BIBLE THIS WEEK

Thoughts on the Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary
for those who preach, or simply read and think.
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January 2012 (for February 2012 click here)

1st January - Christmas 1: Isaiah 61:10 – 62:3, Psalm 148, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:15-21

Last week we heard how the angel appeared to the shepherds and said ‘Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’  In this week’s gospel reading we find the shepherds’ response ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’  The good news of great joy was given for all people, but how many actually go and see?  How many are prepared to permit disruption and change, to alter their plans?
I was reminded of ante-natal classes, and the insistence of some expectant mothers that their baby would have to fit in with their current pattern of life, that its arrival wouldn’t be allowed to change anything.  Isn’t this how many view the Messiah?  Well, yes, I believe in God but I’m not prepared to change my life in any way, he’ll have to fit into my plans, my routines, my hopes....  Once the baby is born (if the parents bond with it) a relationship is formed, and their whole world revolves around their child, their old priorities and way of life are recognised to be of little import.
 As Paul reminds us in Galatians, unless we develop a relationship with God we are to be pitied.  Religiosity, following a set of rules, enslaves us.  Conversely, knowing God as our Father, and knowing ourselves to be his children, frees us to praise him and cry out ‘Abba’, ‘Daddy’.   
It’s through the Spirit of God that we are able to offer genuine praise as we find in all three readings.  Isaiah is greatly rejoicing in the Lord with his whole being, recognising that his salvation comes from the one who has clothed him in righteousness.  And the shepherds returned after seeing Jesus, glorifying and praising God.
If you are finding it hard to glorify and praise God at this time read the Bible, see how God has delivered what he promised and reflect on what it means to you to be his child and heir.

8th January - Epiphany 1: Baptism of Christ: Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11

Even before Christmas I was asked if I’d decided upon a New Year’s Resolution.  Those around me  promised they were going to exercise more, eat less, drink less and try to get healthy: that is, after they’d finished celebrating Christmas with another large meal and a few more bottles of wine. According to Wikipedia, recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a New Year’s resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals.
What percentage of those parents who baptize their children, I wonder, manage to keep their promises to bring their child up in the faith, let alone keeping their own personal pledges?  In today’s Gospel reading we are reminded that John brought a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus, to whom John points everyone, brings baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit – guide, comforter, breath of God, enabler, life-giver.
The Holy Spirit is there at the very beginning when God created everything – in Hebrew the same word is used for ‘wind’ and ‘Spirit’ – ‘the wind from God swept over the face of the waters’.   Now the Spirit brings a new baptism, moving over the baptismal water, creating something new, breathing new life.
When Paul, in Acts, discovers those who have only received John’s baptism he baptises them in the name of the Lord Jesus and lays hands on them.  We hear that ‘the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied’.  God’s breath, his Spirit, brings life in a newer, fuller, and more powerfully enabling way.
Is it ignorance – as demonstrated by those in our Acts reading – which stops people being baptised with the Spirit?  Or is it fear?
It is after he is baptised, when the Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove, that a voice is heard ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’  What a blessing: to act in obedience and have God call you his child, his beloved........

15th January - Epiphany 2: 1 Samuel 3:1-10,Psalm 139:1-9 or 1-5,12-18, Revelation 5:1-10, John 1:43-51

How wonderful to be known totally: God’s knowledge of us is elucidated in Psalm 139 and don’t we all want to know ourselves so well loved that every aspect of us is known?  The boy Samuel (does Samuel know that his name means ‘God has heard’?) hears from God and discovers that God knows his name, that God calls us by name even when we do not know him.  But perhaps it is not comfortable to know ourselves known totally by God when we are sinning, as Eli’s sons were known to be.

How hard it is for a parent when their child, or children, rejects all that they hold dear.  Is it easier to let your children go their own way, rather than teaching them self-discipline and respect?  Has Eli shown too little love to his sons and neglected their upbringing, or has he been over-indulgent in his love for them and so failed them?  Yet Eli shows patience with Samuel, despite being awoken from sleep three times, and is happy to pass on his knowledge of God and train Samuel.  Would we be able to say ‘It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him’, knowing that our offspring will not thrive and that the young boy who learns from us will eclipse us? 

