Week beginning Monday 27th October

John 17 & 18

These chapters are turning point chapters – Jesus’ final prayer for His disciples and the betrayel scene and the beginning of His trial. Such contrast…Jesus’ love for people and His desire to see them in the unity of loving one another…to the victiousness of the crowd who with one voice bay for the blood of Christ. O Lord – what you went through that we may have hope. The crowd will never…can never…see what is really happening right in front of them. Violence and fear begats violence and fear…unless something breaks the cycle with a power that renders power powerless. A power that is unity formed out of love. This is what is really needed across our community…across our world. I pray for the Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities in these days…may there be peace, justice, forgiveness and love…the only power able to render power powerless, that there might be hope, healing and freedom!!! [Prayer - LORD bring wisdom to the Elders of the ATSIC and Pacific Islander communities. In Jesus name. Amen]

Week beginning Monday 20th October

John 15 & 16

These are both precious and important chapters as they reveal some of Jesus’ final conversations with His disciples prior to his trial and crucifiction. In them I hear both Jesus love for His friends and also the criticalness of his mission and message. Knowing that He and they were about to go through suffering and persecution Jesus wants to encourage them, challenge them, warn them and comfort them. John 16:7 (CEV) says, “…But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you…” What is best for us is not easy or comfortable in the short-medium term…but then one day we will know Joy and Peace in all their fullness.

John’s gospel is not just a story about 2000 years ago it is also a story about today, as followers of Jesus around the world face challenges and persecution. The words of Jesus echo through the centuries to today in all places where people are sharing the good news of Jesus – “…stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you…ask our Father for anything in my name and you shall receive…If the teacher suffers then so won’t the students…” These words are God’s words still for today as God’s Holy Spirit enlivens them in us as we prayerfully read them and let them speak to us. [Prayer - LORD send your Spirit to speak the truth to me and help me stay joined to Jesus together as part of your church - your vine. Amen]

Week beginning Monday 13th October

John 13 & 14

EMPOWERED TO SERVE…this is the heart of the True Christian Life. In a world of “getting” the message of Jesus slams straight into the culture of our age. In these passages from John’s Gospel Jesus comes to the main story of his life and chapter 13:3-5 captures it…3Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. 4So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing…

Jesus, in His divinity with the power that comes from God, bends down and washes His disciples feet. There it is…service! The laying down of power, position and presence to love. Any of us who claim to follow Jesus are called to this same way – knowing that our identity is in the grace and love of God, empowered as God’s people, we pick up the ‘bowls and towels’ of service to all. Importantly we don’t and in fact can’t do this by ourselves – we actually need Jesus’ presence and power to do this. Which is why in chapter 14 Jesus goes on to talk about the work and presence of the Holy Spirit. [Chapter 14:26 The Father sends the Spirit to take the place of Jesus] The Holy Spirit is our teacher, guide, comforter and counsellor. The way of Christ is the way of service which is the way of the Spirit. [Prayer - LORD give me your Spirit that I may follow you that the world may know of your great love. May I be a giver and not a getter...a server and not a consumer. AMEN]

Week beginning Monday 6th October

John 11 & 12

It was great reading these chapters in one hit as it really painted the scene of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and set up why the people got all excited about Jesus’ coming.

It is a wonderful story of Jesus love for a family – Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It is a story with the realness and rawness of grief in death – which for Jesus was something he was about to embrace for himself. The story begins in an interesting way with Jesus intentionally delaying His visiting this family, even though there was an urgent request to come. This alone got me thinking about the ‘urgent’ appeals of others in life, and also what I myself see as ‘urgent’ – Jesus challenges this by not being urgent…instead he sees the circumstances that were unfolding as an opportunity for people to put their faith in Him and the one who sent Him (God). The death of Lazarus would become an opportunity for faith and new life. This is the mini-picture or, if you like, the summary story of the BIG story of Jesus. God who made life overcomes death and brings new life. This is the story that we are all invited in to.

Chapter 12:11 describes Lazarus as being the reason for people putting their faith in Jesus (the catalyst to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem). I thought about what Lazarus did to become this reason…and basically all he did was to get sick and die. Well actually what was significant about Lazarus was that he had a relationship with Jesus. Obviously every day people were and are still getting sick and dieing but it is the action of Jesus in Lazarus life (or in this case death) that is a faith-enliving dynamic. When I first thought about this I wondered, “Am I a reason for people to put their faith in Jesus?” and then realised, as I’ve  stated above, that Lazarus didn’t ‘do’ anything of his own, except have a relationship with Jesus. This is a great comfort and blessing to know that the most significant action I can take, to draw people to Jesus, is to be in relationship with Jesus myself and then live by and in this relationship – and if I am well or am sick it is Jesus (God) that brings people to faith – i.e. Jesus brings people to himself (see John 12:32 & 47). [Prayer - LORD thank you that you love and save and don't judge and condemn me - even though I can think of many reasons to be judged. LORD you bring people to yourself through people whom you love and through the power of your own love. LORD thankyou that I can join in your loving of this world through the new life you have given me. Help me be less urgent and more in tune with what you are wanting to do...AMEN]