Ian’s lets listen to Jesus

It is not so much the words we say to our dear Lord, but having the right attitude as we come to Him – a clean heart and mind. Psalm 139:23 “Search me oh God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is an offensive way in me”.

“The means to have a clean heart and a correct attitude are right there as you allow Jesus to minister to you, calling to mind the things that cloud your relationship with Me and come between us. The means of clearing this are on the tip of your tongue as I bring these to mind you can confess them and repent – changing your attitude towards those things which you love more than Me. Yes this is a long process and requires daily attention. At no stage can you say you have done enough. Yet My warm open arms are there all the time welcoming you with forgiveness and compassion in My eyes, filling you again with My mercy and My love.”

The whole of Chapter 11 of John’s gospel is devoted to one incident which shows how important it is. We will take it one bite at a time to be sure we engage the riches of the message it contains. May I invite you to put aside all previous inputs you have had on it and try and come afresh to it. Today we will read vv 1-16.

To set the scene, John is at pains to paint a beautiful picture in the opening 3 vv, of the deep and loving relationship Jesus had with this family. We need to keep that in the back of our minds throughout the whole story.

Lazarus, the brother is sick is the message to Jesus. Looking at the outcome of the sickness it was clearly very serious, in fact mortal. Strangely, Jesus’s reply seems to indicate that He has an ulterior agenda as He doesn’t express any compassion. Vv 5, 6 seem to contradict each other. Firstly a further affirmation of Jesus love, yet instead of rushing to the family’s aid He deliberately stays two more days where He is.

Can you imagine the emotions of Mary and Martha as they wait for Jesus to show up, while they are watching Lazarus die, powerless to help him? Have you ever been in a dire situation and despite calling for help no one comes? Have you ever longed for Jesus to show up to help you when you are desperate and you don’t feel any response?

The whole of Jesus’s motive and an explanation of His delay is summarised in v 15. “I am glad, for your sake I was not there, so that you may believe.” The bigger picture, salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus, outweighed the anxious feverish moments of fear and anguish, as bad as they may have felt. Not only was this a teaching moment for that family, but for billions of people who would read the story over the ages.

But for us, no one is going to read our story? Well we see here that Jesus’s agenda is always focused on the bigger picture, while doubtless His compassion is with us as we struggle with our immediate feelings and fears. He loves us sufficiently to allow us to feel that, waiting so that our faith is constantly being built. We are, all of us including the disciples very slow to learn. Despite seeing and experiencing all Jesus miracles and teaching they still fled at the crucifixion.

So the big lesson here is that Jesus’s timing is totally different to our expectations as used to having everything immediately as we are. Sometimes of course, He does respond immediately, but when He does not it is so important to remember that it is not because He does not love us. Just remember the opening vv to remind ourselves of how much He loved this family. And remember how serious the situation was.

I suppose it is one of the most difficult things for us to accept and get used to. The difference in Jesus’s timing and our hopes and expectations. We are not alone. Just take the many psalms where David called out, “ How long, oh Lord how long?” The important thing is to remember that the delay doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t love us or that He is not going to respond. It is because of this very love that He takes us on the long route for His glory and our good. May you experience His love and nearness often this coming week.

Your desire oh Lord, according to your word, is that we should delight ourselves in You. I want to do that Lord teach me how please.

“Draw close to Me and close your eyes, allow your imagination to go as you recollect all the things you have learned about Me over the years. All the experiences you have had where you have known that you have met Me and experienced My presence. As you do that remember that I am a good God and that I am for you. I demonstrated this by giving my Son to die for the world, but at the same time to die for you personally. As you recollect all these things allow yourself to give your heart fully to Me and experience My Presence and you will find the utmost delight in Me.”

We come today to the last part of John ch 10:22-42. So far in ch 10 Jesus has revealed that He is the Gate for His sheep to enter through. He is also the Shepherd, the good Shepherd who cares for His sheep and knows each one by name. He is the true shepherd demonstrating that by being prepared to die for them. The response of the Jews was divided vs 19, many saying He was demon possessed. Yet some were skeptical and wanted to believe because of the miracle of the healing of the blind man.

