New Year 2026 – The Gospel of John
Note: all Inspirations are now uploaded for the week – scroll down for Friday’s, and earlier posts…
Saturday 7th March – John 10:10-11 ‘The Good Shepherd’
And so we finish our week with the iconic image of Jesus as The Good Shepherd. There’s so much we can say; but before we explore the image further, today let’s remind ourselves to link verse 11 to verse 10. Paragraph breaks are not there in the original text – we impose them in our translations. These translations are wonderful, not least because we can read God’s word in our own language; but sometimes we can miss obvious clues – and here, let’s just pause to reflect on the simple point that the abundant zoe life that Jesus talks about in verse 10 is directly linked to our relationship to the Good Shepherd in verse 11.
Indeed, relationships lie at the heart of what Jesus means by abundant life – in laying down his life for the sheep, the Good Shepherd comes to restore us to right relationships, in every dimension:
First and foremost, with God. Jesus doesn’t explain how laying down his life will do that for us in this passage, but there’s plenty of other texts in scripture that do. His sacrificial death on our behalf makes forgiveness possible, wiping the slate clean and restoring our souls. We are set free to live lives of praise to God, at peace with ourselves.
But it doesn’t stop there – having set us in right relationship with God, it also restores and renews our relationships with each other. The Good Shepherd longs for us to start relating in love, just like he does; and he gives us his presence, by the Holy Spirit, to do just that. Most of the references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament are addressed to people plural – i.e. to the community of God. We are being built into a place of worship where God lives by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
Finally, the abundant life of the Good Shepherd brings purpose to our wider relationships. We carry the good news of the kingdom everywhere. We have a message of justice, of care for creation, of the value of all people – we have a vision that gets us up in the morning, and is with us when we go to bed at night. In short, we become people of purpose. When we pray ‘your kingdom come,’ we also pray: ‘your will be done, on earth as in heaven.’ That’s Jesus’ manifesto for the world, that earth would increasingly resemble heaven, as the abundant life of God is done here, too.
This is the abundant life which the Good Shepherd longs to bring us. It what he lays his life down for. As we’ve reflected over the last few days, our calling is to know his voice, and follow, trusting that his is voice is the way to salvation and fullness of life. This is your Good Shepherd. Take a few moments to praise him, to receive his peace and presence, and be filled with purpose for all that the Lord calls you to, today. Amen.
Friday 6th March – John 10:7-9 ‘I Am the Gate’
On the second Sunday of 2017, we were about to start the 9.30am service, when one of our welcomers came and found me urgently. ‘Come outside, you’ll want to see this,’ they said. So, I hustled out and watched one of the more unusual sights I’ve seen in my years here. Running along the road, and just passing the churchyard gate, were about fifty sheep. We had no idea where they had come from or where they were going. I don’t think they had any idea where they were going either!
There was great excitement – and, for lack of a better idea, we decided to corral them in the school car park over the road from the church, and try and find out who the farmer was. A few willing souls stood on sentry duty. It actually took about 2 or 3 hours to get hold of someone, by which time the grass verges around the car park had certainly had a good trim from fifty grazing sheep, and the ‘hired hands’ were very cold. By lunchtime, the sheep were safely back in a nearby field.
What’s the moral of this story? Sheep need a shepherd. Look what happens when a large flock is left to its own devices. Alongside this, ‘never leave your gate open,’ would certainly be another! As we edge closer to Jesus’ famous saying, ‘I Am the Good Shepherd’, today we think about the much less well-known counterpart in this passage: ‘I Am the Gate’. And the most important thing to observe is that, in the farming culture of the day, Jesus is basically talking about the same thing, or rather the same person – the shepherd is the gate for the sheep. And here’s how….
In those days sheep lived mostly out on the hills by day, and then at night in the sheepfold, which was not a covered barn, but more like a fortified pen. It would be built with loose stones piled to form a rough, walled enclosure – just high enough to keep the sheep in and wild animals out. There was no gate as such, but when the sheep were in the pen the shepherd himself (or a colleague) would literally be the gate. They would sit in the gap and protect the sheep directly. No dogs or locked metal gates – just one brave shepherd. This is why Jesus calls himself both the Gate and the Good Shepherd: in first century Israel, that was two ways of saying the same thing.
It also explains why Jesus makes the link with salvation: (v9) ‘Whoever enters through me will be saved.’ He is literally the way in to the sheepfold, the entry point to all God’s promises. Those who come in via His gate will ‘find pasture’ – all they need to live.
As we spend the today and tomorrow delighting in this rich biblical image of the shepherd, today let’s give thanks that Jesus is our ‘way in’: our Gate. He is the Saviour, not just of the world, but of each of us. We have all found our way into his sheepfold. Simply put, the key to life is found in Him; and, as we claim this beautiful truth, may we go out and find pasture – all that we need to live – today.
