Author: ianfrancoisdt

Saturate your life in joy, regardless of how things look. Is my reading from Philippians.

Yes Ian, joy in Me is the highest benefit of being able to see Me for who I am and to trust Me no matter what seems to be facing you. Continually reminding yourself of the value and benefit of rejoicing in Me will turn your life into a paean of praise and worship. so that you will be able to live the supernatural gospel life. The life which, no matter the circumstances benefits you and makes you into a credible witness of My love and Providence. It permeates your body and soul and makes you into a beautiful member of My kingdom. You can only do that through My supernatural power and love and grace.

Today we will complete the section from Ch 12:20 to 36. Last time I asked you to see if you could spot the central vs in this section. I am sure you could see Jesus’s words in vs 27, “For this very reason I came to this hour.” This gives us a clear indication of the main purpose of Jesus’s mission on earth. For this very reason refers back to His death which He had described as “a kernel of wheat falling to the ground”, back in vs 24. it was this very act which would bring the ultimate glory to the Father’s name.

What were His feelings about this hour as He calls it, the hour when He would face death on a cruel cross, taking the sins of the whole world on His shoulders? Maybe surprisingly He admits that His heart is troubled that He had actually contemplated asking the Father to save Him from this hour.

I want you all to see this conflict that He was facing and His very humanity indicating that He was feeling the pressure of what was to come. I think maybe every one of us may tend to think that because He was/is God in human form that this tremendous trial was actually not such a big deal because of His divinity.

In Hebrews 2:14-18 the writer makes it clear how how completely human He was and therefore His sufferings were as bad as ours may be and because He faced these Himself He is able to understand and minister to us. I myself tend to think of His prayer in the garden of Gethsemany as a momentary weakness, but this among other passages shows that He was anticipating the coming ordeal with dread long before that and was ever so much like we may have when faced by a difficult and painful prospect. He IS therefore able to really minister to us with complete compassion. What a wonderful reassurance.

Of course He would have His Father’s grace during the ordeal, just as we have when we are faced with suffering, but even that was ultimately taken away from Him when He called out “My God my God why have you forsaken me?”

It is also interesting that He then goes on to highlight the question of judgement in vs 30. The focus is firstly on the battle with the “Prince of this world” who is about to be defeated. It shows how important that this action is in the bigger scheme of things that He highlights this first when He speaks of judgement. And then against that backdrop He again reminds the reader that it a death upon a cross which would be the means to that victory (Notice this is a repetition of the statement in John 3:14) which was the ultimate goal which would deal with God’s judgement. Judgement is a huge issue and it is only as we understand that that we can fully appreciate the value of His death which enables us to escape that.

It is clear that the crowd and even His disciples didn’t have a clue what all this meant, but later would look back and realize He was preparing them all along for the coming ordeal.

So looking at this passage there is a huge sense of assurance that Jesus does understand exactly how you feel at all times. I have experienced that sense of comfort continually over the last three weeks and longer. But it is also a reminder that we are called to somehow suffer with Christ as we live here Romans 8:17 as we live our lives as co-heirs of Christ. So we should not be surprised when we face these things. However we have the wonderful assurance that Paul gives in 2 Cor 12:9 that His grace will always be sufficient for us no matter what we may face.

So let me finish off by once again thanking all you for the incredible support you have shown me over this time while Em finally has gone to be with her Lord. Your support was a palpable manifestation of God’s love for me through you. See you all next week.

The “holy moment” I mentioned last week extended as my lovely Emily’s body fought to stay alive. On Sunday morning after a brief quiet time I went to the room to see how Em was doing and was immediately aware by her breathing that the end was very near. I was able then to sit with her and read Psalm 23 and others and then play her some songs from You Tube. The first song which came up was “Softly and tenderly I call unto you …Oh sinner come home” As I played that I heard the Lord calling “Emily come home”. Over and over He was calling her. Then followed “How great thou art”. As that beautiful hymn reached its climax “When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation and take me home , what joy shall fill my heart,” she took her last breath and I could say goodbye. Goodbye to 65 years of her being the prime person in my life, who gave me so much and made such a difference to my life. To God be all the glory.

The brief word God gave me before I went to sit with her was, “ Yes indeed her place is ready here by My side with countless millions of other believers who have arrived before her and My Spirit is very present and real around you and your family as you deal with all the worldly details. Remember My plan is there and will be worked out– just rest in it”.

