Month: March 2021

John 8.12

There are some personalities that are said to transform a room when they enter it. There is something about them that is said to light up the room. Princess Diana was reportedly one of those. Despite her aristocratic, privileged, flawed and troubled life she became known as the Princess of the People. What made the difference was not just her status and beauty it was the way she communicated some of her inner self. She revealed her vulnerability through supporting mental health causes that she had experienced. She touched people that others might shy away from, famously those suffering with AIDs at a time of great prejudice. A patron of over 100 charities, above all Princess Diana had the capacity to relate to all types of people the world over. It was reported, people felt understood and cared for. In that sense she could light up a room.

Is that what is meant when Jesus said I am the light of the world? Not really, but there is a hint of it. When Jesus made that claim to the Jewish authorities and crowd at the Feast of Booths he was making a statement about his identity, his authority, his character and the impact he will have on people’s lives. His statement, “I am the light of the world” took place as part of the Festival of the Booths and therefore closely followed Jesus promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit when he said, ‘Whoever believes in me, … out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ^{John 7.38} Just as when Jesus used the libation ceremony to illustrate that pronouncement so here he linked himself to the lighting of candelabra in the Court of Women to signify the pillar of fire. That was God’s presence leading the Israelites at night, in the dark, through the wilderness. He was saying, I am the pillar of fire that is God, follow me. The significance would not have gone unnoticed by the people or the Jewish authorities and it enraged the Pharisees. ^{John 8.13}

John in the opening of his gospel made the connection between Jesus being the creator of life and it was Jesus’ life that was the light of men. ^{John 1.4} Jesus’ identity was divine and his authority came from being the source of all life. But more than that, the metaphor of light relates to character. His way is the way to living life with purpose and goodness that is pleasing to and honours God. Following Jesus’ light keeps us on the path, wandering off the path leads to darkness and being lost.

These are simple messages. Their authenticity is rooted in who Jesus is. When in darkness we are attracted to the light. Can we make this our prayer for ourselves as we follow his path and our prayer for others who might still be stumbling in darkness.

Light Of The World – Lauren Daigle

John 7.37-39

For Jesus it was a matter of picking his moment and the moment was the last day of the Feast of Booths. A big crowd was in, everyone was focused on remembering how God had saved and protected their ancestors in the wilderness. Everyone was aware of the Mosaic Law and God’s command that they should live for seven days in temporary shelters. ^{Leviticus 23.42} Religious interest was heightened and Jesus was the talk of the town. The tradition was that that the central event was a water libation, a pouring out of water probably performed by the High Priest. Against this backdrop and excitement Jesus raises his voice and shouts ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the Scripture said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”.’ ^John7.27,38

With these words Jesus connects himself to God’s saving work in the desert and God’s blessing in the future. The shock would have been palpable dividing the opinion of the crowd. ^{John 7.40,41} Jesus was associating himself with the rock Moses struck to provide life giving water to a thirsty and complaining nation. ^{Exodus 17.5-7} Throughout the Old and New Testament a flowing river is used as imagery for the life giving Holy Spirit. Paul makes the same connection saying the manna in the desert and the water from the rock at Horeb were foretelling Jesus as the source of the bread and water of life. ‘All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.’ ^{1 Corinthians 10.3,4}

Jesus followed up his declaration as the source of the Holy Spirit with a promise none would have understood, the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. ‘Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.’ ^{John 7.39}

Jesus was asserting to the crowd that he was the fulfilment of a succession of Old Testament Prophecies. When he said Scripture said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ ^{John 7.38} Jesus was not quoting a specific verse he was rather conflating a range of references and promises. Isaiah promised, ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ^{Isaiah 12.3} Isaiah also promises spiritual blessing for the poor and needy a constant theme of Jesus’ teaching, ‘Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!’ ^{Isaiah 51.1} The promise is for the spiritual as well as physically thirsty.

Jesus and Isaiah are making the same point. To be satisfied, restored and renewed by the Holy Spirit one must desire it and come with nothing, deserving nothing. The only way is as Jesus said, to believe. ‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture says.’ ^{John 7.38} When Jesus shouted these words the Pharisees and Jewish leaders would have been aware as experts in the scriptures of Jeremiah’s prophesy against Judah’s rulers just prior to Babylon’s conquest of Jerusalem. ‘O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.’ ^{Jeremiah 17.13} Jesus was saying to the rulers, rejecting him was rejecting the source of the Holy Spirit. He was the fountain of living water.

