Is God unjust?

Trinity 9 – 24 July 2016 – WING Buckinghamshire

Gospel Luke 11

Welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
³ Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Sermon

Daily repetition of Lord’s Prayer — masks shocking nature of Jesus’ words.

· God addressed by name

· Jesus calls God by familial Abba

· We are to pray with shameless audacity (11:8)

· God may otherwise deliberately lead us into temptation

Jesus was praying probably aloud— disciples asked — they wanted to be taught to pray in practical way — like John the Baptist taught his followers. Did Jesus’ disciples not already know how to pray?

God portrayed as unjust — like Unjust Judge in Parable of Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-18) — parable taught by Jesus ‘to show them that they should always pray and not give up.’ Here again in Lord’s Prayer — householder does help through neighbourliness but petitioner’s shameless audacity.

Jesus says Ask and it will be given to you — is that your experience? — are ALL prayers answered? — if not, what did Jesus actually mean? — or are we doing it wrong?

These are contentious issues — should not discourage us from prayer — we should seek to understand its place in our daily lives.

Not optional — Jesus prayed regularly

· Commenced as Holy Spirit descended on him at baptism

· Wrestled with God in Gethsemane

· But encouraged active listening — previous chapter with advice to Mary and Martha — better way is to listen and learn rather than busy yourself with activity all the time however helpful.

Whatever difficulties in interpretation — God is compassionate — wants to give us what he wants us to have — including daily bread although that might sound hollow in places of famine and deprivation.

Our ultimate aim — to be tucked up in bed as inheritors and members of God’s household — not outside knocking with our petitions as “friend of a friend” or even neighbours. We long to become full members of God’s household and share God’s mind in the fullness of the Kingdom.

Lord’s Prayer — 5 petitions:

1. Hallowed be thy name — hallowed and sanctified mean made holy — having received gift of Holy Spirit

2. Coming of the Kingdom — we are asking for something God longs to give — Kingdom is revealed in Jesus. Kingdom not yet fully come — has come near or is at hand (references throughout the gospels)
Kingdom like rising dough — all ingredients are there — will in fullness of time come to finality — we are to proclaim the Kingdom even though it is not yet come in all its fullness

3. Daily Bread — trust in God’s mercies every day — God knows our needs before we ask for them — be like lilies or ravens.
Beware of excess — we only need essentials of life not excess that leads to inequality and sin of possession
God is present to us through Jesus in breaking of the bread — Lord’s Prayer comes in Eucharist

4. Forgive sins and debts — different translations affect meaning — forgive also means Release — debtors released from indebtedness at Jubilee — word debt also means sin
Jesus offers release of captives and eyes for those who are blind:
Nazareth in Temple — quoting Isaiah 58 and 61
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
God will not forgive us unless we forgive others.

5. Lead us not into temptation — NRSV “time of trial” — Jesus himself was tempted in wilderness and elsewhere — when Satan’s moment came, the Holy Spirit led him through — and the Spirit will also guide us in time of trial — this is what Jesus told the disciples to pray for in a number of references in the gospels.

What is Prayer? — to petition God? — to remind him of his duty towards us? — to seek to change his mind?

Amusing yes, but how often do Christians treat prayer in these and other ways that are wrong?

How would you define prayer?

· Shape our mind to God’s

· Align our thoughts and intentions to those of the Creator

· Make us fit for the Kingdom?

· Help us live the only life worthwhile — one rooted in God’s love.

¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Amen

Good Samaritan Redux

Sermon Notes – Trinity 7 – Sunday 10 July 2016 at Great Brickhill

Gospel Luke 10

The parable of the good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

²⁶ ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’

²⁷ He answered, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”’

²⁸ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

³⁶ ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

 

Sermon

Good Samaritan — Luke 10

What more can be said? You all know it backwards.

Next week Little Brickhill — Baptism

· Brought up-to-date

o Lawyer/Judge — hurry — might have to try the case — probably dead anyway — no time to get involved with police

o Bishop — big service on TV at cathedral — vestments tainted blood

o Doctor — insurance would not cover intervention — did not have equipment — liability insurance

o Shady second hand car dealer — did not want white leather seats in SUV get dirty

o Illegal immigrant wanted by Border Agency? Escaped convict from local prison? Name your own…

· Love others, even those we hate? — is that all there is to it? What should children learn from it?

Context

· Who is Jesus? Who do characters represent?

· Why told to a lawyer? Why his question? Seems obvious answer.

