Ian’s lets listen to Jesus

My breath is taken away as I consider how awesomely vast Thou art. I see pictures of outer space where explosions thousands of light-years across are happening. When I consider the power released when one atom is split, yet you are intimately involved in each one of our lives, in a uniquely personal way. My mind cannot contain it or even start to understand – yet love and appreciation flow at the thought that you made me exactly as I am, chose me, called me and are preparing me for glory.

” I am busy and I have already revealed much of myself to my creation. My desire is that it would awaken the sort of response you are showing, yet while it is good to be in awe of my might it is not good to fear me in a negative way. Remember that if I am for you – who can be against you? And that is continually true. I am always for you working towards my ultimate goal of preparing you for glory, the glory you will experience in the presence of my glory.”

We read Romans 1:6-13 today. Having introduced himself, briefly Paul addresses the recipients. This passage gives us an idea of who the people are who are going to receive the letter, but in trying to get into Paul’s head as he writes he was certainly not thinking of the millions of people who would eventually read the letter. What is he doing then?

Firstly I suggest that he is not wanting to burst in with a heavy theological treatise, before actually trying, in some way, to form some sort of connection with the recipients

Look at all the positive things he says to them: They are loved and called by God to be saints. He wishes them grace and peace. He expresses his thanks to God for all of them complementing them on the faith he has heard they show.

He expresses a personal interest in them for some time in that he prays for them regularly.

He also expresses his eagerness to visit them and impart a gift to them to encourage them.

What can we learn from this? Paul’s underlying aim is quite clear; he wants them to hear and respond to the gospel. Now my aim and hopefully each one of yours is to share the gospel with others. Often it seems a daunting task. Here Paul gives us a bit of advice: Build a positive relationship with the person you are speaking to. It is within such relationships that it becomes easier to share one’s faith. Of course one should not hide your faith. Be open about it but in a self-revelatory fashion, from the beginning. Some people will be frightened off but for others it later becomes natural to talk about your faith.

From the very beginning of this letter we can see Paul’s driving desire to share the gospel, so we, the readers can be prepared for that to be the main theme of what is to follow. And notice he does not just want to share some words, his desire is to see a great harvest (vs 13). It is interesting to remember that earlier he addressed them as saints, yet now we get a glimpse of the fact that many readers will not be saints.

We also see in vs 13 that he seems to be expecting the main recipients to be Jewish, yet throughout the letter he speaks to both Jews and Gentiles and addresses the differences these two backgrounds have in how they will receive his letter. As we get into the letter we will see how markedly different his approach is towards each group. While the basics of the gospel remain the same, the way they receive it differs. It is important to remember this in our interaction with others.

May you all have a blessed week.

This is our God – immutable, inscrutable, your glory filling the universe. Beautiful in your Holiness, yet overflowing with love towards your creation, especially those whom you have adopted as children into your family. I worship you.

” I receive your worship and adoration, with joy. That is why I have created. So that the joy I can bring and the love I can show will be shared among billions of those who have chosen to follow me and receive my Spirit. I can never have enough praise and adoration – it builds up and builds up and overflows to all the corners of my created universe. So continue with your adoration and appreciation of everything I am to you and I will continually reveal more and more of myself to you.”

So, by special request we are going to embark today on reading through Paul’s letter to the Romans, remembering our aim – to learn to listen to the voice of Jesus as we read His word.

Just a few introductory remarks to help us understand the context and purpose of the letter. That is always so important when we listen for Jesus’ voice. The word He seeks to give us is most powerful when aligned with the purpose He had when He inspired the passage one is reading.

This is the only letter of Paul’s addressed to a church he had not yet visited. Although there are issues he addresses in the letter there is not one that is major. Paul appeared to be intending to visit this church and gather their support for a further outreach in Spain. This is revealed in 15:23 ff.

The letter acts as a sort of CV of Paul which he presents to the readers to introduce himself by explaining his doctrine of the kingdom of God through the work of Jesus. It is probably the best rounded description of the “Gospel” and its application in the bible, which is his main interest.

Let us read the opening 6 verses today. They are a mouthful, if you want to unpack everything that is wrapped up explicitly and implicitly in it. He immediately launches into what the main theme of the letter is going to be about. Can you see what that is?

It is clearly the gospel. Describing himself only in terms of the role for which he has been set apart. V 1, and given the ministry to call the Gentiles. See if you can pick up the main points of his gospel message in the next few verses.

