Week beginning Monday 21st May

Hebrews 5

A priest does not decide to be a priest but is called to be a priest.

Jesus was called to be a priest, called from the glory of heaven to be a human advocate and obedient suffering servant. It was only through suffering that Christ could learn obedience. It was the humiliation of the cross that enabled Jesus to take on all humiliation and brokenness that our mortal humanity knows. Through Jesus’ offering of obedience God made the way for our reconciliation – our rest.

It is a simple message in this chapter – Jesus is our Priest – our mediator and redeemer, simple but difficult to accept. The writer urges the readers to trust, but there is a stubborn-ness that leaves them with only able to take on infant faith, not yet mature. Submitting oneself to the service of Jesus that we may in turn serve others is a hard lesson that requires growth and maturity.

We, who seek to follow our great high Priest Jesus Christ are called to be priests to our neighbours – family, friends, strangers and enemies – that they too may know the rest that God has made available through Jesus Christ.

PRAYER – Holy God and LORD Jesus Christ, thank you for your obedience and for suffering that humanity may know freedom and love and joy and hope and peace. Lead me by your Spirit into this sure knowledge and help me live as one who acts as a priest for others. In Jesus name I ask – AMEN.

Week beginning Monday 14th May

Hebrews 4

Entering the day of rest and the throne room of undeserved kindness – I love these two images…particularly on the days that are tough and you feel like everything is getting on top of you.

We have a great High Priest who understands us…who knows the highs and lows of our human experience – and Jesus invites us to the place of rest and into the throne room of grace.

This invitation has been since the dawn of creation and because of God’s patience it will remain good till the very end. Today is a day to stop running from God, to stop hiding from God and to enter God’s wonderful rest – you are welcome in this throne room of undeserved kindness because of Jesus Christ.

Turn to God and pursue this rest…it is good.

PRAYER – LORD God today I stop. Today I turn to you. Today I enter your rest…your throne room of undeserved kindness…Thank you!

Week beginning Monday 7

Hebrews 3

Jesus is the builder of the House of Moses.

This chapter points us to the truth that while Moses was truly faithful and brought us God’s Law – it was Jesus who built the Law and is the true ‘owner’ of the people of faith.

The writer of Hebrews is encouraging the people on a journey from the Law of Moses to faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is greater than Moses for Jesus fulfills the Law of Moses where as no-one else does or in fact can. Will we endure in this hope in Jesus? Will we hold to this faith in Christ who sets us free from sin and from the judgement of the Law while also freeing us to live the Law – not as ones condemned but as ones free.

The writer of Hebrews places in front of us those who died in the desert wandering and lost because they did not have faith – they did not have hope – they did not love. I’d always much rather focus on the positive than dwell on the negative but if we are not willing to learn from the past and the errors of the past then we do not treasure enough our present and future. I believe that in the grace of God those who were lost, because of the builder of the House – Jesus Christ, will be saved…this is the good news…almost too good to be true!

For me I hear God whispering to endure in hope for the Builder Jesus Christ is making a life in me that is good and one that will endure, not because I can but because Jesus has.

PRAYER – LORD may hope endure in my spirit as you build your house in my life. In Christ’s name I pray AMEN.

Week beginning 30th April

Hebrews 2

Okay…so Jesus is not an angel!

So is Jesus only a man?

No – Jesus is LORD of all – the one whom through all things were created, the one in whom God’s full divinity dwells.

Is Jesus just a man? Yes (but wait there’s more) – Yes Jesus is a man yet one that God has put all things under. Because He is a man though, He is able to identify with us, live our life, and die our death. It is in Jesus dieing our death that death is defeated. It is because Jesus was tempted that we have One who knows about our temptations. In Jesus’ obedience even to sacrifice His life, we have one in whom we can trust and obey. And in so doing Christ’s obedience becomes our obedience – gifted to us by grace that we may be inheritors of life (more in later chapters)

This chapter says that Jesus is “…our merciful and faithful high priest…” What does this mean? More to come…read on!

PRAYER – Holy Spirit lead me through this book to learn and see more of who Jesus Christ is – In Jesus name I pray – AMEN.

Week beginning 23rd April

Hebrews 1

This first chapter sets up the reason for the letter – that is “Who (and/or what) is Jesus Christ?” It is interesting to think about how even within 30 or so years of Jesus’ death (and resurrection) that people were claiming all sorts of things about Jesus…was he a man…was he an angel…was he a prophet…was he ghost…was He real????

At a simplistic level the fact that people in the first century were confused makes it logical that people today will be equally if not more so confused…without a helpful explanation, without a degree of revelation and certainly without faith…Jesus, or at least people’s understanding of Him will be confusing.