· What is it teaching — message?

o Treat everyone as you would have them treat you?

o Don’t judge book by cover?

o Expect the unexpected in others

o People expected to help often fail — others who do pitch in are often the most unexpected

Justification

· Behind his question, lawyer asking about Justification — follow the Law not enough

o “Who is my neighbor?” he asks

o Jesus responds with Good Samaritan story

· Virtue of Philanthropy practiced in ancient world — expected as part of Law

o Lawyer and audience would have been surprised no recognized official would help

o also surprised aid given by Samaritan

· Esplagnisthe — Jesus had compassion

o Occurs 3 times in Luke

§ Father of Prodigal son

§ Jesus and the widow’s son who had died[i]

§ Good Samaritan who took pity on the hurt man before giving first aid

o First two — God
Why not Good Samaritan stand for God or God’s agent?

· Compassion belongs to God

o We must emulate it

o Lawyer could not even pronounce name of Samaritan ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

o Shows how far the Lawyer was from showing compassion and acting it out in his dealings with others

Example Story

· Jesus says ‘Go and do likewise’

o But is this just an example for us to follow?

o Yes — but not only

· Primary focus not man in ditch

o If Samaritan stands for God, Samaritan must be at centre of parable

o Lawyer is admonished — Go and do likewise means he has not been showing compassion — Lawyer is told to emulate Good Samaritan — we don’t have his reply

Profound implications

· Jesus identifies with Samaritans

o James and John had just offered to call down consuming fire from heaven on them

o Have we heard such violence and antipathy towards people not like us on other people’s lips — or even perhaps our own?

· Image of Samaritan as a Christ figure changes whole interpretation of the parable

o Parables have different interpretations based on hearer, age, stage in life, state of mind etc.

o What does Good Samaritan now say to you?

Having worked that through, ‘Go and do thou likewise.’ Amen

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[i] Luke 7:13 Jesus raises the widow’s son

Thomas

Thomas the Apostle – Sunday 3 July at Stewkley

Gospel John 20

Jesus appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

²⁸ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

Sermon

Put Jesus’ appearance to Thomas in context — opens with Empty tomb — discovered by Mary Magdalene, runs to tell Simon Peter — Peter and “other disciple” run to tomb — find it empty — go home.

Jesus appears in Garden to Mary M — takes him for gardener — is persuaded it is the Lord — tells disciples — no mention of whether or not believed.

Jesus appears in Upper Room — breathes on them Holy Spirit — Thomas not present. Disciples told Thomas — did not positively disbelieve — wanted physical evidence — to see what other disciples had seen.

Week later — all in Upper Room together. Jesus targets Thomas (twin Aramaic; Didymus Greek) — sees and believes.

John ends with purpose of gospel
³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Most scholars agree chapter 21 later addition. Does this increase importance of Thomas encounter?

Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany — “fear has never been a good advisor” — growing up in DDR she knew about fear. Fear led Mary M, Simon Peter, the “other disciple” to draw no particular conclusion — only reported what they had seen with own eyes.

Our modern scientific way of thinking is based upon physical evidence — scientists propose hypotheses, test against physical evidence, see which best fit the data. Before our Easter services — Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!! — how many of us say this with absolute conviction? Want facts — we are not stating our absolute conviction but our faith that sustains belief. This is how Thomas thinks.

Look closer at Thomas. Many people inclined not to be too hard on him — bad press. We associate with Thomas and the way he acted — would do the same ourselves. We want to call him believing Thomas rather than branding him a doubter for all time. They feel the message of Thomas is that we are like him.

Thomas, people say, represents us — we would have done the same — the words Jesus spoke to Thomas are effectively spoken to us — Christians and non-believers for all time. But are we being too soft? Do we excuse Thomas too readily — mainly to gloss over our own wavering faith?

At this point, let’s recall Thomas’s words:

‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

Look again at events — empty tomb reported by Mary M — verified by Peter and ‘other disciple’ — Mary M then says she has seen the Lord — this time, she proclaims her encounter to the disciples.

Jesus appears to 10 disciples in Upper Room — Jesus does not just appear, but in a Pentecost moment he bestows the Holy Spirit of God on them:

²¹ Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’

So when Thomas arrives, there is the witness of 10 manifestly changed people — plus Mary M the first to discover the truth. Perhaps we should be harder on Thomas — it’s not surprising we associate with him, but Jesus did not let Thomas off too easily does he?