Thursday 5th March – John 8:12-20 ‘The Light of the World’
Light is one of the universal religious metaphors in our world. Jews have Hanukkah, or festival of lights; Hindus and Sikhs have Diwali; Buddhists talk about the path to enlightenment. Light is one of the few images to have almost universally positive connotations. 1.5 million people each year even take about 12 million trips to Blackpool for its illuminations, and other attractions, making it the second most popular single European tourist destination after St Peter’s in Rome. Strange but true.
So, what is it about the Christian understanding of light that makes it so distinctive? What have we got to say about it that sheds any unique, well, I have to use the word, light on the subject? Or is today’s passage just a Christian version of something which all religions can aspire to?
It all comes down to the source: lots of religious teaching on light says: ‘this is the light’. Only Jesus says: I am the light. And not just for my followers, for the whole world: (v12) ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
In saying ‘I am the light,’ Jesus is not just pointing to his divine identity, he is saying some other vital things as well: first, I am the source of life. Matter needs light to grow – the ancients didn’t have the scientific proof of photosynthesis, but they knew it all the same. As chapter 1 of John says: ‘in Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.’ We don’t just need sunlight, we need Son-light. Today’s word from Jesus is an invitation to life, life in all its fullness. Where is Jesus inviting you to enter more fully into his life?
Second, Jesus is telling us that he is the source of truth. Returning to ch1, the Light is also the Word, or as Psalm 119 famously puts it: ‘your word is a lamp to my feet and a…? light to my path.’ Light and truth are connected – think of the phrase ‘to shed light’ on things. Jesus’ light is there to guide us, to direct our paths. So, our second invitation from Jesus for today is: is there something in your life where you need Jesus’ light for your path? Why not ask him to shine his light, to help you see the way ahead?
Finally, Jesus is telling us that he is the source of goodness. This is the more challenging aspect, one which Jesus refers to in chapter 3 of John: ‘Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.’ When we come into Jesus’ light, it both causes us to grow, but also shines a light into the dark places, it exposes things which Jesus wants to heal or to change. So, our third invitation from Jesus for today is: is there something ‘dark’ in your life where you need Jesus’ light?
Jesus invites us, today and every day, to come into his light. To experience his life, to shine his light on the paths of our life, and to expose the things which need to change or heal. By God’s grace, will you accept that invitation today? Whoever follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Amen.
Wednesday 4th March – John 6:35-40 ‘I am…’
As we’ve enjoyed the last of Jesus’ seven ‘I am’ statements – I am the true Vine – let’s spend a few days revisiting the other I am statements in John, beginning with the first:
Who are you? Or rather, if you were asked to describe yourself, what would you say?
Studded throughout John’s gospel are seven answers to this question: seven ways that Jesus used to describe himself. But they’re not quite the sort of thing we might say about ourselves! Which probably isn’t a surprise… today, however, we read the first of them: ‘I am the bread of life’ (v35).
It’s a natural follow-on from what Jesus has been saying in the last few verses. Life is found, Jesus has said, not just in physical sustenance, but in believing in him; in working for food that endures, eternal nourishment. It makes sense, then, for Jesus to summarise his teaching in this famous and striking phrase: ‘I am the bread of life.’
To know life, we must ‘feed on’ Jesus. As the church grew, this sense of feeding naturally became associated with the act of receiving bread and wine, which is variously called Communion, the Eucharist (from the word ‘to give thanks’), the Mass (the old word for ‘feast’) or the Lord’s Supper.
That’s all well and good, and it gives us a tangible ‘hook’ to interpret the phrase – but this is probably not the first meaning. Since, from what he’s just been saying, Jesus is quite clearly drawing a distinction with the physical act of eating bread, it much more likely means a spiritual union with Jesus – to trust in him, to receive his Spirit, to be filled with his abiding presence day by day.
And let’s go a little further and note that the very phrase ‘I am’ is significant. In Greek it’s heavily emphasised by Jesus in the words Ego eimi – I Am: capital I, capital A. The name God gave the Israelites, the name so holy that no Jew would speak it – Yahweh – is almost impossible to transcribe, but in Greek it is usually rendered as (you guessed it) ‘I Am’.
So, this is more than just a striking description of Jesus’ mission and purpose. It points towards his identity at the very deepest and most profound level. Jesus is not just a good human being, he is the divine Son, God on earth in human form.
It follows that, as we feed on this bread of life, we are not just receiving something that leads us towards God, we are feeding on God himself. Jesus dwells in us by his Spirit – not just for a few hours until we need to eat again, but permanently. No wonder Jesus was able to say: ‘if you feed on me, you won’t go (spiritually) hungry again’ (v35).
Today, let’s give thanks for this gift of the bread of life. Let’s consciously choose to receive it again. And let’s resolve to keep ‘feeding’ on the abiding presence of Christ, nourishing our lives every hour of every day.
Tuesday 3rd March – John 15:3-8 ‘Remain in the vine’
Over the winter I’ve been clearing a lot of dead ivy off the trees in my garden. Ivy is an incredibly efficient plant. It seems to be able to grow at will, usually quickly, and it wraps itself around whatever other objects – be they trees, shrubs, posts or walls – are at hand. But this ivy had all died. Why? The tree surgeon came last summer and cut off the ivy at the roots. Over the winter, all the rootless branches died. Now they can find their way into my green bin!
