John 21:1-19

One day a rather inebriated ice fisherman decided to go fishing, and drilled a hole in the ice and peered into the hole and a loud voice said, "There are no fish down there."
He walked several yards away and drilled another hole and peered into the hole and again the voice said, :There's no fish down there." He then walked about 50 yards away and drilled another hole and again the voice said, "There's no fish down there." He looked up into the sky and asked, "God, is that you?" "No, you idiot," the voice said, "it's the rink manager."

Fishing is an incredibly popular hobby, although I have to confess that I personally have never really seen the attraction in it.

Most fishermen have a story or two to tell, but few I think that match the story that we heard today from our Gospel reading.

It takes place in the days following Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. We are told that 7 of Jesus’ disciples were by the Sea of Tiberias, better know as the Sea of Galilee, when they decided to go fishing. In that region most people fish at night, because it is then that the fish come up near to the surface, whereas in the heat of the day the fish tend to stay nearer the bottom of the lake. But the disciples don’t have a very successful night fishing, in fact they don’t catch a single thing. So when Jesus appears on the shore, and shouts to the disciples if they have caught anything, their answer is no. So Jesus instructs them to throw their net onto the other side of the boat, and when they do this, they have the most amazing catch of fish. We are told that the haul was so large, that they couldn’t physically get the net into the boat. Such was the amount of fish. And it is then, after this miraculous catch of fish that the disciples suddenly recognise that it is Jesus, John, who is described as the disciple whom Jesus loved, cries out, ‘It is the Lord’, and Peter instantly dives into the water and swims across to Jesus.

What things can we learn from this passage, what message does it have for us today? There is so much that can be gained from this passage, I just want to mention a few things.

Searching in the wrong place

Earlier this week, the BBC reported that as a nation we are getting unhappier, we’re in danger of turning into a country of Victor Meldrews! The UK was ranked only the ninth happiest country out of 15 European Union nations. The report highlighted that in the UK there is falling trust in government, the police and other institutions. It seems as though there is a growing dissatisfaction in our society. What these survey’s have revealed is that people are searching for something that will give meaning and purpose to life.

The trouble is, so often, like the disciples in the boat, we cast our nets in search for these answers in the wrong places, expecting to find the answers we are looking for. For example, we expect to find the answers we are looking for in our work, or in relationships, or in hobbies, or by making as much money as possible, but ultimately this cannot satisfy that greatest longing in our hearts. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock group Queen, who died at the end of 1991 in spite of the fact that he had amassed a huge fortune and had attracted thousands of fans, admitted in an interview shortly before his death that he was desperately lonely. He said, ‘You can have everything in the world and still be the loneliest man, and that is the most bitter type of loneliness. Success has brought me world idolisation and millions of pounds, but it’s prevented me from having the one thing we all need – a loving, ongoing relationship.’ Ultimately, it is through a relationship with God, that we can discover ultimate peace and freedom. Only he, can satisfy that deepest longing, that exists in all our hearts.

It is only when the disciples listen to, and obey Jesus’ instructions to cast the net the other side, that they discover what they have been searching for. In the same way, it is only when we listen to the voice of God, and obey him, that we will finally find what it is we are searching for. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When the disciples tried to do things their own way, it ended in failure, it is only when they obeyed Jesus, that they discovered what they were looking for.

God’s abundance

This leads onto the next point, the haul of fish is extraordinary, this was no ordinary catch. When God gives, he gives abundantly, he gives in the full measure, he gives recklessly. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10) or as some translations have it, to have life in all its abundance. I will come on to the question of how we can receive this abundant life in a few moments. But it is important for us to remember the shere generosity and love God has for us. And this is a message I think we need to hear again and again. God loves YOU, God cares about YOU. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

God’s invitation

This passage is full of wonderful little details, clearly written by someone who witnessed the events for themselves. As soon as Peter realises that it is Jesus standing at the shore, he dives into the water and swims over to Jesus, whilst the other 6 disciples struggle to bring the net laden with fish in from the lake. And when they get to the beach, they discover a fire is burning, and Jesus invites the disciples to come and eat breakfast with him.

Jesus’ invitation to share a meal, is an invitation to fellowship with him, and it is the invitation that he also extends to each one of us. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus invites ordinary people, into relationship with him, and he invites you and me. Jesus opens to us the riches of his friendship, the relationship that he offers you and me, is a real and satisfying one.

Removing the barrier of failure

Earlier I talked about the life that Jesus offers us all, but how do we actually receive this. I’ve talked about how Jesus opens to us the riches of his friendship, but before Peter can be reinstated, the barrier of sin and failure first has to be removed from our lives.

Three times Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you truly love me?’ The reason Jesus asks Peter this question three times, is because on the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter three times had denied knowing Jesus. And now, after each question ‘Do you love me’ Peter responds, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’ A relationship with Jesus begins when in his presence, we face up to all that grieves and contradicts God’s holy will for our lives. Just as Peter had to face up to his sin and failure.

And to face up to these things should lead to repentance. The word repent, means literally to turn away from those things that get between God and ourselves. Turning away from sin, and turning to God. Turning away from the old life, lived without God, to a new life lived with him. Baptism is both a symbol of death and also new life. When we go into the waters of baptism, it is as though we are entering the grave, we are dying to a life without God. And it is also a symbol of new life, because when we come out of the waters of baptism, it is as though we are born again. We are new people, we begin a new life with God. Of course, we are all human, and we all make mistakes, so the act of repenting for our sins, is something we need to do again and again.

But what Peter discovered, and what this passage reveals is that no matter how desperate our failure, or how deep our sense or guilt or shame may be, God can forgive and renew us, and use us in his service. No one is beyond the grace, and mercy of God. Failure is never final with God.

