New Year 2026 – The Gospel of John
Note: all Inspirations are now uploaded for the week – scroll down for Friday’s, and earlier posts…
A brief pause in our reflections on John, to reflect upon another great Psalm:
Saturday 28th February – Psalm 103 (ii) ‘Crowns you with love’
‘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.
Saturday 14th February – 1 John 4:7-21 ‘The Source of Love’
A reflection for Valentine’s Day:
In 2016, a new app was launched: ‘what3words’. The app divides the world into tiny squares 3m wide by 3m long and creates a unique 3-word name for each one. It wasn’t long before pretty much every serious walker or traveller put this app on their phones – if you get lost or have an accident, you just send your 3-word location and a rescue team can pinpoint your location exactly, and not have to comb a mile of wilderness trying to find you. It literally saves lives.
The world defined in 3 unique words. And here in this passage, we discover three words which condense all of the glorious wisdom of Scripture into three fundamental words, which take us to the heart of life itself: God is love.
But let’s be clear as to what kind of love is being described here. It’s not romantic love, or patriotic loyalty, or even based around things that we like or enjoy – though it can include bits of all of those. It is bigger and deeper than that. It is love defined as selfless giving.
This kind of love is Christ-centred (v9). It is also Christ initiated: ‘This is love,’ John says in v10, ‘not that we loved God but that he loved us.’ So often we start from human images of love and work back to God. But the deepest form of love comes from God, and we can only truly find it in him. God loved before we did – and as we receive this divine kind of love, then we find capacity to share that love with others. As we receive, so we give – otherwise the well runs dry.
This is why we have to centre ourselves in Christ, the heart of God’s self-giving love – as we do that, so his love fills us, and flows out of us into others: v17 ‘This is how love is made complete among us… in this world we are like Jesus.’
And not only this, the power of fear in our life is reduced: ‘there is no fear in divine love – perfect love drives out fear.’ (v18) To abide in this healing, cleansing, divine love helps us to live through that same love, and not the fears that whisper in our ear. We no longer need to be right, or important, or liked, or needed. We can simply give ourselves in love, as our Lord directs.
Today, let’s re-centre ourselves by inviting this awesome, self-giving divine love, this love of Christ, to enter our lives afresh and make us whole. And may God grant us grace to overflow in this love: back to God, and out to others. Amen.
Friday 13th February – John 14:4-6 ‘The Way, Truth and Life’
The Alpha Course has been the world’s most popular evangelistic course of the last 30 years or so. At last count, approximately 28 million people had attended one, in every kind of church, right across the globe. Its opening session poses the provocative question: ‘Christianity: boring, untrue, irrelevant?’
The answer lies in the famous verse we encounter in this passage. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To those who think that the Christian faith is boring, he is the Life; to those who think it untrue, he is the Truth; and to those who think it is simply irrelevant, he is the Way.
This last great description of Jesus is particularly important: the earliest followers of Jesus were known as ‘followers of the Way’. Before we coined the name Christian or Christianity, it was simply called ‘the Way.’
And what is so revolutionary about this statement of Jesus is that all of this is found directly in him. He doesn’t say, ‘this is the way;’ he says ‘I am the Way.’ He doesn’t say, ‘this is the truth,’ but ‘I am the Truth.’ He doesn’t say this is the kind of life God wants, but ‘I am the Life.’ It’s all found in him. It’s not religion at all, really, it’s relationship.
Imagine being the disciples first hearing this. I must confess I feel a bit sorry for them, as Jesus tells them: (v4) ‘You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Knowing what they did at the time, I think I would be asking exactly the same question as Thomas: (v5) ‘how can we know the way?’ We don’t even know where you’re going!
Jesus’ answer is both altogether easier and more mysterious at the same time. On the one hand, he is the Way, so the solution is right there in front of them. On the other, how can a person be the Way? This, of course, is the heart of our good news. Jesus achieves on our behalf what we cannot do for ourselves. When we follow him, all of this is given to us, and thereafter we have the great privilege of being with him, becoming like him, and, ultimately, doing what he did. The Way is Jesus’ very self: his presence, his character, his vision for life.