The story now moves to a feast in Jerusalem and the temple. The question in the air still remains, “Who is this Man?” Jesus’ reply focuses again on the miracles He has done. Remember John has actually called them “Signs “, which define their purpose. Jesus once again links His ability to do them to His close relationship with the Father, to underline His identity as the true Messiah.

This only seems to aggravate the situation as the Jews recognize that He is claiming divinity and equality with God His Father and they now start accusing Him of blasphemy. The penny won’t drop with them however, because they have prejudged Him and cannot accept this claim. This claim is really at the center of the gospel and ultimately it is because of that that He was crucified.

It is, in fact only His sheep who recognize His voice. Vs 27 The Jews were actually blocked from recognizing Jesus, form of judgement. Vs25, 26. Jesus once again emphasises the value of being one of His sheep; He gives them eternal life and they are completely secure in His love as nothing can snatch them out of His grasp. These are really important truths and we should never lose our awe at them.

The great irony of this passage lies in the contrast between the opening vv and the end. The passage opens at the temple which was physically the place for the Jews to meet with Yah. Yet instead of the people enjoying the fact that God is visiting them personally, they reject Him. At the end of the chapter Jesus is in the wilderness as far as He could get from Jerusalem, preaching. And guess what. There He is accepted and many believed in Him v 42.

This is a great reminder that we should not expect to meet with Jesus at any specific place. He is equally present everywhere. I wonder how often we encounter Him without recognizing Him. Simply because we are not expecting to meet Him at that moment. I am more and more convinced that Jesus is far more present in our lives than we expect or anticipate.

This is also a reminder that we should not prejudge persons or situations. Jesus is a completely free agent and present in a multitude of places and situations. We should never try and put Him in a box and think we have Him all figured out.

To end with we can never be reminded too often of Jesus’s deity and our security in our relationship with Him. God bless and see you all next week.

Ian as you are sitting in the quiet at the beginning of a new day and a new year, let us launch into it on a path of continued growth, a path of discovery and delight, a path where joy shines through even when there are dark clouds on the horizon. My desire for you is that more and more of the real Ian I created will shine through as you discover more of yourself – but not in isolation – in relation to me. Your real self the true Ian can only be shown as it is revealed in your personal interaction with me. It is My delight to lead you, to teach you to shake off your fears and doubts and trust me fully. So welcome on this path in 2025 which we shall tackle together.

A new year! Considering the implications and challenge to look ahead at what to expect in this coming year and what I should write today, my eye fell on a passage in a devotion from the You bible app. “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing”. Isaiah 43:18,19.

Wow! How appropriate. My pulse quickened, then alarm bells started ringing. This is a promise way back in the Old Testament and should not, without due diligence be taken to apply to us directly. So, briefly how should we read it correctly?

Firstly, the context. This comes from the section in Isaiah called “the Servant songs”. God has been calling out His people for their continued disobedience, warning them of all sorts of judgement. In the midst of this He brings a ray of hope. Central to that hope is the Suffering Servant of ch 53, who will bring forgiveness of all their rebellion and sins. This is a promise to the nation of Israel, not an individual.

It is a promise of a New Covenant 42:6, and a promise of a pouring out of God’s Spirit 44:3b. which will be part of that. A forgiveness of sin and the power to live the life of one, born again into a new kingdom, a worldwide kingdom not limited to one special nation. This is then a revelation to Israel of God’s ultimate plan which would only be set in motion hundreds of years later.

So how should we read it correctly from our perspective of being part of this New Covenant? Firstly we should be enormously grateful to be part of this event which we just celebrated the launching of at Christmas. Jesus remains central to our hope of a new life which we can enjoy in Him. This should provoke a huge sense of wonder and thanks that we are not still trapped in sin as those people of the Old Covenant were.

What will 2025 hold for us? Only our Lord knows, but we go into it with the assurance of His love, protection and guidance because of this New Covenant and our participation in it and while there is no specific promise of something new for each one of us, there is the promise of a continual renewal on a daily basis as we walk with Him.

This is the promise of a faithful God who will always honour His promises and can be trusted completely. My wish for each one of you at the brink of a new year is that the reality of Jesus and His work for you on the cross may become brighter each day whether in times of pure joy or dark clouds. That will be the very best thing for each one of us.