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

To Thomas’s eternal credit, let’s remember he was the one who made one of the most positive and insightful statements of belief in the whole gospels:

²⁷ Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

²⁸ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

We don’t know the end of the story, but oral tradition has it that Thomas the Apostle travelled to India. Wikipedia says:

Traditionally, he is said to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as Tamilakam in present-day India in AD 52 and baptized several people, founding what today are known as Saint Thomas Christians.

What is not in doubt is that the words spoken by Jesus to Thomas are also addressed to us — clear from words spoken to Thomas — those who have not seen yet have believed are particularly blessed compared to those who had the benefit of sight.

But that carries its own sting in the tail — Jesus chided Thomas for his doubt — that’s why he called him doubting Thomas. Of course we will continue to associate with Thomas — we are failing human beings — but the words of encouragement are tempered with disappointment — that applies to us too, not just Thomas.

‘Stop doubting and believe.’ Jesus said to Thomas. He says the same words to us today. Amen

What does Elijah have in common with Lewis Hamilton?

Wingrave Methodist Church – Sunday 26 June 2016

Gathering

Loving God, we have come to worship you. Help us to remember that you are here with us. May we pray to you in faith, sing your praise with gratitude, and listen to your word with eagerness, through Christ our Lord. Amen

O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining and whose power we cannot comprehend: show us your glory as far as we can grasp it, and shield us from knowing more than we can bear until we may look upon you without fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

Hymn 1

· Lead us heavenly Father 238

Confession and Absolution

When our eyes have seen the Lord of hosts, we echo the words of Isaiah, ‘Woe is me! I am doomed.’ We long for the fire of God’s cleansing to touch our unclean lips, for our iniquity to be removed and our sins wiped out. So we meet Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with confession on our lips.

Father, you come to meet us when we return to you: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Jesus, you died on the cross for our sins: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Spirit, you give us life and peace: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect

Collect Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Prayers of Thanksgiving

MWB pages 32/33

Old Testament 1 Kings 19

The Lord appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

¹⁰ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

¹¹ The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

New Testament Galatians 5

Life by the Spirit

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Hymn 2

· Lord for the years 470

Gospel Luke 9

Samaritan opposition

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The cost of following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

⁵⁹ He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’

But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’

⁶¹ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’

⁶² Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’

Sermon

xxx

Hymn 3

· Jesus calls us o’er the tumult 250

Intercessions

We come boldly to the throne of grace, praying to the almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for mercy and grace.
We stand before your throne in heaven.

Father of heaven, whose love profound a ransom for our souls has found: We pray for the world, created by your love, for its nations and governments … Extend to them your peace, pardoning love, mercy and grace.
We stand before your throne in heaven.

Almighty Son, incarnate Word, our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord: We pray for the Church, created for your glory, for its ministry to reflect those works of yours … Extend to us your salvation, growth, mercy and grace.
We stand before your throne in heaven.

Eternal Spirit, by whose breath the soul is raised from sin and death: We pray for families and individuals, created in your image, for the lonely, the bereaved, the sick and the dying … Breathe on them the breath of life and bring them to your mercy and grace.
We stand before your throne in heaven.

Thrice holy! Father, Spirit, Son, Mysterious Godhead, Three in One: We pray for ourselves, for your Church, for all whom we remember before you … Bring us all to bow before your throne in heaven, to receive life and pardon, mercy and grace for all eternity, as we worship you, saying,
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer MWB page 37

Hymn 4

· O Jesus I have promised 563

Prayers and Dismissal

Lord of all time and eternity,
you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father
in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:
by the power of your Spirit
complete the heavenly work of our rebirth
through the waters of the new creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hymn 5

· Ye holy angels bright 69

The Sound of Sheer Silence–God the Gentle Whisperer

Trinity 5 – Sunday 26 June 2016 at Wingrave Methodist Church

Old Testament 1 Kings 19

The Lord appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

¹⁰ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

¹¹ The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

New Testament Galatians 5

Life by the Spirit

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Hymn 2

· Lord for the years 470

Gospel Luke 9

Samaritan opposition

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The cost of following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

⁵⁹ He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’

But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’

⁶¹ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’

⁶² Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’

Sermon

Lewis Hamilton — world champion — suddenly everything conspired against him — sullen and depressed — kept trying.

Elijah — everything went his way — confronted kings and priests of Baal — raised dead — called down lightning from heaven. Chapter 19 — intimidated by opponents esp. Jezebel — lost all confidence in God — ran away.

Ran away from peril, or ran to God? Mt. Horeb / Sinai — presence of God. After Q Jezebel’s threat to kill him — 40 days and nights in wilderness — arrives Mt Sinai. Story like Moses in Exodus — given commission by God — 40 years in wilderness — meets God on mountain. Story like Jesus — tempted 40 days — emerged stronger.