No matter how healthy or productive the plant, if a branch gets cut off it usually dies. Branches need to remain connected to the main plant to live. This is the image Jesus uses here to describe our spiritual lives: only this time, he is the vine and we are the branches (v5) – ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.’
It’s always tempting to do things our own way, in our own strength. It becomes a particular temptation as we get older and seemingly more mature in the spiritual life. As young apprentices, we knew we needed Rabbi Jesus’ help with everything; but as time passes, we can find ourselves forgetting. We start to rely on our historic walk with the Lord, our essential competence as Christians. Maybe we even feel that we should somehow be more self-reliant as we mature in faith.
It’s a dangerous temptation. We might be more resilient, yes; but we can never be self-reliant – we remain as God-reliant as ever. Jesus’ words are blunt: (vv4-5) we ‘must remain in the vine…. apart from me, you can do nothing.’
The good news is that there is a flip side; if cutting ourselves off from the vine is spiritual death, then remaining in the vine brings life. As the abundant life of the true Vine flows into our ‘branches’, then we bear much fruit – something Jesus is keen to share with his friends, so much so that he repeats it (v5, v8). We can even ask him for anything, ‘and it will be done for you.’ Of course, that presumes that Jesus’ words sit deep in our hearts (v7), so that what we ask of Jesus flows naturally out of a life in tune with the divine will. But it’s a striking promise nonetheless, which both demonstrates our apprenticeship and brings glory to God (v8).
We often sing the great old hymn ‘Abide with me’ at funerals – the line is taken direct from this passage, where in older translations ‘remain’ is rendered as ‘abide’. And at one level it’s a line we can sing at all stages of life; but this image is really meant more for our lives than our deaths. We are to abide/remain in Jesus day-by-day, experiencing his life flowing into ours. May that be our reality today – and may the Lord grant us all grace to ‘bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’ Amen.
Monday 2nd March – John 15:1-2 ‘I am the true vine’
In April 2013 we had a week’s holiday near Toulouse in the South of France. It was bitterly cold – that freak winter which didn’t really end until later in April – and the landscape was striking. Field after field was full of rows of small stumps, hacked down to little over a foot above the ground. Initially we were not sure what they were – then we realised that they were thousands upon thousands of vines.
It seemed almost impossible that these little stumps could produce anything at all; but later in the week we went on a tour of a vineyard and the owner told us that this is what they do every year. To get the best fruit, the vine has to be pared back to practically a stump. But sure enough, come the spring and summer, it grows like crazy and produces beautiful grapes to make fabulous wine. The severe pruning is necessary for growth and health.
This is exactly what Jesus is talking about in today’s passage. It’s an iconic image – one those 7 ‘I am’ statements in John, indeed the very last of them: Jesus as the Vine. In biblical terms, the vineyard is traditionally a picture of Israel – see Isaiah 5:1-7 – here, Jesus co-opts it, to tell his friends that he is the true Vine. Where Old Testament Israel’s vineyard had failed to produce fruit, Jesus promises those who are grafted into his vine will bear much fruit (v5; more on that tomorrow).
And part of this fruit-bearing process is pruning: the spiritual equivalent of what we saw in those fields of vineyards in southern France. The word used for ‘prunes’ here also means ‘cleans’, which helps us to identify the sorts of things Jesus means when he talks about our spiritual lives being ‘pruned’ (cleansed): it’s anything that hinders or blocks our growth as followers of Jesus. That could be distractions, bad habits, wrong attitudes, or secret sins. It could also be things which are not bad in themselves, but act as a sort of ‘worldly security’ which stops us trusting God. It could even be a ‘wilderness’ time – a season when God seems hidden and the spiritual ground seems bare.
The point is that this kind of pruning is not cruel or unnecessary – quite the reverse: (v2) ‘Every branch that does bear fruit [my Father] prunes, so that it will become even more fruitful.’ Pruning is for our long-term health and growth. It is so that we might become even more like Jesus, more fruitful in our faith.
As we begin our week, you may feel in need of some ‘pruning’; or you may feel that you already are, and you’re not sure if it’s good news or not; or you’ve come out of such a season, thankful you can see its benefits. Wherever you find yourself at present, give thanks that the Lord is our true Vine, and that his purposes are always good and kind – that we might be as fruitful as possible. And pray for grace for yourself or others to embrace whatever pruning we experience, trusting that it is always for our good. The divine gardener knows what He’s doing.
Saturday 28th February – Psalm 103 (ii) ‘Crowns you with love’
A brief pause in our reflections on John, to reflect upon another great Psalm:
‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown.’ This quote (or rather slight misquote!) from Shakespeare’s Henry IV is a great observation about the challenges of leadership and responsibility. Such things weigh upon us. Indeed, a literal crown for most monarchs is usually a heavy object: the King Edward Crown of King Charles III weighs nearly 5lbs! Try wearing that for a long ceremonial occasion. The King might well have neck muscles like those on a Formula 1 racing driver.
