - perhaps in his humanity - Jesus was afraid of the things ahead of Him and what he would be called to face in later years.

As we come to the season of Lent, we realise that the season also mimics the forty days in the wilderness, which Jesus faced. Just like Jesus, we too face many temptations in life, although ours may not be as dramatic and ours may come in more subtle packages. At Lent, we also face the same spiritual questions that faced Jesus. It's a time of spiritual self-examination. So our forty days of Lent, in a way, mimics the Lord's time in the wilderness, and the Lord's human anxieties as we also seek to gain a deeper, a more profound, insight into what God wants us to do and how He wants us to behave.

There is so much in our text today. We could look deeper into the subject of temptation; its nature, and how to avoid it. We could use it to discern God's will for our lives. Actually, talking about Satan is always fraught with difficulties. It's often an unwelcome topic. Nevertheless, I'd like to ask how you picture Satan in your mind and where is his abode?

Do you think of him as our culture (and society) depicts him; as having a red body, evil eyes, and two horns on his forehead, with long black tail and holding a trident spear? Where do you imagine he lives? Where is his Kingdom? Is it some fiery inferno in the bowls of the Earth where he rules his dominion? These myths go back to the Dark Ages. Being passed down from generation to generation. The popular images of Satan and his abode owe more to social-culture, comic strips and film, rather than what the bible tells us. And because we often tend to read scripture through the tinted spectacles of our culture, and popular belief, we can be lulled (or seduced) into a false sense of security.

Let's take a look at the biblical truth about the Devil. If you speak to any of the great generals (or military leaders) they will explain that one of the basic principles of warfare is to 'know your enemy.' Therefore, we owe it to ourselves and to our faith to filter out some of those popular myths and beliefs, we hold, regarding Satan. We need to know our enemy and understand the biblical truths about him. Really our battle - and it is a battle, make no mistake - is fought in the spiritual realm of good versus evil.

Let's examining three facts most of us think we know about Satan, that scripture proves to be wrong.

First: we often think of Satan as being in charge of hell. We think of it as his Head Quarter. But the bible teaches otherwise; clearly saying that is not true.

Matthew 4: 8-9 says, 'Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and their glory, if He would only fall down and worship him.' Note what is said here: Satan offered all the kingdoms of this world.

When we look at John's Gospel 12:13, 14:30 and 16:12 it clearly tells us: 'Satan is the Prince of this world. Also in 1 John 5:19 it says, 'The whole world is under the control of the evil one.' And again in Ephesians 2:2 it says, 'Satan is the Prince of the power of the air.'

These scriptures clearly indicate an earthly (not spiritual) ruler. Yes... Satan will spend time in hell but only with his demons as a punishment. How do we know this? In Matthew 25:41 it says, 'Hell has been prepared for the Devil and his demons.' Look at Revelation 20:2 and 20:10 - both speak of Satan being punished in hell.

Second: we sometimes believe Satan is all knowing and everywhere, thereby suggesting he is omnipresent. But the bible teaches us only one entity is all knowing and omnipresent and it certainly isn't Satan - but God himself.

In 1 John 3:20 it says: 'God knows everything.' And in Hebrews 4:13: 'Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.'

The fact is Satan of scripture is neither all-knowing nor omnipresent. We could easily be tempted into thinking Satan has parity with Jesus, that he has much the same power and authority as our Lord - but that's biblically not true.

Third: we sometimes imagine that Satan is the source of all temptation. When things go wrong we can imagine the Devil is on our case, or that he's after us! BUT it needs to be said, Satan is NOT the source of ALL temptation because temptation can well up from our own hearts. We need to know our enemy for sure, but we must also need to know our own weaknesses too.

Nevertheless, be assured that when the Devil does tempt us, we have all the resources we need to cope and to overcome. Check out Ephesians 6:12 which says, 'Put on the whole armour of God, to stand against all the tricks of the Devil, for we fight not against human beings, but against wicked evil forces in the spiritual realms, and all the cosmic powers and rulers of this dark age.'

To conclude let us recap:

  1. Satan is not in charge of hell, but Prince of this earth.

  2. Satan is not all knowing, nor omnipresent – only God.

  3. Satan is not the only source of temptation. Know your enemy and know yourself better.

AMEN

Jesus Calls Matthew

Jesus Calls Matthew (Matthew 9: 9-13)

Today we celebrate St. Matthew as an evangelist and apostle. Before Jesus called him, Matthew was a tax collector for the occupying Roman forces. And because of his position he would be hated by his own countrymen, an outcast in society, treated as a collaborator.

We know Matthew was of the priestly tribe of Levi. All of his ancestors had been priests over many generations, but Matthew was in a way very much like the prodigal son. He turned his back on family traditions and broke family ties, going his own way in the pursuit of money. As the prodigal son, he deserted family; he had gone his own greedy way. Not only was he an outcast - but because of his job and the kind of people he associated with - he was considered to be religiously and ceremonially unclean.

As Jesus called him, he also went with him to his home to share a meal. At that meal there would have been other social outcasts, untouchables and ritually unclean people. Jesus heard the Pharisees outside, they were debating and grumbling that Jesus was eating with tax collectors, other sinners, saying to the disciples: 'Why is your teacher eating with sinners?'

We hear Jesus' reply in verses 13 where He says, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but only they who are sick.' He continued by saying, 'Go there and learn for yourselves what this means.'

From this scripture we can clearly see that Jesus comes to ordinary people, sinners, just like you and me, saying, 'I desire not sacrifice, for I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.' This makes the idea of discipleship radically different from the idea of the Pharisees.

The whole thrust of New Testament theology is to love the sinner, whilst hating the sin.

The Pharisees represent those whose mind-set is addicted to slavishly following manmade rituals, rules and regulations. And by addiction to their manmade worldly ideals, they were actually cutting themselves off from our God of compassion and love. That still holds true today; for many clergy and church members continue to serve rites and rituals, which are manmade and so distance themselves from our loving God.

By calling Matthew to become a disciple, Jesus is demonstrating his love and compassion for the sinner. Showing his willingness to meet us exactly where we are, not where we should be. We continue to be called to become more Christ-like, and to follow His wisdom, priorities and His compassion.

So how can you and I successfully follow in Jesus' footsteps and what does this text teach us for our daily life as disciples?

Two ideas, spring to mind.

FIRST: we can be sure that Jesus came to save sinners. They were His obvious targets, His priority. This means that no one can be so sinful, or so evil, as to fall outside of His sphere of compassion and love - NO ONE!

SECOND: if we are to follow Him and become a disciple, then we must follow His example. I believe the most important words of our text today are: 'Go therefore and learn what this means for yourself.' We should be able to mentally separate the actual sin, whilst still loving the sinner. To hate the sin - yet love the sinner.

Can we do that?

ANECDOTE: as a younger curate, I once called to see a parishioner, an older lady who was off work sick. Whilst enjoying a cup of tea and talking to her, I discovered she worked in the café at Gala bingo in our local town. I promised when she returned to work, I would visit her at work and have a tea.

Some weeks later when she returned to work, I did as promised. As I entered the hall resplendent in my shiny new dog collar (the bingo was in session), the place fell deadly silent. Even the ball machine went dead as all eyes turned to see the vicar standing there in the entrance. I gulped, and slowly walked down the hall to the cafe at the front of the building. Every eye seemed to follow my progress until I disappeared into the café; only then did normal service resume.

Afterwards, at the end of the bingo session, I made my way to the exit and said a cheery goodbye to each player as they left.

I'm not saying everyone who goes to bingo is a sinner but simply giving an example of meeting people where they are. Over the next few weeks, I continued to visit each Thursday afternoon. When people had accepted my presence there (it took several visits), they gradually warmed to me, which led to them sharing some of their troubles and fears.

You see, it's only when we are prepared as Jesus said to go and to learn what this means that we can begin to spiritually grow. Occasionally we need to be willing to roll up our sleeves and go to work on the coalface. It's only when we go and meet people, how and where they actually are, that God will use us powerfully. It's only when we work in unison with the scriptural teaching of Jesus, when we interface with others that we'll see our lives light up.

That's when God's will is done and we start to see all kinds of miracles happen.

AMEN

God Cares

Even For

The Sparrows

God Cares Even for the Sparrows (Matthew 10: 16-39)

The twenty-three verses of today's gospel reading are so full of God's wisdom and advice that it's difficult to decide what to focus on. But one sentence that caught my eye was: 'Whatever I tell you in the darkness, speak out in the light; and whatever you hear in your ear, preach from the rooftops.'

What does this mean? Well, I don't know about you but I seem to be able to listen best in the darkness. It seems to make my hearing more acute. Someone once said, 'It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.' But yet, there is some darkness that cannot be dispelled by a light. God does not speak louder, or anymore, in the darkness, because He is speaking to each one of us all the time – 24/7.

It's just us who need to listen more.

The more I think about it, the more I'm sure we are more prone to listen in the darkness. Do you know that lovely feeling, when it's dark and we crawl into our beds for the night, it's almost like a cat purring. We pull the covers over us and snuggle down for a welcome night's sleep. In that warm, pleasant darkness, it's a good time to listen to God - as He speaks to us - we have less distractions and our hearing is perhaps more attuned. Why...? Because night-time brings relief from chores and the work we do. In fact sometimes our days can be so consumed with noise and chores that I wonder, if it wasn't for the darkness we might not hear God at all!

But, there is that other kind of darkness (I mentioned earlier). Not just the absence of light, but also the darkness of despair and heart break. I'm sure most of us have been there at one-point or another in our lives. Maybe a friend disappointed you: and it's dark. Maybe someone you know is sick, really sick, and isn't improving: and it's dark. Maybe you're older and tired, the stairs seem steeper, people need to speak louder: and it's dark. Maybe you're younger, coping with work, children and pressure: and it's dark. Maybe you feel you have let someone down, you're sorry, and don't know how what to do: and it's dark.

Hearts, which have never experienced despair, won't have much to shout from the rooftops; hearts that have never been broken, will never adequately empathise with someone else's broken heart. Hearts that have never walked in the valley of the shadow of death, will never fully appreciate the joy of life.

Darkness, wherever it come from \- be it despair, depression, or loneliness - is debilitating. Whatever kind of darkness we may be suffering from, if we listen we will hear God speak. The deeper the darkness the more we need to listen. If we don't listen intently, then we will not hear. And we do our best listening in the darkness. We are told whatever we hear from God in the darkness we must speak out in the light.

The final sentence I would like us to focus on today reads: 'Are two sparrows not sold for a copper coin, yet not one of them falls to the ground, apart from the Fathers will.'

Sparrows as we know are plentiful, one of the least significant birds, carrying fleas; its colour is drab, they are not considered beautiful and they don't stand out to us. Yet, not one of them falls to the ground without the Fathers will.

That being the case, whatever happens to us, is first 'filtered' through the will of our Father. If God cares for every sparrow, then how much more will He care for you and me? This can be a difficult truth to comprehend, especially when we're living through sickness, loneliness, despair or any other kind of difficulty. But remember, steel is tempered, made harder in the fire. Gold is refined, purified in the fire. And often life itself is tested, is refined, is purified and even sanctified through the struggles we experience. Whatever comes out of the fire is stronger, purer, higher, holier and ultimately better than it would have been without the struggles of life.

So, when it's dark, it's never so dark that God is not there.

Corrie Ten Boon and her sister Betsy (modern day Christians ministering to the Jewish community in Amsterdam) were sent to a Nazi concentration camp where conditions were beyond despair. One night as they lay in their bunks, it was dark, and they were talking of the horrors of their lives, Betsy said, 'this is hell Corrie... we're in hell.'

Betsy never survived the camp but Corrie did, she was helped by remembering Betsy's words: 'Corrie, you've got to get out of here and tell the world, that no matter how deep the pit of suffering is, God's love is always deeper still.'

I leave you with this thought: has God told you something in the darkness, which you need to speak out in the light?

AMEN

The

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1-9)

The transfiguration of Christ, most likely took place on Mount Hermon, which stands 9000 feet above sea level. The characters in the text are the Old Testament Prophets, Moses and Elijah, with the three disciples Peter, James and John, and of course God the Father and Jesus the Son.

Just a few days earlier Jesus had been talking with the disciples trying to explain to them about his forth-coming crucifixion, death and resurrection. They were confused and perhaps depressed by the thoughts of what was to come and were understandably afraid. The disciples were really at a loss to understand: they could not grasp it because they were thinking in worldly terms - just as you and I might think. Jesus was trying to coax them into thinking about it spiritually... in terms of eternity.

The disciples were taken up Mount Hermon shortly after Jesus disclosed to them his destiny. On that night Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus gradually change. His dusty robes for a white shimmering gown; His face shone as the sun - a dazzling sight! It's hard for us to imagine the change, and the disciples were perhaps scared by the event.

We will look closer at what exactly this transfiguration means for you and me today; for the disciples it revealed Christ's true and divine nature, proving He was no mere man.

We are told, and meant to notice, that the light, the glow, did not shine upon Him but the light shone within Him (outwardly). So, not only did His clothes shine but also, Jesus himself - being irradiated and glorified - and Peter, James and John were witnesses.

You know, we live amongst people who are not believers, have no faith, no Christian experience. Yet, each one of us has encountered God in our own way. In some way each life here today has also experienced a kind of transfiguration. Each one of us has been glorified from the inside \- outwardly. Each one of us today can say, 'Yes it happened to me.'

After the transfiguration the disciples were told not to speak of it to others until after the crucifixion. Each one of them had been given just a little glimpse of heaven. We too, at some time, will also have our mountaintop experiences. But the thing is this; no one actually lives on the mountaintop. Most people live in the valleys and glens below. Despite our occasional mountaintop experience, and glimpse of the divine from time to time, you and I are called and equipped to serve those who actually live in the valleys.

We're also told that Moses and Elijah were present at the transfiguration, talking with Jesus, this symbolises the link between the Old and the New Testament, and is a clear sign that Jesus came as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies.

Then we hear God himself speaking from the shi-can-nah (glory cloud) saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, listen to him.'

How often do we attend to Gods instruction to listen to Jesus? Do we listen? Are we obedient?

Listen to him.

Notice that the disciples were afraid and lay prostrate on the ground, covering their eyes. Jesus came to them, helped them to arise, saying, 'Do not be afraid.' Jesus as always is approachable - even at the time of His transfiguration. He is always there with us, willing to help. So, remember today as we stumble and fall, Jesus is there for us, saying, 'Arise, do not be afraid.'

ANECDOTE: There was once a magician, working as an entertainer on a large cruise liner. Every time the show was on the parrot, belonging to the captain, would squawk at every trick and every illusion, crying, 'It's a trick, it's a trick.' Then, 'He's a cheat, he's a cheat.'

One night during a great storm the liner began to sink and everyone looked to get into the lifeboats. The parrot and magician climbed into the same lifeboat with many others and for two days the parrot never took his eyes off of the magician - they sat looking at each other intently. Suddenly the parrot squawked, 'Okay... okay... so, what have you done with the ship?'

This is a funny story because the parrot couldn't understand where the ship had gone. The whole incident was beyond his understanding. Perhaps Peter, James and John felt much the same. The transfiguration was beyond their understanding too because they were trying to figure it out in rational, human, terms.

So, what exactly does the transfiguration mean for you and me today? Well, it should make a difference to the way we lead our daily lives.

Let's recap what today's scripture means to us:

a) It serves to prove the authority, power and Son ship of Jesus Christ.

b) It gives hope that we may have mountaintop experiences: glimpses of heaven.

c) It shows the availability, the approachability of Jesus to us.

There is so much to glean from this account of the transfiguration. Just, spend a moment now. Close your eyes and think again through the account. See the radiance, the glow of Jesus. Hear God's voice once more echoing, 'Listen to Him... listen to Him.'

AMEN

The Workers

In The Vineyard

The Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20: 1-16)

I'm sure you know a good teacher never gives his pupils the answer. Instead he sets the scene and poses a question, then encourages the pupil to tease-out the answer for himself.

The parable of the workers in the vineyard is just such an example of how Jesus taught his disciples. I wonder what you thought of this passage when you first read it. It poses so many questions, and leaves us pondering what on earth the vineyard owner's accounting systems must have been like.

Many are confused by this passage, because the workers who worked for only one hour are paid the same wage as those who toiled in the hot sun all day. In our view, fairness tells us, the wages paid didn't make sense, but that's because we're using our own worldly standards. Therefore, it remains as confusing to us as it would have been to the original hearers two thousand years ago.

Here, Jesus doesn't use the standards of this mercenary world, but rather the standards of God's Kingdom, and we know the standards of God's Kingdom are completely at odds with the standards of this world. After all, didn't Jesus come to turn our world upside down? Once we realise this fact, we begin to examine the parable through 'Kingdom spectacles' rather than 'worldly spectacles' and it begins to make sense.

One of the keys to understanding this parable lays in the preceding chapter - Matthew 19: 27-30. In these verses we hear Peter, the spokesman, asking: 'Lord, we have left all and followed you, therefore what shall we have.'

Jesus answers: 'Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children or their fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and be given eternal life.'

Here, the disciples still use earthly standards to do their accounting – the what's in it for us syndrome - they had been with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry and were asking Him, what bonus or payoff they would receive for seniority of service!

Notice also in the final verse of the preceding chapter we have this statement: 'But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.' Also note that the final verse of chapter twenty has the same statement in reverse order: 'But many who are now last will be first, and many who are now first will be last.' Here, Jesus is emphasizing its importance: the statement stands like two bookends before and after the parable. It's almost like a picture frame around a beautiful painting.

You see, Jesus wants His disciples to know this: the rewards of God's Kingdom, both now and for eternity, are NOT dispensed according to seniority or time served. They are in fact based on God's grace. It's all about God's grace... God's amazing grace!!! This is a parable of God's grace in action. The rewards of God's kingdom cannot be counted in earthly terms by efficiency, or hours worked, but the rewards come solely and exclusively through Gods amazing grace.

You know, God doesn't pay wages... God dispenses gifts. This means the last in the Kingdom of God will still have full remission for their sins; still receive eternal life, in exactly the same way as a veteran Christian.

All the jealousies and discontent generated by this story arise from the seemingly scandalous mathematics of God's grace. In the final analysis, none of us are paid according to our merits, for none of us comes even close to satisfying God's requirements. If you and I were paid on the basis of fairness, then I'm afraid we'd all be destined for Hades.

This parable makes no earthly sense and that's the whole point.

Brothers and sisters, it's not about the time we put in but rather the heart we put into the time we have left here on earth.

AMEN

The Landowner

And

His Tenants

The Landowner and His Tenants (Matthew 21: 33 – end)

Our text today is from the parable of the landowner and his greedy tenants. The landowner had planted the vines, built a watchtower, and installed a wine press, put up protective fences, the entire infrastructure to prosper a vineyard. Then he went on a long journey, leaving tenants to tend his vines for which they agreed to pay a fair rent.

When it was time to pay their rent, it wasn't forthcoming. Therefore, the landowner sent messengers to collect the rent for him that the greedy tenants owed. Some of his messengers were beaten and stoned; others were killed. Eventually the landowner sent his son, believing the tenants would surely respect him. But likewise they also killed his son; just as they had killed the previous messengers he had sent.

This parable, as all others, was couched with phrases and imagery, which hearers of the day would easily understand. But for you and me, it's more difficult to decipher because the phrases and imagery used mean less to us in our modern day society, which is far removed from the land, agriculture and animals.

Let's look closer at the characters in this story. The tenants represented the Pharisees, the leaders of the Jews. This parable was meant to condemn the Pharisees as being unfit to lead. This made them furious. They wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of how people would react because He was popular at that time.

The vineyard represents the Israelites, the Jews, God's chosen people.

The messengers who were sent first, represent all the prophets who were previously sent by God to the Jews.

The landowner obviously represents God, with the landowner's son being Jesus.

Then, towards the end of the story the focus moves to Jesus and we witness Him speaking of Himself as the cornerstone, which the builders have rejected as worthless. This phrase harks back to Old Testament prophecy. It says in Psalm 118: 22, 'The stone which the builders rejected as worthless, turned out to be the most important stone of all.' If we watched a modern bricklayer at work, he would first set out the stones or bricks at each corner using a triangle with a ratio of 5-4-3 to achieve a right angle. He would then place the cornerstones before stretching a line between the two opposite corners. This would form a guide to lay the bricks against, each touching the string. As the wall grew higher, a plumb line or spirit level would be used to keep it perpendicular.

The whole purpose of the cornerstone was to ensure the whole building is true, had integrity and strength. No other stone or brick is laid or set, without reference to that first stone. So, Jesus is likening himself to such a cornerstone, rejected by the builders (the Pharisees), as worthless, but later (in the New Testament) turns out to be, is finally recognised as the most important stone of all.

When we understand this story in its context, we understand it's meaning more. This then leads us to ask ourselves afresh. What does Jesus mean to you and me today - the question is very personal - one, which needs an individual answer?

Does Jesus remain, for you the cornerstone, which is rejected as worthless or has Jesus become, for you, the true cornerstone in your life? Think about this carefully. It is a major question each successive generation must ponder and answer for themselves.

If we still remain unsure the benchmark is this... how much fruit are we producing? Not the tomatoes, strawberries or apples we grow in our garden, but rather the spiritual fruit we produce on our pilgrimage. If we are on the right path, then our lives will draw others into God's Kingdom.

Are our lives attracting others by the way we live, because that's the fruit I'm thinking of? We can only produce fruit for the Kingdom if our whole life is actually lived with reference to the cornerstone.

AMEN

The

Crucifixion

The Crucifixion (Matthew 27: 27-56)

Over the years we have all become used to icons and artists impressions of the crucifixion. But whatever our image is of crucifixion, we can never fully understand or appreciate the full horror and pain. It's so gruesome; we sometimes don't want to consider it. We have all heard the word excruciating, which originates from the mechanics of the crucifixion - ex-cruci-ating.

Crucifixion was designed to be a torturous, lingering death. It begins with scourging as scripture puts it. Being whipped with a flagrum - a short whip with lead or sharp bones embedded in the throngs. Under Jewish law the victim could only be given thirty-nine lashes. Under Roman law, double or even treble this number of lashes was administered. Scourging meant that each stroke would send the leaded throngs tearing into the skin, tearing at the flesh, muscle and sinews. Forty lashes alone could often leave the victim fatally injured.

That was just the start for Jesus.

Roman soldiers then beat Him on the legs, head and body with a long stick before roughly placing a crown of thorns on his head.

Then, the cross beam - the horizontal part of the cross - would be tied across the arms and neck. It weighed about one hundred pounds or forty kilogram. In such a state, stumbling towards Golgotha, Jesus would have struggled and fallen many times. Because His arms were tied each fall would wound and crush His face and chest, causing damage to the muscles around His heart and chest.

It has been proved the Romans pierced the wrist with the nails - not the palms as we sometimes believe as this would tear away not holding the weight of the victim.

Ultimately death came through asphyxiation because to exhale the victim had to thrust up the torso on spiked ankles and down again to inhale. This caused an on-going cycle of pain and terrible muscle cramps. And because of the body's weight, the shoulders would quickly become dislocated, causing yet more agony. To hasten death the soldiers would usually break the victim's legs, which meant he could no longer thrust the torso upwards, causing asphyxiation and a quick death.

When they came to Jesus he was already dead so his legs were not broken in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy, which said, 'Not a bone in the Messiah's body will be broken.'

As a final act - also fulfilling Old Testament prophecy - the soldier pierced his side with a spear. We are told blood and water poured out. This would be consistent with the chest being badly bruised and the pericardial sac around the heart filling with blood and water when Jesus had stumbling earlier carrying His cross.

Death may have been caused by any of His injuries, or a combination of all, but it could also be said, with some truth, that Christ died of a broken heart.

It's heart breaking to go through these gruesome details but sometimes we need to fully understand the shocking agony of crucifixion. It's compelling to realise the depth of Christ's suffering. It gives us a clearer sense of our calling as Christians.

If by going through the mechanics of crucifixion is to mean anything to us... if we can't feel the pain in some small way... then we have little hope.

Just sit quietly for a moment and think about the price that has been paid for our salvation. Such thoughts should have the power to fan the flame of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and deepen our faith.

AMEN

The Great

Commission

The Great Commission (Matthew 28: 16–20)

Here we have four short verses \- which nevertheless are vital instructions from the mouth of Jesus himself - very simply said, with clarity, which sets them aside from the way Jesus teaches us in His other parables. Here, we are not left to puzzle out an answer because the words of the great commission were in fact a command: a command to 'go.'

These verses appear at the very end of Matthew's Gospel. Where Jesus was giving perhaps his final post-crucifixion edict. He begins to deliver his instructions saying, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples. Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them everything I have commanded you, and I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.'

The disciples knew for certain now that they served a master whose authority on earth and in heaven was beyond all question. By apostolic succession that same commission still stands for you and me today. It's as though we are all runners in a relay race. We are called to take the baton from those who have gone before us and pass it onto the next generation.

I wonder how well we will run the race, especially the crucial handing over of the baton to others.

Look around any historic church... people can be quite fanatical about their history and maintenance. Yet, the church remains only a beautiful building. What we are called to pass on isn't so much the building but the foundations of our faith. Today as I stand before you in this historic church, I know clearly why I'm here. I was asked in my retirement to 'fill in' for another retired clergyman who was taken sick. Both of us, like many others, had been helping until a new vicar was appointed to fill the vacancy in this parish. I promised to help out and when the new vicar came I was asked if I would continue, which I did.

But, do you know why you are here?

Look back at your own calling. What drew you here? Maybe it was many years ago? Who was it that passed the baton on to you?

And so the commission continues until our Lord finally returns.

Jesus knew it would be a tremendous task, so he promised to send a helper. The helper promised was the Holy Spirit who is still available to us today like He was to the disciples two thousand years ago.

Jesus came and delivered His great commission achieving three things:

  1. To assure them who He was.

  2. To issue the great commission.

  3. To promise the Holy Spirit as a helper.

That commission echoes down the generations and remains in place for you and me today.

How can we follow the command?

To be a successful athlete you must train to develop stamina, likewise we also need to train spiritually. Develop our ability to articulate our faith to others. Some are called to be great evangelists - like Billy Graham, working internationally to bring salvation to millions.

What about you and me?

Biblical scholars know that the word go can be translated many ways and many believe the correct translation and meaning is as you go. That in a way takes a great deal of pressure off, because the great commission for most Christians simply means that simple kindness as we go along in our daily lives.

You know it's said that faith is contagious and is usually caught rather than taught. So in our often-mundane lives, we need to simply observe kindness, a quality the modern world seems to have forgotten. We should be active in our communities so people know who we are, and what we stand for. We should be the ones people turn to when in trouble (or have a problem). We need to actually earth our faith by spending time, having a presence with those in need. One single kindness, even simply listening or talking to someone who is lonely, may be that spark which sets the whole forest alight. Passing on the spiritual baton as we go, starting with those small one to one acts of kindness and compassion.