Now to John’s Gospel again. The central vs in the passage which comes next is….I wonder if you can see it? So please read John 12:20-36 and pick up that central. Vs. We are not going to look at the whole passage today however, just vv 20-26.

The story picks up in vs 20, with some Greeks becoming part of it. They were obviously Jewish believers as they came to the feast to worship. But what is the significance of their appearance? It seems John wants us to get a peek again and a reminder of the fact that Jesus’s ministry was going to extent further than the nation of Israel.

At this stage John uses this as an opportunity for Jesus to make the great announcement – “The hour has come” but the hour for what? The hour for Him, “the Son of Man” to be glorified. What a way to describe the awful process that was awaiting Him in the next few days. But He goes on immediately to explain what that means. How this cruel process was going to lead to Him and His Father being glorified. He uses a universal principle from agriculture – for a plant to grow the seed had first to die.

So how does this explain His death and glorification? On his own He could only reach a few people. By saying this He was predicting that He was going to introduce a whole new era, His death heralded the fact that the “seed” was going to produce a plant which would grow and grow to fill the world. That plant was the coming Kingdom which would be the means of glorifying Himself and His Father.

But this is a universal principle which He goes on to explain affects every person on earth. So what does it mean to you personally? He makes this clear in vv 25,26. This principle is so important in the life of every believer. Effectively each one of us, at our new birth has died to our old selves. Died to the right to run our lives as we wish and turned to follow Him. That is, indeed the test of real Christianity: Have you died to your old self and turned in a real way to follow Jesus? You see that death heralds the plant of righteousness which grows up in the place where the seed died. That righteousness demonstrates in visible fruit in the believer’s life.

So what we read here is a very important universal principle of Christianity. A real Christian will produce fruit. The fruit of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit. Matt 7:16 it is by their fruit you will know them. And ultimately the reward? Vs 26 My Father will honour them. So let me ask you again “what does that principle mean to you personally today?” Only you and the Lord know the real answer to that.

Friends I am going to end this now.It just leaves me to thank each one of you for the incredible support you have shown me not only in the last week but over that last 15 years. If I have done something right, please understand that it is merely the fruit of my relationship with my dear Lord being expressed and not because of something special in me. I am posting an invitation to Em’s memorial service. Please come and let me know you intend to come. If you are from outside the Village you will need an access code which I will send you when you accept and indicate you need it.

God bless and hope to see you on Tuesday.

The past few days I have been experiencing a most precious moment. While my dear Emily has been slipping quietly away, to cross the Jordan, I have experienced what I can only describe as a holy moment. The house has been filled with the Lord’s Presence. I have been at complete peace no fear or anxiety or distress. I have seen death many times but this time has been like a really spiritual moment. What a privilege it is to nestle in the arms of Jesus and lay my head on his shoulder while this cosmic process is happening. Thank you Lord.

” My dear child this Presence of mine is there for every one of my dear children as I shepherd and bear them over the river Jordan as it’s waters are dammed up so that you can cross over and fully experience the reception that awaits you as you enter into my perfect kingdom, into my very Presence. This is indeed a cosmic moment which awaits every believer, where the light is always bright the flowers always bloom and where there are no more tears or pain or separation”.

The opening verse in our passage today (John 12:12-19) launches the final week of Jesus’s “normal” life on earth. The amount of space and detail in these final chapters indicates the importance of this time in the whole unfolding of Jesus’s life and mission.

It opens with two Old Testament references, which show the reader how the events have always been part of God’s greater plan. It is worth going back to read the original passages to see the context. First Psalm 118:26,27. This describes the festal atmosphere. But note the verse preceding, “Oh Lord save us….” Note also the statement in verse 27, “the Lord is God”. The next verse in our passage focusses now on the kingship of this figure.

The enigma of this passage then joins the many enigmas of our Christian message. The “king” is riding on a donkey. He is not a worldly conquering king riding on a white steed, but a servant king on a lowly donkey. (Zech 9:9). Despite this He is described as “having salvation”, which means He actually represents salvation. I suppose these enigmas are one reason why many people find it hard to believe and trust in Jesus. But it is so necessary because it reflects the way each member of the kingdom’s lives should look like. If you want to follow Jesus you must deny yourself and take up your cross and, if necessary come riding on a donkey.

