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Introduction

The sight of a sleeping baby causes most people to think “ahh” they look so peaceful, until they wake and start yelling! The Christmas story can be like that - it seems so comfortable, so safe, so cute, after all who can resist a little baby. Well we know some people could – Herod for example wanted to kill him! Why? Because he perceived a threat and wanted it eliminated. Now babies are not generally thought of as being dangerous – only to their parents who exist on less sleep! This baby, with these foreign visitors, going to be a king was different and Herod thought  “over my dead body”. Herod had grasped one thing - this baby was actually the most dangerous baby of all. Because this baby was actually going to not only usurp him, but all thrones and powers and dominions! This baby came to start a revolution, the greatest, longest, most successful revolution, peaceful revolution ever.

 1.   The revolution begins

The first signs that something unusual was happening was that God was speaking – but he was bypassing king, governors, the religious, the great and the good. Instead the main characters in this story are young woman (probably a teenage girl in 1st century Palestine of no consequence whatsoever), shepherds (despised by the religious leaders of the day as they couldn’t keep all the rules by virtue of their profession), a barren woman (a terrible stigma in her day). Ordinary people are the ones being visited, the despised and downtrodden. That tells us something about this revolution. The message of Jesus, of Christmas is for everyone, it is for the poor, the weak and vulnerable, those who are overlooked. It is for Hindu, Jew, Muslim and Buddhist as well as Christians. Jesus came to start a revolution. Turn the world upside down, or actually to turn back the right way up. Because human beings have done rather a good job of messing the world up. Let’s be honest human beings are capable of really messing things up. We’re messing the planet if the science is to be believed. We’re messing up the Middle East more than it was already messed up e.g. Iraq. Let’s bring it closer to home – we’re messing up the family as rates of family breakdown go through the roof. I’m sure we can all think of all the things we have managed to mess up. So the revolution was to put things back together again, to save the human race from itself, from its sin!

 2.   A New Song

This revolutionary emphasis is also found in Luke. In what is a relatively neglected passage at least in evangelical circles – the Magnificat. The song of Mary, uttered under the influence of the Spirit after the annunciation is a prophetic passage, that highlights an aspect of the Good News that perhaps we don’t pay enough attention to. This was not just Good News – it was downright revolutionary. We think we have the mission of Jesus sewn up. But have we, isn’t that a dangerous thing to do? Jesus is full of surprises. The Christmas story can be so comfortable, what can be more comfortable than a little baby?

Mary’s song reflects the world at that time: the lowly versus the proud, the humble versus the enthroned, the hungry versus the rich, the servants versus the mighty, the haves versus the have-nots. It is a world where those who call themselves rulers, winners, the high and the "mighty ones" who look down on the meek and lowly ones, have a power that looks like God's, but it is a counterfeit power--one that rules by domination and subjugation, a transient, precarious, grasping power that will not, cannot, let go--a power of empty promises that leaves the holder with empty hands ½ a billion people live on less than $1 a day. The world has not changed much since Mary's day. This is the world we live in. This is the song the world sings.

God sings a different song. It is one of hope--for all people. God comes down to raise them up. The Mighty One has done great things. His Son has become Mary's son, one of us. He becomes little, least, last; he will be scattered, brought down, emptied, so they can be gathered, lifted up and filled. The baby conceived in Mary's womb, though not yet born, has begun to transform the world. Mary’s song reflects this hope: God has remembered his promise to her ancestors and has himself become a servant, to lift the lowly, fill the hungry, and raise the dead.

Mary recognised a revolution was under way in her womb, the child she would given birth to was going to change things. According to this passage and others like it those who are rich and arrogant with it, proud, self-sufficient, full of themselves discover that with the coming and reign of Christ there is to be a great shock. The Mighty One has shown his strength--and the news is not good. Everything is turned upside down. Those who are on top, are toppled, the "proud in the thoughts of their hearts" are now scattered by this Revolutionary God. As he turns the world upside down the first are last, winners are now losers. The haves become have-nots & vice versa. The proud are sent away empty. The majority of the world live in abject poverty in comparisons to us – which is why they have a far better chance to find the grace of God that will give them untold riches in the eternity. Mary’s song reflects the fact that God sings a different song to the one the world sings.

