Lectionary for Sunday Lent 5
Jesus says: ‘Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.’ John 12:26
Reading. Psalm 51:1-12. This is a beautiful and much loved psalm for, on the one hand it reminds us most forcefully of our failures; at the same time it assures us of God’s forgiving grace. “Have mercy on me O God, according to your lovingkindness”. Yet this psalm is more that beautiful poetry.
In many versions of the bible it records that it was written when Nathan came to confront David after his shameful tryst with Bathsheba. This proposition has been strongly disputed by biblical scholars; however that particular setting may then direct our attention to something important. If it was that incident in David’s life then the emphasis is not that David has had a change of heart but that he had been confronted with who he really is through God’s intervention via the prophet Nathan. David was God’s chosen man and God’s intervention draws David back to the true leadership to which God has called him. David freely admits his guilt and that is in keeping with one who is fully committed to God. God has not released David to the consequences of his actions but has interposed his word to David through Nathan. It is God’s action that has rescued David. David in turn has responded by recognising his transgressions and thrown himself on the mercy of God. Despite all the power and influence that David can wield, despite all the luxury with which he is surrounded, David’s life is simply a disaster. It is a disaster the penitent one has to face. Therefore the psalm is not one that allows us to read and feel warm and comforted, knowing and accepting the mercy and grace of God. It is a psalm that demands a truthful assessment of who we are in our relationship with God. Like David we need to understand what it is we have done and where it is that we have failed God in our calling to be his child: Truly knowing, “against you and you alone have I sinned” It is then that the overwhelming, steadfast love and mercy of God, can be fully appreciated: We can then begin to understand how amazing is God’s love for us and how richly our lives have been blessed through Him.
Prayer. We give thanks to you Lord God for the generosity of your grace in bringing to us the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, who faced life as we do and yet was without sin. We thank you that through him, you have won for us a place in your kingdom and an assurance of life eternally in your presence. Because of your great favour may we live our lives daily in joyful thanksgiving; looking always to follow in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord. May we trust in him for every moment and always be ready to honour his name in every situation. This we pray through Jesus Christ who is himself, King of kings and Lord of lords. Amen
Reading. John 12:20-33. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” The unnamed Greeks who come wanting to see Jesus are not just curious tourists but are folk who have come to worship God at the temple. The biblical tradition had it that the temple would be the place where people of many nations would gather together to worship at a time when God would vindicate the people of Israel. Perhaps that is why John does not tell us if the Greek enquirers get to meet up with Jesus but immediately records Jesus’ words which signal the fulfilling of the prophecy that God’s long promised intervention is about to take place! With the death of Jesus the rulership of this world will change hands and God will once again take control. In that exchange Jesus will gather all the people to himself. (V.32) In Jesus the rulership of the world is being transferred but this transference is not without real struggle. We cannot fail to understand as we read verse 27 that this is a real struggle in which Jesus is engaging. Things fall into place and Jesus emerges victorious but it is real pain and tears of anguish that bring about God’s victory through Jesus. The passage also reminds us that just as it required total commitment from Jesus, so it also requires total commitment from us. However in our case ours is not a struggle but it is trusting completely in what Jesus has achieved and then following him in full confidence and obedience.
As we return to the original question, “Sir we would see Jesus” we could maybe ask ourselves, “Who is the Jesus that we seek? Is it some guru with all the answers to life’s tough questions? Is it an amazing example that we might try to emulate? Or is it the Jesus who is Saviour of the world and who as Saviour demands our total allegiance? We would like to think that we can be part of the solution of bringing the world back under the kingship of God but scripture reminds us that actually we are part of the problem. (Eph 2:5) Only a full reshaping of our lives can achieve this, and the only one to do it is Jesus. The good news is that Jesus can and will re-orientate our lives so that we can effectively serve in his name. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour. John 12:26 (NRSV)
Prayer. Lord Jesus you bore our grief’s and carried our sorrow. In full obedience you gave yourself to a criminal’s death and for our sake you were stripped and humiliated. You were rejected and despised so that we might receive the grace and forgiveness of God. So with humble thanks once more we offer to you our prayers of praise and thanksgiving. By your Holy Spirit empower us to love and serve you in daily living. Give to us true eyes of faith that we may recognize your ongoing work in the world and serve you faithfully. Enable us to celebrate your victory over sin and death and live confidently as people in your kingdom. This we ask through the Name that is above all other names, now and always. Amen
Collect. Hear, O Father, the cry of your Son, who, to establish the new and everlasting covenant, became obedient to death upon the cross. Grant that, through all the trials of this life, we may come to share more intimately in his redeeming passion; and so obtain the fruitfulness of the seed that falls to the earth and dies, to be gathered as your harvest for the kingdom. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
ericjkirkham.com 