Notice in verse 16, even the disciples didn’t understand this till after His resurrection. The crowd who had gathered however were not phased. They celebrated and danced and cast their palm branches, completely dazzled by Jesus’s miracles, especially the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The jealousy of the Pharisees was aroused even more by this acclaim and it contributed to the intensifying of their determination to get rid of Jesus and even poor Lazarus if they could.

The text ends with the statement that many people were “going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him”. This faith is however more a description of their actions rather than a heartfelt belief and trust in Him, because not to long after this these very people will be shouting “crucify, crucify” for this same Jesus.

So what has Jesus been saying to me from this text? Firstly a great reminder of who Jesus is, but especially what He really was like. Then the challenge to be like Him in my life. Following His example of humility and service and putting aside my own agenda.

There is also a warning that the number of people who seem to follow does not necessarily mean they have real faith or are really committed. Real faith is shown by actions and their way of life, not by a crowd generated enthusiasm .

Thank you for all the many prayers and love which have been shown to me, especially the last few days. Please continue to hold Em and I up in the coming days. Only the Lord knows how things will unfold. But I do know He holds these days in His hands in love, since He has already demonstrated that by sending His Son to die on the cross for me and every one of us.

As I let the music wash over me and feel the presence of the Lord all around, I mumble “Lord, I love you with all my heart”. Then the thought comes to me, do I? Can I?

“ I hear your words and I read the desires of your heart. You want to love me completely, yet there is this doubt in your mind that you really do. Maybe there are other things, other people who take up part of your heart. However my eye is on your desire, my heart is meeting with your heart because you are feeling and expressing the desire to love me completely. Of course there will be other things in your life, but If you are loving them more than me I am helping you to change that. Remember change it slow. Seed that is sown takes a long time till it grows into a tree. Yet the important thing is that you have loved and have expressed the desire to love me completely. You will never be able to love me like I love you but your desire is the only seed I need to grow that plant into a tree and that is what I am doing”.

From ch 12 John’s gospel takes a new course. The words in 12:1 should prepare us for that as well as the significance: “6 days before Passover”. The timing of Jesus’s passion was critical to explain the significance of His death as “the Lamb of God”. (1:29)

As you read today’s passage,John 12:1-11, I want you to close your eyes and imagine the amazing fragrance that is being released by the loving act of Mary as she anoints Jesus’s feet. Let that fragrance rise up and envelope you as you take in the way it envelopes the whole story as it unfolds from here. Let yourself be buried in it as you appreciate the beauty and fragrance of what Jesus was about to do, the fragrance that surrounds His very person and reflects His beauty.

Jesus interprets it as a prophecy of the fragrant anointing of His body for His burial. (12:7) Reminding us that His death is going to be the central theme of the following chapters.

It is so important that we keep in mind that any “Jesus” that is taught and propagated that does not include His death and resurrection, is not the “real Jesus”. Even as we see in vs 11 that there were many Jews who were “Going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him”. At that stage the “complete Jesus” had not yet been revealed, so their “faith” was more like an admiration for Him or the miracles He had done and His wise teaching.

I listen attentively to the way Jesus is represented by various people and He is so often characterised by His incredible compassion, as we saw in the previous chapter and His general love and desire for the best for us. Often I hear phrases like, ”I have been set free”. and I wonder whether that person really understands what that means. The fact of the matter is that our greatest problem is the fact that we are sinners headed for judgement and need to be rescued from that. Our walk with God starts therefore with an understanding of the seriousness of this separation and judgement and many are unwilling to admit their state of sinfulness and need for rescue and therefore manufacture a Jesus who suits their perceived needs. Our Father God, however saw our state as being so serious that He gave His one and only Son to DIE on our behalf, taking that punishment from us upon Himself.

That is why this message is central to the whole of the gospel and to Jesus’s life. And should be the central point of our faith in Him.

As I conclude, I loved the picture and smelled the redolent waves of the pure nard and it opened a new vista to the beauty and value of my Lord Jesus. It is quite in order to allow your senses the freedom to smell, taste, feel and see things in the scriptures, to enable them to be more real. Remember the psalmist’s words: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

I leave that with you for the week,. Blessings till next time we meet.

What a beautiful name it is – what a wonderful name it is, what a powerful name it is – the name of Jesus. In quiet contemplation I consider these as I meet with the Father through him.