Here is what I saw: The gospel was predicted from the beginning. It has always been the main aim of God’s plan.

The central “Person” about which the gospel is , is Jesus, called here “the Son” and later mentioned by His full name.

He is fully human and at the same time fully divine, which was ultimately proved by His resurrection.

He describes his ministry only in terms of “the Gentiles”, yet there is plenty in the letter later to show that he has plenty to say to the Jews as well. Presumably this means that most of the recipients came from a Jewish background.

Finally there is this interesting description of the gospel in vs 5b: “the obedience that comes from faith” . He is going to have plenty to say about faith, but true faith is always accompanied by obedience (action).

What have you heard Jesus say to you from this passage? For me it is a reminder of the urgency and centrality of my ministry, which is to share the gospel. Especially to make sure it is centred on faith in Jesus which is demonstrated by a changed life.

May I end today’s blog with a statement from John Piper which I read this week which suddenly became an aha moment. “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him”.

May He make His face shine on you this coming week.

The Creator of the universe – here with me in this room. Who came and substituted Himself for me – so that I may ultimately share in His glory. I am filled with wonder and worship.

”It is so right that you are reminded of My awesome greatness – but the one thing that should continue to fill you with wonder is the length I have gone to – to make it possible for you to draw near to Me as a son, a fellow-heir of Jesus. My goal remains to continue building My kingdom one soul at a time, who will seek Me and find Me and appreciate Me as much. I invite you to continue walking with Me so that you can reflect more of Me and be an effective witness. Words are great but actions often count for more, so be overtaken by My Spirit of love towards Me and from that towards everyone you meet”.

Today we come to the end of a few months of being buried in John’s gospel. What a blessing it has been to me. We finish by reading 21: 15 – 25. Most of this section is taken up by Jesus’ interaction with Peter, after Peter’s great fall. The main lesson is clear and important. We can never fall so far that we cannot be restored again. Not only was Peter restored but he became the leading Apostle as the new kingdom unfolded. His first sermon resulting in the conversion of several thousand of people.

But we must look deeper. This is the end of the whole gospel and John is gathering his teaching together to leave the final impression he wants the reader to remember. What do you think that is?

Obviously everyone will have a slightly different take on this. We remember the verse which expressed John’s main purpose 20:30, 31. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that my believing you may have life in his name.

However as I think back in relation to the story of Peter, I remember what He said in 3:16. That it was God’s love for the world that brought Him to send His Son on this difficult mission. So the lasting impression after Ch 21 I have is of God’s love expressed in His generosity towards us all. And that He is commissioning all of us to follow that example, going about our daily lives expressing His love and generosity towards everyone we meet. Remembering that His ultimate aim was and is to reach as many people as possible with this life-changing message.

It is also important to pick up the question that Jesus asked Peter before He reinstated him. “Simon son of John do you truly love me?” He repeated that three times. So our response to this gospel story should not be a sense of compulsion and fear of judgement, but based on the recognition that “God so loved…” and that our response of obedience should rise out of “we so loved God through Jesus, who died for us”. A response of gratitude giving rise to a great love for Him. The beauty is that we don’t do this in our own strength we do it through the love that God provokes in us as we respond to Him.

A true witness is only possible if one’s life has been transformed by the gospel message of a vital rebirth and is continually being transformed by our daily interaction with God. So many people are trying to live the Christian life in their own strength, which is actually idolatry and gives an entirely faulty picture of what Christianity really is.

Having come now to the end of John’s gospel, several people have asked me to tackle Romans next, which we will do. So tighten your seatbelts for some Pauline argument for a few months.

I have this picture a simple meal of fish on the coals on a beach next to the Sea of Galilee. And yes, it is Jesus sitting next to it. Can this be the Creator of the whole universe, come down to relate to man on the most elemental level?

”My great desire from the beginning was to create a world for a being who would live in it and appreciate its beauty as coming from Me. Who would seek to have a relationship with Me on a level where he can be completely comfortable. So I have been working through the complicated process of bringing that about. Yes I want your awe and amazement, wonder and your complete worship. But the prize is that I can have that within a simple relationship of friends, of father and son, of loving Shepherd. So I invite you now in your mind, to share the simple meal of fish on the coals on the seashore with me.”

As we read on in John, chapter 21:1-14, we find the disciples have left Jerusalem and returned to their roots in Galilee. Since the central Motive for their lives had left them, they return to do what they have known before. To go fishing. This section has somewhat of a symbolic meaning as we reach the end of John’s gospel though.