But there is a crown which does not weigh heavy. It is the crown mentioned here in verse 4: the crown of God’s love and compassion. What a beautiful phrase this is! God does not just offer us, or give us, these things: he crowns us with them.
The image suggests that these things are of great value – both to the giver and also to the wearer. To wear a crown is be bestowed with great worth. And so we are to God: the Lord thinks the world of us. He made no-one else like us. We bear his image. We are of infinite worth to him. So yes, we can rightly describe God’s love and compassion as a crown – just let that thought sink in for a moment, and warm your heart.
But let us also remember that to give us this crown, God also wore one while on earth. The only crown God ever wore was one of thorns: the ultimate act of self-giving love. A crown which weighed little in grams but weighed everything in cost. When God crowns us, let us never forget what crown God kept for himself.
We may never get to wear a physical crown. But today, let us rejoice that we wear a spiritual one. One given to us at such a cost: the crown of God’s love and compassion. And may that crown be worn not just in our heads, but also in our hearts.
Gracious God, thank you that I am worth everything to you. I gladly receive your crown of love. Fill me with your compassion, too, that I might also pass that on to others. Bless the Lord, my soul. Amen.
Friday 27th February – Psalm 103 ‘All my inmost being’
‘Bless the Lord, my soul!’ This joyful beginning to one of the most famous psalms is both much loved and also sometimes causes a little head scratching: surely God blesses us, and not the other way round? The fact that most modern translations render the word as ‘praise’ is a sure sign that this idea troubles people. So, let’s begin with a short explanation as to why we can bless God as well as rejoice that God blesses us: ‘When the Lord blesses us, he reviews our needs and responds to them; when we bless the Lord, we review his excellencies and respond to them.’ (J.A. Motyer)
In other words, it is not an equivalent action: to bless is to bestow God’s goodness on someone or something: so when we do that to God, we are not bestowing anything he doesn’t already have! In that sense it is fair to translate it as ‘praise’: however, it’s worth keeping the original meaning as it reminds us that we are to be people of blessing. This goes to the heart of God’s promise to Abraham way back in Genesis 12: whenever we ‘bless’ God (and others) we fulfil that wonderful promise.
So let’s bless! And let’s also observe today the true source of this blessing on our part: ‘all my inmost being’ (v1). This throwaway phrase takes on profound importance as the bible develops, culminating in Jesus’ own teaching. In essence: to praise God with our lips and our lives requires us to start with our hearts and minds. It is the inner life which fuels the outward action.
Here, King David feeds his mind by reminding himself in verses 3-5 of all the reasons he has to praise God: a God who forgives and heals, of love and compassion, who satisfies and renews.
This list is both uplifting and unsettling. Many will ask: why does David say that God heals all of our diseases when he patently does not? There is much debate over how to explain this: some try and change the meaning of ‘all’ to ‘all kinds of’ or to spiritualise the word ‘disease’ so that it might mean something other than its plain meaning. Both explanations are inadequate.
Instead, let’s observe first that these psalms are poems and songs written in a culture which likes to emphasise things through hyperbole. When Katrina sings that she’s walking on sunshine, we don’t assume that she has literally levitated on a warm day. It’s a powerful phrase which conveys an inner truth.
That’s a good place to start; but then, let’s go further and rely on the vital principle that we let scripture interpret itself. So when we see a set of declarations here, what else does the bible about these things? In this case, Scripture consistently affirms that in Christ God forgives every sin; that God does satisfy every godly desire, though not always as we expect; and certainly that God is love in the core of his being. We can accept these wonderful phrases of David literally. Healing is more complicated: but what we can affirm is that in the new creation everything (and everyone) will be healed. Ultimately, this phrase is equally true, but its meaning is only wholly realised at a later point.
As we close, let’s call to mind those we love who have died ‘in the faith’, and let’s take comfort and hope that this word is gloriously true for them: that now they are fully healed and with our Lord in glory. And may God stir our hearts afresh today, that with ‘all our inmost being’ we too can bless God’s holy name. Amen.
Thursday 26th February – Psalm 100 ‘Through all generations’
We live in a culture which focuses largely on the now. ‘The past is a foreign country,’ and the future is a crystal ball. Only the present matters.
Whilst we inevitably have to live in the here and now, we also lose so much if we get caught up with this attitude. And not just in practical terms: ‘those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them,’ as the old saying goes. It is a spiritual problem, too. One of the great strengths of Jewish culture – and many other cultures, too – is the sense of ancestry, of a spiritual past. Time and again, God’s people are encouraged to remember the past, what God has done throughout history.
This sense of collective remembrance has a spiritual purpose. It reminded them – and us – of who God is. The actions defined the character. How do we know that God is loving, or good, or faithful? Look at what He’s done. Creation, covenant, and then miraculous rescue, time and again. And this is before we even get to Jesus! As we honour the past, so we see God’s faithfulness writ large.
