Almost time...

John 7:1

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him.

A man condemned.

Already marked out

for persecution

and death.

Forced to continue his work

in secret

under the radar

out of the light.

But pushing on

with more to teach

and more to do

and more to witness.

Condemned

but unstoppable

in doing the will

of the one who sent him.

Condemned

but engaged with humanity

living in love and compassion

until the end.

A man condemned

Son of God.

Provocative

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Being provocative...

Not half hearted

Or ineffectually polite

but prodding

and encouraging

one another

to act in love.

And ever hopeful

of making a difference

Of causing a stir

Of pointing others 

to the God

who delivers promises

and who is worthy

of our worship and praise.

Provoke one another...

A work in progress

1 Peter 1:24 - 2:3

For

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

That word is the good news that was announced to you.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

Chapter 2

Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Rid yourselves...

Old habits die hard

Salvation is for growing into

It's not instantaneous

We don't suddenly become saints

Growing into the gifts of God

and throwing off old ways

takes time

and practice

and a thirst

for pure, spiritual milk,

the food that will nourish

and sustain

our walk with God

into marvellous light

embracing the word of Gof

that lasts forever.

Do you want to be well?

John 5:2-6

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

Not one to make assumptions

Jesus asks: Do you want to be made well?

While others might think

that question out of place

or hypothetical

or just daft,

Jesus knows only too well

the complexity of human nature.

Not everything is obvious.

And folk make all sorts of choices

that aren't easily understood.

But Jesus respects choice.

Never one to impose

his notion of what is right and proper

Jesus asks the difficult question:

Do you want to be made well?

Do you?

A vision

Isaiah 65:19-21

I will rejoice in Jerusalem,

and delight in my people;

no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,

or the cry of distress.

No more shall there be in it

an infant that lives but a few days,

or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;

for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,

and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

They shall build houses and inhabit them;

they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

A vision of healing and wholeness

beyond the war and carnage.

Of peace and planting

beyond the destruction.

Of fruitfulness

beyond the rubble.

A vision of life.

But how can we glimpse God's promise

through the dust of destruction?

How can we imagine God's future

in the burnt out ruins of a city?

How can we envisage longevity

when the lives of children seem so cheap?

How can we glimpse hope

in the midst of desolation?

Gods promise is for a world 

we cannot imagine

in a time we cannot tell.

Our hope is in a God

who delivers on promises.

What do you say?

John 9:16-17

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

Rumours

Gossip

Condemnation

Conjecture

Deemed a sabbath breaker

A sinner

But to the man who found sight

- a prophet

We, too, if we are of a mind

can see beyond

the testimony of others

can see beyond the rule breaker

and experience the healing of God

who created sabbath rest

and reveals to us

the things before our eyes

in a new light every day.

Let it be...

Luke 1:38

Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Let it be...

Let me do your will

Even though that means

I'll be cast out

Ostracised

Gossiped about

Even though

some will hate and revile me

and others will shake their heads 

and feel sorry for me

Let it be...

For I am God's servant

And one day

when mothers need a song of protest

they will take up my song

One day

when women need strength

to break out of their oppression

they will take courage

from my story

Let it be...

For there is strength in weakness

and courage in obedience

and joy in surrender

Let it be