God knows our worth and yet, as we find in Revelation, the only one truly worthy is the Lamb of God.  He alone is worthy to open the scroll.  He alone is worthy to judge us, for he knows the hearts of everyone.  He recognised Nathanael as an Israelite in whom there was no deceit: he saw that Nathanael would follow him.  And we know from the reading in Revelation that all who follow him will be ransomed by his blood. Those who believe in Christ, and in whom Christ dwells, will be priests, and will form a Kingdom which serves God.  

22nd January – Epiphany 3: Genesis 14:17-20, Psalm 128, Revelation 19:6-10, John 2:1-11

I consider it a great loss that we don’t have a lectionary year devoted to John’s gospel; he interweaves so many symbolic themes into his narrative.  Today’s reading is no exception, consider the symbols which point to the future: on the third day, wedding, all Jesus’ disciples being invited, the best wine, pots to hold the water for purification, Jesus’ glory being revealed, belief.

At a superficial level we might consider that this is Jesus’ first miracle and without his intervention the feast would have been a sorry affair.  But as always John requires us to reflect and it is when we consider that the wedding immediately precedes the cleansing of the Temple we realise that John is pointing us to the new era and new life brought in by Jesus.  The water of purification (law) is changed into wine (Jesus’ blood).  The life of the new Israel (the true vine) has come to birth.

In the ancient near east, the supply of wine at weddings depended in part on the gifts of the guests who attended.  According to a report, written in April last year by Halifax, a typical guest nowadays spends £452 on a wedding!  Is it possible that the invitation for the disciples was last minute and that they were unable to contribute: Jesus here then provides not only on his own account but also on behalf of those who follow him. As we read in Revelation ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb’: the wedding guests at that feast won’t have to pay a penny, everything has been paid in advance by the bridegroom.  Indeed through his redemption the bride will be clothed in righteousness, in fine linen, pure and bright.

But there are also a couple of lessons to be learned from John’s gospel: Mary rushed to Jesus wanting instant solutions and for no-one to be embarrassed, and it can be easy for us to consider that a Saviour is there to sort our problems, to save us from disgrace and inconvenience.  The servants must have thought Jesus deranged in his request to fill the purification pots with water in the middle of a feast.  Yet had they not done so they would have missed seeing his glory being revealed.  This, then, is the purpose of the miracle, to reveal the glory of God through Jesus so that others may come to believe.  It is through belief and obedience to his wishes, no matter how bizarre, that other voices may be raised, crying out ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory’.

29th January – Epiphany 4: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, Revelation 12:1-5a, Mark 1:21-28

We return to Mark, our Gospel of choice for this year.  We’re back again to Jesus’ identity being hidden to those who should know him, and known by those considered to be outsiders.  The disciples and those in the synagogue are astounded at his teaching, at his authority.  They are amazed at his casting out of unclean spirits, yet shouldn’t they have been able to recognise him for who he was?  Shouldn’t they have been the ones to discern his true purpose? 
Throughout Mark we find that those who should have insider knowledge – the Priests, the disciples, the Jews – are the ones who don’t see.  Those who recognise Jesus’ identity and purpose are those on the outside – the unclean, the gentile, women. 
Perhaps we should be most concerned when we consider ourselves to be ‘in the know’, part of the elect of God.  Isn’t it only when we know deeply our need of God, and his grace, that we are able to truly perceive him? 
Jesus destroys the unclean spirit which has been dehumanizing the man afflicted.  Aren’t many now being lured away by something that looks attractive and powerful, and in the process becoming dehumanized?  The great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns and seven diadems on its heads may look alluring, and attractive: yet it is in Jesus’ humility, obedience to God, and quiet authority that humanity is seen at its best.
 Moses tells of the misfortune that awaits any who try to ‘jazz up’ what God wants them to say, and also to those who do not heed God’s word.  In the face of increasing cynicism, persecution and indifference it might be tempting to say more than that which God puts into our mouths, and to sensationalise the good news, but we must heed both Moses warning and Jesus’ example of authority and simplicity if we are to minister in God’s name as he calls all disciples to do.