It applies at a small scale too. We will have personal stories that form part of our past, as well as the famous stories of the heroes of the faith. Never forget them. Take time occasionally to remember them, to declare them. Perhaps today might be a moment to do so for a few minutes.
As we reflect on this short but wonderful psalm, it feels like its ending is really the beginning. This is our bedrock, as it was for God’s people thousands of years ago when this psalm was written: ‘The Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.’ (v5)
This is why we can be encouraged to ‘shout for joy’ (v1), to relate to God as our Good Shepherd (v3), to spend time in his presence (v4).
God has been faithful. He is faithful. He will be faithful. May that make us glad today. Amen.
Wednesday 25th February – John 14:27-31 ‘Peace I leave with you’
This has been a tumultuous fifteen minutes or so for the disciples. Imagine hearing that your best friend is going away – you’ve heard it before, but this time it is said with such conviction that you have to believe it.
In response, Jesus has given them some of the most beautiful and profound encouragement – which keeps on coming in the next three chapters, by the way. But for all that, your overwhelming emotion at this point is anxiety. What will happen after Jesus is gone? How will we manage? What do we need?
As Jesus wraps us this section, he reminds them of the basic truths he has imparted over the conversation to this point: first, he is going, yes, but he is also coming back (v28). Second, the devil is going to have his time, but he has no authority over Jesus – Jesus will triumph (v30). Third, as a result, the world will see Jesus’ obedience (v31). He doesn’t specify directly in this passage what that will mean, but he has done so numerous times already. (Thankfully, we also know the end of this story!)
Ultimately, though, there is one emotion he wants his disciples to know, to experience – the one they most need at present: (v27) ‘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.’
Do not let your hearts be troubled – it was how Jesus began this chapter; it’s also how he ends it. But to experience this peace, he is very clear that it is not something we can manufacture. It is a gift of grace: ‘I do not give as the world gives.’ Later in his letter to Philippi, St Paul describes this as the peace ‘that transcends understanding.’
Over the years, millions of Christians have known this to be true. By God’s grace, even in the midst of trial, we experience a peace that by rights we shouldn’t have. But we do. It is a wonderful gift.
If you are in a season of trial at the moment, take heart. Pray with faith for this peace – it is not of this world. But it is real, and it is available, through the Holy of Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. May the Lord grant us all the peace that transcends understanding today, and may it guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday 24th February – John 14:22-26 ‘Loving obedience’
‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’
Judas’ question is a good one, isn’t it? Do certain people get special treatment by God? Wouldn’t it be better to reveal yourself to as many people as possible?
Jesus’ answer makes it clear that this isn’t just favouritism. There is a link between revelation and obedience. Let’s be clear, this is not about earning your way to God’s favour: be really good and get brownie points from God! But Jesus is absolutely right to reflect that our obedience is a good test of our love. And those who love Jesus are naturally going to experience the greatest sense of his presence. Jesus comes where he’s invited: ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock.’ He doesn’t force himself in where he’s not wanted. He always respects our free will, our freedom to choose.
If this is more challenging to hear, there are at least two bits of good news in this passage. The first is that we do this in relationship with Jesus, hand-in-hand with him, if you like: ‘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.’ It’s a beautiful image, isn’t it? God comes to make his home with us. Just take a moment to let that thought sink in. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are at home with God – right now.
Second, we’re not left to fathom out obedience on our own: ‘The Advocate… will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.’ The Holy Spirit helps us to see what we need to do. Put these two ideas together and what we learn is that Jesus is not a stern schoolmaster with a beady eye watching our every move, enforcing obedience through fear. He is at home with us, encouraging us into life-giving choices, through the wisdom of his Holy Spirit which dwells in us.
Obedience is still hard. But it’s not impossible. God has made his home with us – filled with his presence, may we have grace to live in joyful obedience today.
Monday 23rd February – John 14:15-21 ‘The presence of Jesus’
In our last reflection in John, we looked at Jesus’ description of the Holy Spirit as the divine Advocate. This is indeed a precious gift which Jesus promised to us – but what does the work of this Advocate look like? We already know that He will not just be with us, but in us. This is the presence of Jesus in our lives, abiding with us day by day. But in today’s passage, we get some more detail about what that looks like:
First, the Advocate helps us to know God as Father: (v18) ‘I will not leave you as orphans,’ Jesus promises; ‘I will come to you.’ Later, he reinforces this: (v21) ‘The one who loves me will be loved by my Father.’
We worship a three-dimensional God: Father, Son and Spirit. The Spirit is not just the presence of Son with (and in) us, but also draws us into the love of the Father. Our Advocate is a permanent reminder and encourager that we are God’s children. We have security in our identity.
Second, the Advocate helps us to see Jesus: (v19) ‘Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me.’ If we’re tempted to think that this relates only to Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, Jesus broadens it out to every follower of Jesus in v21: ‘I too will love them and show myself to them.’