God’s Commissioning

After forgiveness, comes Peter’s commissioning, and what this passage reveals is that to follow Jesus and love him, means also accepting responsibility for his people. Each time after Peter replies that he loves Jesus, Jesus responds, ‘Feed my lambs, Take care of my sheep, Feed my sheep.’ Although slightly different, the point Jesus is in effect making the same point three times. Commitment to Christ, also means commitment to his people the church of Christ. Jesus Christ is not a ‘single’ person in the sense that he comes to us without other attachments. He is a ‘married’ person; he comes to us with a bride, whom he loves, and this is the church. To be in a relationship with Christ, while ignoring or even despising his bride, is no more acceptable than such behaviour would be in human contexts when relating to a married friend. Genuine conversion means not only turning to and accepting Christ. It also means turning to and accepting his bridge, the church. And in baptism, one of the promises being made on Eliza’s behalf is that her family will help her to become a full worshipping member of God’s church.

This passage is a profoundly critical one for every Christian. Because it gets to the heart of what the Christian faith is all about. It is about our relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus asks Peter the same question, ‘Do you truly love me’. This is the essence of the Christian faith, to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them, to be in their presence, you want to get to know them, and to show your love for them by the way you respond to them. And when you are in love with someone, it shows by the way we live, and the way we speak. It shapes are desires and passions. Our love for God, should be evident in the way we love one another as his family the church.

The cost of being a Christian

The final thing that this passage reveals, is that there is a cost to being a Christian. Earlier this week we had a reunion for all those who have completed our most recent Alpha Course. And one member of the group said, ‘Becoming a Christian is the easy bit, but living as a Christian, that’s tough.’ Today, in baptism, Eliza is beginning, her Christian journey, baptism marks the start of this journey with God, but it won’t always be easy. Jesus warned Peter, that he would suffer for the sake of his faith. “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (21:18-19)

Whilst we are not likely to suffer in this way for the sake of the Gospel, the reality is that putting God first in our lives, loving him the way we should, and living life God’s way is often hard. It is not always easy, and Jesus knew this, that is why as Christians we are given the Holy Spirit, and why in baptism we pray for God’s Spirit to be on Eliza as she begins her journey of faith. We have also part of a family, God’s family, the church, and the church is here to love and support us on our Christian journey.

Conclusion

There is a lot contained in this passage, and I have tried to touch on what I feel are the main points. That in life we listen to and obey God, that we discover what we are really searching for. This passage reminds us that our God is a loving, generous God, who offers to us life in all its abundance. That even when we have failed God, and turned away from him, there is always the promise of forgiveness and restoration. As a passage it speaks to us, of the important of the church, and our place in it, and it also reminds us of the cost involved in being a follower of Jesus Christ, but also of the immense joy that comes through knowing and loving him. Today, as Eliza is baptized, and as her parents and godparents make promises on her behalf, so we also have an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to following Jesus Christ.

Love One Another as I have Loved You: John 13:1-17, 33-34

Introduction

If you were to turn on the radio and listen to the songs being played, the vast majority of theme would be about one theme in particular. The theme of love, especially what we would describe as romantic love.

The trouble with the English language is that it doesn’t distinguish between different forms of love. For example, we may talk about loving a cup of tea, and loving our children, but we will mean two quite different things.

In contrast, the Greek language has four words for love.
Storge, meaning affectionate love. Referring to the sort of love a parent has for their children.
Philia, which can be described as friendship.
Eros, which is the type of love most commonly written about in songs. Eros refers to sexual love, that state which we call ‘being in love’.
Agape, used exclusively in the Bible, which CS Lewis in his book ‘The Four Loves’ translates as charity. And it is this word agape that has come to mean Christian love.

The Greatest Command

Jesus was once asked what is the greatest command, to which he replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And love your neighbour as yourself.’ And on the night that Jesus shared his last supper with his disciples, he gives them the command, a new mandatum (where we derive the name Maundy from), Jesus says we are to Agape one another, love one another. And Jesus sets out how we are to do this, by following his example: Love one another as I have loved you, a command which Jesus again repeats in John 15:12.

The Example of Jesus

At the last supper, with his disciples, as John describes it in 13:1 Jesus shows the disciples the “full extent of his love.” As the meal is being served, Jesus removes his outer garment, wraps a towel around his body, and then getting down on his hands and feet he washes his disciples feet. In the culture of that time, any good host would make sure his guests’ feet were wash by a servant when they entered the house. But what would have surprised the disciples is that Jesus, the host, their rabbi, was washing their feet. That was part of Peter's objection to Jesus' washing of his feet.

When we think about the command to ‘Love one another as I have loved you’, how do we view this? Sometimes there is a tendency for us to think about it is terms of being nice to people, welcoming them when they come to our home or to the church. But Jesus was showing his disciples that true hospitality goes much deeper than basic good manners.

So what lessons can we learn from this action?

Self Giving Love

First of all, real love is self giving love, it means getting our hands dirty. Jesus couldn’t wash the disciples feet, without first getting down onto the floor, and taking those dirty feet into his own hands, and neither can we really love people if we are not prepared to do the same. Real love is about being prepared to make ourselves vulnerable, by entering into the mess and complication of life. After all, Jesus said he came not for the healthy, but the sick, he came not to call the righteous but sinners. (Mark 2:17) CS Lewis in his book ‘The Four Loves’ writes, “To love at all is to be venerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin or your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable...”
Real love reaches out to all people, including those we find it difficult to love. It is highly significant that Jesus washed ALL the disciples feet. He washed Peter’s feet, who only hours later, despite promising to always remain by Jesus’ side, would deny him three times. He washed Thomas’ feet, who a few days later, would doubt Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, until he had seen Jesus for himself. And he also washed Judas’ feet, the one who that very same night would betray him. In washing even Judas' feet, Jesus was extending hospitality, his acceptance, even to the one who would betray him. Even though Jesus knew that Judas' act of betrayal would set into motion the events leading to his death, Jesus didn't push him out of the community. To the end, Jesus offered Judas a chance to change. What Jesus does is to embody God’s love, a love that extends to each and every one of us. Jesus tells his disciples: I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. If Jesus could include Judas, shouldn't we think very seriously about those we find it all to easy to exclude?

If you find this uncomfortable, and challenging, then I can reassure you that I feel the same way too. This type of love calls us beyond our comfort zone, it takes us to people and places that we would not normally choose to go. It’s about being prepared to get our hands dirty, to face possible opposition and rejection, or misunderstanding. It’s about learning to put others before ourselves, which I for one find very hard to do.