Firstly there is the question in vs 12 “Who are you?” Looking back at the whole message of John that is the central question that has been addressed all along. Who is this man? We have read in ch 20 that Jesus did many miracles to demonstrate His supernatural divinity. John mentions 10 in his account which he calls “signs”. Here we have a description of a final miracle after the statement in ch 20 “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” And straight after that the final repetition of the question “Who are you?”

This is such an important question that we should ask ourselves regularly. Who do we believe Jesus really was/is? And similarly to share that question with others.

There is an additional message in this miracle as there has been in most of the other “signs” He performed. I wonder if you can see it?

The disciples had spent a fruitless night catching nothing. Jesus appears and through His intervention a super-abundant catch is made. The number of fish caught is actually given. What is the significance? The number 153 is regarded by many as a number of completeness. The catch of fish then represents all the people who will respond to the message of the gospel that the disciples will take out. However the reminder in this parable is that if they try and do it in their own strength it will bring only a meagre crop. True fruitfulness will only come when Jesus Himself is the One who gives the crop or catch as in this case. This is a sort of parallel to the great commission in Matthew’s gospel.

This is a timely warning to the disciples then, but equally for every one of us. True fruit that flows from our life is a result of the interaction with Jesus who produces the fruit of the Spirit through us.

Enjoy your week and be blessed.

Your love is immeasurable oh Lord, thank you so much that, as You have revealed it to us, we may not only know about it, but can truly know it and experience it daily.

” I am indeed love, My whole being consists of love and that love is directed, in general, towards My whole creation, but especially towards the members of My kingdom where I have demonstrated that love through giving My Son to die on the cross to redeem you and everyone who would receive the gift, which I offer without reserve to the whole world. So focus today on My love and let it lift you up as on an eagle’s wings to soar above all the cares of this world.”

Reading John 20:19 – 31 we come today to the climax of the message John wanted to convey to His readers. We see the last steps as the disciples reach a much cleared idea of Jesus and His mission and come to real faith in Him.

The mission statement of John for this book is found in vv 30,31: “ Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John recorded 10 miraculous signs in his gospel account, but by far the greatest and most important one was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Although Jesus had warned the disciples several times that He had to die but that He would be raised from the dead, the disciples did not understand this warning and explanation.

In this passage, after the initial confusion among the women, Jesus appears to the whole group, showing His hands and side. The disciples are filled with joy when they realise that it is really He. To emphasise this important step towards full faith we have the whole story of Thomas who wasn’t there at the time. Then the final words in vs 20 “ because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me as yet have believed.”

These disciples had known the Lord personally, yet not realised fully who He was. They now could “see” the invisible quality of this “Man”, who was/is really God. We are told in Hebrews 11 what the definition of real faith is: “ Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” So John concludes this vital lesson with the last two verses.

This is a key moment for every reader. His whole purpose in writing the gospel was to lay down a solid basis on which we could believe who Jesus is and what He has come to do, because that is the only way to eternal life.

Do you believe that? Do you really know Jesus’ love and have you really entered into eternal life?

Also in this passage in vv 21,22 Jesus gives His disciples “the great commission” and a promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit to help in accomplishing that mission. Of course that commission is intended for every believer. Each one of us has a specific purpose within the plan of His kingdom.

This is a vital passage in John’s Gospel, but also in the whole bible. Enjoy digesting it and be blessed till next week.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, come and quench this thirsting of my soul Lord. Fill my cup and make me whole.

” I give you my spirit without reserve to fill not only your cup, but your whole soul. My grace has no limit and continues to cover every aspect of your life. But it is good for you to continue to thirst – although you already have everything I can give you in Christ. Yet you are not experiencing it completely. There is always a gap between what I have actually given and what you perceive in your everyday life is from Me and I am continually bringing you closer so that gap may grow smaller and you can really experience the grace you have already received and are continuing to receive from me.”

We continue to read, with wonder at the incredible, supernatural happenings after Jesus’ death on the cross. I am reading John 20:10 – 23.

The emphasis in this section seems two-fold. We have read how Mary Magdalene found the tomb where Jesus’ body had been laid, empty. Her first reaction was that the body had somehow been stolen. However on closer examination the grave clothes were still there, not haphazardly tossed aside, but neatly folded. What had happened to the body then?