See you all again next week back in John.

Every knee will bow, every tongue confess that you are Lord, mighty to save, mighty to heal – yet intimately concerned for each one of us.

” Immanuel, the name I was called when I was born – God with us shows that I was and still am so concerned for each one of you that I took on flesh and became as a servant to serve you all, to seek you out, to understand from your level the difficulties of a hostile world, to experience the pain each one of you experiences. So at this time it is so good to remember this dual role, mighty creator, powerful beyond imagination, in the form of a helpless baby – choosing to do this salvation by placing myself on a cross to bring you close and prevent you from becoming eternally separated from Me and all My goodness. May this truth be very real to you all in the next days as you celebrate it all.”

Back in John ch 10, we are reminded of the two metaphors Jesus uses to describe Himself. Firstly He calls Himself “the Gate “, which we looked at last week. Which really focusses on the exclusivity of Himself as the only way of entry into the sheep pen. This week we will focus on His role as Shepherd.

This is such a common name and metaphor for both God and Jesus in the Old and New Testament that it is perhaps easy to become used to it without appreciating the full depth of meaning. A shepherd in biblical times had a different role from what we would understand today. He literally lived with his sheep. At night he would lead them into an enclosure where they would be safe. He would usually sleep with them, lying in the gate to protect them. By day he would lead them out to whatever pasture was available. The sheep trusted him fully and followed him, while he knew each one with its quirks by name. He was so committed that a good shepherd would even be prepared to die in an effort to protect them from a lion or bear or even a robber. See David’s testimony in 1 Samuel 17:34,34 where he challenges Goliath with the words that he had killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands while protecting his sheep.

In this chapter Jesus takes for granted that that would be the picture in the listeners minds as He uses this metaphor. While we understand that He cares for each one of us individually, there is also a bigger picture in His mind. The flock as a whole is His big concern – the church. Not only what those people represent v 16, but the church worldwide. “I ‘have other sheep not of this pen. I must bring them in also.”’

Three times vv 15b, 17, 18 Jesus repeats His statement that He lays down His life for His sheep. He makes it clear that His life is not taken from Him but that He voluntarily lays it down. He moves beyond the possibility to the fact. He isn’t only prepared to die He has chosen this very path. That is the extent of His commitment. In vs 18 there is an interesting twist- He is doing this in obedience to the Father’s command.

In vv 19 – 21 we see how John once again shows the people divided as to His true identity. He is calling the reader to make that decision for him/herself.

Now it is so important that we personalise these metaphors. What is the role and identity of this Shepherd to you? Can you feel, smell, taste this scene? Can you sense the security and love expressed? Not in a general way but for you personally? The knowledge that He knows you personally on the deepest level and care’s about everything in your life and that you have the privilege of knowing Him. That His care and commitment has reached its full expression in His death on the cross.

Oh what love is this that He has given His life, His all for you personally and for me? May this be the reality in your mind and heart next Wednesday as we welcome Immanuel. May you indeed meet Him in a new and deeper way this Christmas.

The enigma of our faith: the Lord of the universe, Creator of all – lying in a dirty stable as a helpless baby – on His knees washing His disciples feet – dragged, flogged, crucified – the worst form of death – blood running down His face from a crown of thorns – now a lamb, but a Lamb upon a throne crowned with many crowns – all for us – to purchase as back from the grip of eternal death – worthy, yes worthy is this Lamb, I fall on my knees and worship you Lord.

“As your eyes have been opened to see the real universe, the unseen reality of what is going on around you and in the heavenly realms you are slowly perceiving how precious I feel you are. Not only you but every bit of my creation, especially man, in all the complexity. I have created you, each one a masterpiece, treasured and loved. Recognise how much it hurts Me when people turn away from Me, disregard Me, mock Me – act as if I don’t exist. But I continue loving till the day when all will be separated and judgement comes. But you are part of My flock and will be welcomed into the new heavens and new earth.”