How can the same Jesus be argued for as prophet like any other prophet and also be a ‘spirit-guide’ like any other ‘spirit-guide’ and also a ‘mythical person’ like any other ‘mythical person’ and any other number of descriptions and identities???

The Book of Hebrews takes us into the Hebrew culture and faith to discover who and what Jesus really is.

PRAYER – Holy Spirit lead me through this book to learn and see more of who Jesus Christ is – In Jesus name I pray – AMEN.

Week beginning Monday 9th April

Mark 15

Two things jumped out at me from this chapter –

1. Jesus offered no defense and resisted any comfort except for the help of Simon from Cyrene, who was ordered by the Romans to help.

2. The people who Mark identifies along the way who speak/act for Jesus while he didn’t/wouldn’t – i.e. Pilate / Simon of Cyrene / The Roman Officer / Joseph of Arimathea

I think these jumped out at me because they are the opposite of what you might expect – in that, someone accused will plead their case and that strangers and foreigners and people from different social sets would usually not involve themselves…something different was going on here.

This reminds me again of how ‘not of this world’ is God’s ways of doing life. It is not about self-justifying or about sticking with our ‘own kind’ BUT God’s ways are about trusting Him with our lives and about crossing all sorts of boundaries to see an entirely different sort of community where strangers, foreigners, rich and poor all share together in ‘good’ purposes.

This takes incredible humility – to trust God and include others – to go out of our way to serve the condemned of this world.

PRAYER – LORD I know myself enough to know that I probably would not have got involved in helping you on your last day. But I know you enough to know that even so you help me. LORD I want to live your way – trusting and loving you and others. Help me do this. In Jesus name – AMEN.

Week beginning Monday 2nd April 2012

Mark 14

This chapter takes us to the point and place where Jesus was abandoned and rejected by all. Beginning with the beautiful scene of a woman anointing Jesus with perfume and finishing with the Rooster crowing three times to reveal Peter’s rejection of Jesus.

An appropriate week to be reading this text given Easter is this weekend and my own mind is in this space of looking forward to tell the story of Jesus over the services Friday and Sunday. What struck me was the focus and resolve of Jesus in his actions while the words of all those around him were meaningless. Action is always more powerful than words, and while words may move the heart in the moment it is action that sees the difference over the longer term.

Reading through this chapter takes me back into the story of Jesus in that last day of his freedom. He was so focused on the mission God had given Him. Everything, in Jesus’ mind, was pointing to his death. The Gospel of Mark shows us that this event was not unexpected or chaotic but happened in accord to both the biblical prophecies as well as Jesus’ own determination.

I ask myself the question – am I as determined as Jesus to do what God would call me to? It seems that Jesus had discovered a strength that was more than his own, a will that was subjected to God’s will, a love that was much more than human capacity. But Jesus was not just a puppet whom God pulled the strings on – He felt what we feel, he thought what we thought but it seems to me that it is a trusting in God that makes the difference…which brings me a challenge and a vision. I am all too aware of my failings and limitations and yet I can see that in trusting God, and subjecting my will to God’s will that God can work through me to give me strength and determination that is beyond me. I think I am so strong…but God is so much stronger. My strength of will falls short of what God desires for me and so it is as I trust in God that His will becomes my strength…His joy becomes my strength…His love becomes my strength.

Would I have rejected Jesus like the disciple Peter? Absolutely, but that is the point, it is not my will but God’s will that needs to be done…I reject Christ and He loves me anyway, and it is Jesus’ love that wins the day, not mine. How good is God!!!

Blessings to all this Easter – may you know the One who died so that you can live!

PRAYER – LORD Jesus Thank You! Amen.

Week beginning Monday 26th March 2012

Mark 13

What is impressive in the eyes of men is nothing in the scheme of God. “Look at these magnificent buildings!” said one of the disciples. It is easy to be in awe of what people have done throughout history…but all of these are nothing compared to what God has done and what God has yet to do…

This chapter is a chilling one to me, in that, not only has this prediction happened (in 70 AD) with the destruction of Rome. Read about in from these websites –

http://www.lexorandi.org/josephus.html

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/jewishtemple.htm

- but that history continues to repeat itself in different kingdoms and nations through the centuries. The times of wars and revolutions, where all the descriptions of the ‘end times’ that Jesus named happened and happen again are truly a sign of the evil and futility of the powers of earth compared to the powers of God.

Jesus makes a radical claim – that it will be His coming again that will see the culmination and conclusion to all this devastation – are final curtain call on the powers of this world. The Disciples are therefore urged to watch and wait…

Living with the final scene of the earthly powers in their mind the Disciples were faithful to the end of their days…watching and waiting. The Apostle John (who wrote the book of Revelations) was probably the only the disciple to be alive when Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 – how poignant and awful that must have been – and how comforting it would have been for John to know that even this devastation was within the knowledge and plans of God’s?