Direct encounter — persistent God v. despondent prophet. Elijah (like many agents of God) expresses frustration, discouragement and apparent failure. Why does God allow this? Why don’t others pull their weight and help him? Retreats into self-pity — borders on suicide — “end it all”

All know people “on a high” — nothing go wrong — tipped into despair — build up no resilience. Ministers. Suffer depression — lose all confidence — give up.

Where is God in all this? Elijah claims he has done his part — been zealous for God — done wonders in God’s name — in return God allows persecution, despondency, even threats to his life. So Elijah heads for Sinai to confront God face to face.

Goes to cave where he knows God has been present. Looks for God in wonders of nature. God sends Elijah out of cave.

1. Great and powerful wind

2. Rocks shattered

3. Earthquake

4. Fire

God was not manifesting himself in any of these devastating marvels of creation. He was in all — but not as Elijah expected.

God was a gentle whisper — God was the sound of sheer silence — God there all the time but not where or how expected to be.

Like a diesel engine running in next road — not aware of its presence until the noise shuts off. Like peace when no mobile phones or other distractions. Like somewhere no cars can be heard, and no constant traffic or sound. God in candle not searchlight. God is in the sound of no sound.

Elijah recognised God at once:

¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Other readings teach the same lessons. Paul in 1 Corinthians talks about pitfalls in the Christian life:

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Paul in Galatians — fruits of the Spirit. Popularity? Zeal? Making presence felt? Getting your words and actions noticed by all? No.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.

In today’s gospel — Samaritans rejected Jesus — did not call down fire and consume them — just went on to another place. Likewise the man who wanted to go home and wait for his inheritance money to come through — not ready to put his hand to the plough in service of God.

Our god is not a noisy God. We do not expect to trip over him in everything we do. We are not guaranteed success (as we see it) nor does God prepare a way for us to smooth out the bumps and potholes of life — lurking to trip us up.

That phrase — No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back — was probably a well-known saying used by Jesus — same as others in today’s reading. In one contemporary work by an author by name of Hesiod, a ploughman is described as one “who attends to his work and drives a straight furrow and no longer gapes after his comrades, but keeps his mind on his work.” In other words, to look back from the plough (whether to family living or dead) was to risk cutting a crooked or shallow furrow and thus ruining the work altogether!

There is no place for looking back or even trying to look sideways, or in two directions at once (being “two-faced”). The message to would-be disciples, and to us today, is that we must be single-minded in purpose, setting our faces like Jesus on the task at hand, and looking nowhere else but to him. Amen

Unity in Love

Easter 7 – Sunday 8 May 2016 – Stoke Hammond

Readings Ezekiel 36

²⁴ ‘“For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. ²⁵ I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. ²⁸ Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Reading Acts 16

Paul and Silas in prison

¹⁶ Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’ ¹⁸ She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned round and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.

¹⁹ When her owners realised that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place to face the authorities. ²⁰ They brought them before the magistrates and said, ‘These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar ²¹ by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practise.’

²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Gospel John 17

Jesus prays for all believers

²⁰ ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – ²³ I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

²⁴ ‘Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

²⁵ ‘Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.’

Sermon

Ezekiel is not an attractive book, although you would think so if you only read the few passages from Ezekiel in the lectionary for the weeks between Easter and Pentecost.

Ezekiel has been described as ‘the most thorough instance of “blaming the victim” in the history of world literature.’ It was written as a response to the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian empire in 587BC.

The book is full of poems that seem to take particular delight in blaming the Judeans for their own downfall. There is little hope for the future, as there is in parts of Isaiah, but universal condemnation for the Judeans’ sin, much of which was a failure to observe all the requirements of Temple worship and minute observance of the Law.

I rather wish I had not done any research on this passage before deciding what to preach about this morning. Ezekiel 36 was one of my favourite bits from the OT. The image of the clean water sprinkled on us to make us clean again; and the replacement of our old hearts of stone for new ones which listen to God and obey him are attractive pictures of our change of heart and of our salvation.

I won’t go into any more detail in case this is one of your favourite passages too. Just be thankful next week is Whitsun, otherwise we might have been treated once again to Exodus 37 — the valley of the dry bones.

In isolation though, it’s a wonderful text, and today we can read it alongside Jesus’ prayer that all may be one. This is not just the elusive vision of church unity, but oneness with God in love for Him and his love for us, as well as reflecting that same love for each other.