So then, let's confirm our commitment in some tangible way. Reaffirm it by being proactive. The challenge is this: start the week by doing some simply kindness for those we meet. Then we will be living up to our calling as God's children. This week let's begin to operate not in our own strength but in the strength of God's Holy Spirit.

'As we go' this week, let us bring a little of heaven to earth - for someone.

AMEN

Preview Of

Mark's Gospel

Authorship

Gospel the authorship of Mark's Gospel is anonymous, the early church fathers unanimously ascribed it's authorship to Mark. He was not one of the original twelve disciples who were called by Jesus. But later became an apostle and was known as one of the four evangelists. He was also a companion and interpreter for St. Paul and assisted him on his missionary journeys. Later working alongside Paul in Rome. Going on later to found the church in Africa and becoming the Bishop if Alexandria. In the New Testament Mark is also called 'John Mark' which are his Jewish and Gentile names respectively. In some versions of the authorised Bible he was known as Marcus. Mark was also a cousin of Barnabas (see Col. 4:10).His mother was known as Mary and had a house in Jerusalem where the early church used to meet (see Act 12:12). Mark would have been only a teenager when he came to faith. Although he wasn't an eye witness to the work of Jesus, he would have gleaned most of his knowledge through St Paul who was his mentor.

Readership

Marks Gospel was originally written in Greek, for the Gentiles of Rome and others in Galilee. This can be surmised because he felt it necessary to explain details of Jewish law, traditions and customs as well as translating Aramaic term. His style of writing would be readily accepted by the common man in the street, because he wrote in an easy to understand way. Also appealing to those new to Christianity. An uncomplicated book getting right to the point, an easy read for the working masses.

Date of writing

Mark is the second book of the New Testament, one of the four canonical Gospels and one of the three synoptic Gospels, as well as the shortest. Modern research by Biblical scholars favour an early date. This would support the general consensus that Mark's Gospel was used as a source, when the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were written later. Therefore it's most likely to have been written before 62 AD, possibly about 50 / 60 AD. But bear in mind that dates of all the Gospels are only at best estimates and there's no way we can ever be sure.

However it's vitally important to realise that all the Gospels are inspired by God, for all men, for all time!

Purpose / themes

Mark's purpose was to make a historical record of St Peter's encounters and his work alongside Jesus, the emphasis is on action rather than words. Written as Peters reflections on the ministry of Jesus and passed on to Mark, who was not an eye witness himself. Written for a gentile readership, who had very little knowledge of Jewish culture and perhaps less awareness of the Old Testament. Secondly, his purpose was to present the works of Jesus to the Gentile masses, especially to encourage them in the face of severe persecution. It's a piece of writing having a frenetic pace, with an underlying urgency in the message. His account is not merely a collection of stories, but rather an urgent narrative stressing Jesus' call to salvation, not only to the Jew but also available to the Gentiles. In a dynamic profession, the disciples led by Peter acknowledge their faith in Jesus (MK. 8:29-30) even though they failed to understand His Messiahship until after the resurrection.

Outline of Mark's Gospel.

The beginning of the Gospel. (Ch. 1:1-13)

Jesus' public ministry. (Ch. 1:14-9:5)

Galilee to Jerusalem. (Ch.10:1-52)

Last week in and near Jerusalem. (Ch. 11:1-15:47)

The Resurrection. (Ch. 16:1-8)

Appearances and ascension of Jesus. (Ch. 16:9-20)

Conclusion

Jesus is presented by Mark as the suffering servant of God (MK. 10:45). As one who came to serve and to sacrifice for our sake, that we can be encouraged to respond and do the same for others. We too must become the servants of all. (MK. 10:44).Self-sacrifice should transcend our need for recognition or reward. This is a Gospel imperative not an option. Overall his Gospel is about putting action above words, a plain and simple bugle call to discipleship. If only we could have the pace and urgency his words imply then we could change the world just as Jesus did.

The Baptism

Of Jesus

The Baptism Of Jesus (Mark 1: 4 - 11)

This morning we look at the Baptism of Jesus. Our text is from Mark 1: 4 - 11. By way of introduction, I begin by sharing a true story taken from the book 'No hiding place' by Corrie Ten-boom.

In her book she tells how her great grandfather Wilhelm Ten-boom, who started a prayer group in the year 1844. It was held in Haarlem a suburb of Amsterdam. Although all her family were Christians the prayer group was run for the Jewish people of Amsterdam.

Amazingly the Jewish prayer group led by the family, ran continuously for over 100 yrs. until the year 1944. When the Ten-boom family were all sent to the concentration camps by the occupying German forces for helping the Jewish families to escape persecution. Corrie tells how her father Casper Ten-boom, wore the yellow Star of David, to completely identify with the Jewish people whom he loved.

Casper didn't have to wear the Star of David, he close wear it, to completely identify with the Jewish people. Even though it meant undergoing the same persecution, and the same fate as the people he loved. Our gospel story today, tells of Jesus being baptized in the river Jordan by his cousin John the Baptist.

This poses a natural question. If Jesus was the sinless son of God why did He subject himself to a baptism of repentance? Because he certain didn't need to.

I believe the answer is mirrored by the actions of Casper Ten Boom, who took on the stigma, and the shame of the yellow cross of David to completely identify with those he loved even to death in a concentration camp.

The baptism of Jesus, is really the start of his earthly ministry, prefiguring the stigma of crucifixion and the resurrection which was to come. By his baptism Jesus was completely identifying himself with the whole human race. He loved us so much, he freely choose to take upon himself the penalty of our sins, yes, even to death on the cross.

You know we tend to see baptism as a rather nice event, a family time of celebration, but it's not always been like that. In biblical times, religious baptism was quite a shocking thing for a Jew to contemplate. The Jews considered themselves spotless, without sin. Because of their strict observance of the

Old Testament Law of Moses (the Mosaic Law), which they observed to the last jot and tittle.

Therefore, to the Jew, baptism was thought totally unnecessary. The only baptism the Jews did recognised, was reserved for those Gentiles who converted to Judaism. Such converts were called proselytes, and were considered unclean, unworthy to be Jewish, unless they and their whole family subjected themselves to a baptism of repentance.

So our text today tells of John the Baptist, baptising his cousin Jesus, as though he was a 'proselyte.' As though he was, (to use a first century Jewish term) A Gentile 'Dog.'

So what is the significance of the baptism of Jesus and what does it mean for you and me today?

As always we find the answers in scripture, in Paul's letter to the Hebrews, it tells us:

'Therefore, since we have a great high priest, who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the son of God. Let us hold firm to the faith we confess. For we don't have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way. Just as we are - yet without sin. So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy and grace, to help in our time of need'

As Jesus the son of God, was sinless and pure, he certainly didn't need to go through a baptism of repentance, but he did so:-

FIRST: To identify fully with our humanity.

SECOND: To embrace men / women of all races and creeds.

THIRD: To set a precedent and establish a pattern for future baptism.

ANECDOTE: When Josey and I lived on the Costa Blanca on the Spanish mainland, our balcony overlooked the beautiful bay of Altea, we would sit in the sun admiring the view for many hours.

But yet the bay the view and the beach, only became reality, when we left our balcony and went down to the beach to mix with everyone else, only then did it become a reality. People think that Jesus is like that, looking down from heaven, observing his people, looking down on us as little ants scurrying about.

But it's not like that at all. Because God gifted us his son. He came to identify with all humanity, coming down to join us on the road, alongside us, sharing in the pilgrimage of our lives. Jesus identifies with us in all seasons, in our sorrows, in our joys, in our successes and in our failures. Jesus is interested and active in all aspects of our lives!

We can sum up all these thoughts, by reminding ourselves, His identification with humanity.

  1. Starts with his birth

  2. Identifies with us in baptism

  3. Is authenticated by crucifixion

  4. Is underwritten by his resurrection.

The baptism of Jesus was foretold. Throughout the Old Testament. Fulfilled in the New Testament. It was part of Gods overall plan to fulfil His purpose. It wasn't some isolated misunderstood event, but an event of cosmic pre-portions and having eternal dimensions.

AMEN

The Temptation

Of Jesus

The Temptation Of Jesus (Mark 1:9-15)

Today our text invites us to examine the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness, tempted by the devil for forty days.

Note here that the term 40 days is a Hebrew term, used in much the same way that we would say 'a month or two.' Both terms are not an exact number, but mean 'many days.'

ANECDOTE: I begin with a true story of the German flying ace, the Red Baron. He was credited with over 80 enemy planes shot down.

One day over the river Somme, the Red Baron spotted a Canadian plane (a stray), and gave chase. Banking and diving, flying fast and low, he chased the Canadian plane. So intense his concentration, he failed to notice he had strayed deep behind enemy lines. When suddenly a second Canadian plane came out of the sun, and shot down the Red Baron.

You see, it was pride and temptation which caused the Red Barons downfall. In the same way, it's also true that many Christians unwittingly stray into enemy territory.

We could say that many Christians are 'shot down' as they are tempted and stray from the pathway.

The plain fact is that some Christians underestimate their adversary (the devil). The very word devil is derived from a root word meaning 'deceiver.' In our passage Jesus is being tempted in the wilderness by the devil.

Towards the end of the 40 days, when, in His humanity He would be at His weakest, it was then that the devil tempted Him most. We too can be sorely tempted by the devil at times, especially when we are at a low ebb, but not perhaps as severely as Jesus was tempted.

Because we live in different times and cultures the devil can be very subtle, but still very dangerous.

Question: How do you imagine the devil to be, and where is his abode?

Do you see him as depicted by our society and culture as having a red body, two horns, evil eyes and a barbed tail, holding a trident spear?

Where do you imagine he lives?

Some fiery inferno belching sulphur from deep in the bowls of the earth?

All such myths and legends go back to the dark ages pasted down from generation to generation as folklore. Such images and perceived knowledge, owe more to social culture, comic strips and films rather than taking our knowledge from Scripture. And because we often read Scripture through the tinted spectacles of our culture and through popular belief, we can become seduced into a false sense of security.

Let's look at what the Bible teaches about the devil. Look at three Biblical truths, which we 'think' we know, yet the Bible proves to be false.

FIRST: We often think of the devil being in charge of his headquarters in hell. But the Bible teaches otherwise, clearly saying that's simply not true.

In the wilderness temptations the devil offered Jesus all the Kingdoms of 'this world' if only Jesus would worship him. (Mt. 4:8-9)

Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of this world, in all their greatness.

'All this I will give you' the devil said 'if you kneel down and worship me.'

In John 16:11 it tells us: 'And they are wrong about judgement, because the ruler of this world had already been judged.'

In: Eph 2:2: 'at that time you followed the world's evil way: you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual power in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.'

Biblical teaching tells us the devil is the prince of this world not the spiritual ruler of hell. Furthermore Scripture tells us that hell is not under the devil's control, hell does not belong to him. But God has prepared hell as an eternal punishment for the devil and demons at the end times.

In Mt. 25:41: 'Then they will say to those on his left, away from me, all you that are under God's curse! Away from the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels'

Rev. 20:10: 'Then the devil who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown, and they will be tormented day and night for ever.'

SECOND: We often believe that the devil is all knowing and everywhere, suggesting he is omnipresent, but the Bible teaches there is only one entity who is omnipresent and that's certainly not the devil but God himself, expressed in the Trinity.

THIRD: We may be seduced into thinking that the devil has parity with Jesus. But that's dispelled by: - 1John 3:20-21, where it says - 'God is greater than our conscience and that He knows everything.'

We tend to think that the devil is the source of all temptation, that he alone has the monopoly when it comes to temptation. When things go wrong we may think it's always the devil who is 'on our case.'

But not all temptation is of the devil, because it can also 'well' up in our own hearts. Every great army commander will tell you 'know your enemy.' We need to know this, but we also need to know ourselves, better, know our own weaknesses. Let's recap:-

FIRST: The devil is not in charge of hell, but the prince of this earth.

SECOND: The devil is not all knowing or omnipresent.

THIRD: There is no parity with the Trinity, God rules supreme. So, the devil is not the only source of temptation, therefore 'know your enemy and know your own weaknesses better.'

AMEN

Jesus Calls His

First Disciples

Jesus Calls His First Disciples (Mark 1:14-20)

Our text today is taken from Marks Gospel chapter 1: 14-20, Here we have the account of Jesus calling His first disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John, who were all fishermen on the Sea of Galilee.

He found them as He walked along the shore line, with His message of Good News. Saying:-

'The right time has come, and the Kingdom of God is near, turn away from your sin and believe in the Good News.'

Let's break down that sentence into two phrases:

FIRST: 'The time has come' - Some versions of the Bible say 'The time is fulfilled.' This turn of phrase means, that the coming of the promised Messiah which was prophesied in the Old Testament was being fulfilled in the person of Christ Jesus. It also heralded in the change of emphasis from the Mosaic Law now being superseded by God's Grace.

SECOND: phrase was: - 'The Kingdom of God is near.' This turn of phrase I believe is the major point in the passage. A point we all need to take on board and understand.

We are all familiar with the Lord's Prayer. The second line begins with, 'Thy Kingdom Come', do we actually understand what we are asking? Because when we pray 'Thy Kingdom come', we are praying for the world as we know it to come to an abrupt end, the time of Christ's second coming.

Holy Scripture tells us clearly, that everyone who listens to Jesus, will hear the secret that God's Kingdom will come in two stages. It's a secret that God has kept throughout eternity, but discloses now to those who listen to and follow Jesus.

Many people ask, 'God's Kingdom Has come', how is it we still see wars, terrorism, famine and flood. The answer to that common question is.......God's Kingdom will unfold itself in two parts as taught in the Bible. You and I are now living in the first stage. Heralded in by Christ coming to us, and revealing Himself in mortal flesh. During this first stage of Gods Kingdom, it still remains veiled, partially unseen, we need to look and search for it.

It remains a puzzle, an enigma, 'seek and you will find.' Although this first stage of the Kingdom has dawned with the coming of Christ Jesus, whilst in this present age, goodness doesn't always win through, for the time being at least. God's will, can be ignored, side stepped or put off by us.

Although God's Kingdom has emerged, it has not yet replaced every other Kingdom. But on Christ Jesus second coming, Goodness and Gods 'will' triumphs, it's like a monorail at that time, all other kingdoms derailed.

Let's look for a moment as to why Jesus chose humble fishermen as disciples and not financiers, Biblical Royalty.

FIRST: He chose fishermen to fulfil Old Testament prophecy, In Jeremiah 16:16 it tells us: 'But now I will send many fishermen' declares the Lord, 'to come and catch these people.'

SECOND: It tells us in Ezekiel 47:10: 'From the springs of Endegi all the way to the springs of Eneglaim, there will be fishermen on the shore of the sea, and they will spread out their nets to dry. There will be many different kinds of fish there.'

Fishermen are usually fearless, hardworking and have an enterprising nature. You may have expected Jesus to choose Shepherds as His disciples, because in the Old Testament all the patriarchs such as Moses, Abraham and Jacob were shepherds.

But times change, in the Old Testament, shepherds were Content to maintain their flocks and were often isolated by their work.

This changes with the New Testament, the disciples needed different personal qualities to shepherds, if the Church was to grow it needed hard working, fearless men. Men of spirit and enterprise.

Go getters instead of maintainers. You and I have been chosen also, with the Gospel imperative to become fishers of men.

Whatever our position in life, whatever our job or profession every single one of us is called to evangelise, exactly as the original disciple did.

A Christian who doesn't evangelise will fossilise!

You know, one of the greatest impediments of our successfully fishing for men by today's Christian is the poverty of our personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

Too many Christians today have become aquarium keepers rather than fishers of men.

I finish today by sharing with you a true story.

ANECDOTE: There is a well-known book written by an American weatherman called 'Isaac Cline', it's about a killer hurricane which wiped out the city of Galveston in 1900. As a local representative of the National Weather Service, Isaac worked in Galveston. He ignored all the warning signs of the gathering storm. He knew a Hurricane had never ever hit Galveston and so he thought it never would.

As floods came local children played in the floodwater. People were unconcerned, went about their daily business as usual. They too thought a hurricane would never claim Galveston as a victim.

When the hurricane did hit Galveston, and due to their apathy over 5000 people perished, and many thousands were injured in the deadly hurricane which struck on that September day in 1900.

Today, you and I can surely see the storm clouds gathering, as we witness the moral and spiritual decline all around us. The warning signs in Scripture which will foretell of Christ second coming are all about us on every side.

Warning us, beckoning us to return to the Lord, and seek refuge in Him. How will history look back on us, and our preparation for the second coming?

AMEN

Jesus Heals A

Man With

Unclean Spirits

Jesus Heals A Man With Unclean Spirits (Mark 1:21-28)

Our text today speaks of a man being cleansed of unclean spirits, we consider today how this miracle can be broadened out to encompass human suffering in general terms.

I begin by examining a word which is often used in the Bible when miracles are performed. The Greek word used in the New Testament 120 times is 'Dunamis' which means 'explosive power', and from which our English word 'Dynamite' is derived.

Dunamis, suggests the explosive power of God, as used when it was 'unleashed' in the act of creation. It's from this Dunamis (that same dynamite explosive power) which God uses to bring about healing.

Biblically, healing is also linked to the words spaciousness and growth. For the very name 'Jesus' meaning saviour is derived from a Hebrew root word linked to spaciousness and growth.

Healing is as wide as creation, and has within it, the same motivating force. Healing can also be linked to God's peace (Which we share together every week).

The word peace was forever on the lips of Jesus. Peace is inextricably linked to the Hebrew word 'Shalom.' Which in the Old Testament covers the idea of total wellbeing in the broadest sense of the word.

So, Jesus is teaching in the Temple, when a man possessed of an unclean spirits shouts out:-

'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth. Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, you're the Holy one of God.'

NOTE: The man uses the plural 'us', signifying more than one spirit possesses him. Then without touching the man, Jesus commands the spirit: 'Be silent, come out of him.'

It was His power and the authority which Jesus used to banish the unclean spirits.

Jesus often healed using spittle, he used mud, healed from a distance, healed by touch. His words of healing were always different His actions varied. But we can identify some 'constants', which are calmness, authority and power (Dunamis).

Miracles are still happening all around us, every day. But, do we recognise them for what they are?

Every life turned to God is a miracle. Every alcoholic, drug user or substance abuser who comes 'clean', all are miracles.

As I minister to people who are sick at home or in hospital, I hear the same words constantly, they are shadow, fear or darkness. These are words which signify oppression and depression, from people who need healing.

Someone once said: 'It's better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness.' That's so true, but there are many kinds of darkness. Sometimes the 'darkness of the soul' can't always be dispelled by a candle flame.

When I think about it, I do my most thinking in the darkness, when I'm prone to listen more acutely, how about you?

I'm sure you will identify with the feeling of sliding under the covers at bedtime, it's so warm, welcoming and safe. We might almost 'purr' as a cat. In that comforting kind of darkness it's the ideal time to talk and more importantly listen to God.

For the day's work is over, no more distractions. As the noise of day fades, our hearing becomes more acute, we might even hear that small whisper of God.

But there's that other kind of darkness (of the soul). When we are sick, in the shadow of illness, feeling anxious and fearful. Swamped in our own turmoil. I'm sure we've all been there.

  * Maybe a friend disappointed us, and it's dark.

  * Maybe we're feeling old, stair getting steeper, people need to speak louder, and it's dark.

  * Maybe we feel under financial pressure with many family responsibilities, and it's dark.

  * Maybe we feel we've let someone down and don't know how to say 'sorry', and it's dark.

You know hearts which never experience despair never have much to shout from the roof tops.

Hearts which have never been broken, find it hard to empathise with someone else's broken heart.

Hearts which have never walked 'in the valley of the shadow of death', will never fully experience the joy of life.

Isn't steel tempered in the furnace? Isn't gold purified in the furnace fire?

In a similar way our lives are tested, refined, purified and sanctified. Made Holier through the troubles we encounter.

Be assured whatever comes out of the fire is always stronger, purer, higher and ultimately better than it would have been without the struggles of life.

It's never so dark that God is not with us.

I finish with a true story from Corrie Ten-Boom's book 'no hiding place.' The Ten-Boom family had all been sent to a German concentration camp, for helping the Jews in Amsterdam. The two sisters, Corrie and Betsey Ten-Boom were laid in their bunks one night surrounded by other sick and dying prisoners.

Discussing the total horror of their lives in that camp, Betsey who was very sick said to her younger sister Corrie 'this is hell, we're living in hell.' Betsey died later that night, but Corrie was spurred on by the words Betsey had said before she died: 'Corrie you must get out of here, and tell the world that no matter how deep the pit of human suffering is, Gods love is always deeper.'

AMEN

Jesus Heals

A Leper

Jesus Heals A Leper (Mark 1:40 To End)

Our text today comes from Marks gospel chapter 1: 40 - end. It tells the compelling and moving story, about Jesus healing a Leper. I'm sure you know that the largest organ of our body is the skin.

From the description in the text we can accurately say this man's condition was Leprosy, the dreaded skin disease. When in biblical times if someone contracted leprosy, they would be taken to the outside of the temple and would be subject of a funeral service.

They would be excluded from all society, even family, spouses and children. Everywhere they went, every few steps they were required by law to shout out 'UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN', and people would rush out of their way, shunning them in such a cruel way.

There are three kinds of Leprosy - Nodular, Anaesthetic and the third kind was when Nodular and Anaesthetic combined, and wrought havoc on the leper's body mind and spirit. A leper really was a dead man walking. Although the acute suffering went on for an average of 20yrs before death.

Leprosy meant a life of pain, severe pain in all joints, loss of sensation in limbs, blindness, great clumps of Nodular wart like growths all over the body, ulceration, smelly discharge from the sores. Disfigurement of face and limbs. And if that wasn't bad enough, the isolation from society, the loneliness brought trauma to the mind, some went completely insane because of the condition. So, a man with the Dreaded skin disease came to Jesus. He came to meet, and talk with Him. Which was in Old Testament Mosaic Law, forbidden. What did Jesus do? He does the unthinkable, reaches out and touches the leper. To Jesus the man was not unclean, but merely a man in great need. Our Lord, touched him and healed him, demonstrating the master's power, compassion and wisdom. Then the leper was asked to tell no one, but go first to the Temple priest to fulfil Mosaic Law, they would sacrifice two birds over a three day ceremony. And finally issue a public certificate of health.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY, HOW CAN WE APPLY THE TEACHING TO OUR EVERYDAY LIVES?

I believe the most important part of this text is the word TOUCH. The teaching in this passage is an encouragement to imitate the actions, and the compassion which Jesus demonstrated.

We need to learn to touch others as Jesus did. Let's begin in our own back yard. For example, in most church services we now share the peace, some shake hands, some hug, others kiss. We need to remember, that the peace we share is not our own miserable peace, but the PEACE OF GOD. Some Christians even find it difficult to share Gods peace. We can often sense a kind of aloofness when sharing the peace, sometimes we can feel people shrinking away. Or becoming ridged - obviously some feel very uncomfortable. Jesus, didn't hug the leper, but he certainly reached out in compassion and gave the leper the healing touch. We too are called to touch others as our Master touched us.

ANECDOTE: True story of an American missionary who whilst working in India, spent many months in a Calcutta hospital suffering from tuberculosis. In the opposite bed was an Indian patient suffering chronic diarrhoea, during the night, despite shouting to staff for a bed pan, no one came. This went on most of the night, and as you can imagine the stench was awful and very embarrassing for the patient. The day shift had more staff and cleaned the man up. This went on the second night, the missionary could stand the situation no longer. Due to his compassion for the man, he rose from his sick bed and fetched the man a bed pan. Taking it away each time the man used it, and cleaned him up. Everyone on the ward was pleased as the stench was controlled and the patient's dignity preserved. The missionary did these ongoing chores for the next two night until the patient was improved and was discharged. This had the effect of building up the missionary's credibility with the other Indian patients, who had previously ignored the westerner. The compassionate western missionary was then able to talk of his work because his actions had been admirable in caring for an Indian patient when his own countrymen either couldn't or wouldn't help.

You know, some weeks ago, I issued a Christian challenge, giving out the poem 'The cross in my pocket', which many people enjoyed. Giving a Christian challenge is a good way to motivate people. Each member of the congregation was given four copies of the poem. One for themselves and the other three copies to give out to people they met that week. This challenge was almost 100% successful, eighty nine people took three poems to give away, and 267 people were given the poem. It provided a channel which people could give away something free, and say a word or two about Jesus. People were amazed at their own ability, and the difference witnessing made to their spiritual lives. This coming week I have another challenge. I'd like to challenge you to touch someone untouchable.' Someone at home, at work, someone who is sick, someone who is lonely, perhaps some one elderly, especially someone you find difficult. Someone tearful, someone isolated,

Find them, touch them, and pray for them. If Jesus has touched your life, then you will find it relatively easy to touch the lives of others. This week's challenge, go and bring a little heaven to earth for someone who is 'untouchable.'

AMEN

You Are Special

To God

You Are Special To God (Mark 4: 26 –End)

Our text today is taken from Marks Gospel, 4:26 to end, and is composed of two back to back parables. Jesus is a great teacher, who always taught by parable. And a parable, could be described as an earthly story, having a heavenly meaning. You know a good teacher never gives the answer to a question but encourages the pupil to 'Puzzle it out' for themselves. And so, in the time before the printed word, the main way of teaching was by word of mouth encapsulated within a memorable story. So parables were the preferred method of teaching, modelled by Jesus, sometimes referred to as 'The Oral Tradition.'

A memorable earthly story, encapsulating a Heavenly meaning!

FIRST: We focus on verses 26 to 30, a parable of the growing seed. You know we are fortunately to live in a lovely rural area (don't you think so?). And especially fortunate if we are either a Farmer or a Gardener. Then we are not so far removed from the land and the wonder and the mystery of seed germination, which is what Jesus is talking about here.

Jesus invites us to consider the soil and the germination of the seed. One Greek word which is linked to the power within soil is 'Automatic.' And invites us to think of the automatic nature of the seasons or the cycle of the seasons: Planting, growing and reaping. The great miracle Jesus is pointing out here is nothing less than the mysterious and automatic cycle of growth.

He says: 'A man scatters seed in the field, then sleeps at night and is then up and about in the day time yet, all the time the seed is sprouting , yet, the man doesn't know how it happens, the soil makes the seed grow. First tender shoots, stalks and then the eye, full of corn. When it's ripe, man harvests the crop.

So simple, so taken for granted, yet a miracle, a signpost towards Gods creativity.

I hear some say there are no miracles today. Wake up! Wake up! Miracles are all around each one of us, every day.