Conclusion

That’s how the revolution got started. This baby was really a most dangerous baby, because he started a revolution that continues to this day – 2 billion people give allegiance to this baby today. Now we can of course ignore all this and just think “ahh – a baby” or we can hear the call of Jesus this Christmas to join his revolution. It is not to become religious, or a boring person but to join his revolutionary new way of living. To be a follower of Jesus Christ, to learn how he can help us not to make a mess of our lives, of our families, of society, of the world, of the planet. The statement of saving people from their sins is not just about personal salvation – it is a statement of national salvation. God has a plan for nations not just individuals, for the whole world to save it from the sin that destroys it, that holds people in poverty and disease, in social breakdown, in war

Mary’s song reminds us that the good news is not just about personal salvation – vital though that is, but also a revolution, a turning upside down of things. It may be uncomfortable to think of these things – but why does the Christmas story have to be comfortable and safe? It is about the most dangerous baby who came to start a revolution and sing a song that the world by and large doesn't sing. Let's make sure we get in line with this baby.

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Introduction

Here we are on the verge of another year. I don;t know what 2009 was like for you – but it is usually a good thing we do not know what is coming. 2010 is a blank sheet of paper. 2009 is history, it’s in the past. It cannot be changed. But who knows what 2010 will hold? It’s a good thing that at Jan 1st you don’t know the answer to that question. But today I want us to think about one of the bible’s most famous passages – Rom 8:28. See the promise of God for 2010…

1. No prayer is wasted.

(“What did you pray for last year? Did you get it? Who prayed for things they didn’t get?). Sometimes God doesn’t answer prayers in the way we want him to, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t answered. No prayer is wasted. Those verses we read tell us that the Spirit helps us in our weakenss. In prayer we sometimes don’t know how we should pray – who’s ever felt like that? Some times we may sigh. The Holy Spirit takes those longings and interprets them for us. Other times we may pray in tongues. As you go along you can pray in tongues and the Spirit takes those words that don’t mean anything to us and turns them into prayers that God will answer. When you’ve prayed for something and it hasn't happened the way you asked – you usually find that God answers in other ways, he provides in other ways that enable you to deal with a situation or may just show that he is there after all. No prayer is wasted. The Holy Spirit can take our groans and sighs, he can take our praying in tongues and because he is God can bring them to our heavenly Father according to his will. God is always answering our prayers. Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he says no and sometimes he says wait. Still other times he says, I’ll answer it in this way, not necessarily in the way we want but in the best way – God’s way. That is a promise for 2010. But no prayer you pray will be wasted.

To be at work in all things

Often Rom 8:28 is separated from verse before and after when it is an integral part of it. God doesn’t promise that 2010 will be easy, trouble free, pain free. But he does promise that whatever happens he will work it together for our good. I believe that God has a plan and purpose in all that we are going through. We can look at all the circumstances of our lives, the good things and the bad things. The coincidences and planned events. Even the sin in our lives and God will work it out ultimately for our good. This is where we need to trust God. This is where it can be hard, to trust God when it all seems to be going wrong. It’s a bit like a cake – all of the horrible things mix together with the nice things – God is at work mixing them together expertly. Cake illustration – (For family service) take ingredients e.g. salt, butter raw egg & offer a taste. Then offer a bit of Christmas cake. The fact is as Christmas reminds us that God has entered this world of pain and suffering and sin and has worked in it. He was incarnated – he was present and still is. So he is in every situation he is present and at work. That is another promise for 2010.

To work them for our good

What is God going to make out of the various ingredients being mixed in our lives? Something good. Many people think “good” means some earthly good i.e. God withholds something now or lets us go through stuff now so that we can get something better later e.g. We may hear testimonies of how God took a bad circumstance and it worked for good, meaning some earthly good (better job, car, etc.). I have no doubt that God works in our lives like that many times, but I do not believe that this is what is what Paul meant nor do I believe we are always promised that he will. Sometimes no earthly good comes out of bad circumstances. Sometimes you don’t get a better job… etc. Has God failed to do what he promised? We need to understand what is meant by “good’.

- To make us like Jesus - Paul describes what he means in v. 29. Paul is saying that the real good for us to become more like Jesus. We can rejoice and be confident during trials because they help to develop our character, Christ-likeness. Nearly everything in life has an ultimate goal. What is it in football? World Cup. In politics? Prime Minister. In Christianity? Becoming like Christ. That is the good God is working out in every circumstance. The goal is not to be comfortable, wealthy, famous or happy but it is to be like Jesus. It is the thing that Tony Campolo said – if you asked many parent what they want for their children he said they would reply “For them to be happy”. But his own mother he says would have replied “To be good”. I suggest God as a parent is like that. When we seek goodness then we will be truly happy. Happiness that is based on a set of comfortable set of circumstances is very shaky. Happiness that is based on self-gratification or fulfilment is morally suspect and is the cause of much suffering to others in this world. The more we are like Jesus the happier we become (which is why I think boring, religious people are neither really happy nor are they like Jesus!).