John, in his gospel has been revealing who Jesus is. He has been using various methods, one of which is by several metaphors to highlight different aspects of this Person, Jesus of Nazareth. So He is “the Word”, “the Light of men”,”the Lamb of God”, “the Living water”, “the Bread of Life”. Each one of these metaphors carries a meaning, a deep meaning, helping us to understand more about Him. Then in ch 9 the stark reminder that to perceive and understand all this and what has gone before we need our eyes opened, spiritually.

In ch 10 he picks up some more metaphors. He uses a Gate and a Shepherd. We will focus on just one today, “the Gate”. What it means in this context and to each one of us personally.

What is a gate or door? What does it represent? It is the (legal) way to enter an enclosure. The only legal way. So Jesus’s first point is there is an enclosure in which the legal owner keeps His sheep. The only one who has the right to enter is the Shepherd or owner. There are others however who are illegally trying to enter.

Jesus then describes the sheep. They are His sheep and know His voice. In turn He knows each one by name. He insists they will never follow someone else but rather run away.

He then in vs 7 He makes the astounding claim. He IS the gate. Anyone who enters then through Him will be saved vs 9. Much of this section is devoted to others whom He describes as thieves and robbers whose aim it is to steal and harm His sheep.

Lets apply this rich passage. Firstly Jesus’s claims exclusivity. We all know John 14:6 where Jesus says He is the Way and the only one. This passage backs that up. No one can be saved if they don’t enter the pen through Jesus the gate. Vs9
Then we see the description of His sheep who are already in the pen. They know Him and they listen to His voice. In turn He has named each one. He knows each one personally by name. This gives me a huge sense of security and belonging.
Then thirdly He says they will recognize that the voices of the thieves and robbers are false. This is aimed of course to all false teachers but immediately in context to the Pharisees who were hounding Him. This raised my eyebrows a little since many apparently sincere brothers and sisters have been led away by smooth talking false teachers over the years. Could it be that they didn’t really know His voice? Or maybe they had neglected to follow Him closely enough to be able to continuously identify it? Could there be a link to the previous chapter on spiritual blindness? Why not think this through and pray that He will give you clarity?

Next week we will look at His claim to be the Shepherd. Blessings till then.

Today I am really conscious of the fact that our God not only created us but He relentlessly pursues us to win us back into His fold. It is not a vague attitude but a powerful force of His grace in which He uses many ways, but the focus is on the goal – a lasting and loving relationship with Him.

” I would not just create a whole lot of humans that are alike and cast them out onto the earth’s soil as it were, to germinate and grow up by their only volition which is the vitality built into them like the seeds of some crop – as wonderful as that may be. No, every person on Earth is exquisitely designed and built together in their mother’s womb. Born into the circumstances that I have chosen for them. Most suited for their capabilities and for the story I have for them. However, they cannot fully participate in that story till they are born again of the Spirit. So yes, I pursue each person to win their love – because, believe it or not – each person has their own will do decide to submit to my will or not. But I always do take the initiative.”

Last time we looked at the blind man’s testimony. We pick that up again today in the last part of this important chapter on Spiritual blindness from v 35. We see in v 35 that Jesus went to look for this man again. When He meets him He challenges his faith, forcing the man to go past his healing, to help him recognize who Jesus really is and place his trust in Him. This is a a good example of God’s pursuit of every Christian.

It also shows that an encounter with only a healing is not sufficient to bring the person to faith. It is necessary for the person to meet and identify the real Jesus so that he/she can decide to put their faith in Him. The woman at the well was saved when she recognized Jesus. The new birth is a miraculous event but requires our active response. God does not force it on us.

In contrast the Pharisees were right there, face to face, with every opportunity to put their faith in Him, yet they were unable to “see” Him. What was the difference? It came down to their attitude. They had decided to prove He was an imposter and were only open to ways to prove that. In turn, as an act of judgment against them Jesus blinded them and made it impossible for them to see who He really was.

The last vs shows that this was a wilful decision by them, which made them guilty.

To summarise then; Jesus eagerly pursues us and is delighted when we respond. However hearts that are hardened for whatever reason will result in our sight being dimmed. When we prejudge or there is an active sin this can cloud anyone’s sight and experience of Jesus and how well we hear Him. It is important to get to that part of the Lord’s Prayer, ”Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven “. Not just mumbling the words but actively surrendering to the Father’s will. This remains a daily challenge to me and I trust to each one of you too.