But we don't see them for what they are.

SECOND: We focus on verses thirty to the end of the chapter, the parable of 'The Mustard Seed.' Where Jesus talks of the mystery we've just examined, and goes on to liken it to the 'Mustard Seed.'

The smallest seed, which when matured grows into one of the largest trees in the garden:

FIRST: It emphasises the condition of the soil (Which represents the condition of our hearts).

SECOND: It emphasises the germination of the seed, the beginning of the first shoots (Representing the nature of the gospel message).

So, what can we learn and apply to our life today? These 'Back to Back' parables are an encouragement to us all, and speak of germination, growth, and harvest. This is all about evangelism, about Gods Kingdom growing. It removes the pressure we sometimes put upon ourselves, because you and I are charged with sowing the seed only, the final outcome is of God.

Because the power is not ours but emanates from our creator God, the principle is this: We plant, and God converts. And even though you and I are simply called to plant, we are ourselves, still a 'work in progress.'

Because God, mysteriously plans to grow both you and me, until He finalises that which He has started. Look back for a moment, to the time you first believed. Reflect on how you have grown, how different you are now to then, not physically, but spiritually.

We are so precious to god, so loved by God and He's preparing each one of us to be, eventually in His Presence. So, we can see, that the Mustard Seed illustrates perfectly, God's kingdom. For Jesus came modestly with no 'earthly' kind of power and only a few acknowledged His rule.

Yet, history has seen His rule and the kingdom of God expand 'ex potentially', to billions of people worldwide.

ANECDOTE: In Ghana, rain and 4 months of plenty followed by 8 month of drought. First plenty to eat and drink followed by ever decreasing amounts of food and swollen bellies. It was so bad that mum put small stones in boiling water so sound of rattling made children feel better at least.

Then the 8 year old son came told father, 'I've found some seeds to eat' excitedly took his father to the families shed 200metres away, where he showed father a sack full of seed in a leather bag hung on the wall, disappointed the father explain this was the seed corn of next year's harvest.

A few weeks later, the father was sowing the same seed with tears running down his face as he thought of his desperately hungry family. Tears flowed as he sowed the seed in expectancy if a good harvest.

I finish by reading a short Psalm

Psalm 126: 'When The Lord brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream. How we laughted, how we sang for joy. Then, the other nations said about us: 'The Lord did great things for them' Indeed, He did great things for us, and how happy we were. Lord make us prosperous again, just as the rain brings water back to the dry river beds. Let those who wept as they sowed their seed, gather the harvest with joy.

Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed, will come back singing with joy as they gather the harvest.'

So brothers and sisters today's text teaches us together with Psalm 126, about God's law of the harvest. So don't expect to rejoice later, unless you have been willing to sow in tears.

I don't mean by giving to God in abundance but by finding a way to say: 'I believe in God's harvest, therefore, I will give what makes 'no sense.' The world would call this unreasonable, but be prepared to do so regardless in order that we may be able to celebrate at the harvest with songs of joy.

AMEN

Jesus Calms

A Storm

Jesus Calms A Storm (Mark 4:35-End)

This text explains in detail, that Jesus was present with His disciples on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. He was taking the opportunity to rest, He was in fact asleep on the carpets and pillows at the stern of the boat. A place which was reserved for a passenger or an important guest.

Whilst Jesus slept, a great storm blew up and the disciples were afraid. Remember, the disciples were experienced fishermen, well used to life and conditions of the sea. So, we can imagine the storm must have been severe and life threatening. We know from historical accounts, and it remains so even today that the winds blowing in towards Galilee from Mount Hermon, would funnel down the narrow ravines stirring up a storm in the blink of an eye. The disciples awoke Jesus with panic and fear in their hearts.

But Jesus quickly assesses the situation. With a serene, divine command He calms both waves and wind, with divine authority He says to the wind:

'Be Quiet' and to the waves, 'Be still.'

Immediately there comes a great calm, wind and waves subside.......order restored. It's interesting to note, the words of command used, were the same as Jesus used when driving the demons from a possessed man (MK. 1:25).

This account of the storm being calmed is without doubt a miracle. But we do this miracle a great injustice if we see it as a one off event.

For this miracle contains within, a great truth which is still relevant today, there is an underlying truth and purpose within.

The truth and purpose within is this - Jesus can still bring a calm and a peace in our hearts to any storm which may beset our lives today.

There are 'three' ways Jesus achieves this calm. Because when sorrow comes, as it must at some point. Then He speaks to us of the Glory to come. Changes the darkness into light.

ANECDOTE: A certain gardener, had a favourite flower in his garden. He nurtured the flower daily. When it finally bloomed, he would seek out the beauty every spare moment he could find. One morning as he sought the flower, it was gone, it was no more. The gardener became vexed and angry, full of resentment and complaint, he met with the head gardener. Sobbing as he vented his anger at the loss of 'his' flower, there was a silence before the head gardener replied - 'Hush the flower is not lost, I picked it for myself',

In the storm of life's sorrows He calms us with the knowledge that those we love and have gone before us, are not lost, but in God's keeping.

There will be times for each one of us, like the disciples in our text, when we too may feel beset or even overwhelmed.

When we stand at such future cross roads, when we can't see the way ahead. Its then, if we turn to Jesus in prayer asking 'Lord, which way shall I go? Then He will answer, and the way becomes clear.

The tragedy is this, we perhaps know deep down what to do. But the problem is we are reluctant to submit to the guidance which Jesus offers. To ask His guidance and submit our will to Him, will result in a calmness and peace only He can truly bring.

Thirdly, Jesus teaches that 'worry' is the chief enemy of peace. We tend to worry over everything. But Jesus speaks of a Father, whose hand will never cause His children a needless tear.

A Father, whose love never deserts us. You know, little children often put adults to shame. In their innocence, unsullied by life as yet, have few if any inhibitions. God encourages us as adults to come to Him with that same childlike nature, unfettered and trusting both in heart and worship. No holding back, giving all.

AMEN

Divine Delays

Divine Delays (Mark 5:24 To End)

Our Bible passage today from Marks Gospel chapter 5, verses 24 to the end, outlines the healing of Jairus' daughter. Which is intertwined with the unknown woman touching the hem of our Lord's cloak and being immediately healed. When miracles are intertwined in this way, there is always a deeper meaning to seek. It's never coincidence.

But we'll examine that point later. First we look at both miracles individually. The passage begins with the account of Jairus (a synagogue leader), coming to Jesus and asking Him to heal has daughter. As Jesus begins the journey to the home of Jairus, He is mobbed by an enthralled crowd. Along the way Jesus 'feels' the healing power emanating from Him.

A woman had touched His outer garment. He would have been wearing an outer robe having a tassel at each corner (as worn by all devout Jews), and symbolic of Judaism. For twelve years the unnamed woman had suffered a continuous haemorrhage, she had tried all remedies without success. She suffered not only pain but also alienation from family and friends, because she was considered 'ritually unclean.'

As she 'secretly' touch His robes she was immediately healed. No one but Jesus was aware that she had touched His garment. Only He felt the healing power flow from His body. Perhaps the woman was embarrassed, fearful as she sought the divine healing when all else had failed. She came by force of circumstance.

You know, even today many come to Jesus in the same way, as a last resort, when all else fails. Yet when people come in such a mercenary way, Jesus will never turn His back upon them, never send them away empty.

This teaches us, that Jesus felt the power flow from Him to heal the woman. In other words healing was costly to Him. You know, there's a universal truth in life. We can never produce anything great, if we're not prepared to put something of ourselves into it.

Here lies a great truth for us, if we are to love and help others after the example of Jesus, then we must be prepared to spend of ourselves. The greatness of Jesus, is that He understood this and was still prepared to pay the price, even to death on the Cross.

It teaches us also of the disciples, showing vividly their limitations. What Jesus does is supernatural, not of this world, and contrasts sharply with 'common sense.' We need to pray not so much for common sense. But for a supernatural sensitivity, and empathy with those in need.

The woman's relief was understandable. But costly for her too, in terms of humility, and in terms of embarrassment at her situation.

But once she had touched His cloak, everything changed. No more pain, no more fear or trembling.

But here's the thing, this healing seemed to delay Jesus getting to Jairus' daughter in time. Because a messenger came telling Jesus not to bother further. Because Jairus' daughter had died.

Jesus tells Jairus, 'Do not be afraid, only believe.' Then He goes onto the house with His disciples Peter, James and John, as they arrive they hear wailing a crying. Jesus enters and says: 'Why all this confusion, why do you weep, the child's not dead but sleeping.'

Then takes the child's hand saying: 'TALITHA COUM', in (Aramaic), meaning: - 'I tell you, get up.'

The twelve year old then arose, walked around and everyone was amazed.

There's so many reasons people put forward for these two miracles being intertwined. I believe here, Jesus is teaching us two principles, which are:

FIRST: God doesn't bless one person at the expense of another. Some think that God has limited Resources. As though if God had £100 in His bank account, and gave it to one person, then there would be nothing left for anyone else.

Fortunately for us, God's resources are limitless, everyone who needs will receive.

SECOND: And finally, divine delays should be understood as a blessing. For God wishes to bless us in a much greater way than we could ever imagine. God's timing is perfect, in our impatience we often mistake divine delays, blaming God for what 'we' see as inaction.

The fact is we only have one or two pieces of the jigsaw, whilst God sees the whole picture. That's why God's timing is perfect. He knows exactly what we need, even better than we know ourselves. When the unnamed woman and Jairus saw no human hope, when they came to the end of their own human resources, then their faith in God, brought about their healing.

Ultimately, if we glean only one thing from this Bible passage, then let it be this: FAITH IS WHAT GOD DESIRES, WHEN ALL HUMAN HOPE IS GONE.

AMEN

The Healing At

Gennesaret

The Healing At Gennesaret (Mk.6:53-End)

Our text today is taken from Marks gospel chapter six, reading verses 53 to the end of the chapter. Mark is the shortest of the four gospels, and Mark was writing for a gentile readership his gospel was the first of the four to be written, and the other three gospels use all but thirty one verses of Marks account. He focuses on the 'actions' of Jesus rather than His 'words', recording 19 miracles and only four parables.

Basically this gospel of Mark is the most evangelistic of all the gospels. Today's text follows on from the miracle of Jesus walking upon the waters of the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus reaches the shores of Gennesaret, people brought many to be healed. And Jesus heals them all. This all happened in Gennesaret, the densely populated area set in a long fertile plain, just south of the city of Caperneum.

This fertile plain occupied about three mile of shore line of Lake Gennesaret (which was another name people of that area used for the Sea of Galilee).

It's a really beautiful area, producing grapes, palms, walnuts, figs and olives. We are to note that many people were brought for healing, the sick and the possessed, many transported, carried on their beds.

They came to Jesus in the market place and everyone who came was healed. The disciples, Peter and Paul were the disciples closest to Jesus, they were also well known for their healing ministry. So, what are we meant to learn from the account of the healing at Gennesaret ?

Well, many so called healers draw large crowds even today. Yet many people leave such meetings, often disappointed because they have not received healing, despite having prayer and hands laid upon them.

YET.......when true men of God, Jesus, Peter and Paul ministered to the sick everyone who came was healed!

You see the main purposes of biblical healing is both to make a biblical point. Confirming to the people that those who healed everyone were truly Gods servants. When God heals He leaves no room for doubt!

Healing seems less frequent in modern times.

Where we do find true biblical healing today - One of the main purposes is to confirm the message of salvation, and of the power of the gospels being released into darkness, confirming also that the healer or messenger is a servant of God.

There's also a cautionary note, .......let's all acknowledge and remember that better living conditions, better food, central heating, together with the skill and dedication of surgeons, doctors and nurses and all staff in local clinics and hospitals and all the many advances in medical science play a hugh part of today's healing.

All of those new developments and advances are not by chance, not coincidence but because God also channels His love through inventors, hospital systems and medical staff.

We often forget that the church through the monks and friars in monasteries through-out the land were the model and fore runners of the NHS. A great example of Gods servants being used in this way was of course Cecily Saunders, the devout Christian lady who brought about the establishment of the hospice movement.

I'd like to finish by telling you the true story of another Christian lady Helen Rosavere.

ANECDOTE: A Christian, who after qualifying as a doctor prayed that God would take her skills and direct her where she was needed.

Before long Helen was serving in the Belgian Congo in Central Africa. Disease was rife, work was hard, with over 200000 people under the care of Helen. She was the only doctor. No hospital, no clinic, no one else qualified to help, she was growing demoralised by the heavy work load. She began praying:-

'Father send me someone to lay bricks and build a new hospital' But no one came. She wrote to her parents back home ...'can you send someone to lay bricks and build a hospital.'

But, alas no one came. Then after months of prayer, a parcel arrived, Helen excitedly tore the brown paper package open, to her dismay, it was only a book from her parents entitled 'The beginners guide to making clay bricks.'

When her disappointment subsided, and a few days of reflection, Helen found local clay and laboriously began Rising early before the sun got to hot and with her own bare hands decided to make 100 clay bricks each day.

Then after baking in a homemade kiln, each brick had to be trimmed of their rough edges before they were ready for use. This was very rough for such delicate hands and fingers. Then one morning as she trimmed bricks a native called her for a medical emergency, first job was to clean off the dust, dirt and the blood from the many small cuts on her delicate hands.

After attending to the emergency patient, she was met by a puzzled group of local natives, who said: 'Doctor, we know you love and care for us, but when we see you in your surgical gown with all your instruments and a mask over your mouth, we are frightened. Helen listened, then had a revelation from God, there was no one coming to build her hospital, because God said to her:-

'I didn't have you come out here so much to heal people. But to love and befriend people in order they might see ME, Through YOU.'

AMEN

Personal

Holiness

Personal Holiness - What Makes A Man Clean Or Unclean?

(Mark 7:1-8+14-15+21-23)

We all have our standards of what we consider to be clean or unclean. If we travelled to Hong Kong, Germany or Japan, all public areas such as streets, parks and public buildings are so clean you could eat your meal from the floors.

Many countries in the world have this common thread, and are obsessed with cleanliness. And in a similar way the Israelites in the Old Testament (the Jews), lived their lives as slaves to their laws, obsessed with following rules and regulations.

In our Gospel reading today, we hear of two laws of the many laws which regulated Judaism, one being hand washing the other being the rule forbidding certain foods and some meats.

There were thousands of laws regarding every aspect of daily life. Meat for instance could only be eaten if the animal concerned had cloven hooves, and chewed the cud. There were also laws which forbad drinking milk and eating dairy products together with meat. Nor could dairy and meat be prepared, cooked or stored together. The utensils, pots and pans as well as crockery for dairy products and meat be must also be stored, eaten from and washed completely separately.

We all know orthodox Jews will only eat 'Kosher' meat that is meat killed in the prescribed manner, and drained of blood in the prescribed manner. This is because in Judaism the blood of any animal was believed to contain the essence of life.......the soul of the animal. Fingers, hands including arm to the elbows were ritually washed dozens if time each day and dried only with the correct cloths and whilst reciting set prayers. Even Orthodox Jews to this day live life governed totally by their laws, and still believe salvation is by the law and its slavish observance.

Whereas, we believe in the New Testament theology of salvation by God's GRACE and NOT by LAW. If you and I were living in biblical times as Gentiles we would be considered ritually unclean and the Jews would shun and avoid becoming contaminated by touching us.

The scribes and the Pharisees.......continued to add to the already burdensome Law, complicating and expanding it by manmade revisions, and the bringing in of ever more rules and regulations. And in our passage today we are told that it was the Pharisees that came from Jerusalem who were once again trying to catch Jesus out, as they had tried to do so many times before.

They were fearful of the growing popularity of Jesus and were trying to discredit Him and cause His downfall. The Pharisees accused the disciples for not observing every jot and tittle of the law by not washing their hands correctly.

Jesus then declares that nothing we eat causes us to be defiled. It goes through our stomachs and then exits from the body. Jesus brings in this New Testament theology, causing people to think and react in a fundamentally different way. Because we now know that nothing defiles us from the outside. Not the food we eat, or how it's prepared or served.

But Jesus confirms any defilement comes from within, from the thought of our minds and the actions of our hearts.

You see, 'Personal Holiness' comes not from observing every minute detail of the law. But personal holiness comes through obedience to God. In this passage of scripture Jesus is high-lighting the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees.

The Israelites throughout the Old Testament considered themselves God's chosen people, and their laws helped them to set themselves aside and above other nations in a kind of elitism. In biblical times it was basically this division between Clean and unclean which divided the Jew from the Gentile.

Before the early New Testament church could move forward. This elitism and division had to be sorted out once and for all.

And this is what Jesus did in our passage from Mark 7 today. Jesus declares all foods clean, and cancelled the need for slavish obedience of manmade rules and regulations.

Jesus also cancelled the need for ongoing animal sacrifice and the ceremonial rituals of the Pharisees, anyone who relies on the slavish keeping of the law will never make it to heaven, the only way to heaven is through God's grace and His mercy.

WE NOW LIVE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT BY GOD'S GRACE.

Jesus likened the Pharisees to cups, which were spotless on the outside but filthy within. Like their slavish obedience of manmade rules and regulations.

Jesus also cancelled the need for ongoing animal sacrifice and the ceremonial rituals of the Pharisees. Anyone who relies on the slavish keeping of the law will never make it to heaven.

The only way to heaven is through God's grace and His mercy. Not by the Laws of Orthodox Judaism.

AMEN

Who Do You Say

I Am

Who Do You Say I Am? (Mark 8:27 To End)

The gospel reading is taken from Mark 8, verse 27 to the end. This passage contains so many facets, but today I focus only on the first four verses (27 - 30).

This is a short passage but never the less very well known, it begins by Jesus asking His disciples,

'Who do people say I am.' His disciples answered: 'Some say you are John the Baptist, returned. Some say you are Elijah or one of the other prophets returned.'

Then, after a pause Jesus, poses a second question, a much more challenging, penetrating and very personal question, asking :-

'Who do you say I am?' After murmuring amongst themselves, Peter, who was always outspoken and often acted as their spokesman, replied:-

'You are the Messiah, the Holy one of God.'

You know, throughout scripture Jesus poses many questions to the Pharisees, and to the disciples. There was never any greater or more important question asked than this question of 'Who do you say I am?'

Everyone, everywhere, throughout history has at some time in their life thought and asked questions about the meaning and purpose of life. But you know, without a higher power, without God nothing will ever make sense.

If we lived in a totally Godless society, then I guess mankind would invent some form or structure of religion. Some framework to explain creation, life and death. Mankind has an inbuilt need to know his roots, who is mother, who is father, which all gives some context to their life.

In the same way an adopted child has an inbuilt desire to know where they came from and who was their mother and father. And so we have the ultimate question Jesus asks today.

'WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?'

And the answer we give, will be the beginning of understanding of what life and its purpose is all about. Because without knowing Jesus, we have no hope, no remote chance of finding the answer to life itself.

ANECDOTE: There was a young man who took all he could from his parents, and squandered it on drugs, alcohol, gambling and loose women. He was wasting his life away.

After many visits from the police and bad press in the local paper his father said 'enough is enough', and threw the boy out telling him never to return. The boy left and drifted away leaving home and town far behind, but his mother forgave him, grieved for him and prayed for him every day.

Month turned into years, still she grieved for him and prayed for him. After many years the mother grew old and frail, after the long years of grieving and praying she was taken very ill.

Finally she asked her husband, could she see her son just one last time. The father reluctantly agreed and put out a missing person request on the BBC, do you remember those old appeal programmes? The request was broadcast, asking the son to return home as his mother was gravely ill.

The boy, now a man, returned and immediately went upstairs to his mother's bedroom and was shocked to see her so frail and so ill. He sat and took his mother's hand. 'John' she said, 'I have forgiven you, grieved for you prayed for you all these years. And have never stopped loving you. If I can love you, just think how much more God loves you.' With these words John's mother saw a 'new light' come into her sons eyes, and believed that a new life had come into his heart.

When the husband, John's father returned, she asked 'will you take him back, he needs a fathers guidance now.' The reluctant father said 'how often has he made promises before only to break them.' 'Yes' the mother said 'but he never knew Christ before.' The father stood..........hesitating.

The mother took her son's hand, and the father's hand and joined them together, with her hand upon both, with that she eased back on her pillow and died, peacefully. The two men gripped each other's hand and were reconciled.

Reconciled by their love for this woman, wife and mother, and through her death were reunite again in love. This true story is only a poor illustration of what Christ did for you and for me.

But hear this reality. Christ brings God down to us and joins His hand and ours in reconciliation, today. As Christ joins our hands together with God's hand. He seals the reconciliation with His own blood?

The wildest extremes, of God and sinner brought together and reconciled once again by Christ. No longer aliens and enemies, but partakers of the divine nature through Christ.

Will you be reconciled with God today?

Then the final mystery of verse 30. Where Jesus tells them to keep this to themselves and let no one know. As I read this once again, besides all the obvious answers, I saw, another explanation. I believe Christ didn't want people to be told by His disciples, because He wanted people to find out for themselves.

Is it that, He didn't want people taking the short cut to the right answer, but instead really wanted people to puzzle it out in their own minds?

Was it to discourage generations of Christians to follow taking the easy route, by listening to the 'sound bytes' of the faith they hear all around them, every day?

I believe He said it because He wanted to make the journey of discovery alongside us. Wants to be our constant companion beside each one of us on the pilgrimage of our lives. Wants to be more than simply our destination, He actually wants to walk with you and me.

You know I love walking the pathway with Jesus. And I love walking the pathway with each one of you. Even when it's cloudy and we can't see what lies ahead. Even when it's stormy and life takes us through those dark places.

I love it because we are all on that same pilgrimage together. We don't always get every answer right (in this life time at least). But we can keep trying, with hearts open, as slowly we begin to understand the question Jesus asks: 'Who do you say I am?'

Let's take a short silence to reflect on that vital question. Quieten our hearts as we think through for a moment our response.

AMEN

Take Up

Your Cross

And Follow Me

Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me (Mark 8:31 – end)

Today our Gospel text is taken from Mark 8:31 to end. It teaches us about the purpose, priorities and the meaning of life. I'd like to explore with you and focus on the most important verses 34-37.

In verses 34-36 it tells us: - Calling the disciples and crowds, Jesus said to them:-

'If anyone would follow me, let him deny himself, take up his Cross and follow me: for whoever would save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, will save it'

You know we often hear this common phrase: 'I have my Cross to bear.'

We often forget that this saying comes from Scripture, but often don't fully understand its meaning. Many tend to think this phrase is pointing towards the many burdens and pains in life which we suffer or carry.

In reality it goes much deeper. For in Biblical times when the Cross was mentioned, it didn't bring to mind a burden or a hardship. But the image it gave was pain and a torturously lingering death. What Jesus meant by taking up our Cross, was a complete and utter submission and a selfless obedience.

He's asking us to put to death our old, selfish and mortal nature and live our lives in obedience to a new order. When I think of the image of the Cross, it speaks so vividly to me of the 'I' the EGO.

I would ask you to fix in your mind that image of the cross, the upright support being the 'I'' (the ego). And the horizontal beam of the cross symbolises the 'I' (the ego) crossed out, this is a good aid to memory.

Let's look briefly now at verse 37:-

'How does a man's life benefit, if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process.

You know, each one of us to some degree, have been greedy and over ambitious or fail to get our priorities right. At times we may be guilty of missing the whole point of life.

Many spend their days seeking pleasure, money or status. But here in this verse Jesus is teaching, that the world of pleasure centred on money, status or power, is, in the final analysis......WORTHLESS.

In the greater scheme of things, what we glean from this present world is only temporal. Whatever we gain in our life time, can't be exchanged or traded in for our soul. When it comes to Heavenly things, there is no part exchange. Many have still to absorb this fact, it's a hard lesson and difficult to hear........but true. We can often work hard and long. Eventually we may have everything we could possibly desire. But, in the final analysis find it all so hollow and worthless. The fundamental question is this:-

Are we willing to make our pursuit of God, more important than the selfish pursuit of pleasure in the here and now?

By following Jesus we can certainly find a lasting joy, greater pleasure and deeper fulfilment, than anything this life can offer.

The bonus is, 'the life Jesus offers is eternal.' In the end, it's not 'public opinion' which counts, but the 'verdict of God.'

You know life has a way of revealing our true values and condemning that which is false. Something cheap never lasts. Jesus isn't against us having fun, nor is He saying we should seek out suffering needlessly.

But, He is teaching us that discipleship is costly. Every day can seem like a heroic effort. But never the less we need to follow Him so closely, day by day.

AMEN

The

Transfiguration

The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-9)

Are you all feeling fit and well this morning? Because we are going to be walking with Jesus and His disciples, Peter, James and John, upon the slopes of Mount Hermon.

Here we have the dramatic account of the transfiguration of Jesus. Most likely on Mount Hermon, which stands 9000 feet above sea level. In biblical times mountains were often seen as places where God interacts with humanity, in those days mountains signified a closeness to God and a willingness to hear Gods word.

Let's first list the character in this drama. Firstly representing Old Testament Law and Old Testament prophecy we have Moses and Elijah. Secondly the three disciples Peter, James and John as witnesses. Our Lord Jesus, and finally the voice of God, speaking from the 'She-canna' glory cloud.

Shortly before this event Jesus had been disclosing to His disciples, His destiny, by explaining Gods plans and purposes, yet they still remain puzzled, confused and afraid of what would become of them. Because they were thinking in worldly terms, whereas Jesus wanted them to see things in spiritual terms, with an eternal dimension.

You know, we too can only see and understand our lives and problems in a merely worldly sense. Whilst God sees the bigger picture. Only God can see everything clearly and has the true spiritual perspective.

Then the drama unfolds. Before their eyes Peter, James and John see Moses and Elijah appear. Jesus in His dusty robes gradually begins to glow, brighter and brighter. His face shone as the sun, but this was no reflected light. But a light which shone outwardly, from the inside of Christ's body.

You know we live in and amongst unbelievers, people with no Christian experience, but you could say that each Christian believer has experienced a kind of personal transfiguration. Totally changed from the inside outwardly, each one of us has been glorified to some extent.

Then we see the disciples sorely afraid, prostrate on the ground covering their eyes. Even whilst being transfigured Jesus helps them to their feet saying: 'Do not be afraid.'

Likewise as you and I, stumble and fall, even amid our fears and heartaches, Jesus is always there for us too, saying: 'Do not be afraid.'

What the disciples witnessed that day was a mountain top experience, a little glimpse of Heaven. You and I too, will see or feel a glimpse of Heaven at some time. But no one lives 'on' the mountain top. In reality we are called to live in the valleys and serve those who also live there.

Moses represented the Old Testament Law and Elijah represented Old Testament Prophecy. It's in the transfiguration that we see the Old Testament Law and Prophecy being fulfilled. Here Jesus is also confirmed in His Son ship and affirmed as the long awaited Messiah.