- Nothing can separate us form his love – Ultimately we will only be completely like Jesus when we see him for then we shall be like him. So our ultimate good is what? To make us more like Jesus to complete the plan he had for us before the world began. We are not accidents, we are here on purpose – the destiny is to be like Christ. That perspective is important in the face of suffering - God is working all things together for good and has eternity to make it up to some people. But in the meantime God promises not to allow anything to separate us from his love. Nothing in heaven or earth – not even ourselves. Whatever happens we are safe in his love.

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John's Gospel

Facing the impossible

John 6:1-23

Preached on 10th January 2010

Introduction

I have been saying that John is writing a new Genesis. But chapter 6 is about an new Exodus. The feeding of the 5000 is a symbol referring back to the feeding of the multitude in the desert with bread from heaven – manna. The walking on the water reminds us of how God saved his people from the sea. John tells these stories but goes deeper. Remember we haver these 7 signs:first sign was turning the water into wine at a wedding feast. Then in chapter 4 there was the healing of a nobleman’s son. In chapter 5 there was the healing of a paralytic. Now in chapter 6, there is this, the fourth of seven signs – the feeding of the multitude. It is one of few miracles that appears in all 4 gospels. Told far more intimately than in the others, Philip and Andrew given speaking parts. More than that it is the only account that has a theological attached to it. We discover how people reacted to this incredible miracle – John gives the lie to the idea it was a miracle of sharing – and Jesus annoyance at this. The Synoptics merely record the event. We will return to the significance of some of this next time in the meantime let's look at these remarkable miracles a little more on face value and see what the rest of the chapter makes of it next time. In 24 hours Jesus feeds 5000 people and walks on the water. These 2 remarkable miracles tell us something very important..

• Facing the impossible

Have you ever faced a situation that was overwhelming? Or a problem so difficult or complex that resolving it seemed impossible? Most of us have. And it doesn’t matter how old or young we are – we all face overwhelming and stressful situations. It could be the first day of school or an exam. Or it might be the stack of bills that grow and grow, or waiting to hear from the doctor’s office to learn about the test results, or the frustration about the job -- or the fear that the job will be lost. Our lives are full of experiences that seem overwhelming and beyond our capacity to handle. It could be the sheer size of a daunting task. Here we have just such an example. Jesus and his disciples have tried to escape from the crowds. They do that from time to time so that Jesus can both rest and give special training to his 12 special disciples. But the plan doesn’t work. The crowds follow. Five thousand people come and invade the solitude of Christ and his apostles. Immediately Jesus begins to think in very practical terms about feeding the crowd. Talk about overwhelming situations – how do you feed 5,000 people? Similarly when the disciples re on the lake – seasoned fisherman are now in fear of their lives – they are in a terrible storm.

We all face very challenging at times. Notice that in the feeding of the 5000 Jesus challenged them to meet the need here. That doesn't mean he engineered the situation in order to challenge them. He had sought to get away from crowds but was unsuccessful in doing so. But the situation has arisen he uses it to challenge them. That is what happens with us too. Jeff Lucas made a good point I agree with about the bad things that happen in our lives. We need to avoid fatalism as if bad things that happens to us is God's will. It is not. It is the difference between the perfect and permissive will of God. His perfect will is that which he WANTS to happen. But that isn't what always takes place. God doesn't want us to be sick, or to suffer, or to sin. That would be perverse. But God in this current age allows these things – they are here because the fall has messed things up. This is the permissive will of God. Yes he could stop them, but he allows things to take place. Look at the incident that follows when the disciples are on the lake. We have recently passed the 4th anniversary of the Tsunami that claimed 250,000+ lives. Natural disasters are not God's doing we live in a world where even the planet (which today we are well aware of) is impacted by man's sin and greed. His purpose is to increasingly bring his kingdom to bear so that his will is done on in earth as it is in heaven. One day all these things will be done away with. But in the meantime when we find ourselves in a trying situation he may well use it to challenge us, stretch and cause to grow. If you are in a trying situation then you may know what I mean; faced with an impossible task or a terrible storm. God is not the author of the suffering but he will work it together for good. God's purpose is to work even those bad things together for good.

• The one who specialises in things thought impossible

There was an old chorus we used to sing: God any rivers you think are uncrossable/ Got any mountains you can't tunnel through/ God specialises in things thought impossible/ He can do just what no other can do.” What happens here in these 2 miracles is that Jesus faces two impossible situations and transforms them.

