There are images in the story of wedding, water and wine. The prophet Isaiah mentions the coming salvation with symbols of wine (I saiah 25:6) and wedding feast ( 62:4-5). The water held in jars for ritual washing in this story foreshadows the 'living water' Jesus speaks of by the well in Samaria ( John 4) and connects the person of Jesus to ideas of purity and life. The steward also exclaims how the best wine is kept for last and perhaps we can find a similar thought in the last words of John Wesley, "The best of all is, God is with us". Who has been a "witness to testify to 'the light" ( v. 7) for you in your Christian experience? Who is there for whom you might be a witness, testifying to the light for them? Today we return to the feeding of the multitude and the discussion about it, which forms the remainder of the chapter and the remainder of our week’s studies. Key concepts today are the origin and the qualities of the bread of heaven.

What can we learn about the Lord’s purpose for the world from reading about the relationship between the brothers? How might it speak to us today? The point in Mary’s song is that God has redressed the balance of the world: the hungry are fed and those who already have plenty are not given any more; those who are powerless are given a position and those who are all-powerful are challenged. Hannah and Mary each receive a vision of how the world might be when righteousness prevails, when all are treated as equal in the sight of God. This vision continues to inspire God’s faithful people in a world where there seems to be too much power in the wrong hands; where affluent countries waste food that might feed starving people; where abuse of God’s creation is causing untold devastation for those who have fewest resources; where vaccines are not available to the vulnerable. Things need to be turned round…

86 results

In what ways have you noticed yourself or others trying to fit Jesus into your or their own agenda or projects? Think of a time in your life when someone took an interest and showed they cared by encouraging you to be better or to go further. How did that motivate you?

All these emphasise the link between a follower’s love of Jesus and God leading to obedience and a will to keep God’s commandments. This is to be demonstrated through “love for one another” (v. 17). Would it not be helpful to pull these scattered fragments together or to identify some underlying principles? The notion of ‘love’ comes to the rescue. Love is expressed through each and every rule and regulation. Love is the sum of them all ( verse 9). Love is their common purpose and goal – "the fulfilling of the law" ( verses 8 and 10). But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.' (vs 18-19) The same seems to be true of today’s story. The palm branches waved by the crowd are associated with the nationalism of an earlier era of Israel’s history, and an armed Jewish revolt against an occupying power by the Maccabean dynasty: in 141 BC, palm branches were carried in a procession into Jerusalem for Simon Maccabee, who was briefly triumphant against the occupiers. Joseph’s story has many high points and low points, yet “the Lord was with him”. What helps you to sense that Lord is with you in the high and low points of your life?How easy do you find it to work out what modern-day Christians should be doing by reading the Bible? Chapter five follows the calling of the disciples and the journey of healing Jesus had taken through Galilee. This had drawn crowds from all of the surrounding regions to hear him and is the beginning of his teaching ministry. The language is certainly very colourful and the writing intense. Indeed, it may leave us feeling a little uncomfortable. The ‘scoffers’ suggest that the world is continuing much the same as it always has and that the promises of Jesus are proving fruitless. However misguided these ‘godless’ people’s views may seem though, would we like to see them destroyed by fire along with the heavens and the earth? Is this how we imagine the judgement of God? What, then, is ‘love’? It is not just an emotion or sentiment. It is behaviour that never harms or hurts another person, causes no damage to anyone, no offence and no pain. Love enables people and relationships to flourish without any threat or anxiety, and keeps everyone safe.

Prison chaplains probably use the gift of encouragement more than any other gift. In our presence, in our words and in our actions, we offer to prisoners a version of God that says they are valued, loved, and not forgotten. We simply encourage them, and it makes a difference to their outlook on life. Maybe you are familiar with CS Lewis’ series of books known as The C hronicles of Narnia. The first in the series is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the final volume is The Last Battle. At the end of this final book in the series, the lion, Aslan, reveals that the stories have been a dream, he calls the people to know that the conflict, the pain, and the trauma of battle is over. Aslan declares that the dream is ended – this is the morning. And into that silence comes the sound of people – broken, bewildered and bereaved. For not all who have participated in conflict have died – many more continue to live with their injured bodies, their troubled minds, their disturbed spirits – and we will remember them. Not all who suffer the effects of conflict have engaged in battle; those who are left behind are also profoundly affected. And we will remember them. In our modern world, I wonder if we can imagine the vulnerability of those early Christian communities and the perceived threat of false prophets and teachers? There are now well established creeds and doctrines, and ways of testing out new ideas, for example through reflecting on Scripture, tradition, reason and experience. Little of this was available to those early Christians and hence the concern of church leaders as expressed in this letter. And hence we realise why it was important to claim the authority of eyewitness testimony and that direct link with the person and teaching of Jesus.

Today's passage sits in the middle of a long farewell discourse by Jesus with his disciples set within the context of the Last Supper. It follows a series of positive messages making clear that "if you love me you will keep my commandments" ( John 14:15); " they who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father" ( John 14:21) and "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love." ( John 15:10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' (v. 10) In today’s passage we move out of the idyllic scenes in the Garden of Eden to a world which will increasingly become more complicated. We read of Adam and Eve beginning their family and the birth of their two sons: Cain followed by Abel. It's good news one would think. They grew to be men and took on the tasks of tilling the ground and looking after the sheep. All seems to be well, and we read ( vs 3-4) that both bring offerings to the Lord from the work they had been undertaking. Today’s psalm includes the words “Do not remember the sins of my youth…” ( Psalm 25:7). How can we ensure that past mistakes and regrets in our lives do not spoil our current relationship with God and with other people?

When in your prayer life you feel that God is asking something of you, do you obey without question? The theme is the teaching of Jesus, of which Matthew offers more than the other gospel writers and, importantly, we are introduced to the kingdom of heaven as a central consideration. Today’s reading is an example of both Matthew’s emphases. The beatitudes are the opening of Jesus’s teaching ministry. But the theme is introduced in 4:17 where he proclaimed: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Here he goes on to point the way to the kingdom. If you are a member of a Christian community, in your own life how do you feel about other voices and beliefs? Jesus then turns to a much more negative narrative in which he reverses the situation from one of love to hate. Earlier and subsequent interactions between Jesus and the religious authorities, including the Pharisees and Herodians, provide examples of people trying to work against Jesus to seek his arrest and downfall. These may be some of those who Jesus refers to as hating him and his followers. However, by the time John’s Gospel was written, it would be increasingly common for the new Christian communities to attract abuse and hatred as the persecution of those holding and expounding this new faith had started. Those listening to these words would have been all too aware that there was a growing divide between those who loved them and those who hated them and were a threat.Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, 'I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.' Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. (vs 1-2) In Paul’s statement we find God revealed through what Christ has done. Having been told that Christ is ‘in the form of God’ we find our attention focused upon what Christ did. Christ reveals himself in gracious actions, in refusal to exploit his rights, in his self-emptying, in his humiliation and obedience – even to the point of death.