Thank you Lord for reminding me again this morning of these huge and magnificent truths which are too vast to truly grasp and internalise. That You, for Your own purposes and glory decided to create a universe so huge and complex down to the smallest detail. That in the centre of that purpose you placed man – “what is man that you are mindful of him?” That you did not stand from afar operating us like puppets but came to earth to become intimately involved with us. Taking the lowliest form and experiencing rejection, judgement and pain – to make it possible for us to have an intimate relationship with You. What is man that you are mindful of him to show him such love?

” Live in those thoughts, renew them continually and appreciate all that they mean as you tread the way to glory. The ultimate glory in Me and experience your own glorification in the new heavens and the new earth. The great awakening, the great reveal when you get there is going to astound you, blow your mind. I am waiting with countless others to welcome you and your readers who are on their way here.”

We are still in John ch 9, listening to what Jesus is saying to us. Devoting a whole chapter to the subject of spiritual blindness, introduced by a miraculous healing. The main subject in the background is still the question of who Jesus really is.

The elephant in the room is still the disbelief of the Pharisees. John uses them skilfully as a sounding-board to highlight the true identity of Jesus. They have prejudged Jesus which makes it impossible for them to understand who He really is. Now here is an interesting question, how often does it happen to me, to us that we prejudge a teaching, a biblical understanding or a real life situation? Having made up our minds beforehand we are no longer open to the possibility that we may be wrong and the real truth something different.

The healing happened on the Sabbath, surely by Jesus’s intention. This gives them a reason to make a fuss. Publicity for Jesus’s cause? A large part of the following text is devoted to the blind man’s testimony. By putting immense pressure on him with the threat of excommunication they try and force him to say what they want him to. He remains firm however and sticks to the facts.

This is a genuine example of a real testimony. They try to get him to denounce Jesus as a sinner. He strongly refutes that vss 25,33. He remains strong in repeating what happened to him. “One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see”.

Let us stand back and consider this testimony. Do you realise this is the true and basic testimony of every Christian believer. That is the miracle that each Christian experiences as the first step to faith. Is that true for you? You cannot manufacture a testimony if you do not have one. Each true Christian at some stage has their eyes opened to understand who Jesus is. Not in an intellectual way but leading to a personal meeting with Him.

If you testify in court you are asked to tell the facts of the case as you saw and experienced them. That is our powerful testimony. The Christian testimony however extends further. The result of the meeting with Jesus is demonstrated in a changed life.

My mother became a Christian at the age of 78. Emily and I had been saved a few years earlier. I had plied her with books attempting to get her saved. A few years later she one day said to me, “I read all those books you gave me, but do you know what really persuaded me that Christianity is real? It was the way Emily’s life changed after she was saved.”

Each of us who have met Jesus has a unique testimony and we should be ready to give it whenever the opportunity arises. We cannot continually fall back on our original testimony however. Our testimony is as fresh and real every day arising from our ongoing interaction with Jesus. “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Do you have a testimony? How fresh and real is it? How has your life changed? Can people experience it when they meet you? What is your conversation like? Do you join the “ain’t it awful” club when people start complaining and grumbling around you? People’s eyes and ears are on us all the time.

So friends keep your relationship fresh with Jesus and be ready at any time to answer “I was blind but now I see.” God bless till next week.

I stand at the foot of the cross looking past it up into the heavens, overawed by the might and wisdom and variety of creation, pointing to an amazing Creator. The story revealed in the Bible shows His commitment to restoring everything as it was in tended to be, the story of the cross as it unfolds to reveal the wonderful and intricate plan our Creator is busy unfolding and I am, we all are part of that!

”It is good that you can look at creation and look past it to what and Who it points to. The One who is behind everything, making everything come about, sustaining and maintaining it all. And, yes I have made it ultimately for My glory and for each one of you and your readers. The presence of man in the midst of My creation attests to the fact that you are central to that place and I seek My glory through you as you grow in grace and are ultimately glorified. There we will be joined together in a glory which you can’t even begin to imagine. So persevere – continue to persevere I am holding you all in My grace and love – working to bring all things together for My glory.”