In today’s section we have the answer to that question, but maybe not completely as we would have expected it. While Mary, distraughtly weeping next to the tomb, looks up she sees two angels sitting in the tomb. We are not told what their significance is because almost immediately she hears a voice behind her. Turning around she does not recognise the figure standing there. It is only when he speaks that she realises it is actually Jesus.

She immediately wants to fling her arms around him in loving relief, but Jesus backs off and keeps her at a distance. Was He being cruel? Of course not, He could never be cruel. This interaction and much of what follows, demonstrates two things. Firstly that Jesus is really alive. Not only is His tomb empty, but He is present with His beloved disciples. But that is not the complete picture. He now has another physical nature. Mary could not touch Him.

None of the gospel writers could describe this new nature accurately. But among other things He was capable of appearing and disappearing at will. He could even, as we will read next week enter a room with a locked door. Yet at the same time He could sit with the disciples on the beach and eat a breakfast. Could this, somehow predict how we will be with our resurrected bodies?

We are not to know yet. What is important is that by rising from the dead Jesus had introduced a new era. An era where every believer has the hope and expectation of also being raised again after we die here on earth. This is the most powerful story in the whole of God’s story recorded in the bible. It is, apart from the creation story, the one place God demonstrated how great His power is cf Ephesians 1:19 ff “That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms”. The NIV translation does not do justice to the Greek which uses 4 different words for power here, to reveal how mighty that power is.

Friends, maybe you have become so used to the resurrection story that you have lost some of the wonder of it all. Let this passage reawaken your wonder. God is busy with things that are far, far greater than we can conceive and you are part of that What a mighty God we serve!

Bless you all, till next week.

The most powerful Being helpless, on a cross, portrayed like a lamb being sacrificed. Another enigma of the Christian faith. Unlimited power relinquished, and like a lamb, allowing himself to be crucified – and all for my benefit, for our benefit.

”I have purposely portrayed myself as a lamb. Held captive and falsely accused, I chose not to retaliate but to submit to the unreasonable, unfair, farce of a trial, so that my purposes would be accomplished. So, whenever you see or think about a lamb – think absolute submission for your personal sake. But don’t stop there, I have also called myself the lion of Judah, a picture of the king of all the animals. I have risen from that grave and taken up my full power again, Lord and King of all creation. And My rule and power is all available to my people. You too, as we build my kingdom together”.

Jesus, the most remarkable man ever to have lived is dead. Was He just a “Super prophet”? Or was He more than that? There have been many prophets in the history of the Israeli nation who died and that was part of their history. What was going to be different here? These questions must have been churning around in the minds of the disciples. Jesus had on several occasions warned them that the Son of Man MUST die and will be raised again after 3 days. Yet hearing, they didn’t hear. Just like we so often do when we read the scriptures or have it taught to us. So Jesus often will go over to action to wake us up to the reality of what He has said.

So today we enter into the new reality of the world after Jesus’ physical death on the cross. I am reading John 20:1- 9. These scenes are so familiar that we need to stop and take stock that we don’t miss the thread of the story, as it unfolds.

According to John the first person to reach the tomb was Mary Magdalene. Interesting. The body had been taken down from the Cross and buried by two respected Jewish elders who had both become believers in Jesus. But what a contrast, the fact that the tomb was empty was discovered by Mary Magdalene. Remember who she was? She was a loose woman (maybe a prostitute) who Jesus had rescued. In that male dominated society no woman had any standing. Yet Jesus chose her, of the lowest caste to be the first to discover the empty tomb. His whole ministry had shown that He had come to rescue the lost and restore them to full shalom in Himself. What a lovely way of showing the extent of His ministry. He has come for the sake of everyone here on earth, especially the lost and hopeless, the poor and destitute. Yet the more affluent and educated were also part of His plan.

After running to tell Peter they return and are astonished to not only find that the tomb was empty, but that the grave clothes were neatly folded up. Such an important detail. Remember the raising of Lazarus? When Jesus called him out of the tomb he was still wrapped in the grave cloths 11:44. Clearly what had happened here was on a different level. A level where everything was carefully under control. Notice that John thinks this detail is important by giving it so much space in his gospel story.