Looking at the first we see a little of how we can deal with the impossible task or challenge: you start with what you have got – however small and inadequate. That is all you or I can do. God has given us talents, abilities, capacities. Sometimes they are not enough to meet the challenge. But it's all we have. Similarly as the disciples were using all the energy they had in the storm – we may be doing just that as we battle the storm. That is all we can do in ourselves. It is not a question of let go and let God, but doing what we can, using our resources, inadequate though they may be.

The transformation comes when we bring what we have to the Master. When 5 loaves and 2 fish are brought to Jesus there is enough in fact there is more to spare. A basketful for each of the 12 left over! When Jesus is with us in the storm it is stilled. Whatever the impossible situation we are facing, however inadequate we are to face it - with God there is nothing you cannot handle. It may not be easy, it may not be pleasant, you may feel as if you at at the end of your tether – but with him you can make it. Not just make it – be more than a conqueror in it. You can make that difference impossible as it seems. I was struck by something Joanna said when she prayed after Christmas. Something like: “We may not be able to be happy but we can know your peace.” That's what we may find in the storm at times – in the midst of it we can know the peace of God. That doesn't mean you are enjoying things. A contest was held to determine who could represent peace through painting. Three finalists were determined and a crowd of art enthusiasts were used to declare the winner. The first painting was unveiled to reveal a portrait of a peace valley with a quiet sunset in the background. The second was unveiled to show a portrait of tranquil waters of seashore with the soft glow of a lighthouse. The final entry was unveiled; it portrayed a dark, threatening sky. Rain poured down upon a sharp cliff with one straggly old tree jutting from. However, from an elbow on the branch of that tree could be seen a mother bird sitting atop her nest, sheltering her baby birds from the storm. This was the winner because it captured the essence of peace.

We live in a world where we are met with situations we may feel not up to the job – but we are faced with it. Let's admit our inadequacy, seek his help and go for it. You will be amazed at what you can do with God. We are not omnicompetent – but he is.

Conclusion

His presence brings peace in the storm. His power takes our little and multiplies it so that it is more than adequate.

We say, “It’s impossible”; God says: “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
• We say, “I’m too tired”; God says: “I will give you rest.”
• We say, “Nobody really loves me”; God says: “I love you.”
• We say: “I can’t go on.” God says: “My grace is sufficient; my power is made perfect in weakness.”
• We say, “I can’t figure things out.” God says: “I will direct your steps.”
• We say, “I can’t do it.” God says: "You can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.”
• We say, “It’s not worth it.” God says: “I am working all things together for your good.”
• We say, “I can’t forgive myself.” God says: “I forgive you.”
• We say, “I can’t manage." God says: “I will supply every need according to my riches in glory.”
• We say, “I’m afraid.” God says: "Fear not, I am with you.”
• We say, “I’m worried.” God says: “Cast all your anxieties on me, for I care for you.”
• We say, “I’m not smart enough.” God says: “I give you the wisdom of my son, Jesus, and his righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
• We say, “I feel all alone.” God says: “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Let's take a moment to pray for situation we face – storms or challenges. We may be seeking God's peace. We may be wanting his help in order that we can meet the challenge or make that difference.

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John's Gospel

The Bread of Life

John 6:24-59

Preached on Sunday, 17th January 2010

Introduction

We have looked at John we have seen this new Genesis he has written. The 7 days have become 7 signs pointing us to the nature of this new creation being established, God's kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. Sign 1 – water into wine is about bringing life and joy. Sign 2 – the healing of the dying child – bringing life instead of death. In the 3rd – the healing at the pool of Bethesda we see Christ bringing hope to the hopeless. Sign 4 – feeding the multitude – is about Jesus being the Bread of Life. We looked at the two miracles themselves last time but today I want us to unpack the discourse that follows that explains the significance of the feeding and introduces the first of the I am sayings of Jesus. Remember when Moses asked God who shall I say sent me – the response was Ex. 3|:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' “God is the “I am”, he just is! He is life itself; he is the source of all being and existence. Jesus is saying “I am” - identifying himself with God + “the bread of life” to make it even clearer. So in this sign we have another sign pointing us to who Jesus is and more than that what this new creation is going to be about. Its source of nourishment will be the Bread of Life – Jesus.

1. A New Passover

John tells us this miracle takes place at Passover time. As I have pointed out chapter 6 is about a new Exodus. The feeding of the 5000 is a symbol referring back to the feeding of the multitude in the desert with bread from heaven – manna and the walking on water reminding us of how God saved his people from the sea. This whole chapter is about Passover when God liberated his people from slavery in Egypt and how God fed his people with bread from heaven – manna (ex. 16). The point is that now there is one greater than Moses who is feeding his people again. The bread and fish are there to point to the fact that a new Passover is taking place in front of their very eyes and Jesus was leading it. A liberation from a worse bondage than that which the Egyptians had subjected them to and to which the Romans now subjected them to – the bondage to sin and evil – Jesus had come to set them free form that. This will culminate in the Last Supper and his death on a cross but already he is pointing towards it.

