Lectionary Easter 3 B
Opening sentence. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. 1 John 3:1
Lord Jesus, open to us the Scriptures; make our hearts burn within us while you speak. Based on Luke 24:
Collect. O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of the bread: open the eyes of our faith that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading. Acts 3:12-19. We are so used to reading this short passage that it is easy to miss some important signs. We even sing a song based on the few verses before our passage.
Peter sees a crowd gathering and immediately begins to address them. We must note that this gathering takes place in Solomon’s Portico which is right in the temple precinct. It was an impressive place to gather and a favourite place for teachers of the Law. Jesus had taught his disciples there and according to John it was one of the places where Jesus had challenged the religious leaders. (John 10:23). We note that Peter uses this place and this opportunity to boldly address the crowd. What a change has now come over Peter, no longer a disciple hidden away but out in a public place honouring Jesus.
Peter uses the miraculous healing as a starting point to highlight that it is the power in the Name of Jesus that has worked this dramatic change for the lame man. Peter wants all the attention to be directed towards Jesus.
Not only does Peter emphasise the source of the healing but he also directly links the relationship between Jesus and the Lord God. Peter uses something known and familiar, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to emphasise that Jesus is God’s servant. This would have had a meaningful significance for it would have reminded them of the Suffering Servant from the prophecy of Isaiah. For Isaiah the Suffering Servant was none other than the coming Messiah.
Though Peter is reminding them that they had all agreed with their leaders and denounced Jesus; he is doing so directly and yet very gently and so is offering them a way to change their minds and return to God.
As we view this passage through thousands of years of Christian history we still realise the profound change that has occurred in Peter. For our own Christian walk it reminds us that knowledge is not enough it needs the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was the power of the Spirit which was given when Peter accepted that Jesus was alive and present with him that set him free from the fear that held him back. We too must be prepared to move beyond our knowledge and accept the leadings of the Holy Spirit. We may never see a lame man healed but with the Spirit our whole life can be honouring to Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Prayer. Almighty God, we thank you for the gifts of healing that we have seen in our lives and in the lives of others. We thank you that your healing reminds us of how much you love us. Yet Lord we know that physical healing is not always the way forward that you choose. So today we pray for those who must wait and watch while loved ones die. Lord, keep their faith and trust in you strong. May they hold onto the knowledge that your love covers all situations and that you have an ultimate destiny for all your people: A destiny that transcends this life, finding its fulfilment in your eternity. Give us eyes to see your tomorrow with greater clarity. We pray our prayer in the powerful Name Jesus. Amen
Reading. 1 John 3:1-7. This is a beautiful passage filled with comfort and hope. The joy of knowing that we are God’s children comes through trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As we rejoice in this great privilege we should remind ourselves that the primary mission of God was to create a godly family who would care for the whole creation that God loved.
As we look at our world today we recognise that as a human race we have exploited our world and also exploited one another. We live in a world of huge inequalities. In our own society we hear reports of youth crime and death through domestic violence which reminds us that so often we are out of step with what God desires. None of that is new and John’s society was even more violent and exploitative than our own. However through the reality of what is we still hear the strong words of assurance that come from John, “See what love the Father has for us!”
John wants us to turn our eyes away from those things that are contrary to God and fix our eyes on the reality of what God has done which has restored us to his family. As John has said, the reason we find ourselves out of step with the world is because the world does not know God. However, as we do know God our way in the world needs to be different. God’s values are to be our values and God’s way is to be our way.
John makes it clear that he is not simply talking about morality but about the way every aspect of our lives is to be lived. The sin that John has in mind is the sin of disobedience. John is reminding us that because of God’s action through Jesus on the cross we are now members of his family. As members of his family each step of life’s journey from now on is lived out of that understanding. We have all made mistakes but by holding on to the reality of who we now are, through God’s love, we are constantly being guided and corrected as to how we need to live.
In John’s society, just like our own, there were those who believed that it did not matter how one lived life. John is emphasising that how we live our lives, the attitudes we have and the deeds we do are important. God and his love has changed us and as we trust in that change so we live out our lives.
We cannot put the things of this world right but we can be obedient to God because we are in his family. Each of us is a work in progress and as we keep faith with God he will continue to show us the way until the time when God’s whole family will be revealed. In God’s family the future, God’s future, belongs to each one of us.
Prayer. Gracious God, we lift our hands and hearts to you in prayer. Lead us in our thinking and speaking. We thank you for the victory that Jesus won for us. We thank you that this is a victory which has meaning in the events of every day. Through him our life and destiny has been changed. You embrace us in your loving arms and have designated us to be a part of your great family of heaven and earth. We are humbled to belong to your family and find in this a dignity which nothing can take away. Teach us to praise and honour your godly family more, by recognising the stamp of approval that you have placed on each one of those that you have chosen and called. Teach us to be obedient in rejoicing in their inclusion even as we rejoice in our own. May the bonds of family inform and empower all our relationships with all people. Lord let us live and love to your honour and glory. We ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Crucified and risen Lord, you have fulfilled in your body the words of the prophets; you have brought the time of God’s reign to us, here and now. Graciously come to our side, and open the scriptures in our midst, for you are the Living One. Amen.
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