So, this ‘seeing’ is not physical sight; rather, it is spiritual revelation – we see Jesus’ love in our lives, we have insight into his ways, we are guided to make the right choices. These are all forms of spiritual sight – and they light our darkness.
Finally, the presence of the Advocate brings life: (v19) ‘Because I live, you also will live.’ Jesus is the author of life – so when he sends his Encourager to us, in the form of his Spirit, this imparts life. It’s a given: He can’t do otherwise! The Advocate enables us to enjoy the abundant life which Jesus promises.
Security, sight, abundant life. As we begin our week, we may not feel any of these things currently – but they are true, and real. Let’s pray for faith to claim them: as children of God, loved by Jesus, filled with his life. This is the work of our divine Advocate/Encourager. May we sense his presence throughout our day.
Saturday 21st February – Romans 8:12-18 ‘True heirs’
Early in 2020 ITV showed a new period drama: Belgravia. The central character of the story was a young man called Charles Pope. Originally given up by his grandparents to be adopted, through shame that he was (so it was thought) born out of wedlock, it turns out that Charles was in fact the legitimate heir to a noble title. Overnight, his fortunes changed. He woke up one day as an obscure middle class merchant: he went to bed that night as a peer of the realm.
On one level, it’s an enjoyable fairy tale. But in Romans 8 our journey to faith is described in the same terms. Through Christ, we become heirs to something even more wonderful: we are adopted as God’s children. We might have the same body, the same genes – but our destiny has changed. We come to know our divine parent: ‘By the Spirit we cry “Father”.’ (v15) And this is not just something external – somehow at a deep level our spirits join together with God’s Spirit, assuring us that we are indeed God’s children (v16).
And although this is a lovely picture of intimacy with God, St Paul is at pains to stress that it is more than that too – then as now, children inherit the riches of their parents (or lack of, as may be the case for many of us!). And God’s divine resources, God’s inheritance for each of us, is boundless. It may involve challenges in this life (v17) – but these will pale in comparison with the glory God has planned for us (v18).
This destiny brings with it both rights and responsibilities. The beautiful right to be free from fear (v15) – fear of death, fear of punishment, fear of exclusion: in Christ, we have life, forgiveness and are welcomed into his divine, global family.
But also the responsibility to lead the new life we are called to (v13). As we saw in earlier reflections, we are born again, new creations. To lead this kind of life we need to be led by the Spirit (v14) carrying the rights and responsibilities of God’s children, his true heirs.
Charles Pope was a fictional character. But your destiny is real. You are a child of God. And because you are his child, God has made you an heir – and a new life awaits. We may battle with fear, but it no longer needs to define us. May God grant us grace to be led by the Spirit and live as his courageous, confident children today.
Friday 20th February – Romans 8:1-6 ‘The Spirit of life’
As we reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John, we conclude our week with two reflections from Romans 8:
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the crown jewels at the Tower of London. It’s a long time since I went, but I still recall the sense of wonder at seeing the breathtaking, dazzling display for the first time as a child. One of the highlights is the Queen Mother’s Crown. Worn by the current Queen’s Mother at her coronation as Queen Consort in 1937, the crown is decorated with no less than 2,800 diamonds! And at its pinnacle (although it is now shown separately), is the greatest diamond of them all – the famous Koh-i-Noor, weighing in at over 100 carats and still the subject of controversy between Britain and India today.
If the bible is the story of the greatest ruler of them all – Jesus – then many consider the book of Romans to be its crown, describing the beauty of the gospel with great depth and clarity. And in this crown, chapter 8 is arguably the Koh-i-Noor – the greatest treasure of them all. If there is one chapter which summarises the heart of all the great truths we hold onto, it is Romans 8.
And what it tells us, put simply, is that God’s plan for us is life. True life, abundant life, life with God forever. It is a life conferred by the Spirit (v2) – since God is the author and sustainer of life, when His Spirit dwells in us then it cannot help but confer this life on us. We may still have to die a physical death, but our spiritual life is assured.
What does this life look like? In this first of three reflections on this diamond of all diamonds, St Paul gives us three glorious glimpses of what ‘the Spirit who gives life’ offers us. First, no condemnation (v1). Jesus took that on our behalf, that we might be free (v2). In an anxious, divided world, the reality that we live in the light of a greater and deeper, eternal freedom is a wonderful encouragement.
Second, a new government (v6). We’re not talking here about civil or national government. Rather our minds can now be governed by something other than our own inclinations and desires. This slow adoption of divine government in our lives takes time – a lifetime, for most of us! – but slowly the growing realisation that we live by a new ‘rulebook’ (the ‘law of the Spirit of life’), with a new power source, energises our faith and empowers us to lead lives that were more like the lives we were designed to lead.
And, thirdly, the outcome of this is peace (v6). We all face conflicts – with ourselves, mostly, but also with others, with temptations, occasionally within communities. The Spirit of Christ brings peace. Not with all people, all the time – at least, not this side of heaven. But slowly, steadily, our minds, governed by the Spirit, produce lives characterised by peace.
