Wednesday of Holy week 8th April.
Collect for today (from the Prayer Book)
Father in your plan of salvation, your Son Jesus Christ accepted the cross and freed us from the power of the enemy.
May we come to share the glory of his resurrection, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Read. Hebrews 12:1-3. These are familiar, even comforting words. We are encouraged to think of all the saints that we have all known looking on and cheering us on as we run the race. Think how great a cloud there is encouraging us. Yet their encouragement is not simply an urging on but is a concerted effort to help us keep our eye on Jesus. It is this urging that brings us to the very heart of what we are about today, reflecting on Jesus as he prepared for the agony of the cross: but not only that, he was preparing for the very climax to a ministry that would set the whole creation free and hand it triumphantly back into God the Father’s care. As we think of this amazing feat about to be completed our own struggles are put into perspective: what is accomplished on the cross empowers us to face each day with renewed strength. It is this victory that assures us that in the end God will see us through; as the psalmist says, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 NLT2
Why? Because Jesus endured the cross, because of the victory he knew was within reach. That’s why Paul can say to the Corinthians, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT2 No matter where we are on life’s journey we too can be encouraged to know that Jesus will not only walk with us but will see us through to victory, the victory that was won on the cross.
Prayer. We enter into your presence gracious Lord because we come in the name of Jesus the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We come with joyful hearts for we know that long ago this same Jesus walked the way of the cross for our wholeness and healing. Yes Lord, by his stripes we are healed and by his grace we rejoice in the new life that Jesus brings. Though we remember events of long ago, we also know that Jesus now lives and reigns with you and his love and grace surround all his people. So we come to you with thanks and praise, asking only for a closer walk with you; that we may live the new life that Jesus has given. All praise to you Lord God Almighty. Amen.
Read. John 13:21-30. This story from Jesus’ last days brings with it a mood of sadness, even questioning. Betrayal brings with it such a sense of disappointment and failure. No true follower of Jesus would ever want betray him in any way, still as for the disciples it raises for us the question- “Lord who is it?” The question is answered and the betrayer is revealed. John ends this story with the sentence, “And it was night” or He went out into the night. On one hand it is just as statement of fact, the sun had set and night had come. His errand was to be conducted in the night. Then again maybe John presents us with a slightly different picture, namely that Judas was stepping out into darkness and away from the one who was to bring light into the world. The theme of Jesus as the bringer of light runs through John’s gospel and we are being reminded that Judas is moving away from light by his betrayal. Judas, by stepping away finds he has moved so far away that he can no longer return, and so is not able to receive forgiveness. We know that his failure was forgivable for Jesus died for the sins of the whole world; nothing stands outside of that forgiveness. The sad thing is that Judas could not bring himself to seek forgiveness and his life ended in tragedy.
What a distressing thing it would be to feel that you had stepped so far away from Jesus that you could not return and find both acceptance and forgiveness. The death of Jesus that we commemorate each Easter should dispel any doubt that anyone could move beyond the covering of forgiveness that Jesus has won. There is a song written late in the 19th century by William Rees titled, “ Here is Love vast as the Ocean” The second verse reads:
On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.
No one ever stands outside of Jesus Christ’s forgiving love.
Prayer. O Lord, you have searched me and you know me, you know everything about me, you know my doubts and fears, you understand my weaknesses and my strengths, you know and understand me better than I know myself and still your love and care flows over me and I am surrounded by the amazing sense of your loving presence. Never let me stray from you but keep me close that I may live my life in true harmony with you and your will and purpose for me. In times of trial grant me strength and in times when all things are going well, help me to keep my attention fixed more surely on you, for you are my one true hope. Grant to me Lord the ministry to life my thoughts from my own needs to attend to the care and needs of others; recognising again and again that we are all your children and above all you call us to love one another. Keep safe all those who are in danger, and bring those who are in need to the comfort and strength that is necessary for them. May your peace and blessing surround those who are isolated and kept apart from loved ones, those who fear for the future and those whose hope is fading.
Grant to all of us dear Lord the gift of peace that passes all understanding; may our heart, mind and spirit be at one with you: may the name of Jesus be lifted high among us all. Amen
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