Today’s gospel comes from Jesus’ ‘farewell discourses’ to his disciples. The fact that we read it in the weeks after Easter is confusing. We celebrated Easter at the end of March, and now we are taken back to the Passover meal which Jesus ate with his disciples.

First, Jesus prays for himself. It’s not the agonising prayer of the garden of Gethsemane, but a prayer of glorification and satisfaction that the end has come. The Son will glorify the Father, as the Father has glorified the Son.

Second, what a privilege it must have been for those sitting at table, leaning forward, straining to hear what Jesus was saying. How amazing for them to hear those words, as Jesus prays out loud for them.

One woman theologian wrote this:

“Then Jesus moves on to pray for those who are sitting at the table with him. Jesus is praying like a mother who has adopted these children. They belonged to God, but God gave them to Jesus to care for, to teach, to nurture. Soon Jesus will go away and he prays for these children with the love of a motherly heart.” [i]

But Jesus’ prayer does not stop with those seated at table. It extends to us—to you and me. My Bible makes this clear, with the heading “Jesus Prays for All Believers.” He says:
²⁰ ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

We are the ones who have believed in him through the message of those disciples. Jesus’ prayer hangs in the space between earth and heaven, between time past and time to come—a prayer that we will remain faithful, through the encouragement and support of the Holy Spirit whose presence we celebrate next Sunday at Pentecost.

It’s hard to believe we can all act in this way, when we look at our church nationally and internationally. A church that takes 18 months to elect a new Bishop of Oxford all can agree to support. A church that acts towards some minorities in the way it does. A church that took so long to recognise the full ministry and contribution of women.

All that is broadly out of our hands at a local level, but we can sing in unison from the same song sheet at the grass roots. That song sheet might as well be John’s gospel chapter 17, when Jesus prays aloud his hopes for the future and for us, his followers. Amen

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[i] Barbara Lundblad Joe R. Engle Professor EmerITUS Union Theological Seminary New York, NY

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Easter 6 – 1 May 2016 – Stewkley

Reading Acts 16

⁹ During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

¹¹ From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.

Gospel John 14

Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’ Alleluia.

²³ Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

²⁵ ‘All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸ ‘You heard me say, “I am going away and I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, ³¹ but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

‘Come now; let us leave.

Sermon

When I was young, Sunday school leaders used to give those children who had attended regularly and faithfully, presentation Bibles. KJV. Maps.

Acts 16—part of Paul’s 2^nd missionary journey. Set out from Caesarea, up coast of Syria to Antioch, then round coast to home town of Tarsus.

Our reading from Acts 16 follows on from a description of Paul’s journey so far— through Derbe, Lystra and Iconium—visiting and encouraging fledgling Christian congregations and giving them the latest news from Jerusalem.

Paul seems to have been prevented from speaking in Asia or entering Bythinia as he had planned. He attributes the blockage to the “Spirit of Jesus” or the HS. Ends up in Troas—located on edge of Aegean Sea in Asia looking out towards Macedonia.

Nowadays the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” is further north than it was in antiquity, and further north than the geographical region of Macedonia. Ancient M was in the SE part of Europe, in the Balkans, its S flank part of northern Greece.

One night, Paul has a dream. He sees a man from Macedonia, who says “Come over and help us”. With hardly a second thought, Paul gets ready and takes ship over to Samothrace, then on to Neapolis and overland to the Roman colony of Philippi, the capital of Macedonia.

On the Sabbath day, Paul left the city and went down to the river bank where there was a place of prayer run, it seems, by local women led by Lydia, a “worshipper of God.”

Lydia was a trader in purple cloth—for the rich and important. God opened her heart to Paul’s message, with the result that she and all her family were baptized and Paul went to stay with her in her house.

Could talk about women’s leadership in Church—supporters of Jesus providing money and resources—leaders of early church—and how it took 2,000 years and more of male dominance for us to get back to where we started… But appearance of Man from Macedonia speaks more of divine guidance in several forms, and whether or not we believe it still exists today. Partly, of course, the answer to this question will depend on our own experience of God leading us through our own past lives.

Paul evidently believed stumbling blocks in the way of his travel plans were put there by God to prevent him going astray, and directing him to where he was needed.

Today, we might call this ‘opening and closing doors’—being alive to the presence of God in our lives, and being prepared to go along with the direction in which we are led, regardless of our carefully laid prior plans.

Paul and his followers could have determinedly ignores the road blocks and struck out for Asia along the well laid Roman roads, but clearly he recognised something else was called for, and he was prepared to go along with it.