Deep down, we all think that real life ought to be about freedom and peace. The great news is that this is exactly what Jesus came to bring. The temptation for most of us is to look for this kind of life in things that can’t give it to us. But here, detailed in Romans 8, is the real deal. And may God’s Spirit increasingly govern our minds, that we might live today, and this week, in freedom and peace.
Thursday 19th February – John 14:15-17 ‘The Divine Advocate’
I must confess that I love watching legal dramas. There’s something about the intense atmosphere of a courtroom that draws you in. Something too about how truth is disclosed (or avoided), how arguments are massaged and presented, and ultimately, whether justice is served. Although many such dramas nowadays focus large amounts of time away from the courtroom – the preparations, the police interviews with witnesses, the personal lives of the protagonists – the key moment remains that time when the barrister (or advocate, to use another name for the role) gets to her or his feet, rustles their papers and addresses the witness. This is the moment when those of us watching at home sit forward on our chairs and draw a sharp intake of breath…
People need advocates. They need them in the justice system; but there are also other times when we might need them: to fight our corner, to defend those who can’t defend themselves. One of our good friends in London used to attend bankruptcy hearings with those being pursued for debt repayments, and his expert advocacy rescued dozens from destitution. An advocate is the sort of friend we need: full of energy, wise advice, and above all committed to us and our wellbeing.
There are lots of images for the Holy Spirit in the Bible, of which the most popular would be: wind, fire, and water. The dove is also well-known, as shown at Jesus’ baptism or (by implication) in the famous story of Noah. But this passage gives us another unique image, and one which is particularly important because it is given by Jesus himself. How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit? Here, as our Divine Advocate – in fact he’s so keen we absorb it that he tells his disciples twice – v16 in our passage today, and then again in v26.
Sometimes this word is translated ‘helper’ but that’s a bit cosy, the word is a little more dynamic than that. In the original Greek it’s parakletos, which is where traditional churches get the name ‘Paraklete’ to describe the Holy Spirit. (An old minister friend of mine grew up thinking that the priest kept saying ‘parakeet’ and spent his time as a child in church looking for a parrot flying round the building!) It literally means ‘one who comes alongside’.
Hence the modern translation of Advocate. The force of the meaning is of just the sort of good advocate we have described: energetic, wise and committed to us. And, uniquely, this Advocate does not just walk alongside us, but actually dwells in us (v17). The Spirit’s heart speaks directly to ours, if I may put it like that. It is Jesus himself with us, by his Spirit.
We often talk in church about whether we’re committed to Jesus. But this passage reminds us that the more important truth is that Jesus is intensely, eternally, absolutely committed to us. Just let that sink in for a while… What a thought to kickstart our day! And may the Lord grant us all grace to sense the presence of our loving, divine Advocate, throughout our day. Amen, hallelujah!
Ash Wednesday 18th February – Psalm 51 ‘Purity and joy’
Lent begins today. We take a brief pause from John, for an Ash Wednesday reflection:
At its heart, Psalm 51 is about choosing humility in order to see life and renewal again – and as such, it also encapsulates the journey of Lent. We choose to humble ourselves not to just be miserable for 40 days but in order that we may experience God’s presence again, his goodness, his mercy, and ultimately his joy. We re-orientate our lives around God again, and so find renewal and a fresh insight into the path of life.
Particularly during the years of pandemic, many of us might feel that we’ve had Lent-style sacrifices forced upon us in recent times. So I’m not going to talk about the benefits of fasting today! Although please do those if you feel called to…. Instead, I’ve been drawn to the three verses in the middle of this psalm, and three prayers of David which might be ours this season:
Create in me a pure heart, O God. The prophet Joel tells us to ‘rend your heart and not your garments’, and this prayer echoes a similar theme. In Lent we all have the chance for a bit of open heart surgery: to examine ourselves, and let God’s purifying love and grace wash us clean. Perhaps this year, our hearts need healing, or cleansing from bitterness or anger about the way things have been the last couple of years. May this Lent act as a spiritual de-tox for us, a chance to lay down anything that scars our hearts, that the pure grace and love of Christ might flow freely again.
Renew a steadfast and a willing spirit within me. Steadfastness is an old-fashioned kind of word, isn’t it? The Boy’s Brigade motto is ‘sure and steadfast’ – wonderfully Victorian! But increasingly, I need a bit of that: that capacity to stand firm whatever life throws at us. And I like the fact that David in Psalm 51 asks not just for steadfastness, but willingness. God, make me want to stand firm. ‘I can resist everything except temptation,’ Oscar Wilde famously said – Lent is a great time for us to pray fervently for that steadfast and willing spirit which, the psalm promises us, ‘will sustain us.’