Jesus redefines what it means to love. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:43 Jesus says, “"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

On Sunday evening BBC 2 showed a documentary with Louis Theroux, entitled ‘The Most Hated Family in America’. In this documentary Louis spent three weeks with the Phelps family in America. For those of you who didn’t see the documentary, the Phelpses run the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, over many years they have led many picketing demonstrations against homosexuality, and more recently picketing the funerals of American Service Men killed in action in Iraq, claiming that their deaths are a sign of God’s judgement on USA. They even showed clips of children as young as 7 holding banners saying ‘God Hates Gays’. I was horrified by what I saw, and was left asking myself, where is the message of God’s love in what they are preaching. The point is that God’s love, as shown by Jesus, reaches out to everyone, no matter who we are, and the events at the Last Supper show us this.

In John 15:13 Jesus says “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus showed his love for us by sacrificing his life on the cross so that we might live. True love often requires us to make sacrifices, and giving of ourselves.

But how do we actually go about doing this? Paul gives us some guidance in Philippians 2:4 onwards:

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[ God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who looked not to his own interests, but to the interest of others.

This doesn’t come easily, Paul himself admitted in Romans 7:19 that “what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” So it is something we wrestle with, and work at.

But with the grace and help of God, we can learn what it means to love others, and by making a conscious decision to try and love people the way God would have us do, is often the first step we have to take..

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells the story of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. “I do not only want to get rid of him I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.” Dr Crane suggested an ingenious plan: “Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy im. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful He will be so surprised!”

And she did it with euthusiasm. Acting “as if” for two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing and sharing. When she didn’t return Crane called, “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?” “Divorce?” She exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.” Her actions had changed her feelings.

Conclusion

At the start of this sermon I talked about love songs, which tend to emphasis the emotional dimension of love. However, love isn’t just dependent upon how we feel towards someone, it is something we need to work at. And to love one another as God has loves us requires effort and time. But it is the sort of love that this world needs more than ever to witness. One of the things that marked the first Christians out from others was the love they had for one another. If people can see the love that we as Christians have for one another and for God, in our churches and in our families, people will be interested in finding out more about God. Because more than ever what people want and need is to feel they are loved and accepted. Many feet walk into our lives and into our church every day -- old feet, young feet, feet of different races, poor feet, children's feet, feet of the needy, feet of the arrogant, feet of the annoying, feet of those we love and feet of those we fear, feet of those who are like us and feet of those who aren't just like us. Whose feet would we be willing to wash? Whose feet would we rather not touch at all?Jesus showed by his example that we really don't have a choice in the matter. If we have, through our baptism, promised to live a godly life, to live by Jesus' teachings, to respect the dignity of all God's creatures, then we must be willing, literally or figuratively, to wash everyone's feet, no matter what. We have to be willing to show that same hospitality, that same acceptance, to everyone, no matter what. Washing each other's feet can be an intimately loving act, but we must also remember that there are other consequences of that unconditional love. Judas didn't change his mind -- and tonight Jesus begins his final way to the cross.

John 12:1-11: Christian Giving

Three clergymen were discussing how they decide to give part of their income to the church. The first vicar said, "When God tells me so, I just empty my wallet in the collection plate." The 2nd vicar was quite impressed and almost ashamed to tell of his approach. He says: "I draw a 3 foot circle around me, I throw the money in the air and everything that lands within the circle, I put in the collection plate." The 3rd vicar, who was both greedy and a penny pincher said, "I throw all of my money in the air and everything that falls to the ground I keep, because if God wanted it he would take it while it was up in there.

This morning I want to talk about the subject of Christian Giving. It’s a really important subject, and one that we cannot ignore as Christians, but it is also one of those subjects we don’t like to talk about. But the Bible talks about money 2,350 times, and of the 29 parables Jesus told, 16 deal with the subject of money, and in Matthew, Mark and Luke 1 out of every 6 verses deals with the subject of money. I think the reason why we DON’T like to talk about money, is because there are few subjects that expose our hearts more quickly than our view of money. Perhaps one of the reasons we would prefer not to talk about money, is because it is a topic that cuts close to who we really are, and about where are true priorities lie.

But it is something we cannot escape from, as Christians we are called to give generously, as part of the outworking of the Holy Spirit’s life within us. Christian Giving is meant to be a way of life in which we regard ourselves and our possessions as a trust from God to be used in His service, for what He has done for us in Jesus Christ. This is why in 1 Chronicles 29:14 we read: “All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.” Of course, Christian giving or stewardship, doesn’t just relate to money, it relates to how we use our time, our possessions, our whole lives. But this morning I want to focus on the financial aspect of stewardship.

Our Gospel reading (John 12:1-8) has a lot to teach us about the nature of Christian giving. Jesus was staying at the home of Lazarus in the village of Bethany, just two miles from Jerusalem. It was six days before the Passover, and the day before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. As Jesus was reclining at the table with his disciples, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, comes into the room, and breaks the seal on an expensive jar of perfume, and anoints Jesus’ feet. And we are told that the fragrance of this perfume filled the whole house.

Mary’s act was an act of loving extravagance and spontaneous generosity. Hers is a love that is full-to-overflowing with spontaneous, unmeasured giving towards Jesus in response to all that he had done for her and her family. And this in essence is what should motivate our Christian giving. Our giving should be an outpouring of love for what God has given to us. We give, not because we feel obliged to do so, not because someone tells us it’s what we should do, but because it’s an outpouring of our love for what God has done for us.

So we should not be asking ourselves What do I need to give, but rather, How can my giving reflect something of God’s love for me?

We should see Christian giving, both as a challenge AND ALSO a privilege that effects the whole of our lives as Christians.

What we learn from Mary is that her giving is both extravagant and costly. We are told that the perfume she used on Jesus was worth a year’s wages. I don’t imagine that Mary or her family were particularly wealthy, but she gives the best to Jesus, because that is what he deserves.

