Lectionary for Easter 5
Jesus says:‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:6
Collect. O God, form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading. 1 Peter 2:2-10. As we look at this passage from chapter 2 let us look first at the final two verses. Verse 9 is a snapshot of what the tribes that were descendants of Abraham were destined to be. This is summed up in a number of places for example Isaiah 43:2f. “my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise”. Then in verse 10 Peter is directing his thoughts both to Jewish Christians as well as gentile Christians, “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” From the writers perspective this is not a promise for the future but is a practical reality right now in the present; his is what you are! This is a great affirmation and a joyful climax of what the writer is trying to express. However before we grasp at that wonderful promise we need to go back to consider what Peter has written previously in the earlier part of this passage. It is clear that the “Old Israel” if we may call them that, had lost their promised destiny because of their disobedience and so the “New Israel” has now come into being. The disobedience which caused people to stumble was none other than the person of Jesus, risen and victorious. Jesus is the “stone” on which the whole people of God stand. The word used to describe this “stone’ is Lithos which describes a stone that has been shaped by a stone mason and then put in just the right place, as God intended. This rightly placed stone is precious to all who believe for from this stone true life proceeds. Peter is urging the believers to long for pure milk as a hungry infant would. The emphasis is on the “pure milk”, it is not opposed to “meat” as for example in 1 Corinthians 3; this “pure milk” is the real substance of the Christian life for which we need to long. It is this pure milk which grows each believer on into salvation, each taking their place as a living stone, resting on the Living Stone.
This is an exciting affirmation of the Christian faith and is made even more exciting by clearly including all who believe in Jesus Christ. The security of resting on the Living Stone is not just for a chosen few, all are welcome in God’s spiritual house.
Prayer. Holy Lord, we thank you that you have sent Jesus to be the Saviour to redeem us. May our hearts always cling to him and trusting in him alone may we grow in grace, each day rejoicing in the salvation that Jesus has won for us. In all our daily living grant that our lives may express our thanks and praise, always honouring you. We pray in the name which is above all other names. Amen
Reading. John 14:1-14. Jesus has been teaching his disciples about his death and resurrection and these events, because they are so revolutionary, will leave the disciples shocked and insecure. Though they do not as yet understand Jesus word is guiding them past doubt and unbelief and so it is belief which is the key component of this well loved passage. Believe and everything else falls into place for it is belief not only in God but in Jesus Christ himself. The key thing that flows from believing is that there is room for “you’ in God’s house. Various translations use a variety of words to signal this welcome, mansions, dwelling places, and even “more than enough room”.(NLT) The word used in the Greek is “Mone” which has the meaning of a place to stay, It is a place in which to settle and be secure. This security is unlike our earthly life which is often very unsettled, indeed can sometimes be quite disturbed. Thus these words from Jesus give the believer the certainty of a settled life which remains in eternity and gives a permanent place with God. It is the sure promise of our eternal home.
Jesus is teaching his disciples that he is going on ahead to prepare a home with God for them but then will return and take them to the home which is prepared. Thomas’s question is often our question, what is the way for us to get where Jesus is? Jesus shows Thomas that that is the wrong question for there is no method which will achieve that security there is only Jesus himself for only in Jesus can we make it to our eternal home.
We live in a world where it is thought right to be inclusive and that has led to the understanding that there are many roads to God. However Christianity believes that there is no road to God there is only the person of Jesus who himself gathers us into god and the security of God’s home. When Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” it was not meant as an exclusive statement but is an inclusive statement for through Jesus all can find God and the home he has prepared for them. Jesus is reminding us that it can never be our way it will always be God’s way and Gods way is Jesus.
Prayer. Lord we live our lives juggling with a myriad things and each one seems so important that it is easy to forget that you are the one who holds our life and our hopes in your hand. You are never hurried but are surrounded by the peace which passes all understanding. Renew in us the belief of your great love for the world. Through your gracious love we can be at peace, at peace with ourselves and at peace with each other. Help us Lord to live the life that you have given to us; help us to live in ways that honour you and may our every action proclaim the victory that is ours through Jesus Christ. In his name we pray that our whole world might find peace and a place in which to belong. We pray, hasten the day when all will find a harmony with each other, so that the whole world will be a true home again. Amen.
Collect. Gracious Father, we have seen you in your Son Jesus Christ; may he keep us from faithless ways of stumbling, falsehood and death, and hold us in communion with you, in whom is life eternal; in Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
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