Afterwards Jesus charges the disciples to tell no one until after His resurrection. Perhaps this was because they still didn't yet have that full understanding and conviction of what had really happened.

They didn't at that time, have the overall picture from which to gain a true spiritual perspective. Then listen! we have the voice of God speaking from the 'She-canna' glory cloud. 'This is my own dear son - listen to Him.'

So then, how often do 'we'...Listen to Him.

We unlike the original disciples have hindsight and the words of Scripture in the New Testament to help, inform and teach us. We have a greater overall picture and a framework which those disciples never had. Therefore the transfiguration should make a massive difference to our Christian lives, because it's full of Heavenly encouragement.

Let's now recap what the transfiguration means:

FIRST: Serves to prove beyond doubt, the authenticity, Authority, Power and Son ship of Christ Jesus.

SECOND: Gives us hope of mountain top experiences and glimpses of Heaven to encourage our ministry to those who live in the valleys.

THIRD: Shows the love and the care Jesus has for every one of us, in all of life's circumstances.

Join with me now, let's simply close our eyes in reflection, in a very short meditation. Imagine the greenery fading and the air we breathe getting thinner as we walk with Jesus up the mountain slope.

Imagine for a moment that dazzling light glowing outwardly from within our saviour and relax in that wonderful glow. Feel that radiant warming glow as if the sun were shining on you in some sheltered place.

Relax bathe in that glorious light. What is it that Jesus is saying to you at this very moment?

What is it you wish to say to God? Hear Gods words: 'this is my dear Son, listen to Him.'

AMEN

Who Is The

Greatest?

Who Is The Greatest? (Mark 9:30-37)

Our text today is taken from Marks Gospel, chapter 9 and verses 30 - 37. And I focus on last 5 verses (33 - 37).Whilst Jesus and His disciples were journeying through the region of Galilee, they came to the city of Capernaum. During their journey, Jesus was teaching them for the second time, on the things to expect. His trial and His forthcoming death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. But also, as they walked along their route, the disciples were arguing amongst themselves. Arguing, as to who would be the greatest amongst them. But they didn't want Jesus to hear them, never realising that Jesus knew all the secrets of their hearts. You see as Jesus spoke about the coming of God's kingdom, His crucifixion and resurrection, they still did not fully understand. They thought, He was referring to establishing a worldly kingdom, and throwing off the mantle of the Roman occupation. They argued as to which position they might hold and who would be the greatest amongst them. But you see, like all other paradoxes in scripture, the way to greatness in the Kingdom of God is so fundamentally different, from the way of greatness in this world.

In the Jewish culture, when a rabbi was about to teach, he would call his pupils together and sit down before them. So Jesus, knowing in His heart their ambitions, called them to Himself, sat down and began to clarify their position.

That the ways of God's Kingdom, were poles apart from the ways of the Kingdoms of this present world. He was explaining to them how 'greatness' is judged in God's Kingdom. Comparing it to how greatness is judged in this world. Greatness in our world today, is so often judged by the job you do. How much wealth we accumulate, how powerful we become, how famous we are. And to be great in this world is so often linked, to being hard hearted, self-serving and ruthless. Whereas, in God's Kingdom greatness comes not in worldly terms at all.

To be great in God's Kingdom, we need only two attributes, only two spiritual gifts.

The first one is servanthood and the second one is humility. You can't achieve servanthood, without having humility. We look first of all at what servanthood means, and how we can develop this quality. Let's list some examples which portray servanthood.

Kindness and hospitality to others

Attending Church as often as possible and ask others along.

Using our gifts and talents both inside and outside of Church

Sharing the Gospel with those we meet, and encourage new Christians

Visiting those in hospital, Prison, or at home.....the lonely and the sick.

Offer prayer to those in need.

These are a few thing we could do, to become less selfish or self-centred. Some ways we can begin or continue in our servanthood.

But to be a servant we must address our humility or rather the lack of it. Because servanthood depends on humility. And humility is the opposite of pride. So, we need to eliminate pride in order that our humility may flourish.

Because servanthood and humility always go together, and both are cardinal in God's Kingdom. When we can accept others and serve them in Jesus name.

Then, we please not only Jesus but also His Father in heaven. So, let's examine some of the ways we can grow in humility:-

Be open to be used personally.

Reach out to those different from us.

Reach out to those less fortunate.

Gladly accept subservient rolls such as reading, leading prayers, or helping to take Sunday school for example.

Welcome everyone from all classes even those you don't naturally or usually associate with.

We could help with charitable work, perhaps in the church shop or food bank.

Be prepared to help with menial tasks cleaning, or helping to welcome people and helping with refreshments.

Again just a few ideas to encourage, to build humility. By eliminating our pride and our egos.

In Conclusion the way to greatness in God's Kingdom is impossible without servanthood and humility. Both are cardinal, Gospel imperatives being two attributes, two keys to God's Kingdom. And it was Jesus Himself, who set the example by coming to earth in the form of a servant. And by humbling Himself even to death on the cross.

BUT A WARNING, if we seek to be great by the standards of this world, then we are setting ourselves up for a fall.

You know, whilst I was preparing this talk 'a saying' came into my mind, I'll share it with you:

THE DOOR TO GOD'S KINGDOM IS MYSTERIOUS, ALWAYS LOWER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE PERSON SEEKING TO STEP THROUGH IT.

ONLY THE ONES WHO BOW IN HUMILITY, ARE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH TO GOD'S KINGDOM.

In chapter 14 of Luke's Gospel it says: 'For whoever exalts himself will be humbled. And whoever humbles himself will be exalted 'So, my brothers and sisters, if we want to be great in God's Kingdom, let's humbly serve each other. And strive to serve a broken world. As we continue the work Jesus began.

AMEN

When Salt Loses

It's Taste

When Salt Loses Its Taste (Mark 9:38 – 50)

Do you know, many people have said of me that I'm full of useless information and it could be true? Because I'm fascinated with Trivia ever since the game of Trivial Pursuits came on the market. I am full of useless facts and figures.

During the month of August I shared with the congregation what I thought was worthwhile but yet quite useless information.

'Did they know?' I asked, 'that in August 2015 there are 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays... and that occurs only once in 823 years?'

Did you know, that if mankind evaporated only 1 tonne of salt from the Pacific Ocean they would be left with 79 pounds or 1264 ounces of salt? Yet from the Dead Sea, one of the world's smallest seas we would harvest 500 pounds or 8000 ounces of salt for the same amount or weight of water.

This might also seem useless information, yet it illustrates that every Sea or Ocean varies in its saltiness.

And do you know that Jesus in Matthew 5:13 it says, 'Christians are the salt of the earth.'

Let's look briefly at what scripture says about salt. In the final two verses (49/50) of our gospel reading it says, 'Everyone will be purified with fire as a sacrifice is purified by salt. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have the salt of friendship amongst yourselves, and live in peace with one another.'

To understand what Jesus is teaching here we must focus on the context of salt in biblical times. Well, salt has over 14000 ways in which it can be used by mankind. But in biblical time's salt was much more valuable than it is today, it's uses and its symbolism were extremely important in Old Testament times.

Roman centurions were actually paid with salt. That's where our word salary comes from. Sodium Chloride (SALT) is one element mankind needs to keep alive and healthy. Salt has always been used as a seasoning, to enhance the taste of food. It's always been used to preserves food especially before the advent of refrigeration.

It's always been used as a disinfectant and purifier. But for our ancestors salt was used in the Old Testament to purify and to sanctify every single act of sacrifice whether it be a grain sacrifice, lamb sacrifice, or bird sacrifice, salt was either mixed with, or sprinkled onto every single sacrifice they made, it signified for them purity and Holiness.

For our ancestors it went very much further, had so much more meaning, symbolising permanence, loyalty, purity, durability, fidelity and holiness.

JOB 6:6......Salt enhances flavour.

COL 4:6......Salt indicated purity of speech.

MARK 9:50...Salt signifying goodness.

And very importantly in the context of our passage today, In the Old Testament book of Numbers 18:19 says 'Salt symbolises and seals the promises of the covenant!'

From time to time each one of us needs to check our saltiness. Is our conversation pure? Are our actions edifying to God. Do we keep our promises? How do we behave towards others? Because an unbelieving world is watching and waiting and listening to each one of us.

I wonder what they sometimes SEE or HEAR.

We now know, a little more about salt and how our ancestors used it and the passage becomes a little clearer in meaning. In biblical times and even today in the Middle East, people use the imagery of salt to symbolise friendship.

They have a common saying when referring to friendship saying: - 'There is Salt between us.'

So, what does all this teach us? Well, Jesus is teaching us here, to live in such a way, that we too could say to each other 'There is salt between us.'

For us to lead a covenant life. A life of purity, a life pleasing to God. A life, where it can be said of us 'You are worth your salt.'

Later in our service today we will all be participating in another covenant event that unites us as Christians. The Holy Communion, in which the bread represents Christ's body and the wine His blood. As we share H/C let's reflect on the state of our spiritual life. Are we salty enough, or has our spiritual life lost or been depleted of its saltiness.

You know, in recent times much has been said about Leonardo da Vinci's fabulous painting of 'The Last Supper.' And as I was learning about salt as part of covenant promise, I was surprised to learn, that in Leonardo's painting on the table, directly in front of Judas Iscariot is an upturned pot of salt, spilled out on the table!

Brothers and sisters as we come For Holy Communion we should reflect on the state of saltiness, our usefulness in spreading Christ's gospel.

AMEN

Do Not Hinder

Little Children

Do Not Hinder Little Children (Mark 10: 2 – 16)

Our text today is Mark 10: 1 - 16, we will focus today on only the last four verses, 12 - 16. Here we have Jesus teaching the disciples to stop hindering the babies and young children from coming to Him for the wonder of His touch and for prayer. We're told that 'they' or some text say the 'people' brought the children to Jesus. It doesn't specifically say it was the parents, the children could have been brought by friends, neighbours or perhaps a brother or a sister. Bringing children to Jesus is not just for parents. Some of the best people to minister to the young are those who never had children of their own, even Jesus Himself. The disciples rebuked those bringing the children. But when Jesus saw this He became indignant. His righteous anger was ignited and He said to His disciples:-

'Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them. For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'

Then Jesus expands on this by continuing

'I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'

Before we can understand this teaching, we must first look at how children were thought of, and how they were treated in biblical times. In biblical times and in many third world countries even today, children are considered the very lowest in the pecking order.

Boys are chosen in preference to girls. Fathers had the power of life and death over their children. Children when unwanted and girls especially, could be put out on the hillsides, in a kind of survival of the fittest attitude. Unwanted babies would be routinely sold into slavery. The unscrupulous would gather abandoned children and girls would eventually become prostitutes and the boys trained as gladiators. Some parents would deliberately maim a baby in order to enhance the chance of survival by begging as they grew older. (This certainly happens in India even today). Jesus lived in a society where children were considered an underclass and expendable. By comparison in the western world at least, we are generally poles apart when it comes to treatment of our young people.

Children today in the west are often cosseted, spoiled, and often treated as little princesses trying to live a celebrity life style dictated by Walt Disney standards. We hear Jesus in our text today furious with His disciples' attitude to children, attitudes which hinder or obstruct children coming to Him.

And you know many Christians, in many churches today still display that same attitude of hindering and obstructing children from coming to Jesus.

There's at least three major areas where this can occur,

FIRST: By our attitudes, of thinking of children, as too much trouble, too messy, too noisy, too tiring or too demanding. Such a waste of time and effort, after all they are only children, they should be seen, but certainly not heard.

SECOND: Often we can fall into that age old trap of saying or thinking. 'Do as I say, not what I do.' From so many of our thoughtless words and actions we can pass onto our children enormous negativity and hypocrisy.

THIRD: We can hinder the children by our misplaced theology. Many Christians believe that because children don't understand then they can't be saved or become a believer. Just pacify them until they are able to understand and make their own choices. If that kind of theology is correct, then ask yourself where does that leave those with learning difficulties or those with mental health problems? Jesus showed His righteous anger because He loves children of all ages, at every stage of development even in the womb, before birth

Francis Mac Nutt and his wife wrote a wonderful book called 'Praying for your unborn child.' The book follows the development cycle of the unborn child. Making it possible to target prayers which co-inside with development of the foetus.

They suggest that if every Christian parent followed this pattern of prayer coinciding with the development of the foetus then there would by a gentle revolution.

Because each child would be born with a 'pre-disposition' to God. Brothers and sisters, we know that the unborn, the baby, the toddler and the child are not a waste of time and energy, not a nuisance, but a blessing.

The fact is children are much closer to God than any of us, simply because in their innocence, they haven't been contaminated (as yet) by the world.

ANECDOTE - of the little boy and the puppies: As a little boy walked through the local outdoor market he saw a sight which excited him. There was an old man with five beautiful puppies for sale. The man allowed the boy to stroke the puppies and the little boy asked 'how much would one of your puppies sell for?' Only £2 pounds each said the man It was difficult for the little boy to choose which puppy he wanted, one was playful, one was tired, one was flopping all over, tripping himself up, one was playfully rolling on the other three. 'Where's the fifth puppy?' The little boy asked. 'Oh,' said the man, 'you'll not want that one. He's the runt of the litter, he's not looking as good as the others and he's lame.' The little boy smiled as he rolled up his trouser leg revealing a large metal support bracing his leg and attached to a clumsy looking boot. 'Yes', said the little boy 'I'll have that one because I know how he feels and he needs someone who understands how his feels.'

A moving story which illustrates the compassion and insight children can show even at a tender age. I wonder are we blessed with children to teach or to learn from.

Evidence suggests, that if a young person has not shown an inclination to God before they reach 14 years of age. Then their opportunities to do so reduce dramatically as they grow older.

Sadly we don't see so many children in church. Our churches here, consist, of shall we say, the more mature, many of us are retired. Many of us are grandparents or even great grandparents and our grand parenting could be our natural opportunity to talk about our faith with our grandchildren. Never let any one of us, be embarrassed to talk about our faith with our children.

I wonder when our last opportunity came, to look into the eyes of a child and speak the name of Jesus. I finish with a true story it's about a little girl not so long ago. She wandered into a local church, she was full of wonder and awe. Looking around excitedly, expectantly.

There were no other children, only adults, some moved away as she giggled nervously and sang out of tune. No one sat near her, no one had a kind word of encouragement for her, and no one helped her find the hymns or the proper page in the service book.

Sadly the only thing she heard was some elderly ladies tut tutting at her presence. All the girl saw, was glances which signified to her at least, that she was not wanted, no-one cared. She persevered for a few months, but reluctantly decided she didn't fit in, she wasn't wanted.

Eventually she stopped going to church. Later in that year the little girl contracted meningitis and was in hospital desperately ill, and the pastor of the church was asked by her distraught mother if he would visit her daughter. When he saw the plight of the little girl, he was shocked she whispered some-thing and the pastor held her hand and leant forward so he might hear. The little girl whispered with laboured breath, saying: 'Jesus will understand, won't He?'

The pastor with tears in his eyes asked, 'Understand what my dear.'

The little girl continued, 'He will understand won't He, that I did want to come to church, but they didn't want me.'

Overcome by emotion the pastor ran back to church and called a meeting of everyone. They saw what they had done or rather what they had not done and started a 24 hour prayer vigil for the little girl. Fortunately the girl made a full recovery and the Christians in that Church learned a hard but valuable lesson.

One of these days we may be fortunate and see a child or even children joining us for worship. Brothers and sisters, we should feel blessed by their presence. Let us not be found wanting.

AMEN

Healing Of Blind

Bartimaeus

Healing of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10: 46 – 52)

Our text today is from the Gospel of St. Mark, chapter 10, reading verses 46 to 52. This passage is an account of Jesus healing a blind man. We know little of the man, except that his name was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. He had been blind from birth, was unable to work, and resorted to begging for his living and had become the subject of people's pity. Each one of the synoptic Gospels, gives accounts of the blind being healed near the city of Jericho. This happened towards the end of Jesus public ministry. He would have passed through Jericho on route to Jerusalem and the beginning of His Passion. In His humanity there would have been so much, weighing heavily on His mind. Yet Jesus still made time, still displayed concern, care and love for His people. You know, in scripture, there are two Jericho's, the old city of Jericho, which was mostly abandoned.

The other city of Jericho, was an attractive new city built by Herod the great. Both the old and new City were on the same road to Jerusalem, but about fifteen miles apart. Usually the beggars would sit on the route out of the city, at the exit gate, so here sat Bartimaeus, blind and destitute since birth. Seemingly without any kind of hope for a better life.

Until that is, Christ Jesus came by. Bartimaeus I guess would have known and anticipated that Jesus the great healer would pass his way. And he was ready to make his move, perhaps the last chance he would ever have of healing and a better life.

As Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus yelled out: 'Son of David have mercy on me'

But in earthly terms wasn't Jesus the son of Joseph? Bartimaeus must have understood who Jesus actually was, because 'the son of David' is another name for the long expected Messiah in the Old Testament. The coming Messiah in the Old Testament was said by the prophets to be descended from the line of King David. Thus Bartimaeus was referring not to biological fatherhood but to ancestral fatherhood, the bloodline.

As he called out, the crowds turned on him saying, 'Be quiet, shut up, don't bother the Rabbi.'

But Barimaeus was not to be denied, shouting again in reckless excitement, 'Son of David have mercy on me'

On the second call Jesus stopped in His tracks and for a moment time stood still, then He called the blind man. Nothing would stop Barimaeus now. He threw off his cloak, and gathered his robes, so they wouldn't impede his progress and quickly came to Jesus. Jesus said, 'What do you want me to do for you?'

'Rabbi, I want to see.' Came his answer.

'GO...your faith has healed you', Jesus said.

Immediately, his sight returned. Bartimaeus was told to go but instead he followed our Lord, from that time on. Here we have one of the most powerful of miracles. A man healed, given his sight and his life back. Yet Bartimaeus we're told had faith. Although he was blind from birth, on a spiritual level he could see clearly. They say, 'there is none so blind, as they who will not see.' And that's so true, for so many in our world today.

Those who have 20/20 vision, yet still don't see that their life style is leading them to damnation!

It's true, that for Bartimaeus, Jesus 'stood still.' And, The Lord still 'Stands Still', every time a sinner or a lost soul calls on His name.

HOW WELL DO WE WANT TO SEE, SPIRITUALLY?

WHAT IS IT THAT IMPEDES US COMING TO JESUS?

Because there will always be that crowd behind us who will want to stop us getting 'Too Carried Away'

Many prefer to keep the old Status Quo, rather than allow anything to change. Far too many Churchgoers, stop short of what God has for them, by listening to the crowd rather than crying out for mercy.

You know, there's nothing quite like a 'cry of desperation', to get our Saviour's attention. Bartimaeus threw off his cloak and gathered his robes so that nothing would impede him.

What is it in our lives which stops us coming to Jesus? Is it pride, fear, sin or do we want to be in control of our own lives, go our own way?

You know no prayer ever reaches God which doesn't come from our own hearts. How desperate, how thirsty, are we for God?

You know every time I dwell on this miracle of sight being restored to Bartimaeus. I always think of that old saying about us being 'STUCK IN A RUT.' Just as Bartimaeus was stuck in a rut, of darkness and poverty.

What is it that blights our lives, what rut are we stuck in? When we are in a fix, it's so easy to get locked into that rut.

Locked into that cycle, of words, speech, behaviour and actions, a rut from which, we find it hard to escape.

'A RUT IS A GRAVE, WITH OPEN ENDS'

And those kinds of ruts keep you and me from reaching our full potential in God. So, how do we get out of that rut?

There are seven principles modelled by Bartimaeus

FIRST: Assume responsibility, Cry out for mercy as he did

SECOND: Believe we can change

THIRD: If we're confused clarify our needs, know what it is we need. If Jesus asked us now 'what do you want me to do for you?' how would we answer?

FOURTH: Stop worrying what others might think or say. If Bartimaeus had listened to others he would have remained blind and remained forever without hope.

FIFTH: Stop waiting for that right time, that ideal moment. Stop waiting for circumstances to be more favourable. For tomorrow never comes, we only have the now, this moment.

SIXTH: Don't be afraid to take bold steps, step out in faith. If we want something bad enough then we will summon up the courage, like Bartimaeus did or we stay in that rut.

SEVENTH: Make our move now. Most people don't get out of the rut because they never make that first move. You know the most dangerous rut of all is the one which leads us away from God.

The Bible urges us not put things off. How desperate are we for some kind of change in our lives?

What kind of ruts exist in our lives, relationship breakdown, bad habits, loose talk, lack of energy or sleep, inability to keep friends, the list could be endless?

Do we really want resolution or do we put things off? We need to look again at the account of blind Bartimaeus getting out of his rut of living in darkness, trapped with seemingly no hope of a better life. If we can see anything of ourselves in this passage of scripture, then I urge you to read the short passage over, and over again, praying beforehand, that God will speak to each one of us.

That God will show us the way out of any kind of rut we've fallen into, all we need do, just like Bartimaeus did, is to cry out to God for mercy and He will come our aid. It's for sure..... And promised in scripture that God wants only the best for His children.

It's when we come to the end of 'self' and come to the end our own resources that God will answer our cry for Mercy.

We are not left forever in darkness, the task is never too great for God, trust and pray, because the ties and ruts of this world which bind us can be broken, and things can changed. Jesus asked Bartimaeus

'What, do you want me to do for you?'And The Lord asks, each one of us afresh today, 'What do you want me to do for you?

'What will our answer be?

AMEN

Christ's

Second Coming

Christ's Second Coming (Mark 13:1-8)

Chapter 13 of St. Marks Gospel is often called the 'Olivet discourse', because all the teaching from this chapter took place upon the Mount of Olives.

Mark's is the earliest of the four Gospels, the other three all quote Mark in all but 31 verses. Interestingly, Mark records more miracles than the other three Gospels. There's so much of interest in this passage, but I focus today on only verse 8, which says: - 'Countries will fight one another. There will be earthquakes everywhere, and there will be famine.

These things are like the first pangs of childbirth.'

When Jesus said these words, He was talking about His second coming and telling of the signs which will lead up to that great event. He doesn't speculate when the exact time will be, that's not ours to know. Instead He encourages us to be ready and prepared for His second and final coming.

We are encouraged as the disciples were, to serve Jesus faithfully now, but not be so preoccupied that we are not prepared for His second coming. No one can predict what that time or hour will be. Because it's 'preparation' not 'calculation' which is needed.

There's a few more weeks before Christmas, let's recall the very first nativity, the first coming of Christ Jesus over 2000 years ago.

Here's the question this morning: Who can remember playing 'hide and seek' as a child? What did we shout as we completed the count?

ANSWER: 'Coming ready or not.' That's our memory for today, an aid to memory to remind us of the second coming of Christ.

When He comes again, many will be taken 'unaware.' The suddenness of this event is foretold in Scripture. When He does return, then just like our memory aid, He will be coming 'ready or not.'

So many are lured into a worldly Christmas. Embroiled and dazzled by all the lights and the hype, food, mince pies and of course alcohol. Not to mention the parties, shiny tinsel and trimmings, drawn by the magnetic attraction of materialism.

The fact is, that Christmas and the coming of Christ, means above all else, that God became man in Christ Jesus so we may have the opportunity of salvation. This year on the threshold of Advent, let's remember the origins and meaning of a true Christmas. You and I are now living in that 'In between' time.

That's after the nativity, yet before the second and final coming of Christ Jesus. Looking back to the nativity, whilst looking forward to the second coming.

We often pray the Lord's Prayer, saying: - 'Thy Kingdom come.' When we say this, do we really appreciate exactly what that phrase means? 'Thy Kingdom come' is praying for the second coming of Christ and the end of the world as we know it.

This Christmas, don't let us become like the proverbial rabbit 'dazzled', trapped in the headlights of a car. Amidst all the frivolity and excitement of this festive season, don't be caught out and forget to raise our heads occasionally and look for the signs of the second and final coming of Christ.

The Bible teaches us, do not become too emerged in earthly things, because that's the most foolish thing we could ever do. Be prepared... because He's coming 'ready or not'

AMEN

Gethsemane

Gethsemane (Mark 14:-42)

Today we gather to mark the beginning of Lent, which lasts for a total of 46 days, (40 weekdays and 6 Sundays). It's a time of reflection, prayerfulness, repentance and self-examination. The 40 weekdays of Lent mirror the 40 days Christ spent in the wilderness being tempted by the Satan.

Ash Wednesday marks the start of this season, and in the western Church by the imposition of a Cross upon the fore head. Traditionally made by mixing the ashes of last year's palm crosses with oil (blessed by a Bishop). This also serves to remind us of the Old Testament where ashes, dust and sack cloth were symbolically worn as a sign of mourning.

Although not mentioned in Scripture, the imposition of ashes remains optional for Christians. Through the centuries it's become a traditional way to mark the beginning of Lent. Also as an aid to memory, reminding us to deepen our resolve by repentance and prayer during Lent. The destiny of Jesus is drawing near, during Lent we walk with Jesus under the shadow of the Cross.

He has been busy teaching and preparing the disciples for those dark days to come. Exhausted in His humanity, subject to large crowds excited by His teachings and the miracles He performed.

This is the point where He shares the 'Last Supper' with the disciples, in an upper room. Sharing a simple meal of bread and wine. Jesus raises the bread heavenward, blesses it, before sharing it.

Afterwards He asks His disciples to do this in remembrance of Him whenever they meet, by sharing this simple meal. So inaugurating the first pattern for all other Holy Communion to follow.

As a mark of His humility and servanthood, He then washes His disciple's feet, a task normally undertaken by only the lowest of servants. It was now later as they left and walked together with Jesus. Now heading towards the walled garden of Gethsemane,

(Gethsemane means the place of the wine press). Which was a favourite place which our Lord often used as a retreat and a quiet spot in which to pray. Leaving most disciples at the gate outside the garden to watch and pray, He took Peter, James and John with Him deeper into the garden before going a little further alone.

He asked Peter, James and John to sit and pray. Only a few steps away He prays fervently: 'Father all things are possible for you, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.'

Returning to His disciples, rebukes them for falling asleep, before returning a second time to pray alone. He returns to them a second time finding them asleep again, saying sadly to them:-

'Are you still asleep, rise we go, my betrayer is at hand.'

You know what happened in the garden of Gethsemane that night was truly amazing. We've seen before that Scripture often 'mirrors' in the New Testament, a reflection of events in the Old Testament.

We can see two gardens tonight, and also two men. The first is Adam in the Garden of Eden in the Old Testament. The second is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane in the New Testament.

Where the first man (Adam) fell as he yielded to sin and temptation, so causing the downfall of mankind. The second man (Jesus) conquered sin and death by yielding to God's 'will.' Winning the victory for mankind.