What Mary reveals is that Christian stewardship is not about giving only what is needed, but it is about giving so generously that it has a touch of recklessness about it. If we give grudgingly, and reluctantly, then it probably indicates that our attitude towards giving needs to be looked at.
We need to be generous in our giving. Mother Teresa said “If you give what you do not need, it isn't giving.” And C S Lewis said “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.“

Both Mark and Luke record the occasion when Jesus took his disciples to the Temple, and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. We are told that many rich people there put in large amounts of money, but then along came a poor widow, and she put two very small copper coins into the treasury. And Jesus commends this widow for what she does. He’s says to his disciples "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." (Mark 12:43-44) She gave sacrificially.

Compare Mary’s generosity with Judas’. Judas’ response to Mary’s action is to criticise her, saying that what she has done is a waste of money. He makes the claim that this money could have been used for the poor, but John tells us that this was not Judas’ real concern, he wanted to keep the money for himself. When the rich young man came to Jesus wanting to follow him, the one thing he could not do was let go of his money. Are we like Mary, who gives joyfully and generously, or Judas, who wanted to hold on to the money himself?

Another question to consider is how do you go about organising your giving? Is it something you think about in advance and plan at the start of each month, or do you give whatever is left over at the end? There is a saying which goes, Give to God what is right, not what is left.

When was the last time you sat down and reviewed your giving? This is something I believe we need to do at least once a year. It is something I personally do two or three times a year, and I adjust my giving accordingly.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul lays out some guidelines for giving. For example he says that we should give both proportionately and also regularly. We are each called to give according to our means, so how much we give, will very much depend upon our different circumstances.

So we need to prayerfully consider what we can afford to give, and to consider what are our main priorities? For example, how does are giving to God, compare to the other things we spend our money on, for example going out for the night, buying a daily newspaper, and so on. Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 writes, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

In our Gospel reading, one of the results of Mary’s generous outpouring of love to Jesus was that the whole house was filled with the fragrance of perfume. If we are committed to serious and sacrificial giving, then it will be a fragrant offering to God.

The commission that Jesus gave to each one of us, was to build up his kingdom, to spread the good news of Jesus. Bill Hybels, leader of the Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, one of the largest churches in America, and author of many Christian books, describes the local church as being the hope of the world. We as a church are to be a sign of hope to this community. But to achieve this, we must take seriously the commitment to give generously, to support and enable the work and witness of the church to continue.

Two weeks ago, at the ACM I mentioned that as a church, we face a significant financial challenge. And therefore we have issued the 5% challenge. In order just to break even, we need to increase our giving as a church by 5%, or to put that another way, we need to raise a further £5000 a year. I believe this is easily achievable, if we take seriously our commitment to giving.

Jesus said, it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). There is real grace in being able to give, and a real joy that comes from it. Giving is not intended to be a heavy burden. Julian of Norwich said, “A cheerful giver does not count the cost of what he gives. His heart is set on pleasing and cheering him to whom the gift is given.” We can fill up our lives with material possessions, but I have found that there is something incredibly liberating about giving back to God, and this is something I believe Mary herself realized, when she anointed Jesus, and I hope we also will all come to discover this.

Stewardship Prayer:

All that I am, all I can be, all that I have, all that is me, accept and use Lord, as you would choose Lord, right now today!

Take every passion, every skill, take all my dreams and bend them to your will.

May all I give Lord, for you I’ll live Lord; come what may.

John 12:1-11 Understanding True Christian Worship

What is worship?

When someone mentions the word worship, what springs to mind? I suspect that most of us would tend to think of worship as something that we do when we go to church, or even more specifically worship is something we do as part of our service together. For example we tend to think worship is that part of the service when we sing songs or chorus’. We talk about having a time of worship, before we have our scripture readings, as though they are not part of the worship.

When we think about worship songs, we tend to distinguish those from more traditional hymns. For example an old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church.

He came home and his wife asked him how it was."Well," said the farmer, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang worship songs instead of hymns.""Worship songs?" said his wife, "What are those?""Oh they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer."Well, what’s the difference?" asked the wife.The farmer said, "Well it’s like this - If I were to say to you: ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you: ‘Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, Martha, MARTHA MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, the CORN, CORN, CORN’!!! ‘Oh, Oh, Ooooooooh, yes, it’s true, the whole herd is in the awesome corn, yes, it’s true, the whole herd is in the awesome corn, --- weeell, it’s true, the whole herd is in the awesome corn!!! Alleluia! - That would be a worship song."

But just to give you the other side, a young Christian decided to attend a small town church, a different one to normal. He came home and his wife asked him how it was."Well," said the young man, "It was good. They did something different however. They sang hymns instead of regular worship songs.""Hymns," said his wife, "what are those?""Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like worship songs, only different," said the young man."Well, what’s the difference? Asked his wife.The young man said, "Well it’s like this: If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you: ‘Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry. Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth. Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by, To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth. For the way of the animals who can explain? There in their heads is no shadow of sense, Harkenest they in God’s sun or his rain Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced. Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebelious delight, Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed. Then goaded by minions of darkness and night They all my mild sweet corn have chewed. So look to that bright shining day by and by, Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn. Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry, and I no longer see those foul cows in the corn. AMEN!"Then, if I were to do only verses one, two, and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn."...

So what is worship. Well it is true that worship is one of the things we do when we come to church, but worship is so much more than this.

To worship something, is to that thing worth, it literally means worth-ship. So when we worship God, we give him the recognition that he deserves. If we look in Scripture we see that the central understanding of worship is to homage and submission to God, it is about service to God, it is therefore all encompassing, it is about our whole life, and it is about reverence for God. This is why Paul in Romans 12:1 writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Our worship to God must be expressed in the way we live. It should be our number one priority in life.
One of the descriptions I like most of worship is contained in Matt Redman’s song ‘The Heart of Worship’, in it he writes, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you, all about you Jesus.” This is what worship is about.

Why do we worship?

This leads me onto the question, why do we worship, and it is at this point that I would like to turn to our reading from John’s Gospel.