This liberation, this Passover goes on to this day. The mission of Jesus we are being told is to bring about an even greater deliverance than that of the Israelites from Egypt. Jesus has come to set the world free from the sin and evil that steals and kills and destroys. Lives, marriages, families, communities, the planet needs liberation from human beings pushing the self-destruct button, which is what sin is. We are all caught up in this. We all know the need of a Saviour, look at the news, look inside your own life, heart and mind and you will know it. Later in this Gospel Jesus will talk about being slaves to sin, sin is the greatest addiction of all and we are all in rehab. Jesus is the one who has come to rescue us and the world.

2. Missing the point

But as ever with Jesus there are so many who miss the point. This is not new, it happened to Jesus there and then. The sign is performed, the Jews see it, eat their fill – and want more! They are not motivated by faith, or genuine love for Jesus. On the contrary, they followed him because they saw the signs. Some were perhaps thrill seekers who failed to grasp the true significance of Jesus’ miraculous signs. They liked what he could do for them. But the sign was meant to point them to him. What mattered was not so much what he could do for them but who he was. We came across this point recently: being a Christians is not firstly about getting forgiveness or eternal life. It is not firstly about God fulfilling our needs, desires, dreams and wishes. It is about finding God, finding the truth.

Others grasped the significance of the action - it pointed to Him as the Messiah. But they missed the point of the type of king he was. They wanted a king who would take back what the Romans had wrongfully stolen. They wanted a different kind of Messiah – so they missed the point too. Jesus is trying to tell them (they won't listen) that he is not the kind of King they expected. He is the Father's representative, sealed by him (v.27), the Father's true likeness. What they see in him is what God is saying and doing. They have to fall in line with him not vice versa. God is not and never has been a performing seal, there to do our bidding – one of the reasons I dislike the health and wealth teaching is that it turns God into our servant whom we can order around! He is not there for our convenience or comfort. We are here to serve his purpose and to follow him not vice versa. We mustn't get too big for our boots. There are times when we think God owes us – but he does not. We are by nature so self-absorbed, which is why we are called to follow and trust. So let's not miss the point of what this is all about. It is about more than our forgiveness, it is about more than getting our backsides into heaven. It is about God achieving his purpose in the world of completing his new creation in order that the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and as many people participating in this as possible.

3. The Bread of Life

But more than that he is himself the bread of heaven, the bread of life. The miracle points to the fact that Jesus not only miraculously supplies bread he is the bread itself. He is the bread of your life and my life. What does that mean? I've said before that I have a problem with the whole “He is all I need...” approach to Christianity. He is all I need – is not strictly true – if it were Adam would not have been lonely in the Garden of Eden and needed a companion. There are many things we need in life. Relationship alone with God was not enough – God did not make us so that it would be. Jesus is claiming to be the one who can satisfy spiritual hunger. He is the one who can keep faith and hope alive, who can give us purpose and meaning. He is the main and ultimate source of our fulfilment in life not the only source of it. When we put him first, when we follow him, when we come to him for bread – the bread of life – then he enables us to enjoy and make the most of those other relationships and facets of our lives that he has given to us. If we reverse things and try and seek to find the main source of our fulfilment then we are likely to find that will bring us up short at some point. More importantly we will be missing out on the fact that we are created to find our ultimate purpose as we follow Christ.

To reinforce this Jesus uses some confusing language. He speaks about eating and drinking his flesh and blood. Catholics tend to make a lot of this in light of transubstantiation obviously I cannot agree with that. But I do think that John in writing this is knowingly linking all of this with communion. When we celebrate and take the bread and wine we are symbolically eating and drinking the body and blood of Jesus (the same metaphor is used in 2 Sam 23:17). As Jesus puts his own life at risk in order that we may benefit we metaphorically drink eat his body and drink his blood. Jesus was challenging them to think, to see beyond the obvious sign and to see that by faith they needed to rely on him. For us as we take communion we remind ourselves that as we eat the bread and take the wine into our bodies to sustain them, so by faith we are sustained by Jesus, forgiven, given new hope,. Jesus is the bread of life. Mick Jagger sings “I can't get no satisfaction...” - that is true for so many people though they try and try and try. Jesus came to satisfy our spiritual hunger. He alone can give us hope and meaning and purpose. There are many people and things that can bring satisfaction but they can all be taken away from us. So in the last analysis where is our hope, where is the ground of meaning and satisfaction for us? It is in God and his purpose in which we can trust and follow. He is the Bread of Life.