The second point worth noting is that Gethsemane was both a garden of SORROW and STRENGTH. We can see sorrow in the prayers of Jesus, His anguish and His tears of blood. Totally alone in His distress.

Then by comparison, we see the garden of sorrow become the garden of strength. Because unlike Adam He triumphed over sin, we see His resolve building as He prepares to face His destiny, death on a Cross. Not perhaps the answer He yearned for in His humanity, but more than sufficient to see Him through the dark days ahead.

Jesus was now ready, the hour was at hand, and ready to meet His betrayer and those who came to arrest Him. He had entered the garden in sorrow and left the garden with strengthened resolve.

From His prayers in that garden, we can see how our prayers in the face of disaster and despair, in all the problems we may face in our lives, can also give us courage, and strengthen our resolve. Many of us have walked the grass of Gethsemane (so to speak), there may be more Gethsemane's ahead for some of us.

Times of loss and brokenness, but we have the promise of Jesus, the secret is to link our prayers to the 'will' of God.

May we never forget to mobilise and utilise that wonderful gift of prayer, especially as we have Jesus constantly interceding on our behalf.

I conclude with a quote from Phil. 4:4-6 which tells us:-

'Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication let your request be known to God: and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.'

AMEN

Preview Of

Luke's Gospel

Authorship

Luke is one of the four evangelists, the ascribed authors of the canonical gospels. He was also credited by the early Church fathers as being the author of 'The Acts of the Apostles', his writing often referred to as 'Luke-Acts.' He was physician and historian and companion of St. Paul, travelling extensively with him on missionary journeys.

Readership

Luke was a Greek, a gentile, in fact the only gentile to have writings accepted and included in the Holy Bible. As a gentile his writings would have been very acceptable to those outside the Jewish tradition, and as a historian would also have found favour amongst the Jews. 'A man for all seasons 'If you like.' Acts of the Apostles was Luke's sequel to the Gospel bearing his name, thus making him the most prolific writer in the New Testament. In fact no less than 28% of the New Testament was written by Luke, yet we know so little about him. He writes in a third person tense, he doesn't write as an actual 'eye witnesses to the ministry of Jesus. However St. Paul and Luke would have had the opportunity of meeting and talking with the original twelve disciples, therefore making their contributions valid and not merely 'hear say.' The 'Luke-Acts' text is a wonderfully crafted piece written from a Gentile perspective in the form of a letter, from Luke to Theophilus, who was the Roman recipient.

Date Of Writing

As for the date of Luke's Gospel, we can be sure it was written before its sequel 'The Acts of the Apostles.' This can be deduced because Acts doesn't mention Nero's Persecution of the Christians in 64 AD. Nor does it mention the death of James (62 AD), Paul (64 AD) or Peter (65 AD). Therefore we can assume the gospel was written shortly before 62 AD. The subsequent date of 'Acts' still defies Biblical scholars, but the general consensus says it was written about 65 - 69 AD.

Purpose / Theme

The purpose of Luke's Gospel-Acts writings are closely related and clearly written with a purpose in mind. Perhaps it was firstly written to give an accurate historical account of the growth of the early Church. Almost as a by- product of this, Luke emphasises and minimises the very real differences between different groups within the early Church as they all struggle to interpret the meaning of Christ's ministry. Basically Luke was promoting unity within the Church. Luke was also addressing criticism from those outside the Church, who saw Jesus as a revolutionary, and as such, a danger to the rule of Roman law. Luke was teaching as Christ, that God's love embraces all regardless of nation, tribe or sectarian group. As a result of Luke musings we see many parables which appear only in his gospel. The Lucan parables we can see below......

The Pharisee praying in the temple.

The Publican.

The Good Samaritan.

The rich man and Lazarus.

The rich fool.

The lost coin.

The Prodigal Son.

Zacchaeus climbing the tree

All of the above were unique to Luke's gospel, illustrating and emphasising the very nature and character of Jesus' work. Showing that Jesus doesn't advocate opposition to Roman law or their occupation. But through these significant parables he was demonstrating the inclusiveness of salvation. Here these parables promote love for the foreigner, the outcast and the disadvantaged, the poor and the refugee. All of which are still huge problems in our world today. His purpose was to explain the universal call to salvation. This is a call which echo's far beyond God's original chosen people and now reverberates to a waiting world.

If we need any further evidence of Luke's Gospel spelling out the nature of this New Testament universal call to salvation, then consider this. At the very beginning of his Gospel, we have the account of the genealogy of Jesus, which Luke traces back to 'Adam' rather than 'Abraham .' This bears witness to Luke's emphasis on Jesus being representative of the whole of humanity rather than being narrowly associated with only the Hebrew race. We can also see the term 'Son of Man 'used often in his Gospel. A prophetic term which originated in the Old Testament (in Daniel Ch. 7:13-15). A messianic term which Jesus exclusively assigned to Himself and used throughout the New Testament, a term in which Jesus completely identifies Himself with the whole of humanity.

As we read through the Gospel written by Luke's hand, we can really see and feel the great emphasis he places on prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit, God's forgiveness of sins and importance of the role played by women in His ministry. In fact Luke's gospel has a great effect on many of the women who read it and it's often referred to as the gospel to women.

Outline Of Luke's Gospel

The outline of contents can usefully be divided into eight sections and is helpful in giving us an over sight to this Gospel,

Introduction. (Ch. 1:1-4)

Birth and childhood of Jesus

and John the Baptist. (Ch. 1:5-2:52)

Ministry of John the Baptist. (Ch. 3:1-20)

Baptism and Temptation of Jesus. (Ch. 3:21-4:13)

The Galilean ministry of Jesus. (Ch. 4:14-9:50)

From Galilee to Jerusalem. (Ch. 9:51-19:27)

His last week in and near

Jerusalem. (Ch.19:28-23:56)

Resurrection, appearances and

ascension of Jesus. (Ch. 24:1-53)

Conclusion

So, the Gospel of Luke contains, narrative history, genealogy, sermons, parables and some prophetic oracles. I believe that the parables within his Gospel are one of the main features, it contains more parables than any other Gospel (having 19 in total). Within their combined teachings, lay the priority, and main thrust of Luke's message. His 'good News' is that acceptance and salvation for the sinner, the poor, the lost and the disadvantaged is now available to all men and women, regardless of nationality. Through Luke's musings and his writing we see Christianity becoming much more 'Gentile' and much less 'Jewish' in its remit.

Fear Not

Fear Not (Luke 1:26-38)

The gospel today tells of the angel's annunciation to Mary, that she would bear God's Son, the Messiah. She was confused and fearful as she pondered her position as the chosen one.

Her fears were totally understandable, especially in the context of her life and her historical setting. Fear is one of the most natural parts of the human condition, ever since the 'fall of mankind' which we see in Exodus 3:8-10.

There are so many things we can be fearful of. I'll ask you now, what is it, that you are fearful of? You may be fearful of spiders, snakes or heights. Maybe it's a fear of water, open spaces or being in confined spaces. Your fear may stem from old age approaching, financial problems, rejection, loneliness or disappointments. Fears may be openly talked about and often laughed about. Sometimes it becomes subject to black humour. Other fears remain in the dark, not spoken about, but dwell deep within our psyche. Even in scripture we see men and women 'stalked' by their fears. :-

Genesis, Abraham lied to Sarah out of fear. In Genesis Jacob feared Easu.

In Exodus Moses feared the Pharaoh.

In Matthews's gospel the disciples feared the storm whilst at sea.

Nothing has really changed, people like you and me can still be caught in that grip of fear.

ANECDOTE: There was once was a young boy, whose journey home from school took him through a dark Forest, which always filled him with fear. One night he heard a noise, could it have been a wolf or a twig cracking underfoot? Then he heard a voice this made him fearful for his life. Then he heard the voice of someone calling his name, it was his father, who knew his son was fearful, he had come to meet him. He came seeking him, to hold his hand and reassure him. The boy's father brought peace to his son's fearful heart.

You know, we have something to reassure each one of us, that is scripture! The bible tells us many times 'FEAR NOT.' Three time God sent angels to the earth with messages about the coming Messiah.

Each one of these messages both confused and worried the original hearers. Each time the angels reassured those hearers by saying, 'Do not be afraid.'

You know we have something to reassure each one of us, that is scripture! The bible tells us so many times 'FEAR NOT.'

ANECDOTE: There was an old man many years ago, who was asked on his one hundredth Birthday: 'During your long years, what is the greatest thing that has robbed you of joy?'

After much thought, the old man replied, 'The things which never happened.'

I'm sure all of us can recall some needless burdens we have carried or worried about in our past. But, we have three keys to happiness. Three keys to unlock the fear which blights our lives from time to time. Are you ready to receive and to treasure the three keys? Here they are:-

FIRST: Key from John's gospel 13:1 'Fear not, He loves you'

SECOND: Key from Psalm 139:10 'Fear not, He holds you'

THIRD: Key from Psalm 121:5 'Fear not, He keeps you'

Do you remember the story of the boy in the dark Forest, frightened for his life? Remember, it was his father seeking him and offering a helping hand that dispelled all the boy's fear.

That's what God does for you and me. Quietly now. Ask yourself is there any fear or worries in your heart today?

If there's sadness.......................bring it to Jesus.

If there's fear.............................bring it to Jesus.

If there's disappointment..........bring it to Jesus.

If there's burden........................bring it to Jesus.

If there's brokenness.................bring it to Jesus.

If there's despair........................bring it to Jesus.

If there's failure..........................bring it to Jesus.

Let's say this prayer together, Father help us to remember the three keys from the bible which unlock our fears. Father we ask you loose us, from the bondage of our human fears. That we may reach our full potential in you. Heavenly Father fill us anew with the power of you Holy Spirit that we might be truly free.

AMEN

First Sunday Of

Christmas

First Sunday of Christmas (Luke 2: 15 – 20)

Our gospel today taken from Luke 1: 15 - 20 is just four short verses, and tells of the angel's announcement to the shepherds of the birth of the Christ Child.

We see right away the shepherds went and found the Christ Child so they could worship Him. You know, it's a marvellous thing, God's first announcement, was not to kings, temple leaders nor to governors but to lowly shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem, whilst they were tending their flocks.

You see, at that time shepherds were despised by orthodox Jews. Simply because such lowly shepherds were unable to keep to the details of the ceremonial law. So they were looked on as ceremonially unclean and for instance would not be allowed in the temple or into any court room to give evidence. So it was to the shepherds, ordinary men of the fields that God's message came first.

But scripture and historical evidence suggests that these shepherds were specially chosen. We know that the temple authorities required a supply of unblemished, (pure) lambs for the twice daily blood sacrifice in the temple.

To ensure that the supply of unblemished lambs was always available the temple authorities kept their own private flock of sheep to guarantee the supply never failed. We also know from records that the temple flock were always grazed in the hills around Bethlehem, therefore we know the shepherds in question would have been the ones looking after the Temples own flock of sheep.

The Christ Child, the 'Lamb of God', came to eliminate blood sacrifices. Becoming the final sacrifice by His death on the cross, dying with the burden of our sin that we may be reconciled to God.

We also know from biblical history that every new born boy child would have been welcomed by local musicians and singers gathering around the new baby's home.

But this boy child was different, not born locally, nor in a local home but born, away from family and neighbours, born in a faraway stable. So we're told that instead of the normal earthly musicians and singers welcoming the new born we have a multitude of angelic mistrals and singers praising God in the skies.

A multitude means no small number, suggesting thousands upon thousands filling the skies. What a wonderful sight and sound that must have been.

But despite all these signs - people were expecting a mighty warrior, a great king who would oust the occupying Roman forces and re-establish the homeland for God's chosen people. Instead they had a Holy infant, God's son. Born into the world in poverty and in humility. God clothed in the mantle of humanity.

ANECDOTE: There was once a European king who frequently disappeared and lived 'incognito' amongst his people. His government and council were afraid for his safety and the security of his kingdom.

Asking the king for security's sake, not to keep mixing, or living amongst the ordinary people of his kingdom. The king thoughtfully answered:-

'How can I rule my people unless I know how they live?'

Likewise, it's a great Christian thought. That we have a God, who knows the life we lead, because He lived it too. Yet claiming no special advantage over the common man. So you and I can take solace that God revealed Himself, not to the mighty, the powerful or the privileged, but to the lowly, the powerless and the unprivileged, to ordinary people like you and me.

So - What does this all mean for you and me today?

Well those shepherds on hearing the 'Good News' had a choice to make. Basically they could have done one of two things

FIRST: They could have ignored the 'Good News' (As so many people do). They could have chosen the Status Quo, carried on their lives as before.

OR

SECOND: They could have listened to the 'Good News' which they had heard and acted upon it and sought out the Christ Child to worship Him.

You know ultimately, the 'Good News' only becomes 'Good News', if we act upon it, if we accept it for ourselves. Do you know, that in all of world history, there has been peace for only 8 percent of time!

There's been over 8000 treaties signed and broken, there's been over 14500 wars, resulting in over 6 million deaths. There are two thing that I know for certain. Without Christ Jesus this world knows no Peace.

And without Christ Jesus this world knows no joy. The truth is, we can never experience peace and joy unless we first acknowledge where it comes from, what is the source of our peace and joy?

The true meaning of peace and joy can be so easily lost or perhaps never found amongst all the Razzamatazz of the modern Christmas with Coca-Cola lorries, Santa, and the shallow festivities. The true meaning of that peace and joy can also be easily lost in the busyness of life with so many demands on our time, jobs, children, grandchildren, rushed meals, the cut and thrust of life with all the daily problems. The true meaning of that peace and joy can also be lost amidst science and technology, mobile phones and computers dominating our lives and especially the lives of the young, all distractions have their place and time, but we do need to be sensible, and aware.

Peace and Joy for those shepherds began the moment they decided to seek the light!

Amazingly the God of the whole cosmos came down to earth clothed in the mantle of humanity, and desires to touch and heal the forgotten, you and me, WOW

Those uneducated, ordinary, work a day shepherds were visited by God on an ordinary working day, and God showed them how an ordinary working day can become EXTRA ORDINARY.

The joy and peace Jesus gives is much more than emotion because Jesus is the embodiment of peace and joy. God's angels announced to the shepherds, 'In David's town today, a saviour is born to you, Christ the Lord'

Today at this moment, God has revealed to us through scripture that just like those shepherds we also have a choice to make. Today you and I can experience changed lives!

A life that, in this 'God Moment', we too can be changed forever.

You know, God has always worked miracles for those who come humbly and in weakness, God wants all of us here today to experience the Peace and Joy of Christ Jesus. Hear the echo down through the ages: 'FEAR NOT' 'FEAR NOT.'

Remember - the 'Good News' only becomes 'Good News' When we accept it for ourselves. We stand on the threshold of another new year, what will our choice be?

AMEN

Jesus Presented

At The Temple

Jesus Presented At The Temple (Luke 2: 22-40)

Our passage of scripture today, tells of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. People are often confused about this because in reality Jesus was presented twice as a baby in the Temple.

The first time He was presented was on the fifth day after His birth. This was for Jesus to be circumcised as the Mosaic Law demanded.

The second presentation was on the fortieth day after His birth, when Mary and Joseph would have travelled to the great Temple at Jerusalem with the baby Jesus. This second visit was again to fulfil the Mosaic Law. Which called for the first born male to be consecrated to The Lord their God

There in Jerusalem that day were Simeon, a devout Jew, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he wouldn't die before beholding the long promised Messiah.

There was also an 84 year old widow and prophetess.....Anna. But today, I focus only on Simeon. As part of the consecration Mary and Joseph would have sacrificed either two doves or two pigeons as demanded by Law.

Then Simeon cradled the Christ child lovingly in his arms, and as he recognise the Saviour he said the words which became known as the song of Simeon, 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your Salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people. A light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for the Glory of your people Israel'

Words I'm sure you will recognise as a part of the Church liturgy still used today, which we now call 'The Nunc Demittis' which begins: 'Oh Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.'

The baby was recognised and acknowledged as God's Salvation, an opportunity for each one of us to respond. There are so many things we can learn from Simeon, his attitude and his faithfulness can teach us at least three things.

FIRST: Simeon teaches us about expectation, you see... every day Simeon lived with the expectation of meeting the Saviour. In our daily lives and especially when we come to Church, do we come with an air of expectation?

There may be many reasons you find yourself in Church today, you may put your attendance down to any number of reasons. But it's no coincidence you are here, for many people this morning, God has a message. He asks each person here today a question which needs a response.

You see, in God's Kingdom there's no such word as 'Co-Incidence', there is only God-Incidence. Many come to Church out of routine, some might even see attendance as some kind of duty. But Simeon can teach us that we should come to meet the Saviour in Expectation.

When people of faith come to Church we too should come in Expectation.

Are you 'Expecting' anything today? Are you seeking the Saviour?

Because the Saviour as ever, is waiting for you. He's seeking you and awaits patiently for your response. At the end of this short talk we shall be hearing again the question God is asking today.

SECOND: As Simeon held the Christ Child in his arms, we witness his attitude of adoration, his deep love and devotion as he utters the words of the Nunc Demittis. You know, when you encounter the Saviour in your life, when it becomes personal, make no mistake you will know what's happened for sure.

Your response will be an automatic adoration and a love the like of which, you will have never felt before. YOU WILL KNOW.

THIRD: Simeon had chosen the narrow and difficult path, Jesus taught about so many times. As opposed to the wide and easy pathway of compromise, comfort and apathy which leads only to disappointment and destruction.

The Saviour asks each generation afresh to make a decision, to choose the pathway they take. There is a great divide, there are two pathways. Which side of the divide will you stand on? Which path will you chose?

Consider and respond to this spiritual question, make your decision, for the answer you choose is the most important answer you will ever give.

If you haven't chosen which pathway for your journey yet maybe today is the time for you to get serious about your faith and about God?

Maybe you chose the wrong path some time ago, and are now feeling lost or adrift, and feel you would like to rediscover the right pathway..........it's never too late.

Faith is about acknowledging and celebrating God's provision and God's love for you as an individual. I can't tell you what lays ahead for you in this life.

But I can tell you for sure......that one day, like Simeon, you will stand and behold the Saviour, Christ Jesus the Son of God.

You'll not encounter Him as a baby in the Temple at Jerusalem, because that was Simeon's time and place.

But you will encounter Him one day, but as the 'King of Heaven in all His Glory.' You will stand before Jesus who purchased your Salvation with the price of His own Blood. And you will stand before Him, in the shadow of the decision you made, whilst you were here on this Earth.

Let's take a moment of silence... to carefully listen for God's voice reflecting on our response.

AMEN

Jesus Rejected

At Nazareth

Jesus Rejected At Nazareth.(Lk.4: 14-21)

Our text today is taken from St. Luke's Gospel chapter 4 and verses 14 to 21, which tells of Jesus' rejection in His home town of Nazareth.

Rejected by old neighbours and towns people, who you would think knew Him the best. After all wasn't He the son of Mary and Joseph, and live amongst them for thirty years. Well known as the local carpenter?

At that time in history it was customary for a common Israelite to read a text from the Torah on the Sabbath Day. So Jesus stood before them and read from Isaiah 61, which was entitled THE YEAR OF THE LORD'S FAVOUR.

He began, 'The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoner'

We are familiar with these powerful words from the Bible. After this scripture was read, Jesus went on to preach the most powerful sermon that had ever been preached to mankind. Telling them: 'TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING'

ANECDOTE: Once an elderly couple who were regular Church goers, were walking home after the service, when the wife said, 'Did you see the coat Mary O'Brian was wearing? Didn't it look a mess and the colour WELL, it didn't match her cardigan.'

Her husband replied, 'Can't say I noticed.'

After a few more steps she said, 'Did you see Bill Smith, he badly needs a haircut, and don't you think so.'

'Sorry,' replied her husband, 'I never noticed.'

'You know John,' she said impatiently, 'Sometimes, I wonder if you get anything at all, out of going to Church'

Funny story but helps us to understand that people come to Church for many different reasons. This begs the question: What are our expectations when we come to Church?

What were the expectations when Jesus announced that He was the long promised Messiah. They were amazed at His words, seeking miracles as confirmation of who He claimed to be.

Jesus told them, 'I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own town.'

The crowds were furious and physically drove Him out of town. What does this story teach us for today?

We need to understand the New Testament theology which Christ came to deliver. He came to love the unlovable and to serve the undeserving, leaving us a pattern to follow.

New Testament theology begins when we acknowledge and walk with Jesus. He wants us to open up to His will, making a radical shift in how we see and understand ourselves.

Even today we are captive to our computers, phones, television or perhaps an all-consuming hobby.

Captives to gossip, criticism, bigotry or bullying.....the list goes on and on.

We need to stop walking our own pathways and serving our own agendas. Each one of us can choose God if we awaken to His call. Only He has the power to sooth, welcome and transform us.

It was Christ's obedience to God's will which created the foundation upon which God can build and enter into that inner Temple of our hearts.

Hear His words today echoed throughout history, 'Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing'

AMEN

My Shackles

Are Gone

My Shackles Are Gone (Luke 4:14-21)

The few short verses of the gospel Luke 4:14-21, make it abundantly clear exactly what Jesus came to this earth to accomplish. It's a message we also see throughout all of scripture.

We see right at the beginning of scripture in Exodus 4:29-31, people heard the good news of freedom and believed.

Exodus 5:1, we hear God through Moses speaking to the Pharaoh of Egypt saying 'Let my people go.' God's people had been living in slavery for generation and had grown despondent, thinking that God had forgotten about their plight.

Although they weren't locked in prisons of stone. They were locked into spiritual bondage, slaves of the Pharaoh the Egyptians controlled and restricted their whole lives.

We can see evidence of God unlocking people from all kinds of bondage throughout scripture. This is an 'echo' heard and repeated within and throughout all Christian scriptures.

Let's bring this to life by applying this teaching to our everyday life, what it is that constitutes oppression and bondage into our lives today.

Bondage can stem from scenes of tragedy or traumatic circumstances, fragmented families, arguments, divorce, sickness, compulsive rituals, bad childhood memories, bullying, or literally hundreds of bad life situations.

All of which may have conditioned and controlled our minds. Jesus came purposely to free us from all such slavery and bondage, which affects each one of us from time to time.

You know sometimes we can even be blind to bondage, we can suppress painful damaging episodes, because that's the only way we can cope sometimes.

ANECDOTE: Houdini the great escapologist was once locked in a top security cell within a top security prisons and challenged to escape. He sat quite still, and thought his strategies through. But after many hours he became frustrated, that despite his best efforts it seemed he was facing an impossible task.

He kept trying and exhausted after many tiring attempts, he sat down and leaned against the strong steel door of the cell.

To his astonishment as he leaned on the door, it swung open. He had been free all the time but didn't know it. The guards had not locked the door in the first place! You see. We can carry on and struggle alone, with frustration of our fear, trying to free ourselves from situations of bondage. Whilst not fully realising that the chains and shackles which bind us have already been broken by our Lord, Jesus.

When I think of bondage my mind always turns to the black slaves working in the cotton fields in the Deep South of America in the days of slavery. Let's sing together one of the old cotton field gospel song, as you grasp the melody, sing with me:-

'My shackles are gone, my spirit is free

O'Praise the Lord, He rescued me.

My sins are forgiven my spirit is free

O'Praise the Lord my shackles are gone and now I am free.'

You know this is a great example of a spiritual gospel song, I think you will remember the words throughout this week. The words embody the whole of the message of the gospels good news. Although you and I can often feel oppressed or in bondage to the bad situations of life we can be assured that the victory over bondage is already won. The price of our freedom has already been paid in full, by the blood of Christ Jesus on the Cross.

AMEN

A Tree Is Known

By The Fruit

It Bears

A Tree Is Known By The Fruit It Bears (Lk.6:43-49)

Our text today is taken from Luke's Gospel chapter 6, verses 43-49. Those verses are so rich.....there's so much meat on the bone. Today I focus on the first two verses (43 and 44). In these verses Jesus speaks of:-'Trees, being known by the fruit they bear.'

Remember in biblical times there were no newspapers, no television, no films, no books or printed word of any kind. How did people receive news and information? In those days information was basically only by spoken word this became known as the 'Oral Tradition' Jesus Himself used this method of communication. He used two main approaches to help people remember and understand His message:

FIRST: He used PARABLES........basically memorable stories, having a hidden meaning......where people were meant to fathom out the truth and meaning of the story for themselves.

SECOND: He used every day commonly known things, which people were used to and understood easily. Such as, animal husbandry, fruit growing and sheep flocks and shepherds and of course the trees used in our text today. Before hearing the text again..... I invite you to close your eyes and put yourself in the situation and surroundings of the original hearers. Jesus said, 'A healthy tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a poor tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by the fruit it bears. You do not pick a fig from a thorn bush, or gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good person brings good from the treasure of good things in his heart, whilst a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For a mouth speaks what the heart is full of'

You see in the first verse Jesus speaks of things people would readily understand, trees and fruit. Then in the second verse He invites the listeners to consider themselves as trees and to liken their thoughts and actions to the fruit which the tree bears.

But fundamentally Jesus wasn't lecturing about horticulture but talking to people just like you and me. Teaching that we can tell what people are like on the inside, by their outward words and actions. To put it bluntly, a person who steals is a thief, a person who lies is a liar, and a person who cheats is a cheat.

Where as a person who gives is generous; a person who tells the truth is honest, A person treats you kindly, because they are kind.

Good things come from good people, bad things come from bad people. Jesus says the true test of a person's character is what they say and do when their guard is down and they are relaxed. Anyone can say good, or act good on the surface.

And often people pretend they are better than they actually are.

EXAMPLE: As Josey and I travel to Tenerife, I often get chatting to the passenger sat beside me on the plane. And often they are very 'worldly' with rude stories and bad language. They inevitably ask:

'What do you do for a living' When I reply 'I'm a clergyman or vicar' as we are sometimes better known there's always a silence and a lull in conversation. When a conversation restarts, there's, no swearing and certainly no more rude stories as they try to be something they are not, and they can be very convincing. But basically what you see and hear mirrors and reflects what the heart and mind of the person is really like. Jesus said, 'Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.'

What we are like on the inside is revealed when we set aside the script, quit acting and behave straight from the heart.

You know computer science has given a new word to the English language. That word is 'HARDWIRED.' Which refers to the logic circuitry, permanently wired inside a computer 'HARDWIRED' circuitry, which can't be changed or reprogrammed from the outside.

To understand who we really are, and what we are meant to be, let's look at how the Bible describes our circuitry, how we are hardwired.

The bible tells us that being made in the image of God every human being has the potential to reflect God's nature, animals and demons are not made in the image of God. Only human beings are made in His image and have the potential to reflect God's nature.