Our reading takes place at the home of Lazarus, in the village of Bethany, just two miles from Jerusalem. It was six days before the Passover, and the day before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. As Jesus was reclining at the table with his disciples, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, comes into the room, and breaks the seal on an expensive jar of perfume, and anoints Jesus’ feet. And we are told that the fragrance of this perfume filled the whole house.

Mary’s act was act of loving extravagance and spontaneous generosity. Hers is a love that is full-to-overflowing with spontaneous, unmeasured giving towards Jesus in response to all that he had done for her and her family. And this is the essence of worship. Our worship is a grateful response for all that God has done for us.

C S Lewis, wrote. “ We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment… To praise God fully we must suppose ourselves to be in perfect love with God, drowned in, dissolved by that delight which, far from remaining pent up within ourselves as incommunicable bliss, flows out from us incessantly again in effortless and perfect expression.”

To give an illustration, when you love someone, you don’t just keep your feelings locked up inside yourself, you need to express it through words and actions, because that expresses and makes real the love. And so it is with God.

Our worship, flows from an understanding of who God is, and what he has done for us. When we consider:
our God is a soverign God,
no means of measure can define his limitless love
he’s enduringly strong
he’s entirely sincere
he’s enternally steadfast
he’s immortally graceful
he’s impartial merciful
That is our God!
he supplies strength for the week
he’s available for the tempted and tried
he sympathises and saves
he strengthens and sustains
he guards and he guides
he heals the sick
he cleansed the lepers
he forgives sinners
he discharges debtors
he delivers the captive
he defends the weak
he blesses the young
he serves the unfortunate
he regards the aged
he rewards the diligent
and he beautifies the meager
That is our God!
He is the key to knowledge
He’s the wellspring of wisdom
He’s the doorway of deliverance
He’s the pathway of peace
He’s the roadway of righteousness
He’s the highway of holiness
He’s the gateway of glory.
That is our God!
His life is matchless
His goodness is limitless
His mercy is everlasting
His love never changes
His grace is sufficient
His yoke is easy
And his burden is light
That is our God!

When we know and understand this in our hearts as well as our minds, the only response we can give, is to worship God.

This is beautifully described in the hymn ‘How great thou art’. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works thy hand has made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power thoughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died, to take away my sin. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee, how great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee, how great thou art, how great thou art.

Who or what is the object of our worship?

Who or what is the object of our devotion, of our worship. For Mary it was clearly Jesus, but it was not true of everyone gathered there that evening.

Mary was rebuked by Judas, for what he considered to be an extravagant waste. He objected to the use of expensive oil saying, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” I have to confess that for a long time, I sympathised with what Judas was saying. Doesn’t he have a valid point? A years wages is a lot of money, and it could have helped many people. However, this was not Judas’ real motive, John tells us that Judas, used to steal the money, and so his concern was not with the poor or needy, but his own greed. It is clear that Judas’ real object of worship was money or greed, after all, a few days later he betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins.
Ralph Emerson, an American poet and philosopher in the 19th century wrote, A person will worship something. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behoves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.

It is possible to worship many things in our lives. For example, we can worship our children, our jobs, money, hobbies, possessions, even ourselves. Sometimes it is easier to worship created things, than it is to worship the Creator of all things. Jesus said, “Where your heart is, that is also where your treasure is.” So the question we all need to consider is God the main object of my worship, or is it something, or somebody else? And if it is not God, are you going to allow him to be at the centre of your life where he truly belongs.

In The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen retells a tale from ancient India: Four royal brothers decided each to master a special ability. Time went by, and the brothers met to reveal what they had learned.“I have mastered a science,” said the first, “by which I can take but a bone of some creature and create the flesh that goes with it.” “I,” said the second, “know how to grow that creature’s skin and hair if there is flesh on its bones.” The third said, “I am able to create its limbs if I have flesh, the skin, and the hair.” “And I,” concluded the fourth, “know how to give life to that creature if its form is complete.” Thereupon the brothers went into the jungle to find a bone so they could demonstrate their specialties. As fate would have it, the bone they found was a lion’s. One added flesh to the bone, the second grew hide and hair, the third completed it with matching limbs, and the fourth gave the lion life. Shaking its mane, the ferocious beast arose and jumped on his creators. He killed them all and vanished contentedly into the jungle.

If we worship something other than God, it has the power to turn against us. We have the capacity to create what can devour us. Goals and dreams can consume us. Possessions and property can turn and destroy us.

How do we worship?

So what lessons do we learn from Mary’s anointing of Jesus. First of all, in worship we are meant to give our best.

When Mary anointed Jesus, she didn’t use any old perfume, she used the best she could find. She used Nard, Nard is an oil like perfume extracted from the root and spike of the nard plant, which is grown in India. And we are told that it cost the equivalent of a years wages, around 300 denari.
Worship is an offering, it is something we give to God. And when we worship God for all he has done for us, it is to give him our all, to give him our best. I am not only thinking here about what we do when we church on a Sunday, but I am thinking about giving God the best in every area of our lives.

Our whole lives can be an act of worship to God. For example, when we are at work, we can offer what we are doing to God as an act of worship. Thanking him for all his blessings, and by giving him the glory by doing our best, honouring God by the way we handle ourselves, and by the way we treat others. It doesn’t matter where you work, you do it to the glory of God. I came across a quote which said, An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer. But if we only give God a drop of praise, it is an unsuitable acknowledgement for an ocean of mercy.

What is the impact of a life lived in worship?

When Mary anointed Jesus, we are told that the house was filled with the fragrance of perfume. If we live lives of worship, if we are seeking to put God at the centre of everything we say and do, then it will have a profound effect on those around us. If we are living lives of worship, then we will touch and bless countless other lives. If we are living lives of worship, not only will we be transformed, but so will our families, our relationships, our places of work, our society, and our world.

Conclusion:

Worship is not simply about what we do when we come to church. Worship is about the way we live our whole lives, it is about the place of God in our lives. Mary shows gives us an example of what it is like to worship God. The love, care and devotion that she showed to Jesus, and not being concerned by what others thought of said, and we see what an effect that this has. As we journey through this season of Lent, and prepare to celebrate Easter, now is a good time for us to take a fresh look at our lives, and see how we can live lives of worship. Because, as the German theologian Karl Barth wrote, “Christian worship is the most urgent, and the most glorious action that takes place in human life.”