In saying this, I don’t mean to imply we should believe God micro-manages our lives—there are all sorts of theological objections to this position—nor do I mean to imply we should expect guidance for every detail of our lives, because I don’t think God works that way. But I do think we can be guided by Paul’s example, and perhaps be surprised at unintended outcomes which, after the event, seem clearly divinely led, as we recognise the doors that were open in the past, and the ones that were closed.

Paul’s change of heart came about after a ‘night vision’—possibly something more vivid than a dream. Dreams appear throughout Scripture. Some of the more well-known dreamers include:

• · Joseph—dominance in his family; Pharaoh’s cup bearer; Pharaoh and the impending famine.
• · Samuel and Eli
• · Midianite and Amalekite armies
• · Solomon—chose Wisdom
• · Daniel—interpreted for Belshazzar

In NT:

• · Zechariah
• · Mary and Joseph
• · Pilate’s wife
• · Ananias
• · Cornelius
• · Peter
• · Paul
• · John the Divine

If you’re anything like me, most dreams however vivid you don’t recall for long. Some, like Samuel’s report to Eli are easily mistaken. But the mind works during our sleeping hours, and often provides an answer to a problem that seemed intractable the night before. Whether or not that is the hand of God pointing to a particular direction is for you to say, but Scripture is full of instances such as these, and we would do well to take note of them.

As Paul found, some were doors closed—the roadblocks steering us away from a course of action. Other were clear directions, like the Man from Macedonia.

This reminds me of a verse or two from Isaiah 30:

¹⁹ People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. ²⁰ Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’

Amen

The Bigger Picture

Easter 4 at Marsworth – 17 April 2016

Gospel John 10

Alleluia, alleluia. Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’ Alleluia.

Further conflict over Jesus’ claims

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.²⁴ The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’

²⁵ Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.’

³¹ Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, ³² but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’

³³ ‘We are not stoning you for any good work,’ they replied, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’

³⁴ Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, “I have said you are ‘gods’”? ³⁵ If he called them “gods”, to whom the word of God came – and Scripture cannot be set aside – ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, “I am God’s Son”? ³⁷ Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. ³⁸ But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.’³⁹ Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

⁴⁰ Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptising in the early days. There he stayed, ⁴¹ and many people came to him. They said, ‘Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.’ ⁴² And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Sermon

There are parts of London I know very well. There are other parts I don’t know at all. There are some places I just pass through, on the way to somewhere else, but other than knowing which way to turn in order to reach my destination, I don’t really have much idea about what is there.

You could say my knowledge of London is like a patchwork quilt. I know some of the pieces quite well, and the way from some to others, but the bigger picture eludes me. Sometimes, when I am lost, I suddenly walk into an area I know. I was lost, but then I am found.

Preaching from the lectionary gives us all a patchwork knowledge of Scripture. We know the gospels pretty well. Many preachers tend to help us understand one or other of the Bible readings set for the day. More often than not, it’s the gospel reading they choose to expound. Even then, we know the gospels in chunks, and fail to see the bigger picture. These chunks are what theologians unappetisingly call ‘gobbets’.

Today’s reading from John 10 is hard to understand on its own. When preaching from the gospels, I normally try and set the reading in context, by referring to what came before and what follows after it, but even that doesn’t help much. So in preparing what I could say to you this morning, I had to read chapters 7 to 11. It was interesting to do so, because parts of what I read were unfamiliar to me: it was almost like reading some verses anew, never having seen them before. Other parts I could almost recite by heart. But by reading the whole passage suddenly the pieces of patchwork felt like a quilt.

Chapter 7 starts with Jesus in Galilee. That was his home, where he was known, where he felt safer and more comfortable. It’s the feast of Booths. His advisers told him to move to Judea. They said if he wanted to make an impression, to get his words heard, to become even more famous, he would have to take his message to Jerusalem. Only in the capital would he be taken seriously, for nothing of any importance comes out of Galilee. Only in Jerusalem might be he recognised as Messiah.

At first, Jesus declines and his advisors and disciples go to Jerusalem anyway. The big feast of Dedication is about to be celebrated, and Jerusalem will be thronged with people, so Jesus travels alone and arrives later than his followers.

Jesus’ fame and notoriety had gone before him. The crowds were looking for him. They have heard all about the miracles and mighty words, the uplifting preaching, and his claims to be…his claims to be what? Messiah? Prophet? Magician?

This is what chapters 7 to 11 are all about. Throughout John’s gospel, responses to his claims and messages vary considerably. But that’s the big picture — Jesus’ identity and intentions.