We are hardwired to distinguish right from wrong. Animals are not moral beings like us, they are created by God but are not made in His image. It's a wonderful, a beautiful thing that you and I are created in God's image, ideally God's image should be reflected by each one of us. In the same way that sons and daughters reflect their parent's characteristics and mannerisms. Yet, unfortunately if you are anything like me, we all fall short, we try, we struggle and yet seldom live up to what God requires.

I think if we're honest we can often feel confused and frustrated when we keep straying from the pathway. So how can we reach our full potential and mature into God's image? How can we live up to our calling?

Well that's not something we can do for ourselves, it's out of our control. For just as a computer circuit can be damaged and frazzled by a surge of electricity. So our circuitry can be burned out, 'Frazzled' by our sin.

When this happens we simply can't rectify the problem by ourselves. To reach our full potential, we must be 'rebooted' or 'taken back to the factory setting' (to use computer parlance). Just like God Himself, having to rewrite our burnt out circuits, we must be 'BORN GAIN.' On our part the only way to be born again is to open our hearts unreservedly. Total submission to God's will.

LET'S PRAY: As we reflect on total surrender let the music and silence minister to each one of us.

AMEN

Sending Out

The Seventy-Two

Sending Out The Seventy-Two (Lk.10:1-12)

Today our text is taken from Luke's gospel chapter 10 and verses 1 to 12 and tells of Jesus sending out 72 disciples. St. Luke's Gospel is the only account of this event in scripture. In the Western Christian tradition Jesus sends 72, whilst in the Eastern Christian tradition Jesus sends out only 70. The 72 are described as disciples, and Jesus sent them out in pairs, into all the towns and regions where He himself would follow.

Jesus told them, 'There is a large harvest, but the workers are few. Pray to the owner of the harvest that He will send out workers to gather in the harvest. Go! I am sending you out like lambs amongst Wolves.'

He continued, 'Do not take a purse or bag or sandals, and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say, peace to this house. If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. If not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick and tell the people, The Kingdom of God is near you.'

You know many people believe that this passage is about missionary work and to encourage people to take up overseas mission. But I believe there is something more subtle in this text.

You and I, exactly as those original 72 are called to go before Jesus and prepare unbelievers for God's Kingdom.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?

Well we do that by speaking out the things we see and the things we learn about Jesus and the advent of God's Kingdom. The primary command in verse 3 is 'GO' but we must first make sure we have the right priorities. For in verse 2, we are encouraged to pray first. We are told to pray to. 'The Lord of the harvest' pray that He will do that which only He can do, that is 'To gather the harvest'

In a way this text is a kind if reflection on the parable of 'The sower and what kind of soil the seed falls upon' The words Jesus uses when He says 'we will be like lambs sent amongst Wolves' signify the difficulty of the task, Humanly speaking it seems an impossible task. THAT'S WHY PRAYER COMES FIRST AND IS ESSENTIAL. Because we can be sure Satan will use all his whiles to prevent us doing our work. Satan will try to snatch away our words and our actions by any means possible, before they can take root. And often Jesus' words will be met by hatred of the message we bring rather than acceptance. If there is to be a harvest, then it is essential for the reasons we mentioned that the very first thing is constant prayer. That necessity for constant fervent prayer is probably the greatest weakness in our churches today. Earlier I said this text has a very subtle meaning and it's this. When the text says 'GO', the word go can be translated many ways. And it's obvious that not every Christian can sell up, ship out and become a missionary in some exotic field.

Some are called into the overseas mission field but not everyone. In Biblical translation it's always difficult to get the exact meaning always difficult to be precise. And when we look at the translation of the word go in scripture translators say that the exact meaning, the precise meaning is not go but 'AS YOU GO.' When we understand the precise meaning to be AS YOU GO, it takes off the pressure and simply means that we spread the good news of the gospels AS WE GO about our daily work. We're not all called to sell up ship out and become overseas missionaries. But we are all called to spread the gospel and do the same kind of work as the overseas missionary does, but for the vast majority we are called to do our missionary work in our local area, at home, at work, in our leisure time and on holiday. We are called to advance the cause and the meaning of our Lord Jesus Christ in our homes and local communities. The secret is never think of the command to go in a narrow way.

But be prepared to serve God .......AS YOU GO along life pathway in any capacity which God calls you. Serving God and spreading the good news of the gospel is never easy but it is always a privilege. Jesus urges every believer to take on his yoke, and He will make the burden easy. In Mt. 11:13 Jesus says, 'My yoke is easy and my burden is light'

We all know that Jesus was trained as a carpenter and was a skilled craftsman. There wasn't much call for G PLAN furniture in Jesus time. But one of His regular jobs as a carpenter was making the wooden YOKES which were individually crafted by Him, to precisely fit the beast of burden for whom they were made, they would have been a snug, a comfortable fit. You see Jesus knows what He's talking about. We are under no pressure our job is to simply speak out to others what we know, and what we have learned about our master tell people of His great love and His compassion for them. We shouldn't put ourselves under any pressure or stress because we are not responsible for their response. That's between themselves and God.

Helping to build God's Kingdom, isn't about our successes but, it's about our 'faithfulness to the task.' One of the ever present dangers in our Christian lives today is attending church enjoying worship getting our batteries topped up as it were. Then failing to see the task ahead the task of mission and evangelism.

When was the last time we spoke about God to anyone?

When was the last time we invited a friend or neighbour to come to Church?

Look around we usually see empty seats. Let's just take a moment now, praying God will use us to fill them in the coming weeks.

AMEN

Persistence

In Prayer

Persistence In Prayer (Lk.11:5-13)

Our passage of scripture today is taken from Luke's Gospel, Chapter 11:5-13. These verses follow on from the first four verses, where Jesus is responding to His disciples asking Him how they should pray.

His response was to teach them a framework on which our prayers can be built. That outline was the 'Lord's Prayer', the best known prayer in all Christendom, one we all learn at school. In fact most people in the western world know the words by heart.

Jesus follows this by explaining the importance of our prayers being both fervent and persistent, to emphasise this He uses a Parable about a man visiting a friend's home after midnight. He asks for three loaves of bread, because he had an unexpected guest and had no food to offer.

The friend was annoyed as everyone in the household was asleep, 'Go away' he yelled 'I can't give you anything at this time of night.'

Eventually because of the man's persistence his friend finally opened his door, and gave his friend what he needed. This sounds an odd story to us. But in Jewish culture, hospitality was a tradition and a Law this meant hospitality was highly prized among their community.

The original hearers would have readily understood the parable Jesus shared.

Jesus then goes even further and builds on this by also applying 'Asking, Seeking and Knocking.'

Ask and it will be given unto you

Seek and you shall find

Knock and the door shall be opened unto you

ANECDOTE: Once a small boy lived with his family in the mountains.His grandfather noticed the boy would go missing for 30 minutes every night on his way home from school. Worried the grandfather followed him as he returned from school. Half way home the boy took a detour to a rocky ledge overlooking the valley below.

The grandfather held back to see what the boy would do. He then saw his grandson kneel in an attitude of prayer and the boy began mumbling his alphabet A, B, C, D....W, and X,Y,Z.

The puzzled grandfather approached the boy asking, 'What on earth are you doing.'

The boy sheepishly replied 'I want to pray but don't know how. So I recite my alphabet letters one by one, knowing that God will make them into a beautiful prayer.'

As you can imagine the grandfather was overwhelmed. You know, prayer is the most powerful tool in our Christian tool kit. It's the most powerful thing in the world but perhaps the least used.

Hugh Miller the theologian once said, 'Prayer is so mighty an instrument, yet none of us ever thoroughly master all of its keys.'

So few ever really harness the power and potency of prayer and effectively unleash its full potential. What God looks for is persistency and fervency in our prayers.

LET'S PRAY: Father God, Pa-Pa. help each one of us to be persistent in our prayer life. May we mature into the prayer to become the prayer warriors you need both here on Earth and in your Kingdom, we ask this in Jesus' precious name

AMEN

Jesus Dines With

A Pharisee

Jesus Dines With A Pharisee (Luke 11: 47-End)

Jesus dines with a Pharisee, our text is taken from the Gospel of St. Mark, chapter 11 and verses 47 to the end of the chapter.

Here we have an account of Jesus invited to a Pharisees home for a meal. Almost immediately the Pharisee challenges Jesus for not washing his hands before eating as the law prescribed. But this wasn't a biblical law, but one of the manmade 'extensions' to the law which the Pharisees were constantly adding and which became very restrictive and burdensome for people.

Jesus answers by saying you Pharisees wash the outside of your cups and bowls, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.' You can almost feel the tension in the air as the meal progresses. Jesus had clashed with the Pharisees before, as they grew jealous of his public ministry and feared his challenging teaching. It was an open secret that Jesus saw through their hypocrisy. The word 'hypocrite' comes from the Greek word 'HYPOCRITOS' which means to PLAY ACT

In those days the actors would carry with them a set of 'MASKS' and would put on a different mask for each emotion they were portraying. The definition of 'hypocrite' is someone who pretends to be something they are not, they are in fact - Play Acting. Jesus always sought to confront the hypocrite, especially those who claimed to represent God whilst not living up to their calling. And He always reserved His harshest words for the hypocrite. The rest of the meal, Jesus berates the Pharisee on six points of hypocrisy. These six points were known as the six 'Woes' Because Jesus prefixes each of His six points, by saying 'Woe to you Pharisees' .Then Jesus says, 'Woe to you Pharisees, because you give a tithe of your garden herbs yet you neglect justice and God's love.'

The Pharisees were playing a ridiculous game, using a loop hole in their own laws, tithing by counting the leaves on every herb in their garden whilst at the same time ignoring justice and God's love. Then Jesus said, 'Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues.'

In other words they were preoccupied by being up front in the best and most prominent seats, facing their congregation and wallowing in their perceived power. Are our acts done openly to be noticed by others or do we prefer our acts to go unnoticed?

'Woe to you Pharisees, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without noticing'

One who was an expert in the law accused Jesus of insulting them. Jesus replied by saying, 'Woe to you experts in the law, because you load the people down with burdens which they can hardly carry whilst you don't lift a finger to help them'

You see, people in biblical times were burdened down under the weight of the made rules and regulations, which the Scribes and Pharisees were continually adding to the biblical law. This extra burden was taking away the joy of life for the ordinary man on the street.

'Woe to you Pharisees, because you build tombs for the prophets... yet it was your ancestors that killed them.'

What Jesus meant here was that their works were a testament to their guilt.

And the final woe was, 'Woe to you Pharisees, because you have taken away the key of knowledge from the people.'

In other word they kept information and knowledge to themselves, hiding it from the common man and thus hindering men's salvation Basically Jesus knew they were concerned with form over substance. In other words they were concerned with what a man 'did, rather than what a man 'Is.'

Some of our Churches, if we look hard enough, can still harbour similar threads of hypocrisy, some people can still exhibit those same attitudes which the Pharisees exhibited. We shouldn't judge others but we can be true to ourselves and constantly alert to hypocrisy, by considering our own attitudes from time to time. These are the points we should be aware of:-

Do we concentrate and fret over minor points, whilst not seeing the elephant in the room \- the major problems?

Are we sometimes preoccupied with being noticed, or gaining influence and power? Do we make people's burdens lighter or heavier? Do we make people's situation better or worse? Are our words or actions monuments to our guilt or to our love?

Do people usually find the truth and knowledge harder or easier to achieve by knowing us? Does any influence we may have help or hinder other people around us?

If we 'were' to find ourselves guilty on all six points. Then we really do have a problem.

ANECDOTE: One day an elderly couple moved into a small cottage with a large garden, in which they planned to enjoy their retirement.

The next morning whilst they were having breakfast, the elderly lady caught sight of her much younger neighbour hanging out her washing to dry. Sarcastically, the elderly lady said to her husband: - 'Well, just look at her washing, it's not what I would call clean. She needs some better washing powder.'

Her long suffering husband looked on.....but said nothing.

The young woman had many children, and so washed and pegged her clothes out daily. Every morning as the elderly couple shared breakfast, the quiet husband would hear the cutting criticisms from his wife.

'It's still not clean, she needs her water to be hotter.' Or... 'That washing of hers could do with some dolly blue putting in the machine.' Or... 'Just look at the state of her washing, she needs someone to teach her how to wash her clothes.'

THEN, one morning the elderly lady had the surprise of her life. There, on her neighbours washing line was the cleanest brightest wash she had ever seen. 'Look... Look...' the elderly lady said excitedly 'Someone's taught her how to wash properly, I wonder who it was?'

'NO-ONE,' said her husband. 'It's because I got up early this morning and CLEANED OUR WINDOWS'

AMEN.

I Bring Division

Not Peace

I Bring Division Not Peace (Luke 12: 49 - 53)

'I come not to bring peace to the world, but division.'

Our text today is four short, but very important verses, taken from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12 and verses 49 - 53.

We may feel very confused, as to exactly what Jesus meant by these verses. What Jesus says is not wrong or blasphemous. For these words are directly linked to Jesus, as He says, 'I have come to bring fire upon the earth! And how I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed. Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on, there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two, and two against three. They will be divided father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother. Mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.'

These four verses I would like to separate and deal with by looking at four salient points.

Jesus says in the first half sentence, 'I come to bring fire on the earth' let's focus on what He meant by this. Throughout the Old Testament when fire comes upon the earth, it is nearly always in a Destructive way. But here in the New Testament Jesus is speaking of a fire of cleansing and purification and empowerment. It's no coincidence that often the Holy Spirit is symbolised by fire or flame, as in the Pentecostal fire, as depicted in the mural behind the altar. I think of it this way. Think of a forest fires, they can be deliberate acts but they are often spontaneous. They seem to burn up the old leaves, dead trees and undergrowth. The very next thing we see, is a forest cleansed, renewed. With fresh new saplings sprouting up. These forest fires seem all consuming yet they achieve a kind of purification. This is the kind of fire Jesus is talking about.

Then He finishes the first sentence with the words, 'And how I wish it were already kindled.'

In Baptism we have the symbolism of going underwater, being submerged, as being symbolic of death. And as we come up, out of submersion, which symbolises new life in Christ Jesus. Here Jesus is saying, my baptism to come, is a baptism of death by crucifixion. And that in three days after death I will rise again. This is the reality of Christianity, Jesus becomes the once and for all, final sacrifice. Which ends the need for any further blood sacrifices. In Christ's death and resurrection we have the Christian faith in a nut shell. For by His resurrection Jesus defeats death not only for Himself but for every other believer.

Now, the Good News is, through God's gift of eternal life to all who believe, death is no longer the end, but for the Christian death is merely a new beginning.

Finally we focus on Jesus saying, 'Did you think I came to bring peace on earth? No I tell you, I came to bring division.' When we reflect and ponder on these words, we can see that the division He brings is the separation of the righteous from the unrighteousness, the good from the evil. When He says 'do you think I came to bring peace on the world.' Again on reflection, He is right, for where division exists in the world there can be no peace. The peace He speaks of here, is the peace which He came to bring when He reconciled man to God. The peace He speaks of is not of this world, but the peace which reigns in God's Kingdom between God and the subjects of His Kingdom that's you and me.

You know, week by week we share the peace, and I'm sure you have heard me often say it's not our earthly type of miserable peace we share but what we share is GOD'S PEACE. Because through the acts of Jesus we are all reconciled to God, and therefore able to share HIS peace.

You know, when we become silent or change our position for the sake of worldly peace, then we quench the fire of the HS, robbing our loved ones of the cleansing power of that fire.

ANECDOTE: Sadar Ch-chek came from Turkey, he left his family, and went to find work in America. He had lived all his life in Ismir which was the old city of Smyrna a great centre for the Islamic faith. Whilst in the USA he became friendly with an - American Christian, Andy Martin. Gradually they became best friends and eventually Sadar was welcomed into Andy's family circle, and after three years or so they were delighted that he wanted to be baptised and become a Christian. After he had been Baptised, Sadar phoned home to Turkey to share his news with his family. They were furious and forbad him from ever returning home, they threatened to beat him or even kill him if they saw him again! Andy tells the story with tears in his eyes, because after only 27 days, Sadar renounced his new faith. Sadly he found the division and cost of discipleship too great. To follow Jesus isn't always easy. Jesus himself said, 'The highway to hell is broad and the gates wide, for the many who choose the easy way. But the true gateway to life, is small and the road narrow, only a few find it.'

Jesus is not deceptive when He invites us to follow Him. In fact He wants us to know 'up front' it will be difficult and cause division. But He wants us to know that He has travelled the road before us and is always there for us. Above all things, He wants us to know that peace with God through a personal relationship with Him our Saviour.

AMEN

Preview Of

John's Gospel

Authorship

The author of John's Gospel was obviously an eye witness to the three years of Jesus' public ministry. He also had a good knowledge of Israeli geography and customs. Therefore it's generally accepted that the author was John, one of the first disciples Jesus called. The John Rylands papyrus codex (fragment P52) of John's Gospel, which was written in Greek and is now in the Rylands library in Manchester University, was clearly dated in the year 135 AD. It contains portions of chapter 18:31-33, 37-38. This fragment of John's Gospel was discovered in Egypt.

Readership

In his Gospel John doesn't specify who the recipients would be. However Bible scholars believe it may have been written for the disciples in Asia Minor but there remains no certainty or proof about this speculation.

Date Of Writing

Considering the Gospel must have taken a considerable time to circulate and also fails to mention the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD we can estimate the date of writing to after 70 AD.

Purpose / Themes

John specifically states the purpose ( Ch. 20:31 ), where he writes, ' But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in Him you may have life.'

Eusebius the Greek historian argues that one of John's purposes was to complement the synoptic Gospels where he thought they might have been lacking. John's Gospel certainly stands alone, clearly very different from the synoptic Gospels where they are recording the history of Jesus and His ministry, and His words. Whereas, John is interested in developing, and exploring Christology which comes from the Greek word 'Christo' which translates as 'anointed one' or 'Christ' and includes the mystery of the different facets of Christ's nature. John takes on and develops these profound theological topics, as he writes about:

FIRST: The Pre-existence of Christ. John writes: 'Before the world was created, the Word (logos in Greek, another name for Jesus) already existed: he was with God, and He was the same as God. From the very beginning the Word was with God.'

(Jn.Ch. 1:1-2) You see, the Word (Logos in Greek) is referring to Jesus, another name by which He is known. In the verses quoted above, where you see 'Word' read 'Jesus' and it still makes perfect sense. This is evidence of the eternality of Christ, he is not bound by neither space nor time.

SECOND: The Old Testament prophecies about Christ. There are about thirteen links to Old Testament prophecy in John's Gospel, but here I will show three links which you can check out in your Bible:

  1. Obedience to the Father (Jn.18:1 following). See the Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 40)

  2. He was an innocent victim (Jn. 8:39-9:5, 7) See Old Testament prophecy in (Isaiah 53:9)

  3. His side is pierced (Jn. 19:37) See Old Testament prophecy in Zechariah12:10

THIRD: The nature of the 'Deity and Humanity' of our Lord. Jesus was the most important man who ever lived, since He is our Saviour, God come to us in flesh. You see, Jesus in His humanity and in His divinity was not 50% Human and 50% Devine. But has two distinct natures which are both 100% Human as well as being 100% Divine. Jesus is the 'Word' (logos) who was God made flesh by 'The Incarnation' see (Jn. 1:1,14 ) The Divine nature was not changed when Jesus became flesh instead He was joined with Humanity 'For the full content of Divine nature lives in Christ, in His humanity, and you have been given full life in Union with Him. He is supreme over every life in union with Him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority (Col 2: 9, 10). The two natures of Jesus are not mixed together, (Eutychianism). Nor are the two natures combined into a new God / Man nature, (Monophysite). But, they are separate natures yet act as one unit in the person of Christ, (known as the Hypostatic Union). This then is one of the greatest mysteries of the God Head which so many people's faith can so easily fail to understand or even come to terms with.

FOURTH: His Incarnation. So we can see in his Gospel the mystical reflection of the pre-existence of Christ, His divinity and His humanity, coming together in the incarnation. It's difficult to understand the incarnation without having some understanding of Christ being outside the confines of space and time and the importance of His Pre-existence. In other words His pre-existence, His divinity / humanity, and the incarnation are inextricably interlocked.

Another theme is John's exploration of the meaning of darkness and light, one being evil whilst the other represents good. Of how Christ came to our world to be the light, that men should be drawn to Him and not continue in darkness. The Gospel of John varies greatly from the earlier synoptic Gospels, we can categorise the variations into two groups:-

FIRST: The style and content of Jesus' teaching.

SECOND: The chronology and structure of Jesus' ministry.

It also important to see the unique style of John's writing, we can sense this difference of style as we read through his Gospel. This difference in style was also noted by the early church fathers. Clement of Alexandria observed that: 'John was concerned with detail and wrote a spiritual Gospel'

We can see for ourselves that in one example of this spiritual style John writes about the nature of eternal life. The words of his witness when examined, outline a great truth. That is, we receive eternal life when we first believe, it isn't some future promise. Eternal life for the believer is a present reality.....WOW

Outline of John's Gospel

Prologue (Ch. 1:1-18)

John the Baptist and the first disciples (Ch.1:19-51)

Jesus' public ministry (Ch. 2:1 - 12:50)

Last days in and near Jerusalem (Ch.13:1 - 19:42)

Resurrection and appearances of Jesus (Ch.20:1-25)

Epilogue and appearance in Galilee (Ch. 21:1 -25)

Conclusion

Finally, John has a very useful habit of using familiar items, common place things from everyday life. Using them as pointers to illustrate spiritual teaching he uses items such as bread, water, light, shepherds, sheep, grapevines and fruit. All of which leaves a model which any preacher can follow. Because if we too, use everyday items such as a stained glass window, or a relevant Television programme. It helps to 'earth' the spiritual teaching. Making it immediately relevant to the congregation. It's always useful to use common symbols which any target culture will readily identify with.

The Incarnation

(First Sermon)

The Incarnation - 1st Sermon (John1:1-17)

Today we focus on our Gospel reading from Jn.1:1-17. This is a passage of Scripture which I always think of as the greatest love story ever told. It begins: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'

This teaches us that in the beginning, means the beginning of the world, of creation itself. And the 'word' is yet another name for Jesus.

This was translated from the original Greek (logos). The very first name that Jesus was known by. If we read the first line of the text again, replacing the 'Word', for 'Jesus.' You will grasp what I mean.

'In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.'

'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.'

The first thing we learn from this passage is the pre-existence of Christ Jesus.' Its teaching us that Christ Jesus (the word) was together with God, and the Holy Spirit (brooding over the water), all three together, as the Trinity, even before the world was created.

Some who read Scripture, only see the clauses and conditions. See only rules and regulations together with the consequences of any rule or regulation which is broken. Especially in the Old Testament. So, we can thank God, that as we read the Gospel of John, we are reminded that God isn't in the business of keeping ledgers and accounting books. Nor is he concerned about our status or position in life.

If God were concerned with such things, then there would be no need for the Incarnation, of Christ coming to a broken world clothed in humanity.

You see, the Incarnation contains all the classic ingredients of a great love story: PURSUIT, RISK and RELATIONSHIP

We can think of the Incarnation as a kind of cross roads where the divine meets humanity. If it were not for the Incarnation, we might never know the intensity the God's love for us.

This great love of God embraces all, loves each one of us warts and all. God chooses to love us, precisely because we are subject to the human condition. Who could ever guess that the Incarnation, that crossing of paths between the divine and the human, would begin 2000 years ago in a 'speck of dust' village called Bethlehem. When God and humanity were joined as bride and groom on their wedding day. Throughout the centuries we have been plagued by wars. But you know the battle for peace, justice and freedom didn't begin on any battlefield. It begins in every individual heart.

It begins when each one of us realise and acknowledge that God loves and accepts each one individually and unconditionally, and it began at the Incarnation.

Having said all that, I know for some there will be shadows! Empty chair around our table. Painful memories, fear or illness. Yet this I know full well, that without the love of God, demonstrated and perfected in the Incarnation life would be positively and continuously unbearable.

ANECDOTE: During a school nativity play a little girl stumbled and fell, smashing scenery and props all the children were shocked and began to cry.

Only one thing remained unbroken and still, glowing brightly. Glowing bulb which represented Jesus Christ. It was the unbroken light which symbolises the Incarnation.

Jesus remains the living sign of the immeasurable love that God has for you and for me even from the beginning of creation. The Incarnation is the living promise, in Christ, that we are never alone.

No matter how deep the pit of human suffering is be assured that the love of God is even deeper.

The Incarnation is symbolised by the light of the Christ Child. Which illuminates your life and mine. It will never be overcome by the darkness around.

AMEN

The Incarnation

(Second Sermon)

The Incarnation - 2nd. Sermon (Jn.1; 1-17)

Today's gospel is taken from the first chapter of John, verses one to seventeen, which invites us to look at the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ

But before we focus on that. Let's look at the most important word in the chapter. In the original Biblical Greek, from which the bible was translated, the word I want to examine is 'Logos' which in Spanish is 'Palabras' and in English it is 'Word.' Although Logos translates in English and means 'Word', in biblical Greek Logos has a much deeper and broader meaning for which we have no comparable word in English. The word Logos in biblical Greek means not only word, but is in their language and culture also embraces 'action and thought.'

So Logos means 'word, action and thought' all in the one word and the first of many names that Jesus was known by.

If we now focus on the incarnation. This is the part of Christology which teaches us that:-

God is invisible, but come to Earth clothed in human flesh in the person of Christ Jesus. This is the theology which marks out Christianity as unique amongst all world religions.

Another way to remember what the incarnation is, came by using Mnemonics (using something familiar, as an aid to memory). Who can tell me the Spanish word for meat?

That's right: CARNE

If we look at the word incarnation. We see CARNE in the middle, meaning in Spanish meat or FLESH i.e. God coming amongst us in flesh, or the spiritual becoming mortal.

ANECDOTE: A young boy whose father had gone off to fight in the war was left with only his father's photograph on the sideboard.

One day his mother found the boy gazing at the photo, with tears in his eyes, he said, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful mum if daddy could step out of the photograph and be with us?'

In a symbolic way that's exactly what Jesus did for you and me. Stepping down out of heaven, to become one of us clothed in mortal flesh.

ANECDOTE: Once a European King loved his people so much, that he would go incognito amongst his people, dressed in rags, so he could better understand their problems and help them.

But his councillors and governors were afraid for his safety and the countries security and tried to stop him. After a pause the young king replied, 'How can I love my people unless I go and live amongst them so I may understand and help them?

The incarnation was not by chance, it was God's plan and purpose that it came to fruition.

His purpose was to take on man's burden of sin upon His shoulders. Carried that burden to the cross, and in His innocence died for you and me. Becoming the final blood sacrifice.