John 10:11-18 Leadership

Introduction

There was a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application form that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting the worst.

To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower."

This morning, we are reflecting on the subject of leadership. What are the qualities of leadership that we should be looking for as Christians? How does this relate to leadership within the life of the church, and what things can we learn for our own lives?

Our reading from John’s gospel sheds some very interesting light on the sort of qualities we should be looking for in our leaders.

The Good Shepherd: Leads from the front

Jesus used many different metaphors to describe himself, I am the true Vine, I am the way, the truth and the life, I am the bread of life, I am the light of the world, and I am the good shepherd.
What do we learn about leadership from the good shepherd? Firstly, the good shepherd leads from the front. Here in Walsall we don’t see many sheep, but I come from Cumbria where sheep greatly out number humans, and when moving sheep the shepherd drivers the sheep from behind, with the use of dogs. However, in the middle east the shepherd leads the sheep from the front. This is why in Psalm 23, known by many as ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd’, it talks of God leading us beside still waters.

And this is one of the first qualities of good leadership, a leader is one who leads from the front, and most importantly, they are people that others want to follow. However, the Bible warns against the blind leading the blind, and so vision is an important quality in leadership. In Proverbs 29:18 it states, that “Without vision, the people perish.” If we consider churches that are growing, and having a real impact on their communities, you will discover that the leadership within those churches have a clear vision of where it is they are heading, and what it is they hope to achieve. This sort of vision, needs to be rooted in prayer and careful study of scriptures, because what we seeking is God’s vision for the church. There is a quote which says, “Vision that looks inward becomes duty. Vision that looks outward becomes aspiration. Vision that looks upward becomes faith.” It is that sort of vision we need to look for.

When a shepherd leads his sheep, they choose to follow him, not because they are coersed to do so, but because they trust the shepherd. And the skill of a really good leader is to lead people to where they don’t necessarily always want to go, but ought to be. In order to achieve this, there are certain qualities which are essential in order to be a good leader.

During the second world war Dwight Eisenhower served as the supreme commander of allied forces in Europe, and in 1953 went on to become the 34th President of the United States of America. This is what he said in reference to the qualities necessary for leadership. “In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man's associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.”

Lays down his life

The other thing we learn about leadership from John’s Gospel, is that the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus makes a contrast between the good shepherd and the hired hand. The main difference is that the good shepherd cares for his flock, where as the hired hand doesn’t. Shepherding is a hard, demanding and costly way of life. In 1 Samuel 17:34-35 David describes what it was like to care for a flock, and protect it from wild animals. “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.”

To be a good leader, in whatever sphere that may be, means caring for those you are responsible for, and this can be very costly. It can be costly, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Consider for example, the way in which those who Jesus loved, and had cared for during the course of his ministry, abandoned him at the moment he needed them the most. Being in a position of leadership can at times be very lonely.

Knows his sheep

The other thing we notice from this passage is that the good shepherd knows his sheep. To be totally honest, I cannot tell the difference between one sheep and another, they all look pretty much the same to me, but the good shepherd knows each sheep individually. In the context of God, the message is clear, God knows us all by name, he knows us better than we know ourselves. He understands our needs, he understands our struggles and our anxieties, and as the story of the shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep reminds us, he loves us as if we were the only person in the world.

Applying this to leadership, a good leader knows and cares for those that they are immediately responsible for. It is about putting the interests of others first. Leadership can follow one of two routes. Either it is directed to the self life of the leader, or it is directed selflessly for the good of those who are led. The former is the way of the world, which leads to death; the latter is the way of Jesus, which leads to life. The understanding of leadership from a Christian perspective is about becoming the servant of all, and this requires humility. Again our greatest example is that of Jesus. When James and John came to Jesus and asked to sit one at his right and the other at his left, Jesus responded “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 10:44-45) Good leaders, must first become good servants.

The sheep know his voice

Just as the shepherd knows the sheep, so the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. I heard a story of one visitor to the Holy Land, who witnessed an extraordinary scene. There had been a storm, and several different flocks of sheep had sheltered in the one building. The flocks were all intermingled, so to the outsider it was impossible to see which sheep belonged to which shepherd. But one by one the shepherds came, and called by name, each of their sheep, and when the sheep heard their name called, and recognised the voice of the shepherd, they responded.

A good leader, is someone who others will listen to, and want to follow. And therefore integrity and conviction of beliefs is very important. But it is also a reminder, that as Christians, we should be listening to voice of our master, and faithfully responding to his call.

Leadership in church

So far I have been discussing leadership in general, I now want to turn briefly to consider leadership within church. There is a risk that when we think of leadership, within the church, we tend to think in very limited terms, thinking primarily of the ordained leadership. However Paul’s description of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians, reminds us that we all have a part to play within the life of God’s church. If you look through the New Testament, you will see that the burden of leadership is always shared.

We can draw some useful lessons about leadership from geese! Geese travel thousands of miles, and they have four very interesting habits.

1. Those in front rotate their leadership. When one lead goose gets tired, it changes places with one in the wing of the V-formation and another flies point. A recognition that leadership is tough, and it’s important that that burden is shared.

2. By flying as they do, the members of the flock create an upward air current for one another. Each flap of the wings literally creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. It has been estimated that by flying in a V-formation, the whole flock gets 71 percent greater flying range than if each goose flew on its own. It is often said that 80% of the work in church is done by 20% of the people, how true is this of St Paul’s, and what can we do to encourage greater collaboration so we can achieve more.

3. When one goose gets sick or wounded, two fall out of formation with it and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the struggler until it's able to fly again. This reminds us of the importance of supporting one another, particularly those in public leadership roles. How do you support your clergy here at St Paul’s? Would you notice if one of your church leaders was sick or wounded? And if so, how would you respond. I tend to find that whenever someone announces in church that they feel they should move on, or do something different, the immediate thought is not for them, but for the job they do, and how are we going to find someone to do their job.