Many trials and tribulations face every generation in every time – to know that all of this is within the scheme of God and that Jesus Christ has already won the victory and will one day come to ultimately and eternally claim this victory is a hope the Christian faith not just foretells in the future but is available every day. Jesus Christ comes afresh each day through our lives as we ‘watch and wait’ for Him. No trial or tribulation can overcome those who persevere. This chapter is a call again to trust, to persevere, to watch and wait for Jesus to come – and He does by His Spirit to encourage, counsel and guide us through our lives.

PRAYER – LORD Jesus many even today are living in Mark 13. Please give them your Spirit afresh to see those days to their end. Even today LORD I pray for the people of North Korea and Syria – bless them and keep them always in your tender care. In Jesus’ name – AMEN.

Week beginning Monday 19th March

Mark 12

In this chapter there is this wonderful movement from Jesus critique of the religious leaders to a genuine searching by one such religious leader to Jesus shining a light on both genuine faith and the prophetic offering of his life. I say wonderful movement because the chapter moves from such negativity to such positivity.

Jesus uses story/parable to show the religious leader what they are doing – and yes they ‘get it’ but instead of being repentant they get defensive…and so the plotting and scheming thickens.

To show the brokenness of the religious leaders, a different faction comes to argue with Jesus…about what Jesus shows really is a peripheral issue.

But then comes the true searcher enquiring (a teacher of religious law) about what is really important – “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” he asks.

Jesus answers, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’] No other commandment is greater than these.” An answer with which the teacher concurs, and Jesus encourages the man, he is ‘not far’ from the Kingdom of God…

But even ‘not far’ is still not there…so Jesus finds an example truly of the Kingdom of God, and he points to a poor widow who gives everything she has. It seems that what Jesus is saying is the most important is giving everything we are and have to God – not holding back anything…which is the path that Jesus himself was about to walk down at the cross of Calvary.

My best response to this chapter is to say “Here Lord am I – all I am and have is yours” but even as I type ‘my’ response – I need to and want to say ‘thank you’ to Jesus for His giving His all at the Cross. My all is nothing compared to His all. I have not suffered He did. I have not been forsaken by God He was. I did not carry the condemnation of the world Jesus did. My best response is “thank you” and like the small offering of 5 loaves and 2 fish I give my little to Christ to do with as He would.

PRAYER – Jesus you have reminded me again of why you came, of what you dealt with and of what you really valued and showed us as important. I want to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as myself. So help me by Your Spirit to do so – and I give again my life and my all to you. I ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Week beginning Monday 12th March 2012

Mark 11

Jesus comes to Jerusalem – the stakes have been raised. This is a chapter filled with sharp bits – not like a smooth river stone that has been washed through the ages to have all its jagged bits worn down…nope – this chapter has lots of pointy bits!

A king comes in on a donkey and the people throw down palm branches. There is a heap of symbolism in this story – here are some dots I joined – (i) Palms thrown down for a King (ii) When Ezra read God’s Law palms collected for the Jewish Celebration – ‘festival of the booths’ (see Nehemiah 8) where the people made for themselves mini-shelters out of branches as a reminder of the travels of the Jewish people in the desert wilderness under Moses leadership and God’s faithfulness to them. God is once again faithful and brought a new King to Jerusalem – a king like no other.

A new King means trouble for the old King. As I type this I am wondering what old Kings are in trouble as Jesus the new King comes into my life more and more? This is certainly a pointy question!

Next Jesus gets cranky at a Fig Tree for not producing Figs out of season??? Seems a bit harsh to me! How and why should a fig tree produce fruit out of season? Maybe this was a prophetic act of Jesus’ own death? It was not fair that Jesus took on the sin of the world but He did…and died as a consequence. I’ll come back to this…

Another pointy bit is Jesus causing a commotion in the Temple by throwing out the money changers – these people making profit out of worship while the religious and political leaders were complicit in this system. No wonder the religious, legal, and political leaders got stirred up. Nothing smooth here…all pointy and sharp!

Back to the Fig tree…what kind of faith moves a mountain into the sea…I seriously have no idea! And maybe that’s the point – all I can do in the face of a call to this kind of faith is to admit my failure and turn to God.

It seems to me that in all of these pointy sharp encounters with Jesus the best response is humility and repentance. The religious leaders realised, or at least admitted their defeat – but instead of humility they chose defensiveness and violence. They refused to let their ragged edges be smoothed by the waters of Christ.

PRAYER – Jesus, like the religious leaders I have no answer to your challenges. All I want to do is listen, learn, follow and maybe even just see a glimpse of the fruit of your life of love, forgiveness, mercy, truth, justice and compassion. Be like the water that shapes the stone of my life. In Jesus name I ask – AMEN.