Chapter 9 of John’s Gospel is strategically placed to teach and emphasise a truth which is repeated in many places in God’s word. That truth is that we are all spiritually blind and unable to see and experience His spiritual activities and to meet Him without Him giving us sight. John devotes a whole chapter to the healing of a blind man and an explanation of the spiritual significance of this act. It is placed more or less in the middle of the gospel after a long revelation of who Jesus is. He has been inviting the reader to decide who this Man is by taking us into that world to experience the story for him/herself. Now he makes the important point. No-one can understand all that without Jesus’s supernatural help.

The chapter has one main message but we will deal with it over two weeks. Today we will look at the actual healing and restoration of sight to a man born blind and hear Jesus speak through that.

The first question is,”why did Jesus choose this man? There were probably plenty of blind people in Palestine at the time. Why him?” This is an important question for each of us. We are all praying for some “miracle”. Someone to be healed, someone to be saved, a relationship restored etc. We see miraculous answers to other’s prayers and we ask ourselves, “What am I doing wrong? How can I pray otherwise to get the answer. Maybe there is something I must do or stop doing.” You get the drift?

A large part of the answer to that question lies wrapped up here. We are all invited to come to Jesus in prayer. To bring whatever is on our minds to Him. He promises and can be trusted to hear every word we call out to Him. Here is the crunch. It is His prerogative how and when He will answer. Each of us is unique and on a personal journey with Him and He is handling each plea in a way unique to us and our personality and needs. He hears the loud shouts of joy and of pain with absolute compassion. The quality of our lives belies His grace. He hears even the feeblest whimper of the smoking flax.

One thing He desires from us is humble surrender to Him and a desire to obey His will, as imperfect or weak as that may be. This is hugely liberating. It takes all the pressure off us. We can be our natural selves with Him at all times.

There is no explanation why Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to wash publicly. Very likely He wanted him to be seen to provoke a response from the Jews. It was certainly not necessary for the healing. He did many other miracles without touching and even from a distance.

The other theme that becomes apparent is even the religious leaders were unable to accept and understand the miracle, even despite its obviousness. This is what sin and unbelief do. True blindness in the face of real sight.

We will pick up this story again next week. I would love to hear your experience of prayer and how God answers in the most unusual and unexpected ways. May He bless each one of you as you discover more about your relationship with Him.

I am supremely conscious this morning of the fact that I am here because Jesus has invited me. I am conscious of the very fact that Jesus has taken every initiative in our relationship, that He wants to meet with me and appreciates my response. Yet that response is so important – I cannot just be a passive spectator. After his invitation in Matthew 11:28 to come to Him He then instructs the listeners, “take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and light”. I am to become part of his team as he draws alongside me.

”It is My pleasure to experience and see My beloved one’s responding to my call and coming to Me, seeking a continued and deeper relationship. Yes and it starts in the quiet where we can just be together – where I can speak to you and you can listen and respond, but it goes on through the whole day all the time I am there walking with you as you negotiate the many ups and downs of your life, helping you many times without you even being aware of it. Drawing you closer and helping to build your faith as you see and experience Me more clearly. It is a joy to Me to have this relationship with you, especially as you respond to Me “.

As we continue in John 8 from vs 48, we are still among those who are walking the dusty roads of Palestine following the path of this One who appears to be so unique. John, calling us all the time to decide from the evidence who He is. This journey almost reaches a climax in this passage as the Jews call out derisively, “Who do you think you are?” (v53b). The power and significance of Jesus’s reply in vs 56 cannot be overestimated.

It is clear that the Jews have recognised that Jesus is exercising supernatural power in His miracles. However they refuse to accept that He is from God the Father and seek an alternative explanation. They conclude that it must be by a Satanic power that He is performing miracles. To add to the insult they call Him a Samaritan for which there is no evidence at all. Then the derisive challenge, “Who do you think you are?” v53

Much of Jesus’s dialogue that follows is aimed at pointing out to them that by suggesting these things they were not only insulting Him but they were also insulting the Father which was much more serious. He points out that it is actually the Father who is doing the miracles through Him and He is doing them to demonstrate His own glory in Jesus. As they sought to call on Abraham as a witness Jesus points out to them that even Abraham had foreseen the day that He would arrive on earth, but actually He was around long before Abraham appeared on the scene.