4. The geese in the rear of the formation are the ones who do the honking. I suppose it's their way of announcing that they're following and that all is well. The repeated honks encourage those in front to stay at it. Leadership can be lonely, and it is good and important to get encouragement. Are we quicker at giving encouragement or criticism?

One lesson stands out above all others: it is the natural instinct of geese to work together. Whether it's rotating, flapping, helping, or simply honking, the flock is in it together...which enables them to accomplish what they set out to do. And I think that this is a wonderful model of leadership in church, and something for us all to consider.

John 2:1-11 Wedding at Cana

Introduction

Least Successful Wedding Cake: At the wedding reception of Signor Faldini in Naples in 1981 the wedding cake exploded when a waiter was lighting the candles, with the result that two guests, two waiters and a tourist taking a photograph where treated for shock. Credit goes to the chef who later said; “I think I must have used too much alcohol in the mix.”

I never knew what real happiness was until I got married, and by then it was too late.

Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks & the wife listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the husband listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen.

“By all means marry! If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” Socrates

The speaker at a women’s club was lecturing on marriage & asked the audience how many of them wanted to “mother” their husbands. One member in the back row raised her hand. “You do want to mother your husband?” the speaker asked. “Mother?” the woman echoed, “I thought you said smother.”

Our Gospel reading this morning takes place within the context of a wedding in Cana. Cana was a inconspicuous little town that lay outside of Nazareth.

Weddings in Jesus’ day where big affairs, in small villages like Cana, it would have involved the whole community.

Illustration
When Beata and I were planning our own wedding, one of our major concerns was to ensure that we had enough food and drink for all the guests, but our wedding celebrations only lasted one day. Jewish wedding celebrations could last a whole week!

We are told that at this particular wedding that Jesus attended, the wine ran out. To run out of food or drink at a wedding would not only cause major embarrassment, it would have been a social disgrace for the bride and groom. In the closely knit communities of Jesus' day, such an error would never be forgotten. In fact, according to one commentary I read, lawsuits were not unknown in these circumstances because it was considered a breach of hospitality! So the situation was a potentially serious one. We can sense some of the urgency of the situation in Mary’s words to Jesus, “They have no more wine.”

So Jesus instructs the servants to fill up six stone water jars, normally used for ceremonial washing, with water, and draw some of the water out of the jars and take it to the master of the banquet. And miraculously the water is turned into wine.

Illustration
A small boy was asked by a visiting relative what he had learnt at church today.

"Today" came the reply, "our lesson was about when Jesus went to a wedding and made water into wine."

"And what did you learn from that story?" the relative inquired.

After thinking for a moment, the lad answered, "If you're having wedding, make sure Jesus is there!"

John describes this miracle as a sign, so what does this sign have to tell us?

The wine can run out

First of all it informs us that the wine can run out.
To the Jewish people wine symbolized joy. The Jewish rabbis had a saying, “Without wine there is no joy.”

This wine can be seen as symbolic of our lives. If wine symbolizes joy, then there are times in our lives when the wine runs out. Times when we are empty of joy.

There are many different reasons why the joy may run out in our lives. It may be because we are going through difficult times, at work, or at home. It may be because we are under a great deal of stress or anxiety, and we are exhausted. It could be that we have neglected the one person who can give us true joy, and that is God. It could be that we are trying to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life in things which cannot truly satisfy, money, relationships, hobbies, alcohol, drugs, etc.

It can be a scary thing when the ‘wine runs out’, when we lack joy. You and I have no resources within ourselves to replace the joy. Only Jesus can provide this new wine. If you go to St Matthew’s you will see on their notice board the words, the secret of Joy is putting Jesus first, others second and yourself last. Jonathan Edwards, a theologian and preacher from the 18th century said the following. Christ is not only a remedy for your weariness and trouble, he will give you an abundance of the contrary, joy and delight.

The Bible talks a lot about joy, for instance in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul writes, Be Joyful Always, and Jesus prayed that we may have the full measure of joy within us. Joy is different to happiness. Henri Nouwen, said that “Joy is knowing that you are unconditionally loved.” Jesus prayed that we may have the full measure of joy within us. It is only through Jesus that we can discover true joy. Jesus is chapter 16 of John’s gospel, says, Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

The transforming power of God

The second thing this sign shows us is the power of God to transform something ordinary into something wonderful. The wine that Jesus produced was not ordinary wine, but the finest wine imaginable.

This is how God deals with us. He takes us as we are, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we are transformed. Jesus is able to take that which is tired, worn out, devoid of joy, empty, and lacking purpose, and transform it into something wonderful. It can be turned into something rich, fragrant, and ripe with the fullness of joy through his presence, through his care.

Jesus wants to transform our lives, just as he transformed that water. When he does this our lives take on a new nature.
Jesus turned…· water into wine; · he turns frowns into smiles; · he turns whimpers of fear into songs of hope; · he turns deserts into gardens, · he turns sorrow into joy;· he turns sin into grace; · death into life.

Jesus can transform anyone, consider for example Paul, who described himself as the Worst of Sinners (1 Tim 1:16), who before he encountered Jesus, was determined to destroy the church. Through Jesus, Paul was transformed into someone completely different. No one, is beyond the transforming power of God.

The question we need to ask ourselves, is what areas of our lives would we like to see transformed, and are we prepared to allow God to make those changes?

The abundance of God

Thirdly, this sign emphasizes the abundance of God’s provision. The wedding guests went from having no wine at all to having an overabundance of wine. There were six jars containing between 20 and 30 gallons apiece. So, at the very least, the jars contained 120 gallons of wine, and as much as 180 gallons. There is no way the guests could have consumed that much wine. Why did Jesus give so much wine? Because he is an extravagant giver. He never gives just enough; he always gives superabundantly.