Then in vs 8 “the other disciple”, presumably John himself, arrives. He enters the tomb and there is a remarkable statement: “He believed”. But what did he believe? I think he just believed, at this point that the body was gone. You see ultimate, saving faith seems to have only dawned on all the disciples at the end of this chapter. But whatever is the case virtually every person who comes to a saving faith often goes through steps of belief before full understanding and saving faith comes. And even then we all only see through a glass darkly now and will finally understand when we are face to face with our Saviour.

What is important to us, the reader is that all this, and the following detail should deeply convince us of the truth of the events being described here.

May God bless you all for this coming week

Singing the precious hymn: “How great thou art”, which has become a favourite since Emily‘s passing from this world. When I come to the final stanza: “When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart”, I am reminded that those words were being sung when Em took her last breath and answered his call to take her home. Tears flow, tears of sadness and tears of joy; what a privilege it is to know she is now with him in the heavenly Jerusalem.

“That final destination should be the ultimate focus of each one’s hope, who loves Me. Paul quite rightly said: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men”. What is now unseen to the eye of the ordinary person, is seen by faith by the children of the kingdom, and will become each one’s reality into eternity. You are in this world, but not of it and actually aliens and strangers, but in the “New Heaven and the New Earth” you will have come home and will belong completely.”

The last paragraph of ch 19 in John’s gospel, ch (19:38-42) may appear to be a passing remark to complete the story of the crucifixion, but it is actually a very important detail. Notice how much detail is given here compared to the bare “Here they crucified Him” (19:18), which describes the act that is the focal point of God’s whole story.

So why is it so important? It is to complete and emphasise the statement in vs 30: “With that He gave up His Spirit”. Although it was on the cross that Jesus did His huge work of redemption, this would not have been proved real without His resurrection. Throughout the book of Acts, the early Christian’s testified to the one central fact, that changed their lives that Christ had risen from the dead. Over time many people have tried to suggest and prove that Jesus did not really die. That He was merely in a sort of swoon or coma when they took Him down off the cross.

As we look at the detail in this section we also see God’s complete control in the preparation for this act. Two prominent Jewish figures, with sufficient stature, were prepared by God to take Jesus’s body to a new grave. They would have had to have sufficient authority to approach Pilate for permission and to override the objections of all the other senior Pharisees and scribes.

The preparations of the body, described in detail, wrapped in strips of cloth and embalmed with 75 pounds of myrrh and aloe. It is inconceivable that Jesus could still have survived this even if He was alive when He was taken down. We already have the description of the soldier piercing His side and water and blood running out. Now we have this pierced body, bruised and torn by repeated beatings, with His hands and feet pierced by huge nails, wrapped up like a mummy. Was He alive all the time? Did He have the strength to wriggle His way out? I think we all agree the evidence shouts that He was actually dead.

To the first time reader of this gospel, the night was dark, everything seemed lost, yet the world was poised for the greatest, most supernatural miracle of all time when the new dawn would burst forth and a new era would begin – the gospel era. The era where the New Covenant of God with His people started.

Before we close, let us take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The bible story starts in Genesis with the greatest catastrophe of all time, Adam’s failure to fulfil his role, on behalf of all mankind to have a relationship with God. It happened in a garden. Here, at great cost the betrayal is reversed, also in a garden. The fully obedient One, with the perfect relationship with the Father is laid, the “First Fruit” of all those who will have a relationship with the Father into the future. Great Symbolism, since relationship seems to be the goal of Jehovah.

My heart is filled with thankfulness as I consider this great sacrifice, for me personally, but for each one of you also individually and personally. God bless till next week.

I feel totally encompassed by your love. Completely safe knowing your faithfulness and purpose that you are working in all things. Both in my life and those around me towards an ultimate goal which is focused ultimately on Your glory.

”As you have been singing Psalm 139, you know My eyes, My hand, My heart are focused on you, the one I created to be exactly as you are. I have led you along a path specifically designed for you all these years. When you have wandered I have lovingly wooed you back to Me. Now, as the years gather, I am taking you forward where you will meet Me and experience My glory and My glory will be revealed in you. Bathe in that knowledge and feel completely secure – nothing can separate you from My love”

The end of the suffering of His earthly life is now imminent. What does John want us to learn about these last moments. Let’s read John 28-37.