As it’s the festival of Booths, Jesus spends most of his time teaching. Some of the pieces of the quilt are familiar to us. They include:

· I am the living water

· The woman caught in adultery

· I am the light of the world

· I am from above— the Son of Man

· If you believe in me, and do what I say, you are my disciples

· The man born blind receives his sight

· The blind men and the Pharisees

· The blind man who encounters Jesus

· I am the good shepherd

But — our reading today is all about rejection. Jesus is rejected — his life is in danger — he is said to be a blasphemer who deserves to die — at best, he is accused of demon possession.

Jesus then leaves Jerusalem, and crosses the river Jordan to where John the Baptist used to baptise in the early days. He started preaching and teaching there, and some believed in him as the long awaited Messiah.

Here we come upon the bigger picture: there is a tension, throughout John’s gospel (and very probably throughout the entire Bible) between the claims Jesus makes for himself, exactly what those claims are and what they signify, and our human response to them. The people at the festival in Jerusalem showed their frustration by asking:

‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’

Jesus was equally frustrated. He answers them:

²⁵ … ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe.

This particular preacher cannot resolve this tension, nor can anyone argue anyone else into faith with persuasive and convincing words. I could tell you the story of the tightrope walker and his wheelbarrow — it illustrates rather nicely the move from belief into faith — but we haven’t time this morning — ask me afterwards if you want me to tell you the joke.

I can, however, repeat the words of one theologian who summed up the position of the preacher rather succinctly when she said:

“…the preacher can declare the promise that creates and sustains faith -- the promise of the Good Shepherd to give us eternal life, the promise that no one will be able to snatch us out of his hand (10:28).

The preacher can also help hearers discern the Shepherd’s voice amidst all the other voices that clamour for our attention, many of whom claim to speak for God. Those voices are legion, but we do not always recognise how contrary they are to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

The voice of the Good Shepherd is a voice that liberates rather than oppresses. It does not say, ‘Do this, and then maybe you will be good enough to be one of my sheep.’ It says, ‘You belong to me already. No one can snatch you out of my hand.’ Secure in this belonging, we are free to live the abundant life of which Jesus spoke earlier in the chapter: ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’ “ [1]

Amen

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[1] Elisabeth Johnson — Professor Lutheran Institute of Theology
Meiganga, Cameroon

Easter 2–Holy Communion at Little Brickhill–3 April 2016

Readings Acts 5

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead – whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.’

Reading Revelation 1

⁴ John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

⁷ ‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’
    and ‘every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him’;
    and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’
So shall it be! Amen.

⁸ ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’

Gospel John 20

Alleluia, alleluia. Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’ Alleluia.

Jesus appears to his disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

²⁸ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Sermon

Tried reading Bible straight through — 2 years + — many plans on Net — ancestry and genocide — different picture of God to NT — Revelation waits at end.

Alan le Grys — best book in Bible — sabbatical to write Commentary — 6 months no work. Students thought him mad.

Apocalypse in Greek — exercises peculiar fascination for some — others repelled by fantastic violent imagery and coded language.

Can I help? — Revelation speaks to our own apocalyptic times. Look at church Bibles:

· Claims to be words of Jesus himself — given to John through an angel — in vision on island of Patmos

· Meant to be read aloud — blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near (1:3)

· In form of a letter to 7 churches in province of Asia — intended to be read aloud — of importance to all who hear the message “the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” (1:4)

Suffering and conflict are normal — to own Jesus Christ as Lord means terrible persecution, hostility, even death.

Revelation assures its hearers that Jesus is not unfamiliar with what they are going through — does not promise to alleviate suffering any more than in his own life — but stands alongside Christians in their troubles.

Revelation is a word of encouragement to those who are threatened — and exhortation for those who acquiesce with the powers of religion and government in order to avoid any unpleasantness.

Jesus described as:

1. Faithful witness

2. First born from the dead

3. Ruler of all the kings of the earth

God is:

1. The one who was

2. The one who is

3. The one who is to come

Numbers important in Revelation — 3 associated here with God — 7 for the churches — abundance — 12 for Israel.

We have assurance that:

1. God loves us — this knowledge sustains us through suffering and conflict

2. We have been liberated by Jesus’ suffering on the cross

3. In God’s reign of peace, he will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

Jesus is here portrayed as faithful witness — faithful unto death — Jesus testifies to God’s faithfulness to us through his own suffering.