He accomplished His mission making possible mankinds reconciliation with God. If we believe, then we become the children of God and subjects of His Kingdom.

But we are granted free will, we have a choice. We may choose to submit to Gods will and become heirs to the Kingdom OR we may turn our back against God.

Many people intuitively want to submit yet at the same time seek to put off the decision, you know the thing: We'll wait until the children grow up, or when the garden is finished. Perhaps next year, or when we have enough money in the bank.

Many choose to put the decision off, preferring to place God's wonderful gift of salvation somewhere high up on a shelf until a more suitable time to open it.

Which category do we fit into, have we submitted to God or are we leaving it until sometime later?

You know, when we do choose to open God's wonderful gift, then we finally see and understand how much our Heavenly Father really love us. We will then benefit by receiving His love, joy, peace and healing.

Let's just take a moment to reflect in silence. Can you hear God's whisper? Do you feel His radiance?

Is something ringing true for you today.

LET'S PRAY:

Father God, Pa-pa, take us now, just as we are,

Lead us away from sin,

Take our hands and lead us in your pathways.

We come now in weakness and humility before your throne.

Come Lord Jesus.

We accept your love, joy and peace into our hearts now.......

AMEN

Message

Of

John The Baptist

Message Of John The Baptist (Jn.1:6-8 + 19-28)

The ministry of John the Baptist was prophesied in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah, Psalms and the final book of the Old Testament Malachi. All four of the Gospel writers feature John's ministry simply because he was a great man. Even Jesus Himself spoke of His cousin John, saying, 'No greater man than John had ever been born, throughout all previous history'

John was six months or so older than Jesus, he gravitated to live the life of a hermit, living in the desert wilderness. He was 'his own man', living off the land, dressed in camel skins with a leather girdle belt and sandals. His diet was mainly wild honey and locusts. John lived a savagely bare existence, relying on no one. This made him totally fearless in speaking the truth. After all if you have nothing, then you have nothing to lose.

He was a very charismatic person, a leader who drew people, they flocked to him from Jerusalem and Judea to hear his message. Basically the Baptisms which John performed were Baptisms of repentance, preceded by his constant message, which was challenging and compelling. His message, 'Repent and be baptised, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.'

Yet John was also humble, never seeking to promote himself. But always pointing people towards the coming Messiah (his cousin Jesus).

His message echo's down through the ages to every new generation of Christians, therefore also to you and me. So, repentance, what does the word really mean?

Many people believe it's about saying 'sorry', when we've done something wrong. But repentance means much more than simply saying 'sorry.'

Basically repentance is about movement, a change of heart and mind. It can be summed up as a complete 'U Turn.' Repentance is a 'movement', marked and authenticated by a change of direction. John certainly set people thinking about their lives and their relationship with God. He made people stop and take stock of their lives.

You know, repentance is a message that mankind is reluctant to hear: because it means we are heading in the wrong direction, doing things we shouldn't, and not honouring our relationship with God. In fact sometimes we get things wrong and need to turn over a new leaf or radically alter our life styles.

That's where repentance is necessary.

QUESTION: Each one of us needs to ask ourselves: is my life style pleasing to God.'

Finally I'd like to share with you today just three of the reasons John the Baptist was so great and so unique:

FIRST: He was filled with the Holy Spirit even from within his mother's womb. As Christians we can so easily forget that the Holy Spirit dwells within each one of us.

The truth is, we simply can't function effectively without the Holy Spirit.

ANECDOTE: Have you ever made a steaming hot cup of tea in the morning taken a few sips, then forgotten about it, remembering about your tea only when it's gone completely cold? To save the tea being wasted, top the cup up again with boiling water, cupping your hand around the hot cup as you drink the hot tea. We too, can be like that hot cup of tea.....sometimes we can become cold, spiritually cold and empty. We too as the cold tea need topping up from time to time......not with hot water but with the Holy Spirit.

SECOND: John's greatness was due to his steadfast uncompromising nature. The world would like the Christian message diluting to suit the needs of the world: rather than the world changing and conforming to the needs of the Gospel message.

Martin Luther King one wrote in his famous letter from Birmingham jail: Things are so different today, the voice of the Church is muffled and can easily have an ineffective voice, an uncertain sound

You know, the Church still stands in that shadow, we could so easily lose our relevance and be dismissed as a kind of social club. A social club with nothing of worth to say, and with no meaning for the 21st. Century.

The Christian message is not a crowd pleaser, but a challenge.

THIRD: John was 'A winner of Souls for Gods Kingdom'

ANECDOTE: William Booth, founder if the Salvation Army once said to his students, 'If I had my way, I wouldn't send you to Bible College. But instead, send you, just for five minutes, to Hell. Then surely you would return as a real soul winners'

You and I should be like John, preparing all we meet, family, friends and neighbours for Jesus to come into their lives. To summarise the three points:

He was filled by the Holy Spirit from within the womb.

He was steadfast with no compromise.

He was a great 'winner of souls.'

This then is the legacy of John the Baptist, a blueprint for us to follow. John calls each one if us today to be: - 'in the world, but not of the world.'

AMEN

The Lamb

Of God

The Lamb Of God (Jn.1:29-42)

Over the past weeks we have examined the magi bringing their gifts, the ministry of John the Baptist and last week we highlighted the Baptism of Jesus by His cousin John.

John the Baptist was now content to take a back seat, as it was time for Jesus to come to start His three years of public ministry. Earlier at the Baptism of Jesus, the Baptist had heard God speaking, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'

He also witnessed the Holy Spirit come down upon Jesus in the form of a dove. As John takes a back seat, Jesus comes before the people. Everywhere Jesus went people's lives are changed.

Then Jesus spends Forty days alone in the wilderness, being tempted by the devil. On His return we hear His cousin John proclaiming the return of Jesus from the wilderness. Saying, 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.'

Note that John was the first to call his cousin 'The Lamb of God.' This is the name for Jesus that I would like to focus on today. I begin with a simplistic story, no one knows if it true or a legend, but as the parables in Scripture the story helps us to understand.

ANECDOTE: Once a man was walking in the countryside and saw a lamb carved into the stone high up on the church steeple. He wondered what it meant.

He started to ask in the village nearby, and was told: One of the stonemasons working on the steeple had suffered a terrible fall. He fell about forty feet to the ground, luckily his fall was broken by a flock of grazing sheep which had broken his fall.

The man survived but one small lamb in the flock was killed. The thankful man went up the steeple again and carved the image of a lamb into the stone steeple. That story true or legend, embodies a simple truth, that each one of us needs such a lamb.

John was the first to call Jesus 'The Lamb of God', because Jesus came to be a sacrifice to save the lives of the fallen, to give sinners a new and eternal life, by restoring them into a right relationship with His Father, God.

In context, people were very much tied to the land, crops and to shepherding flocks of goats and sheep. Therefore would readily understand this comparison. Especially as they were familiar with the Old Testament Laws, governing sacrifice of lambs, so their sin may be forgiven.

ANECDOTE: Whilst at theological college, one ordinand man together with his wife a small baby were to become missionaries to the Inuit Indians (Eskimos). Before departing for much colder climes, their new baby was to be baptised in the college chapel by the principal.

To add a little humour the principal added some plastic polar bears to the Baptism water, before replacing the cover. The cover was lifted at the Baptism to reveal the polar bears bobbing about in the water. Everyone laughed and it cause great amusement, and certainly made the Baptism memorable.

In the Eskimo culture they find it difficult to understand the symbol of a sacrificial lamb, because they had never seen one. Instead, the symbol used in their culture is 'The Baby Seal of God.' Which fits their culture and understanding better. But to the Hebrew the lamb was an easily understood symbol.

The Jew would also observe the Feast of the Passover, where the lamb was also a symbol of Salvation. For the Hebrews when an innocent lamb was sacrificed, it brought home to them the terrible cost and reality of sin.

So, how can we apply this teaching to our everyday lives? The simple truth is that Jesus became as a sacrificial lamb, He died to save us by becoming the final, once and for all sacrifice. If we stumble and fail to grasp this truth, then we must persevere until we do, before going any further into faith.

But if we can get our minds around the cultures and the images they use, by coming to understand and accept it, then we will benefit and be saved. Resulting in our freedom from the fear of death and sin.

Christianity is the only world religion which can face death knowing that the faithful will overcome death, and have eternal life. Whenever we get fed up, on the road to despair. When we say or do the wrong thing, we may in the depth of sorrow, ask ourselves - 'How can I be forgiven.'

It's at such times of trouble and despair, we should direct our thoughts to the foot of the Cross. Understanding that Jesus has already won for us the victory over death, pointing us from despair into the loving arms of His Father, God.

AMEN

Jesus Calls

Philip and Nathanael

Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael (Jn1: 43-53)

Our text today is taken from John's gospel chapter 1: 43-53. It tells how Jesus calls both Philip and his friend Nathanael (Sometimes known as Bartholomew), to follow him and become disciples.

First Jesus calls Philip, by simply saying follow me Philip agrees and immediately began following Jesus, because his heart, had already been prepared by God. In fact Philip was so eager, so keen, he rushed to see his friend Nathanael, explaining to him that he had found the long promised Messiah.

Nathanael asks, 'Where is Jesus from?'

Philip tells him, 'From Nazareth'

Then we hear those famous words from Nathanael: 'Can anything good, come from Nazareth?'

However Philip encourages Nathanael saying, 'Come and see for yourself.' In other words Philip's faith was demonstrated by his willingness to share the good news with others. THAT'S A GREAT CONCEPT FOR CHURCH GROWTH!!

When Nathanael did come and see for himself, he immediately accepted Jesus as the son of God.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS CALLING OF PHILIP AND NATHANAEL?

HOW CAN WE APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES?

The first lesson is, no one can be argued or pressured into becoming a Christian, and it's simply a matter of asking people, 'To come and see for themselves.'

Christianity can't be taught, it must be caught, Christianity is contagious, and it's born of heart not of mind. Philip simply asks a friend, 'Come and see for yourself.'

That's all Jesus asks us to do, he will then do the rest. Christianity can be likened to a relay race, we are simply running a race, baton in hand. Running to pass on the baton to the next relay runner.

Faith is passed on one generation to the next, by word and by action. Like all the disciples Jesus called, it doesn't matter from where we come from, our position in life, or our finances. Each one of us, despite our backgrounds are equalised, by our faith.

Notice too, that Jesus said he had seen Nathanael before.

'Where was that?' Asks Nathanael

'Under the fig tree' replied Jesus,

What do you think Jesus meant by that? Well everyone in those times lived in a kind of one roomed house and also shared their homes with their livestock. Often villages living far from temples would meet under the shade of the fig tree to meditate and to pray, this remark by Jesus makes it clear he saw a certain spark of spirituality in Nathanael's life.

None of us have that excuse of living too far from a church, and that's good, because we're meant to be in fellowship with each other, that way we encourage each other and that's how we grow as Christians.

God gave his only son, to be born into our humanity, to become one of us. To take on the burden of our sin, and later in pure innocence, to become the final blood sacrifice, taking the full penalty of our sin even to death on the cross. That you and I could become reconciled to God bringing - LOVE JOY and PEACE into our lives all neatly packaged with eternal life. Our natural reaction is to want to return a gift in gratitude. What some people tend to do is to delay opening their gift, perhaps until those personal goals are achieved, or after that long planned holiday, or maybe when we feel better, or all our plans are fulfilled.

What gift could we give to God anyway? There is one gift that God would welcome as we begin this New Year - IT'S THE GIFT OF OUR HEARTS. In the coming weeks of this New Year, let's be obedient to God's word, ask ourselves WHO could we pass that baton on to, then be encouraged to pass the baton on, and on and on

AMEN

He Turned The Water Into Wine

He Turned The Water Into Wine (Jn2:1-11)

Today I'd like to invite everyone to a wedding, I can already hear the ladies thinking. What hat shall I wear? And all the men saying where is my best tie? Well this wedding is no ordinary wedding, at the wedding we're going to today, Jesus performed his first miracle. HE TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE.

Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana one of the towns in Cana of Galilee. With him were Mary his mother and some of the disciples. Jesus would be in his late 20's at the time, and had only called about five of his disciples, because his public ministry had not yet started. We're not told who's wedding it was, but it was a lavish affair. Weddings in biblical times could last for over a week and were, a whole week of food and wine, and no doubt dancing. As the wedding festivities continued, Mary, who was perhaps helping organise the feast noticed the wine had run out, so she said to Jesus, 'They have no wine left.'

It sounds to me more like an exclamation of surprise rather than a question. But in any case it would have been a real embarrassment for the groom and his family, to run short of wine.

Mary obviously knew her son could help in some way, or could it have been a sign of her worldly motherly ambition for her son?

Jesus answers in what seems to have been a harsh way by saying, 'Woman what has that got to do with me, my time has not yet come'

It does seem harsh to our ears. But remember, it was before the advent of women's liberation, in a male dominated society, where the word 'woman' was common parlance for a wife, sister or a mother.

But the seemingly harsh answer could have another meaning. Up to now, Jesus had been a dutiful son, perhaps it was his way of 'cutting the apron strings' as we would say. His way of becoming his own man. After all he would be almost 30 years old and on the threshold of his public ministry.

So Mary tells the servants to do whatever the master says. Jesus instructions are to fill six empty stone water jars to the brim with water, this would amount to about 180 gallons of water, and then, the water was taken to the head server in bowls. And before it reached him the water had turned into the finest wine. WOW, I really feel we've entered into the wedding feast now, don't you. I feel it would be a good time to pause and share Gods peace. :-

THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE ALWAYS WITH YOU LET'S SHARE GODS PEACE MUSIC. MUSIC

(Peace is shared whilst we play Jonny Cash, singing 'He turned the water into wine).

So I wonder what you make of the miracle. Let's see what we can learn from it and how we can apply its teaching to our everyday lives

I believe what's happening here is that times are changing, and relationships are changing as we have seen. The time for his earthly public ministry is at hand. The miracle of water being changed into wine heralds in the new messianic age. Jesus is now being drawn ever nearer under the shadow of the cross. This text isn't about the consumption of wine. It's about the whole focus being turned now upon Jesus, his opening gambit to create belief.

To use this text to justify drinking wine would totally distort and twist the stories meaning. The main thrust is for us to understand Gods ABUNDANT provision for us. That God through our Lord Jesus will provide for all our needs, provide physically and provide spiritually for everything you and I could ever need.

This miracle comes to assure us that Jesus has our interests in mind. And he gives in abundance. Jesus wants to meet our needs, we all need to trust in his provision more.

Let me tell you today, that you and I were DEAD IN OUR SIN - CONDEMNED. But Jesus came to meet not only our physical needs but also and more importantly our spiritual needs, He came to PROVIDE for our state of sin. He came to do for us, what we couldn't do for ourselves. That is, to satisfy God's requirements.

This text also reminds us that Jesus replaces the ordinary with the EXTRA ORDINARY. HE REPLACES OLD FOR NEW

Finally we're reminded that God's timing is perfect. Hear the words of Jesus, as he says, 'My time is not yet come'

Here Jesus is living in God's timing, not in the timing of this world. We're reminded that God has a plan, and God's timing is perfect. Sometimes we want to rush ahead in our own strength. We need to slow down and trust more in God's timing, He's in control. We simply need to follow the example of Jesus, by: BELIEVING, OBEYING and WAITING.

AMEN

Wedding At

Cana Of Galilee

Wedding At Cana Of Galilee (John 2:1-11)

Our gospel reading today takes us to a Wedding feast at the village of Cana of Galilee. This miracle is only recorded in the Gospel of St. John, and was the first miracle Jesus ever performed. Wedding feasts in biblical times often lasted for up to seven days, with much food, wine and dancing. But here at this wedding the wine begins to run out, which would have been a great embarrassment to the bridegroom and his family. It's Mary, the mother of Jesus who first notices, and asks Jesus to use His power to help. Then the account of Jesus telling servants to fill up the huge water jars until they actually overflowed. The water was immediately transformed into the finest wine. I've preached on this first miracle many times, and it never ceases to amaze me, that each time I read this account of water being transformed into wine, I find in the detail, a fresh interpretation, a fresh insight.

This time, I believe that the story is about the abundant Grace of God, and how that Grace has the power to transform our lives. You know there are times in our lives, when every single one of us will discover, that the wine is running out

In other words, each one of us at some time will experience difficulties, problems or defeat, and our life will become 'dry.' This seems to be, simply how life works, and this miracle teaches us that when the wine runs out, and our life is dry, it's only Christ Jesus who truly turns our life around.

We're meant to notice in the story, that the huge jars would hold water which was needed by the servants to wash, clean and purify the hands and especially the dusty feet of visitors to their masters home.

In this miracle Jesus takes the water of purification, and uses it in His first miracle. Note - This water was meant for 'external' cleaning and purification. And in the following three short years of His public ministry, Jesus would go on to teach people not about external cleansing but about the internal cleansing which was needed. But we need to go much deeper than thinking of only the water in the jars becoming wine.

What we really need to look at is the actual transformation. You see, Christ Jesus is in the business of building faith. And that faith building business brings in its wake changed lives. Transformed lives. The truth lies in the abundant way in which Jesus gives.

You see, the truth is this, Christ Jesus doesn't just tamper with, or patch up broken lives with bandages and sticking plasters. He's not in the business of patching up, or emergency repairs. But, exactly as He transformed water into the finest wine, He wants to totally transform broken lives and make them new. He wants to transform our very nature. He turns water into wine, and can turn grim faces into relieved smiles. Transforms whispers of fear into songs of joy.

Deserts into verdant gardens. Sorrow into joy, Even more than that, He wants to transform our sin, not by anything we could do, but by His Grace.

Sometimes it's hard for us to understand, that God not only meets our needs, but meets them in abundance. THIS IS THE STORY IF GOD'S GRACE. You know I hear people saying such things as, 'If God loves us so much, then why are so many starving in our world?'

The answer is that God does provide in abundance. Provides enough to feed the worlds populations several times over. But mankind's priority is profit over provision. Despite Gods abundant provision, food is not shared out fairly. We see food being stockpiled to artificially inflate prices for profit.

To illustrate God's Grace, I'd like to finish, by sharing with you some words from a terminally ill woman. She said, 'At first, I saw God as my observer and judge, keeping track of everything I did wrong, so He might know whether I deserved Heaven or Hell when I die. To me, He was like a president or a prime minister, I could recognise their photograph, but din't know them personally. But, later on when I grew to know Christ Jesus, it seemed to me that life was like a bicycle ride, BUT on a Tandem bicycle. I noticed Jesus was on the rear seat, simply helping me to pedal. I don't remember when it was, that it was suggested that we changed places, but life hasn't been the same since.

When I had control. I thought I knew the way, yet life was predictable, even boring at times. The ride was just a function, the shortest distance from point 'A' to point 'B.' But when we changed places and Jesus was in control, He wasn't interested in short cuts, but He knew beautiful 'LONG' cuts, up mountains, rocky places, and beautiful valleys. Sometimes at breakneck speeds, and I could hardly hang on. At times life seemed a like madness. But all Christ said was 'Peddle.' I was worried and anxious, and asked - 'Where are you taking me.' Christ laughed but didn't answer. Soon, I learned to trust Him. I forgot the tedium of life, and entered into the adventure. When I said 'I'm sacred', He reaches back and touches my hand. He took me to people with the gifts I needed. Gifts of acceptance, healing and joy. The gifts they gave, I took on my journey....my Lords and mine, together. I didn't want Him to be in control of 'my' life, I thought he might wreck it.......BUT He knows all the bike's secrets.

He knows how to take the bends and sharp corners. Knows how to steer around rocks on the road I'm learning to 'shut up' and simply pedal in the strangest of places. I'm beginning to enjoy what's left of my journey and enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face together with my constant companion.....Christ Jesus. And, when I'm sure I can't do any more, He just smiles and says 'Pedal.' What a moving insight, you see, our way is the shortest passage from 'A' To 'B.' It's unknowing and often pointless, like hamsters trudging around an endless exercise wheel His way is full of diversions and experiences, learning to appreciate the beauty and passion of the journey. With Him life become an adventure that journey is the pilgrimage of our lives. The question is this - will we strive to keep control of our lives or will we trust Christ Jesus, and allow Him total control.'

AMEN

Jesus Cleanses

The Temple

Jesus Cleanses The Temple (Jn.2:13-22)

Our text today is taken from the Gospel of John 2:13-22, it tells of Jesus going to the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Feast of the Passover. There in the Temple He finds money changers and stall holders selling animals and birds for sacrifice.

Making a whip out of chords He drove the traders out of the Temple shouting, 'Take these things away, do not make my Father's house into a house of trade'

The Jews then asked Him, 'What signs do you show us for doing these things?'

Jesus replies, 'Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up'

The Jews laughed, saying, 'This Temple has taken 46 years to build, and you will raise it up in three days?'

But Jesus wasn't talking about the temple but about His own bodily resurrection after three days in the tomb. Here we have a candid insight with this image of Jesus cleansing the Temple of everything that defiled it. It's just as though, Jesus is cleansing the human heart of everything that is impure, preparing our hearts for holiness so God may reside there.

We may have an image in our minds of Jesus being the soft spoken, comforter, the gentle shepherd, confronting the Temple authorities of His day with a soft divine wisdom. But here we have the image of Jesus, whip in hand, the sleeves of His robes rolled up and ready for battle. Aggressively driving traders from the Temple, fleeing before Him birds, sheep, goats, upending tables and stalls. This picture doesn't sit easily with the usual image of the gentle shepherd. When we look deeper, we can see the other side of Jesus, the side which even today still confronts people in their everyday lives. Confronts, challenges, calls us to change our ways and become obedient to Him.

Calls us to clear out the old, and bring into our lives new priorities.

Our very presence here today in Church bears witness, to some degree, of Christ's disruptive influence in our lives. Career choices, personal goals and priorities, re shaping our lives to conform to what God asks of each one of us. Family relationships modified to become obedient and faithful to Him.

Perhaps we can now see this challenging and disruptive side of the 'gentle' Shepherd, The Temple had taken 46 years to build and stretched right back to the reign of King David and his son King Solomon. Established by God's own plan, but something had gone terribly wrong. The Temple defiled to become something other than God had intended it to be. It had become corrupt.

Whilst sacrifice was outlined in the Old Testament (Leviticus /Numbers), somewhere along the line the religious leaders had polluted the system by profiting from it personally. The Temple leaders had perverted Gods commandments.

Here we see Jesus attacking the root of all evil......money; stepping in to demand change. Their love for God had been corrupted by their love of money. Jesus is teaching about tearing down the religious establishment which had lost its way, by conforming to the world's standards and not God's. Comparing it with He, himself, being torn down from the Cross, and that in three days after death he would be resurrected, at that point of resurrection there would be an 'interface', between God in Heaven and His people on earth. In his gospel John makes it clear that no more blood sacrifices would be needed. Because Jesus Himself had become the final sacrifice. In Galatians 1:4-5 It says, 'That Christ, gave Himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God the Father to whom be the Glory for ever and ever.'

In the Old Testament the great Temple at Jerusalem was known as the dwelling place of God. But in the New Testament God moves from dwelling in the Temple to dwelling within our hearts. As Jesus cleanses the Temple He also cleanses our hearts that they be God's new dwelling place.

As we reflect on today's passage, let's examine our own hearts for anything that defiles, and ask Jesus to purge and cleanse our hearts and make them fit to be God's Temple.

AMEN

You Must Be

Born Again

You Must Be Born Again (Jn. 3: 1-17)

This account of Nicodemus visiting Jesus, which took place during the hours of darkness is perhaps one of the best known scriptures in the bible? It's sometimes known as 'The Gospel in a nutshell.' The author of this text is of course the disciple John, who together with his brother James were the first disciples to be called. The brothers James and John were a very spontaneous pair and quick tempered by nature... becoming known to the other ten disciples as: 'The Sons of Thunder.'

They were the sons of Zebedee, the captain of the family fishing boat upon Lake Galilee. As a point of interest...... Peter another disciple was also in partnership with Zebedee, James and John in their family fishing business. And so....it was the disciple John, the son of Zebedee, who was the author of the Gospel which bears his name. John had travelled with Jesus from the very start of His public ministry, and knew Jesus better than most.

He witnessed the humanity of Jesus and also witnessed His divinity through the many miracles Jesus performed. Some believe that Jesus was 50 percent human and 50 percent God. (Half and half). But one main theme in Johns Gospel was the teaching of Jesus being 100 percent man and 100 percent God.

LET'S NOW EXAMINE THE TEXT TODAY...

Nicodemus came under the cover of darkness to see Jesus because he didn't want to be seen. You see... Nicodemus was a man of high standing, an influential religious leader and scholar. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, The council of the Jews and a wealthy man. The question we then ask, is why did he come to Jesus in the first place? There are three main possibilities for his coming to Jesus:

He was curious about the teachings of Jesus and wanted to know more.

He was confused by the teachings of Jesus and came seeking clarification.

He was angered by the teachings of Jesus and wanted to confront him.

Whatever his reasons were, we can imagine many questions were on the lips of Nicodemus. Language and translation can easily cause confusion or misunderstanding.

ANECDOTE: Story of one of the world's greatest cars the Chevrolet NOVA. It sold in great numbers throughout the world. With the exception of Mexico No one understood why one of the world's best cars simply didn't sell in Mexico. After much research it was realised that NOVA in The Mexican language meant 'NO GO.' It failed in Mexico because of a confusion in language

And it's true you know, that not only Nicodemus misunderstood the language, and the meaning of Jesus' words. Nicodemus and many others, fail to see that the words and language of Jesus, have a heavenly meaning. Yet we try to translate His words by worldly standards. Rather, we desperately need to understand His heavenly thoughts and words, stand in contradiction to everything we know. So what can we learn from the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus?

Well, Nicodemus was puzzled and no doubt confused he had many questions to ask. But we know for sure, he came to the right person for the answers. Furthermore we know that he found his answers, because we see Nicodemus later in scripture, together with Joseph of Arimathea in Jn .19:38 to the end.

Nicodemus was the one who brought, aloes, myrrh and burial spices, which were extremely expensive. Together with Joseph, both men prepared the body of Jesus for burial, according to Jewish custom. So, we can be sure he received the answers to his questions because we can see, his life was changed. And you know, like Nicodemus, we too will have our questions, we too often struggle with the spiritual aspects of life Problems in relationships, with our loved ones, unrest in a disturbed world, making ends meet the list is endless. Where do we go for the answers to our questions?

If we're honest, so often, we go first to friends or follow our own gut instinct.

Today I'd like to assure everyone that God has the answer to all our questions, our wants and our needs. So let's remember in those questioning times of life to turn to God first. We have a God who is both approachable and available 24/7 by prayer and by the reading of scripture all problems can be solved. The Bible is our blueprint for life, but sadly it's often true we prefer to go our own selfish way. I can think of only three reasons, why a Christian would not turn either to the bible or prayer for the answer to life questions:

LAZINESS: It's easy to find excuses, or we have to feel in the mood to pray or read scripture.