Conclusion

Let us as we break bread today reflect on how as we eat the bread and drink the wine into our bodies food and drink sustain us. Then let us consider how by faith the body and blood of the Lord sustain us – sustain us in hope, sustain us in faith, in love, lead us to satisfaction and fulfilment. Let us as William Williams put it say to us “Bread of heaven... feed me now and evermore”. William Williams famous hymn “Guide me O thou Great Jehovah” is based partly on what we find in this chapter. All those Welsh rugby fans who sing it with gusto have little or no idea what they are asking. They are asking God to be their source of fulfilment, the source of their spiritual sustenance.

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Gospel of John

Deconstruction and Reconstruction

Jn. 6:60-71

Preached on 24th January 2010

Introduction

We have been looking at this rather amazing chapter – John 6 which starts with 2 miracles and ends up with a very deep and meaningful conversation. Jesus presents himself as the Bread of Life – the sources and sustainer of real life and living. By following and believing in him which he has likened to eating his flesh and drinking his blood we can discover his life. So we turn to the closing verses that tell of us of something of another kind of exodus – a number of followers turn away from Jesus. It has been suggested that Jesus was genuinely upset as people left – this may be so though I find that harder to accept But this exodus arises because Jesus has been saying some very hard things for a 1st century Jew to accept.

Responses to our conditioning

We are all conditioned by our surroundings and experiences, our parents and our teachers, our wants and desires. Those of us in church have been indoctrinated – not necessarily in a bad way, but some of us from childhood have been taught to think in a certain way. When it comes to Scripture we automatically come to it with certain ideas we have inherited. We may not adhere to all those but many of them have quite an influence and it can be hard to shed them.

In fact there are 2 extremes that appear to me dangerous. There are those who are brought up in a certain way and for whatever reason at some point they find fault with what they have been taught. They see some flaw – perhaps it doesn't marry with their experience of life or intellectual of the world. In a reaction to this they conclude it is all a load of rubbish and jettison their faith for example. They “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. I don’t think that is a good thing.

The opposite extreme is to absorb and accept unquestioningly everything. It must be right since all of these good and godly people believed this. It was good enough for them therefore it is good enough for me. Furthermore they may in some cases vehemently contend with those who would challenge in any way this body of ideas. I don't think that is a good thing either – since our forbears are not necessarily better or worse than us, they were just as conditioned and prone to flaws themselves. To accept what one generation accepts blindly is to fail to take responsibility for ourselves and to pass the buck to others. Besides it is also to fail to take notice of what has happened for centuries – Christians have rediscovered truths, many long since forgotten or rejected. Take our own Pentecostal denomination – born out of a revival when the life and work of the Spirit had in some ways been overlooked for many centuries.

Preferable to these 2 extremes is a more gradual process that I see now is very much a voyage of discovery. In fact as I look over my life I see how this gradual process of challenge to things I have accepted as read takes place and is replaced with a more thoughtful and real faith. It happens gradually. Sometimes there is resistance from inside ourselves, but instead of rejecting everything or accepting everything over a period of time God changes us. We can go through a period of deconstruction. Bit by bit certain assumptions are stripped away, perhaps experiences contribute, but our ideas are challenged and found to be wanting. This can be a very uncomfortable time. It can be quite scary as gradually one's faith is deeply challenged and some things stripped away from it. Then they are replaced by new (to us at any rate) insights that seem to be more true to Scripture and experience and leave behind a more mature faith.

Deconstruction and Reconstruction at the hands of Jesus

What has all this got to do with these closing verses of John 6? Well it seems those who followed Jesus then as now went through this process of deconstruction and then reconstruction. Following Jesus was very scary like that. He said things that were shocking, different, sounded blasphemous, downright confusing. So it you have ever felt like that looking at what Jesus said, or even alone with your thoughts – then take heart – you are not the first or last. Jesus had been saying stuff that indicated he was God's Son, equal to God. Jesus had been saying stuff that indicated he was God's Son, now the disciples were looking for the Messiah, a prophet to lead Israel into a new Golden Age. What they got was a king who believed he was equal to God and did not seek any confrontation with the Romans. The Jews were fiercely monotheistic and here he was saying “I am...” - isn't that blasphemous thy thought. Then just now he had been saying “I am the bread of life...” he talked about eating his body (what are we then cannibals) and drinking his blood – now remember the whole thing in the Mosaic law about eating meat with blood in it. Strictly forbidden – to this day many Jews will not contemplate such a thing. What was he on about, why was it all so confusing, why can't it be simple? I can't answer those questions other than to day it isn't simple. A simple faith is one thing, but that doesn't mean that the teaching and message of Jesus is simple – it is evidently not! As a result some of those following Jesus say “I'm off, this is much too deep for me, I am just here for the food!” As a pastor who has had people leave my church (some because of me!) I find it encouraging that some people left Jesus church too!

