BIBLE THIS WEEK

Thoughts on the Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary
for those who preach, or simply read and think.
Please let us know how you think this resource for all the church could be improved.

February 2012

5th February - Third Sunday before Lent, Proper1
Education Sunday

Isaiah 40. 21-31, Psalm. 147 1-11, 1 Corinthians 9. 16-23, Mark 1. 29-39

The challenge of ensuring that our children and young people get the best opportunities possible is at the heart of the work the church does in relationship to church schools. An important part of education and learning is about developing the skills to achieve a healthy life style. This is particularly important for Christians who need to achieve a balanced life of prayer, service and fun (Happy Christians are better “fishers of men” or role models than miserable ones).
Jesus is busy, visiting the homes of his new disciples, getting to know them and socialising. He responds when he finds a sick mother-in-law (yes Mother-in-law!), he heals her and touches her. Then when all the people realise the Sabbath is over they all find him and clamour at the door and he heals them too and drives out demons demanding as he does that they don’t reveal who he is. Then as soon as he is able after a short sleep and without offending his hosts he went off to pray in a solitary place. Then he moved on preaching : never a dull moment!
Jesus sets an example for all of us not just as to how we should live our lives but also how we should respond to the challenge of being a disciple and a servant. Jesus visited the homes of his disciples and responded to the needs of their families. How often do we fail to do this? Failing perhaps to see those who work alongside us in our church communities or schools as individuals or as families and not working to support and help them with the challenges they face at home; elderly relatives with Alzheimer’s, unemployed young people, depression or just too much to do. 
Jesus went on and met the needs of everyone who came to him in a way responsive to their needs. We will need much wisdom in the year to come as we try to meet the needs of those experiencing unemployment for the first time or benefit cuts.  How is the church to respond? If people can’t afford to continue to live in their existing way the church too will need to evaluate whether it can afford to maintain old energy inefficient buildings and instead invest in more community support services sharing buildings and facilities. It will be a challenge but Jesus then went to pray and that is what we all need to do. Busy, busy, responding people need a quiet place and space to pray to talk to God and then to listen to what he has to say.
Isaiah 40.31 great words of comfort.

12th February - Second Sunday before Lent, Creation Sunday

Proverbs 8. 1,22-31, Psalm 104.  24-35, Colossians 1. 15-20,  John 1. 1-14

One of the most difficult facts of Faith; Jesus is both God and man. He is not half and half he is fully both. This has tremendous implications for us as Christians; Christ is the perfect expression of God in human form.  So understanding what he did and how he lived shows us firstly what God is like and secondly, how we as people created by God should act. Scripture informs challenges and helps us to know the answer to the question “What would Jesus do?”
God created the world and as we learn about the complexity of that world e.g. the way in which bees organise themselves, produce honey and wax and also are responsible for the pollination of crops and fruit trees; the wonder of the stars and the ability of man to explore the solar system; the complexity of the human body and the way in which research explains more and more about how it functions. We are even able to transplant organs made possible by knowing about immunology, infection control, tissue typing and developing surgical techniques. All too complex and too consistent to be created by other than a loving God, whatever is discovered it conforms to the same “Laws of Nature”.  When does a feeling of wonder stop you in your tracks? When do you feel the greatest need to say “Thank you God “ or to just dance or sing with joy in tribute to a God who excites with his Glory.  Is it when you see a new born baby, when you see the first snowdrop, when you watch a colony of ants organising their lives, when your chest infection responds to antibiotics or when you see a lovely sunset?
Jesus is a perfect teacher teaching us how God thinks. He is a perfect example showing us how God expects us to behave and has achieved a perfect sacrifice for us needed because we just can’t get it right we just sin and sin. We live in a world of wonder the complexity of which continues to be revealed, we have an example to follow to get the best out of our lives and we know that as we will never be perfect God has by Grace said he understands and has his arms open wide to gather us in . We need to just wonder, worship, and try hard to emulate and enjoy.

19th February - Sunday before Lent, Transfiguration Sunday

2 Kings 2. 1-12, Psalm 50 1-6, 2 Corinthians 4 3-6, Mark 9. 2-9

Confusion, anxiety, uncertainty and failure to comprehend can be the feelings most people fear the most. If you read about some of the early missionaries to such places as Africa, China and Papua New Guinea then you read the most amazing stories of people who should have been consumed by such feelings and almost certainly unable to cope. However, these stories instead tell of people supported by a God who says “this is my child whom I love”.
As Christians we have God’s revealed word, the Bible, to guide us in our understanding of the love God has for us, the meaning and the importance of the Trinity and to explain the full meaning of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Peter, James and John however, had none of this they were three unschooled, wet behind the ears, confused and frightened disciples who probably wished Jesus had chosen other disciples to accompany him. Many called by God to tread unfamiliar paths have I am sure felt similarly confused initially until they have felt God’s leadership.
So there they are on the top of a mountain with their new leader, Jesus when suddenly they see him in dazzling white talking to Moses and Elijah and then they hear God saying “this is my son, whom I love. Listen to him”.
What an event Moses the giver of the Law, Elijah the representative of the Prophets, Jesus and three confused terrified disciples whose first thought was “let us do something let us build three shelters” they would have the skills to build shelters for protection on cold nights on the mountain when watching the sheep or on the shore when fishing. When things get tough we revert to what we do well making a cup of tea perhaps. Even witnessing this transfiguration didn’t result in three disciples who knew and understood. Christians need a lifetime of experience to refine their understanding and Jesus understands that.
This passage could be the subject for a play entitled “You will never guess what happened to us!” or “God tries again, Moses, Elijah and now Jesus. Time to get the message!” We have no reason for our unbelief.

26th February - Lent 1

Genesis 9. 8-17, Psalm 25. 1-10, 1 Peter 3. 18-22, Mark 1. 9-15

Children brought up in homes that encourage them for their achievements do better educationally, form lasting relationships more easily and have greater self worth.  God affirms Jesus publically at his Baptism and does so again at his transfiguration he is demonstrating the skills of Fatherhood.
Lent is often marked by fasting, making personal sacrifices, getting involved with a Lent course or some other venture. Perhaps this Lent provides an opportunity to consider the skills of parenting from so many points of view. “You are my son, whom I love. With you I am well pleased” God encouraged Jesus and Jesus encourages us as his children. Who should we encourage and how and when?

• Families, parents, children and extended families.
• Work colleagues and those who provide us with services e.g. window cleaning, garage services, shop assistants, bank staff, refuse collectors.
• Church family, flower arrangers, funeral directors, organist, the scruffy and smelly congregation member, the awkward member of the PCC and those who make the coffee. 

Jesus went from Nazareth to Galilee, he was baptized and the spirit descended on him “You are my son, whom I love. With you I am well pleased”. We often think of the Spirit as our ever present help but the Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert for 40 days to be tempted by Satan. While tackling this temptation he wasn’t alone angels attended him. Jesus was tempted by Satan because he was human and so are we and we are constantly being tempted. This experience of Jesus provides him and us with an understanding of how challenging and tough temptation can be. It is often difficult or we fail to say “Get thee behind me Satan”. It also assures us that Jesus knows how challenging temptation is.
In addition, life was difficult John was in prison the powers that be were closing in but still after being tempted Jesus went to Galilee to preach “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” nothing diverted him from the task to spread the good news.
What a better way to start Lent than to encourage all those with whom we have a relationship and in so doing help them to receive this encouragement and so grow more confident and more able to resist temptation.