Today, give thanks that this Way is open to us. And may the Lord grant us all grace to practise the Way, in faith, hope and abiding love.
Thursday 12th February – John 14:1-3 ‘I will come back’
Many people who would never go near a church will be familiar with this passage – it is a much-loved choice for funerals, and you can see why. In a few short verses, Jesus packs in so many wonderful promises: first, a word of comfort to all who feel in distress – as the disciples must surely have felt, after he has told them he is going away, and that where he is going, they cannot come: (v1) ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled…. believe…in me.’ Jesus is the source of peace for all troubled hearts – a wonderful promise we’ll come back to in a few days’ time.
Next there is the promise that there is plenty of room in heaven: (v2) ‘My Father’s house has many rooms.’ In the old translation, it was ‘mansions,’ but is probably best rendered as ‘dwelling places.’ In keeping with the whole message of his ministry, eternal life through him is available to all – and heaven is big enough to have a home for everyone.
Alongside this, he also reassures his friends that what he is about to do is intimately connected with preparing a place for them in this wonderful new eternal home. At this point, they can’t possibly understand how that might work; but, of course, looking back, they could ‘join the dots’ – as, indeed, can we. Jesus’ death and resurrection ‘opens up the gates of heaven and beckons us in,’ to use the words of a lovely modern song.
But what the disciples most needed to hear at this point is arguably the bit we focus on least – certainly in a traditional funeral service. It’s verse 3: ‘I will come back.’ And not just return to resume life as it is now: ‘I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am.’
To grief-stricken friends who have just learned that Jesus is going away, the word they most needed to hear is that this is not the end, they will see him again. Or, as the old saying goes, it is not goodbye, but au revoir. And when they do see him again, their union will be permanent. From that point, they will always be where Jesus is.
2,000 years later, we still await Jesus’ final ‘coming back’; but the promise remains as true today as it was for the disciples. Jesus has prepared a place for all of us, and he is sure to return and take us to be with him, forever. Much as it’s right to focus on Jesus’ presence with us now – constantly, in this life – it’s good to remind ourselves that this is only part of the good news. There is a final home for all of us, of unspeakable joy, unfathomable peace and inexhaustible love. In the meantime, let’s live every day for the Lord until this glorious future is our eternal reality. Thanks be to God!
Wednesday 11th February – John 13:33-38 ‘You cannot follow now’
Today we get to the famous conversation between Jesus and Peter – it’s one that touches most of us deeply, not least because we all know how easy it is to do: to make a bold promise in the heat of the moment, which we can’t deliver on when it really matters.
There’ll be plenty of time to reflect on what happens to Peter later in the gospel story; today, though, let’s think about the effect on Jesus. It’s possible to overlook what a traumatic effect the last few minutes must have been for him: to know that he is about to be let down by two of his closest friends – first Judas, then Peter.
It’s one thing to know that the scriptures must be fulfilled; quite another to experience the personal impact of that: betrayal and cowardice from people you love. And yet, it is very much part of the plan, one which Jesus is fully aware of, and which necessarily involves his complete isolation from his family and friends: (v33) ‘Just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come.’
The effect of this statement was so dramatic that the disciples appear to ignore one of the most famous commands in the whole bible – ‘Love one another’ – to get straight back to what Jesus had just said before that: (v36) ‘Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”’ Another detail it’s easy to miss! But it testifies to the huge impact Jesus’ words must have had upon them, thundering so loudly into their souls that nothing else, not even life-changing teaching, could be heard.
At this point, Jesus clarifies his first statement a little: (v36) ‘Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.’ The irony is that, if the disciples had really understood what this clarification meant, i.e. the suffering they would experience later, they might not have wanted to ask the question at this point! Peter certainly learned very quickly the harsh reality of what it meant – something which led to Jesus’ famous reply: (v38) ‘Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!’ Be careful what you wish for, my dear friend Peter.
It’s hard to imagine everything that must have been whizzing through Jesus’ mind at this point. All the more remarkable then, that, in the midst of chaos and despair, he can call them to ‘love one another,’ a love he had modelled to them throughout, and is about to model to its utmost. Praise God that, where he went, we could not follow – for it means our salvation. And as that thought lifts our hearts, so may it also cause us to pray for those who are called to follow the way of the suffering Saviour – may the Lord grant them all grace to do so today, and may the joy of the Lord be their strength.