PRIDE: We can believe we know best, go our own way, regardless of the consequences.

DISBELIEF: By disbelieving that Holy Scripture is the blueprint for life.

So hear again the words of Jesus, speaking not only to Nicodemus but also to us, today. Saying whether you are educated or uneducated, Jew or Gentile, black or white. You must be 'BORN AGAIN.' Let's have a moment of silence to reflect on today's text, Think of any problem or question we would ask of Jesus.

He's here and He's listening!

AMEN.

Love

In A Nutshell

Love In A Nutshell (John 3:16 To 4:6)

I'd like to begin today by telling you a true story, called 'The Slob.' There was a man who when not at work was lazy, idle, a good for nothing. In the house he would lie on the sofa all day, drinking, smoking, smelling of beer watching TV. Unshaven, unkempt, never giving his wife any compliments or spending time with her.

Then one day he heard on the radio a very moving story which changed his outlook on life. He decided to change his ways, on his way home he stops at his parents' house and had a good hot shower, after a shave he changed his clothes and finally puts on some of his father's aftershave. On the last leg of his journey home he stops, buys his wife flowers and a box of chocolates. As he arrived home his wife saw him, and burst into tears, saying, 'I've had a terrible day, our Johnny broke his leg, the washing machine broke down, your aunt and uncle phoned to say they would be coming to stay with us for two whole weeks - then, to cap it all you come home drunk.'

You know love comes in many packages, but in the final analysis the truest love of all is sacrificial love. That's the whole point of our reading today.

We know what sacrificial love is, because Jesus in His love for us, sacrificed His life. So we too, are called to live a life of sacrificial love, for our family and friends and all who we meet.

Throughout Scripture we see examples of love in a nutshell. One of the best known is: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so everyone who believes in Him, will not perish but have eternal life.'

There's also the true story of King Frederick of Prussia, war had been costly and his nation was almost bankrupt. The King finally asked all the women in his Kingdom to hand over their gold and silver jewellery in return for a simple 'iron cross', which was engraved with the words 'I gave Gold for Iron 1883.'

It was a great success, (out of interest, it was the origin of the Iron Cross, given to the German Army). It was originally a symbol of sacrificial giving.

When we come to our Heavenly King, we also have a choice, we can exchange our symbols of luxury and prestige for a much simpler, much more meaningful 'Cross of Wood.' Our wooden Cross, the old wooden Cross is not just a symbol of a 'One Off' sacrifice. It goes much deeper, it calls for a practical and tangible sacrifice of life style. Let's look at John 3: 17-18, which says: 'If anyone has enough money to live well, yet sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help them.....how can God's love abide in that person?'

Jesus goes on to say, 'My dear children, our love should not be empty words, but should be shown in our actions.'

True love, sacrificial love, should manifest itself in action. The kind of sacrifice we are called to is clearly not as extreme as Jesus', ours is perhaps a little mundane, not headline grabbing and often goes unrecognised. But it shouldn't be to impress others, but come from the yearning of our hearts to give sacrificially after the model of Jesus.

How can we do this in our everyday lives?

An easy way is to remember body parts:

Ears: Use our ears, take time to actually listen to the words and needs of people around us. People are often more in need of a listening ear than medication. In a busy world they need someone to listen.

Mouths: Sometimes it's hard to speak the truth and it can be costly. But often confronting others with the truth is the most loving thing we can do.

Hands: Extend a giving, helpful hand, contribute to those in need as a sign of our commitment to sacrificial love.

Feet: We can go that extra mile, above and beyond the call of duty.

Using our ears, mouth, hands and feet are just four ways which we can demonstrate sacrificial love, that's what John 3:11-24 is all about.

To whom shall we show sacrificial love this coming week? It's not always easy because we all have financial responsibilities to our own families, but we can always give that little bit more, if not money then of our time or talents.

From time to time we all need to have that conversation with God, asking as individuals, for Him to reveal to each one of us 'What is it we may sacrifice, and to whom?'

AMEN

The Harvest

Is Ready

The Harvest Is Ready (John 4: 31-38)

Our text today is from John's Gospel, chapter 4, and verses 31 to 38. Where we have Jesus, teaching His disciples about the Harvest of souls being ready NOW'

But first Jesus, gives us a practical example of the harvest being ready, by His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the Well of Jacob. The Samaritan woman was a foreigner, from a despised religious group. But her story makes a clear statement of the role of women in the early Christian Church. It's worth noting that the Samaritan woman remains unnamed throughout the story in our passage. This anonymity is common place in John's Gospel, amongst others who remain unnamed in his Gospel are the beloved disciple, the man born blind, the paralysed man at the pool, the Royal official and most strikingly John never mentions the name of the mother of Jesus.

Why it is that such people remain unnamed and anonymous in the Gospel of John? Although nameless, they were real people, with real lives and real identities. But John prefers to leave them nameless and thus making the stories applicable to all people.

This Samaritan woman was no shrinking violet. She was not limited to the conversation of the private life of women. She had a voice and many questions and moved in public areas which were considered to be reserved for men only. Then as we hear her private life being unfolded by Jesus the woman like so many who came after her experienced four progressive stages of faith.

FIRST: She met Jesus.

SECOND: She learns about Jesus.

THIRD: She believed in Jesus

FOURTH: She evangelises telling others about Jesus.

This woman leaves a pattern for evangelism, of spreading the good news of the coming of God's Kingdom: MEET, LEARN, BELIEVE and TELL

Then, this woman excitedly went to the nearby town of Sychar and told others about the Messiah. Many Samaritans, followed the woman back to see Jesus for themselves and became believers that day.

Just before the woman left to tell the towns people about Jesus, the disciples returned from the town where they had been to buy food. The disciples were concerned that Jesus had not eaten, and encouraged Him to eat. But Jesus told them, 'I have food to eat which you know nothing about. My food is to do the work of Him who sent me, and to finish that work.'

Jesus carried on His teaching saying, 'Do you not see, four months and then harvest I tell you open your eyes and look at the fields they are ripe for harvest even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop of eternal life'

Even as Jesus said these words, no doubt He could see the crowd of Samaritans flocking towards Him, from the town. By His words Jesus was teaching the disciples not about an earthly harvest.

Jesus was talking about a harvests of souls, of new believers and the growth of Gods Kingdom. Spelling out for them that the harvest of souls doesn't have to wait for four month, because it's ready now.

Now, is always the right time when it comes to the harvest of souls. Jesus was teaching the disciples and through them, you and me, not to put our work off, but to get stuck in now.

You know mankind has an in built thread of nature that seeks always to put things off. Many people have received the gift of Christ Jesus in their lives but have put the gift wrapped package up on a shelf in a store room to open some other time, later. Perhaps when the children are all grown up, or when our bank balance is high enough to give us security, or when the house or garden is finished, or when we retire and have more time.

Do you see what I mean?

Brothers and sisters we have been told, commanded by the Master that the harvests of souls is ready now, Not tomorrow, not in the new year, not when all of our hopes and dreams have been accomplished first.

But the harvest is ready now. So what will we do?

ANECDOTE: I'd like to finish today with a true story of Missionary work overseas which started about 150 years ago.

One of the early missionaries was Robert Moffat, from Scotland, who worked in Africa. He returned one day to Scotland to recruit more missionaries, visiting a large Church he was disappointed to see only a handful of quite elderly people at the meeting.

Never the less he thought he would carry on. He was speaking of Africa, and unbeknown to him, there was a young boy in the organ loft ready to pump air into the organ bellows. This boy, although unseen was hanging on every word Robert Moffat said. And he especially remembered one sentence, spoken by Moffat, 'Each morning I awake in Africa, I look to the horizon and I see smoke from a thousand villages where the name of Jesus has never been heard.

That powerful image of Africa hatched in the brain of the young boy, it lingered, and it took root.

When he grew up he qualified as a doctor and went on to fulfil his dream of being a missionary. His name Dr David Livingstone, he went on to become a living legend and very famous. The New York Times sent a reporter (Mr Stanley), with instructions to find Livingstone.

Stanley wasn't a believer. But when he grew to know Livingstone he came to faith, but couldn't entice him away from Africa.

Livingstone said, 'I am a missionary heart and soul. God had only one Son who was also a missionary and physician. A poor, poor imitation of Him, I am, or wish to be. In this service I hope to live and in this service I hope to die.'

After spending a life time of faithful service Livingstone was eventually found dead knelt in an attitude of prayer in his tent. His body was repatriated to be interred in Westminster Cathedral. But in accordance with Livingstone's instructions his heart had been removed and buried in African soil. His instructions had been.

'My heart has always been in Africa and that's where I want my heart to stay.'

Livingstone was a driven man, who was aware of Gods call and God's message, that the harvest is ready now.

We are not all called to be missionaries in Africa or overseas but we are all called to play our part, however small, to spread the good news of the Gospel, as we pass through this world.

AMEN

Feeding

Of The

Five Thousand

Feeding Of The Five-Thousand (John 6:1-14)

Introduction: This is an interactive sermon, encourage the congregation to repeat after you the words in the bold type. After the first response from congregation, then simply cup your hand to your ear and 'cock' your head for their response.

Today our gospel text is about the feeding of over five thousand men, with only five barley loaves and two fishes. It's one of the most important of all miracles. We know this because it's the only miracle, which is recorded in all four gospels. Just to recreate the atmosphere, please repeat after me:

A LITTLE, BECOMES A LOT IN THE HAND OF THE LORD.

It had been a very busy time for Jesus and his disciples. Over the past few days Jesus had been healing the sick by his miraculous powers. People, seeing such miracles were enthralled, and followed Jesus where ever he went.

Wanting more of his teaching and eager to see more miracles. So, we can feel the excitement in the air as we read this account of our Lord feeding five thousand men with just five barley loaves and two fishes.

A LITTLE BECOMES A LOT IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD

As the crowds gather, Jesus surveys the scene. In his compassion he senses their hunger, senses their thirst, and understands their needs. In his love, he wants to nourish them. He knows no food is available, because they were far from the towns. In their dusty robes they were wandering around like lost sheep, without a shepherd.

But the disciples pleaded with Jesus, 'Master, send them away, let them fend for themselves, we have nothing to give them, nothing.'

Jesus, perhaps surprised at their lack of faith, tested them by saying, 'You yourselves, give them something to eat '

But they replied in worldly terms, 'Lord, for us to feed tis crowd would cost over two hundred silver coins.'

Jesus instructed them to find whatever was available. They returned shortly afterwards with five barley loaves and two small fishes, of the four gospel accounts, only John says a little boy gave the food. And even so, only a meagre amount.

A LITTLE BECOMES A LOT IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD

It was springtime, for the Lord instructed the crowd to sit on the grass in rows of fifty and one-hundred, we're told over five-thousand men sat down, but adding women and children the amount of people may well have been as many as fifteen to twenty-thousand.

Jesus then breaks the bread and prays over it before the disciples distribute it to the crowd. Some believe that this blessing / sharing of the bread was the first Holy Communion thus setting the pattern for all other Holy Communions. It also prepared the people for the next session of teaching coming later in chapter 6, here Jesus begins the teaching that He is the true bread of life.

And so, we have heard the account of that spectacular miracle of over five-thousand people being fed with just five barley loaves and two small fishes.

A LITTLE BECOMES A LOT IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD

The overriding truth here is this, that whatever we are called to do. All Jesus asks, is that we are prepared to use whatever little we have. To use whatever we have in faith and Jesus will take care of the rest

A LITTLE. BECOMES A LOT IN THE HANDS OF THE LORD.

AMEN

I Am

The Bread Of Life

I Am The Bread Of Life (Jn.6:24-35)

Last week if you remember, we were looking at the feeding of the five-thousand, one of the greatest miracles ever performed. This week we look at the verses which follow on in chapter 6, verses 24 to 35.

The phrase Jesus used in this passage is what we focus on today - His phrase was, 'I. Am the bread of life, he who comes to me will never be hungry, he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'

You know, people will do almost anything in this life to have satisfaction, to achieve the fulfilment of life that they crave. Everyone is seeking the meaning of life. The alcoholic is seeking, students are seeking, the elderly are seeking, and parents are seeking, everyone seeking fulfilment and ultimate meaning of life. I believe God has created in every person, in you and in me, a void, a vacuum which can only be filled in any meaningful way by Jesus Christ.

But you know the problem is, although people are seeking, they're looking for the answer in the wrong places. Looking to hedonism, politics, alcohol, drugs, crime, money, wrong relationships. Looking to their businesses, professions, jobs or even to the all-consuming hobbies for their fulfilment. Yet never realising that the answer to the meaning of life in all its fullness, will only be found in and through Christ Jesus.

As we look into the gospel of John we find Jesus describing Himself as, I am, saying not once but seven times:

I am the GOOD SHEPHERD

I am the VINE

I am the RESURRECTION

I am the WAY

I am the TRUTH

I am the LIGHT

I am the BREAD of LIFE

In the OLD TESTAMENT 'YAHWAH' was a name the Hebrews used for God which came from the Hebrew verb 'to be', meaning 'I AM.'

In these seven 'I am' sayings which are found in John's gospel Jesus is equating Himself to God. He is giving himself parity with God. In this chapter Jesus is saying clearly that He is the 'BREAD SENT FROM HEAVEN' and 'I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE.'

This is what angered the Jewish scribes and Pharisees who accused Jesus of blasphemy. After all they said, wasn't He merely the earthly son of Mary and Joseph of Nazareth? You see, what Jesus was teaching here, in biblical times, is echoing down through the centuries to you and to me today:-

WHAT BREAD IS TO HUNGER JESUS IS TO THE SOUL.

Jesus is teaching here, drawing a comparison between worldly bread which only fills our hunger in a temporary way, whereas the bread from heaven, Jesus Himself will fill that void, that vacuum in our life. It's bread not so much for the stomach but for the soul. Jesus Himself as 'The bread of life', He satisfies not only now, but for eternity.

ANECDOTE: Before and during the Second World War Germany recruited many thirteen to fourteen year old boys to join their junior Gestapo. Gave them uniforms, took them away from family and friends, treated them harshly and gave them in-humane jobs to do. After the war they were rounded up and because of their tender age were housed in tents which comprised large camps. There to be rehabilitated, both mentally and physically by trained medical and psychiatric doctors and staff. For many weeks during the night, crying, wailing and screaming could be heard as their sleep was disturbed by their memories then, one psychiatrist had a break through. He gave them all a large satisfying meal at supper time and sent them to bed with half a loaf of bread in their hands, which was to be saved for their breakfast. The boys then began sleeping soundly because for many years they had gone hungry but now they had a full stomach and the assurance of their next meal.

You know, having Jesus to fill that void within our souls can give each one of us, a similar assurance. That despite whatever we may face now or in the future, whatever this life throws at us, we will never be overwhelmed.

So then, the question is this: How can you and I gain the benefits from this bread of life?

Well as usual, scripture holds the solution. In verse 29 of chapter 6, it tells us that, 'We need to believe in the one who God sent.'

In verse 36, Jesus says many people have seen him but still do not believe. Then later Jesus goes further inferring to benefit from bread you must actually eat the bread. We are being taught here that we must be prepared to do more than dabble with Christianity. We must strive to become more than the proverbial Sunday Christians. It's not enough that we are part of the crowd. For the bread of life to be eternally sustaining it must eaten and Christ must dwell within.

We need to do more than confess the name of Jesus we need to commit ourselves totally, when we commit as well as confess, then we will be filled with God's Holy Spirit.

We need to evaluate our spiritual life, are we committed to, and in a relationship with Jesus Christ?

If we can see, that we are less than totally committed. Then what is it that is holding us back? These are penetrating questions we must all ask ourselves?

Does our relationship with Jesus have an impact where we work, how we spend our money, how we deal with people, the way we think about death and eternity. About the things we hold dear in our lives. How it helps deal with our problems and failures. All such questions are answered fully when we partake the bread of life.

It's about confessing the name of Jesus, becoming committed to Him through faith. About nothing less than a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.

AMEN

I Am The

True Bread

From Heaven

I Am The True Bread From Heaven (Jn.6:51-58)

Have you ever noticed that when you ask someone in the street 'How are you?' We can always anticipate the answer, can't we? The answer comes back 'Oh. Yes... I'm fine thank you.' We can all be good actors and actresses, we're all guilty at times of putting on a mask, we can all be experts at disguising how we really feel inside. We can easily talk of family, work or the weather, and think solely about the day to day circumstances of our life. About getting our work done, meeting our commitments, fulfilling our obligations and caring for our families.

But there's a vast difference between life and simply existing whilst on the other hand having that extra spark, living life, in all its fullness with Jesus at the helm.

You see, that's what today's passage is all about. The past few weeks we have been looking at Jesus as the bread of life and the true bread from heaven. All that has been leading up to the passage we have before us today.

Are we simply living our life by merely existing, driven by the routine of a treadmill existence OR do we have a life lived to the full with Jesus at the helm. Are we really living or are we tempted to settle for second best? That's the hard question Jesus asks today, many will turn their back and walk away rather than face this major question in life.

How are you feeling today?

You may answer 'I'm fine.......busy, but I'm OK.'

But that doesn't really answer the question, because it's often a cover up. After all we all have our masks don't we? But that probing question which Jesus poses today, pushes us to discover the hunger within, we can all feel empty at times and Jesus wants us to know He's there for us.

He wants to come into our lives and to rejuvenate each one of us. To restore us to that fullness of life, which can only be found by believing in and following Him.

Only two weeks ago the set reading told us of Jesus feeding five-thousand men with five barley loaves and two small fishes. The crowds thought the miracle was only about satisfying their immediate needs in the here and now, in an earthly temporary way. But Jesus was challenging them, to consider the daily bread they ate as merely an earthly, temporary bread and therefore PERISHABLE whereas the true bread from heaven endures to eternal life. He urges us to eat of His flesh and to drink of His blood, because this is the only way we can achieve that true life within.

At times if our faith is healthy, it can give that warmth, that feeling that everything is right with the world, and we can feel the love and contentment. Not because of anything we have done, but because we know ourselves to be a part of something bigger, something greater more profound. We can feel something more beautiful, pure and holy than we could ever be in ourselves. It's when this happens that we truly taste life in the fullness of Christ.

But on the other hand, we can chase around, like a chicken without a head, seeking that which we would like to possess or own, for ourselves. We look to the material things of earthly life, to create a false sense of fulfilment. But despite our best efforts, we still feel no true satisfaction and are still aware of that void within which we seek to fill.

Sometimes the outside and the inside of who we are, simply doesn't match up and we are still asking 'what am I doing with my life... is this as good as it gets?' When we're running on empty we are less than fully alive, it's not so much a judgement but rather a diagnosis. Such feelings are a symptom that the true life Jesus speaks of is not in us.

But the good news is, there is a treatment for our condition, a food for our hunger. There is no alternative treatment, it's having the fullness of life with Jesus at the helm or a slow death in the wilderness.

The treatment is the flesh and the blood of Jesus as the medicine that saves but one dose isn't enough. We need a steady diet of the sacred medicine, the food of Holy Communion. Life can be a long tedious journey and Holy Communion, can be rightly seen, as the sustenance we need for the journey (our pilgrimage).

Where Holy Communion, meets human hunger, we find true life, in all its fullness. When we partake of the bread and the wine, then we symbolically consume Christ's body and His blood, we symbolically eat this that He may consume and transform our lives.

I finish with the words of Jesus, 'I tell you the truth......unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of His blood you will not have life within you. And whoever eats of my flesh and drinks of my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day'

AMEN

Word Of

Eternal Life

Word Of Eternal Life (Jn. 6: 56-69)

This is the last of five bible passages from John's gospel which we have been looking at recently. The first four all covered the teaching of Jesus concerning Him being the 'True bread of heaven' and which 'endures to eternal life.'

We have been using this metaphor of 'Bread' to help us understand what it is that Jesus has to offer each one of us and also to consider, the nature of the relationship Jesus wants us to have with Him.

The text today presents us with a crisis of faith posing a difficult concept which for many will become a turning point.

In the context of the Jews, and their faith, and in Old Testament theology we must understand that in the book of Leviticus we have the many biblical laws which God had laid down, concerning animal sacrifices.

The blood of the animal being the essence of life and the same sacrificial blood being considered Holy by Jews. Jesus's words to many a Jew, in biblical times, may have been very challenging or even smacked of cannibalism simply because the Jews did not understand this new teaching. In New Testament theology never ending animal sacrifices were set to be superseded by the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Himself, in atonement for the sins of all mankind.

This would have been a far greater concept for the biblical Jew than ever it will be for 21st. Century man

That is the reason so many Jew turned away from Jesus at this point? It was just one step too far.

Jesus even turns to His trusted disciples and asks them: 'Do you also wish to go away?' And Peter, who as usual, answered for them all, replied, 'Lord......to whom shall we go? Only you have the words of eternal life we have come to know you and believe that you alone are the Holy one of God.'

ANECDOTE: Story of a brother who chose monastic life and took a vow of silence. After seven long years of silence he was allowed only two words.

When his first seven years were up the abbot and elders called the brother up and asked what his two words would be?

The brother mumbles: 'COLD. FLOORS.

After fourteen years the abbot and elders called the brother in again and asked for his next two words, the ageing brother cleared his throat and said: 'BAD FOOD'

After a further seven years the abbot and elders called in the brother again and asked him for his words after twenty-one years. The brother clears his throat before saying: 'I QUIT'

The abbot looking around at the elders replied, 'I'm not surprised, because you've done nothing but complain ever since you arrived.'

You see in our passage today Jesus notes the crowds are diminishing and people falling away when His teaching becomes too challenging. We're all familiar with the newspapers and TV, giving out the message that church numbers are getting less. The media is always suggesting that the church has little to offer. Whilst the world outside seems to offer so much. Some leave the faith when the teaching is hard to follow or services boring, or due to hearing platitudes from church leaders perhaps because of unanswered prayers or bitter disappointments. Doubts, nagging questions, or simply the trauma of everyday life which can crush our spirit.

Do any of these points ring a bell for you? They certainly do for me? We don't have to agree with or understand everything but we do need to understand that the church as we know it is an earthly institution and will never be perfect. I doubt if there is a perfect church even though you may have found one, possibly this one that really suits you.

In our gospel message today the word ABIDE is very important. Abiding in Jesus and Jesus abiding in us transmits the degree of faithfulness,

Abiding in is much more profound than simply living with or living in. Here in John 6, Jesus is actually inviting us to a symbolic meal of His flesh and a drinking of His blood. An extra ordinary invitation which draws each one of us into a bond of community, a bond of love through the sharing of food and drink, that community embraces not only God the Son but also God the Father.

FAITH MAY BE A GIFT OF GRACE BUT DISCIPLESHIP IS A CHOICE OF WILL

John chapter 5 and verses 56 - 68 sums up and concludes the teaching of Jesus on the symbolic eating and drinking of His flesh and His blood that we may abide in Him and that He may abide in us.

The ultimate question which Jesus is asking afresh in each new generation of believers is this: Will we turn away from Him or will we abide in Him?

AMEN

The Woman

Caught In Adultery

The Woman Caught In Adultery (John 8:1-11)

Adultery has always been with us since the beginning of time, nowadays we hear about adultery quite often or so it seems.

We almost treat it, as though it is par for the course, something to be almost expected these days. It never seems to raise as much as an eyebrow. But in biblical times, adultery was much rarer I guess than today. That's because in ancient times, adultery was punishable by death for the man and also the woman.

Mosaic Law prescribed both partners in the adulterous affair must be stoned to death. But here's the twist in today's scripture: The Pharisees were more concerned to entrap, and to trick Jesus, and to bring about His downfall. In reality they were not concerned so much about upholding the Law.

As the Pharisees saw it, Jesus could not win. They thought they had Him in a catch twenty-two situation. If He said she should be stoned to death as the Law prescribed, then Jesus would fall foul of the occupying Roman forces. Because only they were allowed to carry out executions. If Jesus said 'Let the woman go free', He would be condemned for not adhering to the Mosaic Law. In the mind of Jesus there was no doubt the woman was guilty. The offence was not defended or denied.

What would you have done or said, in the position Jesus found Himself?

The woman stood, shaking with fear expecting the very worse punishment. So what would Jesus do?

What would Jesus say? We are told He turned the position around, by defusing the situation.

But how?

Well, calmly and slowly He began to squat on the ground, and said nothing but wrote slowly and deliberately in the dust. The word used in the original Greek text was - KATAGRAPHIEN. Made up of two words. First KATA means to write a record against. And second GRAPHIEN means to write down. Put together KATAGRAPHIEN means to write down a record against someone!

Here Jesus was buying time, biblical scholars agree almost unanimously, that here Jesus was writing down the sins which the accusers had committed themselves.

After He recorded the sins of the Pharisees in the dust, you can imagine them craning their necks to see what was being written down against them. As they read, the rocks which were gripped in their hands were released and one by one the rocks dropped to the ground.

Jesus stands, slowly looks around His antagonists and said, 'Let him with no sin cast the first stone.'

It was just as though Jesus had held up a mirror in His hands to reflect the Pharisees sins back into their hearts. Everyone in the crowd was shown up in their hypocrisy. We can see now the wisdom of our Master. Then the moment of truth as the Master's wisdom causes every rock to be dropped one by one to the ground and the Pharisees drifted away disarmed.....one by one, like a mist clearing.

The woman then calls Jesus 'Lord', as she finally recognised Him for who He actually is. The woman saw with a sinners eyes what all the religious leaders, and Pharisees could not see.

St. Augustine in his writing comments 'Only two things were left now, misery and mercy. The misery of the woman's guilt and the mercy extended by Christ Jesus.

The mercy of Jesus is just the same today, because, each and every last one of us, is the same as that woman a sinner. Our consolation, Romans 8:1 tells us: 'Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ, because through Christ the Law of the spirit of life has set us free from the Law of sin and death.'

Notice, Jesus didn't let the woman off, he didn't hand her a get out of jail free card. But He told her, 'Go and sin no more.'

We all have to answer one question today, are our attitudes more like the Pharisees or more like our Lord Jesus? Are we like the Pharisees, hypocritical, legalistic and judgemental? OR are our attitudes more like Jesus, showing forgiveness and mercy.

When we encounter someone in sin do we bend down and pick up a rock, ready to throw? Or do we bend down and help the sinner to get up?

Are we more interested in punishing the sinner, than helping the sinner to leave their sin behind? Basically are we encouragers, or are we discourages?

Christ Jesus had the hall mark of Humility He practiced what He preached as we approach Lent, are our attitudes more like the Pharisees or more like Jesus?

AMEN