But it remains true that some people forsake following Jesus because there is some stuff that is just plain hard to understand. Those of us who remain are not those who have figured it out. Oh no! Like the Twelve we too can say in my paraphrase “We haven't got a clue what you are on about but we know you the source of real, lasting life.” What is important is that we be like them. You may have many things you don’t understand about God and what he is doing or not doing. There may be things that you no longer believe, or things that are being challenged. It is all very disconcerting. You may be tempted to jettison faith altogether, or just to cling on unthinkingly to everything – simply because it is simpler. I want to encourage you to allow God to challenge you, to take you on this journey of discovery. He may not answer your questions. In this church we do not discourage a questioning approach. If you come and say I have difficulty believing this or that – we are not going to reject you as a heretic! But allow the Scriptures to be opened to you afresh by the Spirit and discover that whatever else changes one thing has not – Jesus has the answer to life's deepest issues.

Conclusion

The New Testament and Church history is strewn with the tales of people who start out with a certain kind of faith only to find that as they go through life it doesn't fit. They go through a period of challenge and transformation and come out the other end stronger for it. The disciples are examples. The Apostle Paul was so sure of his own indoctrination and vehement is his opposition to the early Christians he persecuted them only to be turned upside down. I think of martin Luther a 16th Century monk whose medieval Catholic faith simply didn't deal with his spiritual issues and as he studies the Scriptures his eyes were opened to how he could come near to God by faith. John Wesley who dry Anglican faith left him similarly empty, despite being a missionary to America (a failed one at that) still empty until evening transformation took place.

What is important as we undergo this process is that we make sure that the changes that take place bring us closer to God, closer to Jesus, more authentic followers, more like him. If that is the case then we are on the right track. If ideas lead us in the opposite direction then we are being misled. But if we are growing in love for others and for God then what is happening in us is the work of God. Just because others may disagree does not make us wrong. Where are you on that journey? Have you really discovered that whatever happens in life he has the words of eternal life?

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Gospel of John

Staying in Tune

John 7:1-36

Preached on 31st January 2010

Introduction

As John's Gospel progresses you can feel the tension build. Jesus is preforming miraculous signs, the new Genesis is developing, he is explaining about his kingdom, this new creation. But we have seen some people desert Jesus, some of the stuff is too hard to take. Then as now following Jesus is not the easy path, it is not everyone's cup of tea. Here in John 7 Jesus has to get away from Judea (John describes mostly what happens in Judea whereas the Synpotics describe his Galilean ministry.)

As many of you know I teach violin. One of the challenges of playing an instrument like a violin as opposed to a piano, is to play in tune. It takes time and practice to do so and still then you can still find yourself playing out of tune. Constant practice is the only remedy and a developing a good ear to hear the sometimes very minor adjustments that have to be made. It seems here that Jesus is talking about being in tune with the Father, about a world which is very much out of tune with him and the reasons why that is. One of the key words in John is “the world” he talks about the world in a way the others Gospels does not.

In a sense being a follower of Jesus is about seeking to live a life “in tune” with God. John records time and again How Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing, he was in tune with the Father. Paul later described it as “walking in the Spirit”. Just like a musical instrument it requires practice and a good ear to develop. Just as in a musical instrument the ability to play in tune enables one to make the most of the music, to enjoy it to the full so as we are in tune with God we are enabled to live life to the full, real, abundant life, not just existing. So what are the things we need to listen out for?

1. Whose agenda are we following?

The secret to understanding this passage is probably in v. 17: If anyone wants to do God's will then they will know whether the teaching Jesus brings is really from God or not. If they really intend on doing God's will when they find out what it is, then it will become clear to them that Jesus really is from God. These people in this passage are coming at things from the wrong way as do many of us. First they and we want to weigh up Jesus teaching and then decide if he is right. Sounds reasonable. But it isn't so when you consider that as we listen we all have our own agenda. Whether we accept Jesus teaching or not is greatly affected by that agenda. When we listen to a politician speak for example most people listen and think about how what they have heard will affect them and make their choice accordingly. Their decision to believe what is being said is hugely influenced by our own agenda. It is a very hard thing indeed to listen with an open mind. So often our minds are already made up. The truth is most often for most people – if something fits in with our agenda then we will believe it, if it doesn't then we won't. We may think that faith is about evidence, we believe because something is true. But in actual fact most of us believe or not because we want to. Sometimes because of the evidence and sometimes in spite of it. Similarly people disbelieve for the same reasons. How else can we explain the opposite view points people take on many things, including Jesus when confronted with the same evidence. This seems to be the problem here. Signs are being performed pointing to who Jesus is, yet many refuse to believe. Why because they have an agenda and Jesus doesn't fit in with it. It is possible to come to church read all this stuff Jesus says and basically ignore it. Our own agenda gets in the way.