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. It might sound strange for me to finish an Ash Wednesday reflection talking about joy. Surely it’s all self-denial and hessian undergarments? But the purpose of Lent is ultimately joy – whatever we invest in for Lent should increase our sense of gratitude, our conviction that life is lived in the light of God’s marvellous grace. We simplify, we take time, we dig back to our roots, and, as we do that, we find the Lord and we find joy.
The good news is that, unlike King David, it doesn’t take an affair and a murder to prompt us to pray these prayers! But as Lent begins again this year, may the Lord grant us all grace to grow in purity, steadfastness and, ultimately, joy; may He bless us all richly in this season. Amen.
Tuesday 17th February – John 14:8-14 ‘Whatever you ask in my name’
The annual State Opening of Parliament takes place every year, usually in May. It’s an ancient ceremony, when the monarch presents the legislative proposals for the year. As part of the ceremony, once King Charles is seated in the House of Lords, a gentleman known as the Black Rod will go to the House of Commons, where the door is slammed in his face! (Thus signifying the independence of MPs.) At this point, Black Rod invokes the name of the King and invites the MPs to come and listen to the King’s Speech. This they do. The door opens and many walk across to the chamber of the House of Lords, in order to listen to the king.
Nowadays it may seem to be a quaint ritual, but the point is: the name of the monarch opens doors. Things happen when the king’s name is declared.
And what is true in this world is also true in the world to come. The name of Jesus matters. The name of Jesus opens doors in the heavenly realms.
Names, in fact, are vitally important in biblical theology. One of primary ways that human beings bear the image of God is that they name things. One of Adam’s first jobs is to name the animals. Thereafter humanity names its offspring – and usually these names convey meaning and purpose. When Moses meets God, he asks God for his name, so that the Israelites’ ‘door would open’ to him. God replies: ‘This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “Yahweh has sent me to you.”’ (Exodus 3:14) God has a unique name – usually translated ‘I am’ or ‘I am who I am’.
As Jesus is about to leave his disciples, he also wants to remind them of the power of his name. In fact, great as Jesus’ works have been, from this point his followers will do even greater things, ‘because I am going to the Father’ (v12). In other words, Jesus will not be limited by his human body. His Spirit will enable great things to be done by the Body of Christ everywhere, across the world.
These great things will be done in his name. And it’s quite a promise, isn’t it: (v13) ‘I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ Whatever we ask. It sounds too good to be true. And Jesus knows this, which is why he repeats it, immediately: (v14) ‘you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.’ Anything. Wow!
The key, of course, is that it has to be something which Jesus can put his name to. We can’t pray in Jesus’ name for things that would harm us or others – because Jesus couldn’t put his name to it. That said, there is still a mystery to this. Some of you may feel that you have asked for good things in Jesus’ name and they haven’t happened. We have to trust that this is because we don’t know the whole picture – that Jesus knows about bad outcomes to what seemed like good prayers.
But for all that, it’s good not to overthink it. Jesus promises to act, to change situations, to open doors when we pray ‘in his name’. Why not take Jesus at his word – what do you want to pray ‘in his name’ today?
Monday 16th February – John 14:5-11 ‘Seeing the Father’
‘I only wish I could see God – and then I would believe!’ I’m sure many of us have heard this line expressed (or something like it) by people we know and love. They want concrete proof of God’s existence: ‘if only I could see for myself…’
Today’s passage gives us a surprising answer. Humanity can see God, and thousands of people did see God, here on this earth, albeit many, many years ago. God’s name was – is – Jesus.
‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.’ This is Jesus’ extraordinary reply (v9) to Philip’s question: ‘Lord, show us the Father!’ (v8). It’s an even blunter answer than the one Jesus gave to the crowds a few days previously after his arrival in Jerusalem (12:45). Here, in the intimate setting of the Upper Room with his friends, he is completely open and candid. And, in case they didn’t absorb the message first time, he immediately repeats it: (v10) ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in me.’
This is the true response to all our loved ones who long for proof: it is right here, in the life of Jesus. Jesus himself points to two specific categories of evidence to back up his claim. First, his words: (v10)’’ The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.’ Jesus taught like no teacher in the whole of human history: before, or since. Such teaching could only be divinely inspired – the words of the Father, living among us.
Second, the works: ‘Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.’ Jesus didn’t just preach, he practised what he preached, and confirmed his word with miraculous works – demonstrations of his divinity.
His words and his works – they all point to the Father. We can see God, and his name is Jesus.
This allows us to receive the hard word about no-one coming to the Father except through Jesus (v6). It sounds ‘exclusive’ – but if Jesus is the only true, complete and real manifestation of Almighty God who has ever lived here on earth, then he must be the way to the Father. And that Way is big enough, wide enough, to draw all people to himself. People from across the world: different cultures, different backgrounds, and even from different religious worldviews, have found true life, and met the true Lord of all, in Jesus. He is the pinnacle of all religious thought, and the summation of all human searching for meaning. The Way, the Truth and the Life.
As we begin our week, give thanks that we can see God, through the pages of scripture and in the depths of our hearts. And may the words and the works of the Son dwell in us, and be manifested through us, today.
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