Once again what is happening here is clearly linked to the Old Testament. Firstly the small detail about Jesus being offered a drink when He says He is thirsty. It is easy to miss the symbolism of the wine vinegar being offered to Him on a stalk of Hyssop. Hyssop plays quite a varied and interconnected role in the OT. Here the link is with the Passover. Moses instructed the Israelites to paint the blood of the lambs on the doorframes using a bunch of hyssop. Hyssop symbolises purification for instance in Psalm 51:7 where David asks for purging with Hyssop. So this little act, mentioned here connects Jesus’ death to the protection from judgement symbolised in the Passover story as well as His role in the purification of those who will trust in Him.

Then, His well-known statement in vs 30,”It is finished”. The Greek word “teleo” is perhaps better translated “it has been completed or accomplished”. This denotes the firm statement that the whole purpose of Jesus’ mission to earth has reached completion with His death on the cross. As passive as Jesus has appeared, we see Him actively giving up His life in the end (vs 30), showing that even here at the end He is in control.

The next verses, 31-36 are devoted to showing how everything that was happening to Him had been prophesied, carefully explaining how His bones were not broken and His side pierced (Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20, Zech. 12:10).

Reading this passage I was again enthralled with the way that God’s story has unfolded from the very beginning of the Bible. It is a reminder of the importance of reading the OT to see how everything unfolds according to God’s plan. Ultimately it is all about God. It is His story. But it does not end with Him. While it starts with Him and focuses on Him, it finally boils down to His interaction with us. His creation, with us in the centre are for His glory and enjoyment, but He is intimately involved with each one of us. Psalm 8 reminds us, “What is man that you are mindful of him?“ and of course the wonderful Psalm 139, I was singing earlier.

This all brings me great comfort, knowing how central we are in His plans and that we are intimately bound up with them and kept secure till we go to be with Him.

Blessings till I see you all next week.

You lead me beside still waters and make me lie down in green pastures, you restore my soul, your tender mercies follow me all the days of my life. I will trust in you alone as I stand before another year of life you have gifted me.

”You have been and still are a precious sheep in my flock of lovers, bound for the eternal home I have prepared for all of you. Your loved ones who have preceded you wait for you to join them so that you all can relish the ultimate pleasure together. Time, not restricted, with Me in My presence. Time to enjoy the best I have for you. Time to enjoy Me who represents the best you could ever inherit and enjoy. Your love is precious and I continue to cultivate it as I woo you into a deeper and deeper relationship with Me.”

As we read today’s passage, John 19:16-27, we should have the sense of entering a holy space, observing and participating in the key moment of God’s entire plan for humanity coming together. The moment when Jesus opened the way for us to the Father in heaven, so momentous that the earth shook.

The story is so familiar to every Christian that we may miss some of the subtle points. So let me make some observations:

The actual act of crucifixion is described in 1 verse, vs 18. Compared to that 4 verses describing the name under which He was condemned: “The King of the Jews”. Then a further 2 verses describing the dividing up of Jesus’s clothing and 3 verses describing the role of the women and His care for His mother.

So what was John wanting us to hear?

Jesus is described as carrying His own cross. No mention of help. Presumably this is to emphasise His loneliness. He is facing this enormous task now without any human support. Then, crucified between two criminal strangers. Have you ever felt you are facing difficulties on your own, no friendly support, only those who seem against you or are indifferent? Jesus has been there.

The fact that He is crucified with criminals and then the detailed description of how His clothes were divided up is clearly emphasised, to link with some of the prophecies in the OT. (Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53) Both those chapters are devoted to the explanation of what is happening here before the eyes of the people who had received these promises and before our eyes. It is John’s way of explaining the whole purpose of that terse statement “Here they crucified Him”.(vs 18)

Beside this purpose, it is also a reminder of how God has planned everything that is happening, down to the last detail. And it is all working out, despite the fact that the people involved were antagonistic towards Him. And as we stand back we need to remind ourselves that if we had been there we would have been among the mob crying “Crucify, crucify!” Because that is the only way we could ultimately be saved.

But standing further back as we view this whole scene, there is a huge comfort. No matter how dire our circumstances are, God IS in control of them. These are not just nice words, this passage again reminds us of that reality.

Then finally the picture of the women. What a beautiful reminder of the role you, my dear sisters, play in our lives and in the unfolding Kingdom. The emotional makeup and faithful love you show is a massive encouragement to how God has balanced the kingdom membership and reminds us of your unmissable role and place in our kingdom lives. The touching words of Jesus to John to look after His mother are a fitting end to the chapter reminding us of His continued, tender compassion.

May this reading be a real encouragement to you all during these cold, grey days as we remind ourselves of God’s intimate care and knowledge of ourselves.