Yes my Name wraps up all that I am. That is why I am known by so many names as they describe different aspects of my character and my interaction with you and the rest of creation. Wrapped up in that name Jesus – which means “The one who came to save” – is my full glory and my name reflects the main purpose of my mission to you– to save – to save in an absolutely unique way – to make it possible for you to be turned back from rushing to a lost eternity. But there is so much more in that name – so keep contemplating it, keep loving it but remember you are not loving just a name you are loving me the one who carries that name and who came to save you.

So we come today to the last part of the story of Lazarus. John 11:45-57. This section also brings to an end the first section of John’s gospel where he is introducing us to Jesus and showing that he is the Messiah. There is a key vs in this section which reflects what the rest of the gospel is going to be about. Read through the passage and see if you can pick that up.

So way back in 3:16 Jesus already revealed His mission. He had come, motivated by the Father’s love, to die for the whole world to save us from perishing and instead receive life. So in 11:50 from the mouth of the high priest Caiaphas this prophecy is picked up again in vs 50: “You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people”. So from here on Jesus’s death becomes the main theme of the rest of the gospel.

The miracle of the raising of Lazarus has more than one layer. It is the greatest miracle which are described as signs in the gospel because they point to Jesus’s identity. It also is a window which gives us insight to Jesus’s amazing compassion. There is however a further significance, I wonder if you can see it.

It is a subtle reminder that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is not the end of the story. Without His resurrection the story of Jesus would have ended there in Palestine. So here is a sweet way in which John puts the two main threads together to introduce us to the last 11 chapters of his gospel story. Jesus is to die, a significant death achieving the ultimate salvation act and this is verified by the Father to have been sufficient and real by His resurrection.

Reading this gospel and especially this section has given me a renewed sense of the wonder of God’s love which He has expressed through this amazing act of His in sending Jesus on this mission. What a wonderful sense of security we can have as Paul puts it in Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how much more will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things. This story of Jesus’s absolute compassion is strategically placed here to set a background to his attitude as he goes the whole way to the cross. It was not a cold act of obedience but the greatest act of love imaginable.

So as we follow Him we are also called to take up our crosses, not in a cold determined way gritting our teeth as it were, but in a complete surrender of ourselves in an act of the warmest love, emulating our Master’s attitude of love towards us.

God bless you all then. Till next week.

Joy, real joy – the enigma of our faith – comes at the expense of a death. As we survey the One who died for us on the cross we can see the blood and love flowing mingled down, that is the means which sets us free to experience the true joy of a relationship with ourCreator, to experience his love firsthand.

“Yes your joy comes at a cost, but the cost has been born by Me, the price I have paid through my blood has bought you the freedom from slavery to sin, it has bought you eternal life. My blood which represents My death is the factor that washes you clean and enables you to experience true joy. True joy which will ultimately lead to your glorification in the presence of My glory. That is why I call on you to sacrifice your whole self for Me, to take up your cross and follow Me even to share in My suffering with the wonderful view of a glorious hope shining in front of you.”

We proceed today in John ch 11: 17 – 37, with the story of Lazarus. Why don’t you read through the story and see if you can pick up the main point of Jesus’s teaching?

While we all can see the emphasis on Jesus’s compassion, it is revealed against the background of the main theme of His teachings in vv 25 – 27. He not only promises resurrection from the dead, but He IS the Resurrection and the Life! He can promise this because NB vs 27 He is none other than the Genuine Messiah and the miracle He is about to perform is the living proof of that! The question at the end of vs 26 is the question which has repeatedly cropped up in the gospel. It is the question which changes everything from reading a story intellectually to recognizing and embracing it as real and which then becomes a life changing moment. Do you see the simple question? “Do you believe this “ ? Notice it is not just a vague “Do you believe?” It is a specific belief which changes everything. Do believe THIS ? This is the central point in the gospel, which Jesus has just spoken in those vv.

Now coming back to the grieving family. Earlier Jesus had deliberately delayed His response to the sister’s plea, despite His great love for them. The question we may ask is “did He not care how they felt?”. We saw how He uses delay in His teaching process, and we ourselves may feel at times when we are called to wait that Jesus doesn’t really care. Vv 32 – 36 show how deeply moved Jesus was at their grief. What a wonderful picture of Jesus’s compassion which reflects what He feels for each one of His children when they are in any sort of pain. What a comfort that we have a high priest who has experienced all our pain and can draw alongside us when are hurting.

A feature of this story is the great amount of detail. This is an excellent reminder of the reality of these events and when we ponder that should further strengthen our faith.

My prayer is that each of you should feel as encouraged and comforted as I did while reading it. Bless you all till next week.

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.