We see this else where in the Bible. For instance, when the Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness, each day God sent more than food that their needs required. In the feeding of the 5000 Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish so that everyone could have their fill, and at the end there were twelve baskets of bread and fish left over. He gave them more than they could possibly eat. This is the way God gives.
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). We have an extravagant God who lavishes us with his blessings. We can ask him for anything. The Bible says he gives “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

He loves to bless. To a dying thief on a cross he gave the gift of paradise. To a woman caught in an immoral act he gave the gift of God’s amazing grace and forgiveness. To a grieving father he gave back a child from the grip of death. He is lavish with his gifts. And to us who come with our requests, he gives the promise of abundant life here and now, and beyond this world, eternal life. When the new wine was brought out, the master of the banquet was amazed and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now” (John 2:10). Jesus always saves the best till last. In John 1:16 we read: “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16). We have been filled to the brim with the blessings of God. And as Christians we have the assurance that the best is yet to come, because we can look forward to being with God in heaven. Heaven is where the deepest longings of our lives will be met. The Bible assures us, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). The best that the world has to offer now is only a hint of what is yet to be. The difference will be as different as water is to wine. Conclusion

The miracle of the changing of the water into wine, demonstrates the power of God to transform, and the amazing generosity of our God, that we have a God who lavishes good gifts on those who love him.

What would have happened at the wedding banquet if Mary had not had the courage to speak to Jesus, and tell the servants to do whatever he commanded? The wine would have ran out.
Has your joy ran out today? Jesus wants to transform you! Bring your need to him!

John 11:32-44 Memorial Service Talk 2006

This is my talk for our annual memorial service which takes place in St Martin's on October 29th 2006 at 6.30pm. Part of this talk has been inspired by the Nooma video 'Matthew' by Rob Bell, and I feel it is right that I acknowledge this at the start.

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C S Lewis, who was born in 1898 and died in 1963, is renowned as being one of the greatest Christian writers of the last century. His works have been translated into over 30 languages, and 43 years after his death he is still on the best sellers list. He wrote many books, but he is most famous for his children’s series, The Chronicles of Narnia, which has sold over 100 million copies.

One of Lewis’ less well known books is called ‘A Grief Observed’, which is based on a series of journals C S Lewis wrote shortly after the death of his wife Joy Gresham from cancer at the age of 45. It is an extremely honest and moving account of the pain C S Lewis endured after his wife’s death.

Anyone who has experienced the pain of bereavement will I think be able to identify with what Lewis writes. This is what he wrote shortly after the death of Joy. “No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear… the same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning… At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in… I dread the moments when the house is empty… There are moments, most unexpectedly, when something inside me tries to assure me that I don’t really mind so much, not so very much, after all… I was happy before I ever met Joy. People get over these things. Come, I shan’t do so badly. One is ashamed to listen to this voice but it seems for a little to be making out a good case. Then comes a sudden jab of red-hot memory and all this ‘commonsense’ vanishes like an ant in the mouth of a furnace.

All of us here tonight, have been affected by bereavement at one time or another. For some here, this bereavement was very recent, and the raw emotions that CS Lewis writes about, may reflect how you feel today. For others, the bereavement may have been some time ago, but even with the passage of time, nothing fully takes away that sense of loss, instead you learn to live with it.

Christians have always believed that there is hope in death as in life, and that there is new life in Christ over death. But even if you share this hope, the pain of death is no less real. One of the things that C S Lewis wrestled with was the sense of having been abandoned by God. In the days after his wife’s death he wrote “Where is God?” for Lewis it felt as though God had closed the door in his face, and that he had been abandoned.

But this is something that Jesus himself felt, when he cried out from the cross, ‘Father why have you abandoned me?’ Where is God when it hurts?

There answer to that question in part lies in the cross itself. The cross throughout history was a symbol of suffering and death, but for Christians it has become a symbol of hope and victory in the face of death. It is through the cross Jesus took on and defeated death. At his birth Jesus was given a special name, Emmanuel, which means God with us. And it is on the cross that we see, Emmanuel, God with Us, suffering with us and for us. God shares our pain, and he weeps with us.

Jesus himself wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. Several days after Lazarus had died Jesus goes to Lazarus’ village, to where his family and friends are mourning their loss. And Lazarus’ sisters say to Jesus, if you had been here earlier, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. And Jesus enters into this big giant mess, and we are told that he was deeply moved in his spirit. Somewhere deep down he connects with all this mess, and then we are told, Jesus wept. He feels all this pain and loss, and enters into it. And he lets the full force of the moment hit him, he doesn’t hide from it, or ignore it, he faces it full on.

In life we cannot avoid pain, or try to ignore it, expecting it to go away. We have to let it out, or else it builds up inside of us. If Jesus wept, then we need to as well.

We all have a choice about how we respond to the pain of loss and about the kinds of people we are, and the kinds of people we’re becoming. We have a choice whether or not we’re going to become bitter. There is a woman in the Bible named Naomi, and she loses her husband and her two sons, and she says, “Don’t call me Naomi anymore, call me Mara.” The word Mara is the Hebrew word for ‘bitter’. “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me bitter." A man named Job in the Scriptures loses everything, children, houses and possessions, and his wife says “Job, are you still holding on to you integrity? Curse God and die!” She becomes consumed with her bitterness. And if we don’t’ acknowledge this choice, if we allow a bit of bitterness in, it will take over. Or sometimes it is not bitterness that we feel, but a sense of guilt. “If only I would have done this, that wouldn’t have happened. If only I would have been this way, if I would have done something differently” And so we can become racked with guilt, and it can seep in and become part of us and we aren’t even aware of it. Don’t let it happen.

In one of the psalms the writer pours out his pain and says to God, “You’ve made me see trouble. You’ve made me see troubles, many and bitter, but you will restore me again.”

It’s easy when we suffer loss, for whatever it is we’ve lost to become the centre of our life. We had them, and now they’re gone. And so there is this giant hole where they once were, and it becomes all we can think about. And what happens in the process is, our whole life becomes what we don’t have, and we lose out on what we do have.

Bereavement always leaves a great hole in our lives, our hearts will never be the same again, but we will recover.

The first Christians spoke about a day in the future when God would restore everything – you, me, everything in heaven and on earth. They talked about how there would be no more weeping or sorrow, nor more death or pain. I find great hope in that.

So may you realise that Jesus wept, and may you realise that God is with you, fully present, grieving your loss… but also restoring. And in that, may we find hope.