In the third of the great prophetic books, Ezekiel pictured spiritual flourishing, or life in the Spirit, as abundant life in a river running into the sea bring life wherever it flows. ‘And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. ^{Ezekiel 49.9}

Finally, the Old and New Testament equally confirm the cleansing of living water. Just as the water ceremony is being conducted in the temple, Jesus says receive living water from faith in him. Ezekiel promises God will sprinkle clean water on his faithful people and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. ^{Ezekiel 36.25} Hebrews makes the same promise to believers in Jesus, ‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ^{Hebrews 10.22}

How does this apply to us today? The promises are open to us and the way to receiving the living water, the Holy Spirit, continues to be open to all who believe in him. Peter’s words still apply, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^{’ Acts 2.38}

Have you taken up the promise of Jesus made to the woman of Samaria? ‘Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ^{John 4.14}

Spirit of the Living God

John 7.28-52

Don’t let your indecision; Take you from behind; Trust your inner vision; Don’t let others change your mind. Words from Bucks Fizz European Song Contest win in 1981. A great quiz question, Can you name the five UK winners of the European Song Contest? The Bucks Fizz song, “Making your mind up,” was about that time when one struggles with making a decision about which man or woman one is going to end up with for life. It was kind of cute at the time. Most of us though, have gone through that period of indecision even if the end point was nobody. Similarly, before someone becomes confident to make a decision to become a Christian, or to put it another way put their trust in Jesus, there is a period of indecision. We ask the same sort of questions as the Bucks Fizz song.

The church has a responsibility to take this period of seeking seriously. In today’s passage we see a crowd unsure, asking questions, a period of indecision leading to inaction and competing voices. We also see Jesus resolutely continuing his journey to the cross but also taking time to explain who he is and where he came from. The latter was the important question of the day, where did he come from? This is because the Old Testament prophecies made clear the Christ was to come from Bethlehem and many in the crowd knew Jesus came from Galilee. This in part is why Matthew’s gospel, written initially for a Jewish audience, makes clear Jesus was born in Bethlehem. ^{Matthew 2.1}

In the mash up of contrary comments, questions and accusations, Jesus makes some fundamental points and these remain as important steps to faith. ^{John 7.29,29} Jesus was sent by God the Father. We may not immediately grasp that was what was meant by, ‘I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.’ However, the crowd at the time knew and the Pharisees knew, provoking them to send the temple police to arrest him. ^{John 7.32} It is a basic piece of understanding that is essential for someone to accept as they are seeking if they are to trust in Jesus. Jesus was sent by God the Father and God the Father can be trusted because he is true.

Jesus’ authority comes from the intimacy of the relationship within the Trinity. He is eternal truth. Our role as a church is to introduce people to Jesus, patiently, lovingly. His character will convince many. Jesus says many things that people will find hard to understand as when he said, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.’ ^{John 7.34} He was referring to his return to glory following his resurrection an experience those rejecting him cannot share. But there will be others who on hearing Jesus’ words will say, ‘This really is the Prophet … This is the Christ.’ ^{John 7.41,42} But they cannot do that unless they hear the words of Jesus and that responsibility is ours to provide.

I have probably quoted David, my neighbour in halls of residence at teacher training college, before. After a period of questioning about Christ one evening he came to my room and said he had become a Christian. I asked how and why. He replied that he had just started reading Matthew’s gospel from the beginning and after he finished Chapter 5 he was convinced that Jesus was the Christ. He had heard the words of Jesus and believed as in John 7.31. The Temple Police or as some translations call them, soldiers, found themselves in a difficult place. Ordered to arrest Jesus when they actually met and listened to him found they could not do that. ‘No one ever spoke like this man!’, they said. Meeting Jesus and being convinced by him can create problems for people including life changing threats. We do not know what happened to these individuals.

Nicodemus was a man on a journey to faith. He now faced ostracism from the powerful Pharisee leadership when he argued for a fair hearing for Jesus. ^{John 2.50-52} The Pharisees were reflecting the current bias against Galileans or misrepresenting facts. Jonah came from Galilee and quite probably both Elijah and Nahum. However, Nicodemus had already met with Jesus and was profoundly affected by his words and presence.

How do we as a church enable people to search for meaning?

How sensitive are we to the conflicts people have as seekers?

How clear are we about the evidences for Jesus being the Christ?

Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up – (Just for fun)

John 7.10-24

Sifting truth out of rumours has become one of the biggest issues of modern life but chapter 7 tells us that this is no new phenomena. We are more prone to pay attention to rumours in areas that highly concern us. I feel I must confess here, I read every day the football gossip, which mainly concerns rumours of players’ transfers, of which probably less than 1% actually take place. I am not alone in a fascination with rumours in my area of interest. Just as most reading this will not understand why I spend time on such a fruitless exercise, (I realise I have no good defense over this.) others in large numbers follow all rumours regarding the Royal Family. I know this as I get almost daily, e-news from the magazine Good Housekeeping, (don’t ask why) who are obsessed with every microscopic detail of their lives. None of this has great consequence, however it all becomes much more serious when the rumours are about matters that directly impact the future of people and nations. Hence the concern about political interference by foreign powers through social media in general elections. A vital skill for all then is the ability to develop discernment in matters of consequence.