Then He makes the climactic statement in v58. “Before Abraham was born, I AM”. This is clearly a reminder of the name God called Himself when he met with Moses in the desert. So in the mysterious way of the Trinity Jesus is in fact claiming to be God Himself. This is a mind boggling claim which deserves our full surrender and worship.

Woven into the passage John has included two statements which continue to demonstrate how to become a full disciple of Jesus. Throughout his gospel John has repeatedly said that the key ingredient to inheriting eternal life is faith. Here He rounds this out with two further statements. Firstly in v51b, “if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death “. Then the proof of true discipleship is “knowing God”. v 55

Drawing this all together the fundamental way to grow in faith is getting to know Jesus better and better. These passages in John should be helping us all to grow in knowledge and understanding of Him, helping our faith to grow in leaps and bounds. May you be blessed as these wonderful truths strike home. Till next week then.

As I sing the song, “He touched me” memories come flooding in – a moment when my general sense that God is out there and somehow Jesus died – in that moment changed to a supreme conviction that He is real and in fact I felt He was standing right there next to me. That moment heralded a total new life path which was launched and on which I walk today with extreme gratefulness, thanksgiving and joy.

”Yes Ian I do seek that intimate relationship with every person who responds to my call. I am there ready, not only to touch you into real life – to give you a new birth, but to continue building that moment into a lifetime of friendship and worship. Although many may not realise it, I am as close to them every moment of the day, as I seemed so close at special times, it simply requires you to be conscious of that, to accept it and enjoy it by faith. Each one of you is supremely precious to Me and I long to touch you and walk with you every day. My love and grace overflows to you all”.

As we return to John 8: 31 I want to revisit the passage and look at something which is going on in the background of this story. There is a play on the concept of fatherhood and sonship which is quite revealing.

As the passage opens there seems some confusion as to the genuineness of the faith that was expressed in verse 30. Despite the Jews being described as having put their faith in Jesus, there is real doubt that they have become true disciples. Jesus uses the words “Son” and “setting free” to provoke a response in them. Their claim to sonship is based on their descent from Abraham. Jesus moves the conversation to demonstrate that real disciple ship requires a recognition and acceptance of their true Father, God.

However he wants them to realise that they do you not really qualify as true sons of Yahweh because words are not sufficient and their actions demonstrate the contrary. The fact that they are planning to kill him shows that God is not really their father. There is only one alternative to God being their father and that is that the devil is in fact their real father.

This brought me to a consideration of the understanding of our relationship with God as Father. In the Old Testament God is seldom called Father and when He is He is usually called the Father. The idea of fatherhood under the Old Covenant was generally regarded as being Father of the whole nation of Israel. Few people in that era had an intimate relationship with him.

When Jesus appears on the scene introducing the New Covenant we see that He often calls Himself the Son. Obviously this indicates a close personal relationship with the Father. As we read this passage it is a prelude to the eventual revelation that once we are “in Jesus” we have an equally close relationship with the Father through Him. This was not possible under the Old Covenant. Reading Romans 8:15 again I was struck by the incredible privilege that we have of being able to call Yahweh “ABBA” the most intimate name for father and we have the full privileges of sonship because we have been adopted into His family.

A few things arise out of this. Firstly it is not good enough to speak words of relationship and following. Our whole lives must demonstrate this new relationship. Words are easy to say but their genuineness is only proved by putting them into practice. We are not saved by works but works flowing from our salvation is a demonstration of the genuineness of that faith.

Secondly something was triggered in me recently by words spoken by Brian during his sermon about fatherhood. I was again reminded of what the genuine Fatherhood of God means to me personally. We tend to measure our concept of fatherhood from our experience of our earthly fathers. No earthly father can demonstrate true fatherhood as God himself does and this has enormous consequences for each one of our faith.

So wallow in the pleasant thought that God, the Creator of everything has chosen to call you and enjoy you as a real son or daughter until next week.