On Doubting Thomas day, when our gospel reading is from John 20, Thomas is not present as Jesus visits the disciples in hiding — what better contrast of faith is there but to compare the account with Revelation? Thomas wanted proof before he would believe — we cannot have that proof but Revelation assures us Jesus is the faithful witness — Alpha and Omega — first and last — who was and is and is to come.

Easter Day

Wingrave Methodist Church - 27 March 2016

Reading Acts 10. 34 – 43

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ ‘We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Reading 1 Corinthians 15. 12 – 26

The resurrection of the dead
¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Hymn 2

300 Now the green blade riseth

Gospel John 20. 1 - 18

A reading from the Gospel according to John. Alleluia! Hear the Gospel of Christ
Glory to Christ our Saviour. Alleluia!

 20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped round Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’

‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ ¹⁴ At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’

She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).

¹⁷ Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Alleluia! This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our Lord. Alleluia!

Sermon

Many Easter sermons about Jesus or Mary Magdalene — today about Peter.

Peter last seen chapter 18 — denies Christ 3 times. Then Jesus taken before Pilate — scourged by soldiers — crucified — buried.

Women at foot of cross — Jesus’ mother Mary; Mary wife of Clopas; Mary Magdalene — “Beloved disciple” not known — Jesus’ brother James? John?

So when MM finds empty tomb — fetches Peter and “beloved disciple” — first appearance since threefold denial.

Today’s reading — scene opens in darkness and fear. MM overcomes terror and walks to tomb in darkness. Fear occasioned by political background, graveyard at night, spirits of the dead. Plus she is all alone.

Finds stone rolled away — does not say she looked or went in — jumped to conclusion body stolen. Runs back to tell Peter what she believes has happened.

Peter and “beloved disciple” run to tomb — younger outran senior disciple — looked in but hesitated to enter — Peter went in.

Comparison with Lazarus — stench of rotting flesh — Lazarus exited still encumbered by cloth wrappings. Jesus left tomb tidy — not in haste — head cloth separately rolled up and left to one side.

Other disciple followed Peter into tomb — “saw and believed” — what did he believe? — ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 

What disciples believed as a result of what they saw — not momentous. Both “went home” Rest of gospel reading concerns first appearance of Jesus to MM — initially takes him to be a gardener — notice Jesus approaches MM not other way round. MM is first witness of resurrection.

But we are concentrating on Peter. Fast forward to Acts 10 — Acts always read at Easter services. One of most significant moments for Peter and fledgling church.

Winds of change are moving — will Peter follow or once again remain in denial and resist change? Story headed Peter and Cornelius.

What’s so significant about Cornelius? Centurion — God fearer — prays and gives alms. Sees vision telling him to find Peter in Joppa. Significance — Cornelius = Gentile.

Peter also had vision — on roof of house where he was staying — went to pray — was hungry — sheet let down from heaven containing all kinds of creatures considered profane or unclean by Jews. Asked three times to get up and eat — denied three times.

Message from God — “what God has made clean, you must not call profane.” At this moment, messengers arrived from Cornelius inviting Peter to Caesarea.

Peter hesitates — breaks all social and religious boundaries by associating with Gentiles.

What Peter does next is of critical importance for the church — will his and its mission remain a sect of Judaism? — or will the church become worldwide without boundaries, religious, political or social?

Luke who wrote Acts as well as his gospel knows the answer from the start — in Acts 2 Peter himself at Pentecost quotes the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ ‘“In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.

An Ethiopian eunuch was baptised in Acts 8. Even more, these promises began with the opening of Luke's gospel. Simeon declares that Jesus would be both “a light of revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

What does Peter do? Holy Spirit has been working since Pentecost — just as he made a speech at Pentecost, so he makes one now.

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ ‘We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

As Peter’s speech draws to a close, we read:

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ ‘Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Momentous turning point — without which we would not be sitting here today. Our lives subject to constant change — the gospel will change with it moved by the Holy Spirit —or we will be left behind.

No date in the church’s calendar is so apt for us to adopt and proclaim once again this message as Easter Day. Jesus’ resurrection violates the natural order of life and death. Contradicts expectations that the Messiah would bring a swift end to the political powers — continually challenges us to examine our faith anew.

For Peter, the implications of the resurrection include the shattering of boundaries between Jews and Gentiles, for “he is Lord of all!”

On this day, when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, it may therefore be particularly appropriate for the church to consider how the Spirit may be moving amongst us in unexpected and challenging ways, and to ask how the reverberations of the resurrection continue to be manifest around us. Amen