In this extended section of John’s gospel, in which Chapter 7 is central, we see confusion and hostility growing in the mass population and amongst the leadership, along with a fascination with Jesus and a desire for truth, healing and a new beginning. In Chapter 6 Jesus laid claim to being the Messiah the Israelites had been waiting for and to whom the Old Testament festivals were a signpost. However, he was not the type of Rescuer they imagined or wanted and so they grumbled. Jesus exposes the nature of the hearts and motives of the people and the religious leadership. The Spirit of Christ continues to do that today, and it provokes a range of reactions, frequently hostile. Truth is often at least initially uncomfortable.

The atmosphere in Jerusalem was toxic. People felt they had to be very careful about what they said regarding Jesus, for fear of reprisals by the authorities. ‘`Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.’ ^{John 7.13} The religious leadership was trying to control the narrative. Opinions amongst the people were divided, some said he was a good man, others he was misguided and this opinion was actively promoted by the Jewish leadership. ^{John 7.12} Everybody either misunderstood or disbelieved both the signs and Jesus’ words. They were however perplexed by Jesus’ authority, ^{John 7.15} especially the Jewish leaders as Jesus had not been trained in their orthodoxy. Jesus’ response is that his authority is directly received from the Father and the evidence of that is that he does not seek to glorify himself but instead seeks to glorify the Father who sent him. Jesus then gives us insight into how to be discerning. Firstly our desire should be to do the will of God the Father. ‘If anyone’s will is to do God’s will he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.’ ^{John 7.17} Secondly if the speaker is self-promoting they are not to be trusted. ‘The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true and in him there is no falsehood. ^{John 7.18} An important test of the rhetoric is the character of the speaker.

Jesus then exposes how the Jewish leaders have distorted the application of the law and by doing so have not understood how the Father’s will is for the healing of the whole person. The Jewish leaders would circumcise a child on the Sabbath if it fell on the eighth day according to Mosaic law despite their over rigorous application of the no work on the Sabbath rule. However, when Jesus healed the whole body of the man at the well in Chapter 6 they condemned him. ^{John 7.21-24} The Spirit is able to use greater discernment when we are seeking to understand the Father’s will. As Jesus said, ‘Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.’ ^{john 7.24}

Do we seek to understand the message of the whole of the bible when reading a small section to enable us to have right judgement?

How much do we apply biblical understanding to life decisions?

In our decision making are we firstly seeking the glory of God ?

Raise A Hallelujah – Unlimited: Live Worship from Spring Harvest 2019  (Try turning the volume up)

John 7.1-10

Have you ever worried about whether it is the right time to do an important something? So much of our life can be consumed by these concerns. Should I take a gap year now would have been a big question for 18 year olds as they waited for the A level results. Is it the right time to commit to life-long marriage, even when should I pop the question? At the other end of life, is it the right time to move into supported living? In terms of Christian service when should I take on leading a youth group, volunteering in an outreach programme, perhaps apply for missionary training. Is going for the next promotion really the thing to do or does God want me where I am?

Does the Jesus disciple have a different perspective about timing in life to the rest of the world? A disciple learns from his teacher. So how did Jesus approach his timing?

Jesus was remaining in Galilee even though it was the Feast of Booths, otherwise known as the Festival of Tabernacles. The Feast of Booths took place each year in September/October. It is named as such because people lived in outdoor shelters to remember God’s faithfulness to Israel during the time spent in the wilderness following their escape from Egypt. ^{Deuteronomy 16.13-15} It was a time of great joy and centred on the Temple in Jerusalem in Judea.

Jesus’ brothers, that is younger sons of Joseph and Mary, wanted to go up and join in the celebrations. They urged Jesus to go with them but the reasons they gave arose from a misunderstanding and skepticism of Jesus identity and calling. ^{John 7.5} It wasn’t until after Jesus resurrection that we have evidence of the brothers’ faith in Jesus. ^{Acts 1.14} They argued that if Jesus wanted to promote himself he needed to go where the action was and do his stuff there. They thought that Jesus’ motivation was self-promotion, much as one expects a secular opposition leader to be like.

Jesus however was motivated by obedience to the Father. He taught what his Father taught him, ‘My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.’ ^{John 7.16} He was obedient to the mission given to him by his Father, ‘I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him and he sent me.’ ^{John 7.28,29} Jesus did go to the Feast of Booths, but some days later. He didn’t go to attract attention but quietly. ^{John 7.10} He knew the timing was not correct and the day when he was to suffer was still some time off. The end goal of course was to bring salvation for all who believed and glory to the Father, but this had to be in the Father’s time and it had to be through humiliating suffering and not an easy path.

What then as disciples can we learn about the timing of important decisions? To make godly decisions we need to spend time being close to God as Jesus was. That means time in bible reflection and prayer. We need to align our motivations to those of Jesus that did not seek self-promotion for the sake of it. There will be times when it is better to wait, God has other plans. Our decisions should not always fit the wider world view of how we should behave, in this account expressed by Jesus’ brothers. There are times when the quiet way is God’s way.

Do you have an important decision pending?

Have you considered it in terms of God’s purposes for your life?

Is the advice you are receiving coming from a Godly perspective?

The Way – Pat Barrett