So if we are to overcome this and be in tune with the God of the Universe, we somehow have to set aside our agenda and listen. We have to make a conscious choice that whatever he tells us to do we will do. We have to abandon our agenda and live by his agenda. What is your agenda? Is it for your own personal fulfilment? Is your agenda dominated by what makes you feel happy? What gets you the most money etc? If we are to live in tune with God we have to want to do God's will, whatever it is, then we will see the truth and wisdom of Jesus teaching and discover that real life is found in him.

2. Whose glory are we seeking?

Closely linked with our own agenda is whose glory are we after. Jesus makes it clear that what he cares about is God's glory – not his own or anyone else's. Even his family – they wanted him to appear in public! In today's terms they wanted his publicity to be managed to cash in on his fame. But this wasn't what Jesus wanted – why else did he openly challenge those in power, the religious leaders, why else did he say things that turned some of his followers off. Because if people ceased to follow him – that wasn't the most important thing. So long as he was doing God's will for God's glory. Jesus in the path he took of self sacrifice and love demonstrated that was what he wanted alone.

Again this is a difficult area for us. For if we are honest we are all interested in our own reputation, our own advancement. Pride and self are an ever present challenge – challenge in that these things can get in the way of us being in tune with God. When that happens then we will find that we will end up using people, when we use people we end up missing out ourselves on what God has for us. But when it is God's glory that we are interested in that we are most likely to live and act for him and be in tune. We are on a path that can lead us to real fulfilment and significance. These people thought they were in on God's agenda and working for his glory. But they were not. There are people in the world who believe they are acting for God's glory in blowing people up. But what Jesus shows us is that God's glory is not to be found in the destruction of others but in love for others, self sacrifice, meeting the needs of the sick and poor and needy, the hurting and despised. I have come across many Christians and I dare say I have been one of them at times – who think they act and for God's glory but it is our own we care about most. God's glory is ultimately seen in his love and justice being demonstrated.

3. Whose ideas are we believing?

In the end it is all tied in with people's own ideas of God. One of the most significant things of all is how we see God, what we think about him. I have argued for a long time that many of our ideas about God are not right because they do not accord with Jesus. He is the full revelation of God. These Jews knew the OT very well and saw things there that fuelled their ideas about God's kingdom and how it would work and their place in it. But Jesus explided these things. There was nothing wrong with those Scriptures - they just failed to recognise that Jesus was THE Word. As John has declared he is the Word of God. The Scriptures are important but it is actually Jesus who is THE Word of God. I hear Christians talk about the word of God, but I don't recognise the God they speak of. Why is that? People appeal to the Scriptures to support many things – the Scriptures are true – of course they are. They use the Scriptures in a way that they think represents God – but doesn't fit with Jesus We must interpret everything in the light of Jesus. He is the prism we must read them through. It is like dyslexic children – some children can only read the words when using a coloured sheet. Jesus is that sheet who allows us to make sense of them. The world needs to discover Jesus – the real Jesus. But so does the church. e.g. Apparently there are prominent Christians who teach “God hates us and only loves the Jesus in us”. People haven't understood that God really loves us. John tells us that this world that is so out of tune with him, he loves it. He loves it so much he has given his unique Son for it. For those wayward people. That should be a dominating thought in our hearts and minds. I maintain as I have said before that there are some evangelical Christians who in some ways have similarities to extreme Islam! We have to keep Jesus central, he must be the prism through which we see everything.

Conclusion

So what it boils down to is that if we want to be in tune with God and live abundantly then we need to allow Jesus to reveal God to us so that we really know God. We will only ever know God when we recognise that Jesus is God in the flesh and shows us what he is like. As we do so let us pursue his glory and follow his agenda and his alone. When it is his will that we want – when we are prepared to sacrifice our won agenda and glory at his altar, follow his purpose. Then we will be in tune with him. Then we will find the purpose we seek, the fulfilment we desire, we will walk in the peace he gives and find the joy his purpose brings.

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