Tuesday 10th February – John 13:31-35 ‘Love one another’
‘Love each other dearly always. There is scarcely anything else in the world but that: to love one another.’ So says Jean Valjean on his deathbed to Marius and Cosette, in Victor Hugo’s great novel Les Miserables. It’s a clear re-enactment of this scene in the gospels, as the hero, facing his own death, passes a final, vital instruction onto those closest to him.
Jean Valjean is himself is transformed by an act of grace. Arrested for stealing silver from a bishop, the bishops ‘saves’ Jean by declaring that he gave Valjean the silver and even some candlesticks as well. He then urges Valjean to take the second chance he has been offered and use the silver to make a new way in life. Valjean does, but is still relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert; ultimately, though, he never forgets what he learned from the bishop, as his parting words testify.
It’s a great illustration of our passage for today – and, I think, a useful one, because there’s a risk of complacency. These words of Jesus are so familiar, it’s easy to forget how revolutionary they were at the time. This is a completely new definition of love. The Greek language already had three words: eros, meaning physical love; philia meaning a liking kind of love; and storge meaning kindred or family affection. But the early Christians recognised that none of these adequately captured what Jesus meant by love – so when John came to render Jesus’ Aramaic instruction to his friends into Greek, he used the new word that Christians had invented for love: agape.
Agape means humble, selfless service, and the context makes clear why John understood this was the right way to render Jesus’ instruction: Jesus had just washed his friends’ feet, and told them to do likewise. What better illustration of the sort of love to which Jesus was referring?
And, knowing that he was about to leave them, Jesus must have felt a keen sense that he needed to reinforce his most important teaching. The foot-washing example was powerful, but having just been disturbed by Judas’ exit into the night, he realised the lesson needed repeating: ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’
There’s a further reason for his command, too: not just Jesus’ own example, but the credibility of our witness to the world: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ It’s a healthy reminder that people will notice our lives, and potentially judge our message in the light of them.
As we commit our day to the Lord, may He grant us all grace to treasure His unfailing love in hearts; and may that empower us thereby to live out this command, as best we can. As we observed a few days ago, we can never pay His love back; but we can pay it forward – today, and every day.
Monday 9th February – John 4:27-38 ‘Spiritual food’
Following yesterday’s sermon, a reflection from the passage in John we looked at yesterday:
I love food. I won’t pretend otherwise. And all food, really. I can derive as much pleasure from cheese and beans on toast as from an expensive meal or an exquisite dessert. Not that I’ll refuse the latter if you ever host me for a meal, I hasten to add.
Food is a joy. Food is also fuel. We need to eat to have the energy required for the rest of life. In our passage today, Jesus was hungry and thirsty and the disciples try to get him to re-fuel his body: ‘Rabbi, eat something’ (v31). But Jesus replies cryptically: ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about’ (v32).
What was this ‘food’? Clearly not physical food – let’s abandon the thought that Jesus might have been hiding a pitta under his tunic, or some olives in his belt. This is clearly some sort of spiritual food. Many commentators have concluded that this is a reference to the spiritual nourishment (and discipline) of fasting, and there is much merit in that conclusion. Fasting really is a form of spiritual food, and if you’ve never tried it (and it’s safe for you to do so) I would recommend giving it a go. You’ll be surprised how alive you feel, and how close to God, if it’s dedicated to him.
But although I agree with this line of thought, Jesus does give us a much more direct answer in the text itself: ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me’ (v34). Obedience is energising. It fuelled Jesus’ life, even when he was physically hungry.
The same is true for us too. How are we nourished spiritually? Fundamentally by obeying God. As we do God’s will (in whatever form that takes) so we are ‘fed’, we are energised in our journey of faith. It becomes the fuel of our spiritual lives – even if others know nothing about it.
As you reflect, what is God calling you to do today? Dedicate it to him, cover it in prayer – and may that obedience be, not just fuel, but the choicest of spiritual food for you this day.
Note: Our back catalogue is still available here. There are series from all across the bible, and you can either view the PDF files online or download at your leisure.