Opening sentence. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Collect. Let us pray (for God’s forgiveness and for the happiness it brings): Father, you show your almighty power in your mercy and forgiveness. Continue to fill us with your gifts of love. Help us to hurry towards the eternal life you promised and to share in the joys of your kingdom. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Hebrews 4:12-16. In the Genesis account of the creation story God had promised Adam and Eve the gift of entering into his rest as they lived served and worshiped in the Garden of Eden. Human disobedience excluded them from the rest that God had promised. In this chapter of Hebrews the writer once again reminds humanity that the same rest is still a matter of promise to all those who will soften their hearts towards God and trust in Him. It is through the written word that once more we are reminded of God’s promise and that is why the beginning of our reading today states quite clearly that the word of God is still a potent force in the world today. It also reminds us that this word is so discerning that nothing escapes the notice of God. To say that all creatures are naked before him, that nothing is hidden from his gaze is quite confronting. Even more confronting is the understanding that with nothing hidden each and every creature must render an account to this ultimate authority.
It is then that the writer reminds us that we have a high priest who has been placed in the presence of God, in the highest heaven and so with that advocate we can present our case with confidence before God. What the writer is reminding us is that in our High Priest Jesus Christ, the one who has conquered sin and death, we now have a second chance of entering into the rest that God originally promised. The High Priest was the only official who in the temple could enter the Holy of Holies and from there offer atonement for the sins of the people. Jesus who is now our High Priest is in the true Holy of Holies and from God he offers forgiveness and a new beginning into the rest that God had promised.
The transaction is made the more sure because Jesus has also experienced life as a true human being and so understands the trials and temptations that every human being faces. Not only that, Jesus was able to resist the trials that lead to disobedience and so remained the perfect servant of God. It is because of his perfection in every way that now as believers we can approach God with confidence. Through Jesus we have all the help we need to remain in the rest and peace of God.
Prayer. Gracious God we give you thanks and praise for sending your Son to be our Saviour. We thank you for the victory that he has won for us in obedience to you. We thank you for the joy and peace we have in him. Enable us by your grace to love and serve in ways that are acceptable to you. Grant that together with all believers we may live lives worthy of your praise. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, our only Saviour. Amen
Reading. Mark 10:17-31. Jesus is progressing on his journey to Jerusalem and to his final confrontation with the Jewish authorities when a man runs and kneels before him to ask a question. The first thing we notice is the title with which he addresses Jesus. To call Jesus a “Good Teacher” is not simply describing his prowess as a teacher but is giving to Jesus an elevated religious title for as Jesus forcibly reminds him, only God is “Good”. On the one hand this shows the respect that the young man has for Jesus and he humbly knelt before him. On the other hand it also has important implications for the young man. Jesus does not reject the title however if Jesus is “Good’ (i.e. God), then the young man by implication should, indeed must obey him.
The question is also revealing for the young man asks, “What must I do?” The question implies that that the young man could do something in order to receive eternal life. Jesus responds by reminding the young man of the second part of the law which was his duty towards the neighbour. The Jewish belief was that living an obedient life would enrich one’s life. When the young man responded that he had lived this obedient life Jesus loved him. In loving him, Jesus also looked for a further response and by asking him to give away his earthly treasure he reminded the young man of the first part of the law which was to love God, “with all your hearts’. To answer the young man’s question Jesus had effectively divided the law into two parts; duty towards one’s neighbour a duty the young man had achieved and duty towards God which the young man had not considered. When he was reminded of the need to love God alone his love of money was too strong for him to overcome.
As the disciples listened to Jesus saying that wealth could keep one out of the kingdom they were shocked. The Jews had long held the belief that wealth was an earthly sign of God’s blessing but Jesus’ teaching seems to suggest otherwise. Jesus then reiterates a teaching he has been trying to get through to the disciples for awhile, which was that one only receives the kingdom one never earns the right to enter. The kingdom belongs to those who come to God as little children with nothing with which to bargain. Nevertheless though we may come to God with nothing, in God’s care we can and do receive all that we need both now and into eternity.
Prayer. Lord God our Father, you have revealed your love for us in the cross of Christ. Grant us grace to take up our cross every day, that, in the company of our saviour we may gladly do your will and attain to life in all its fullness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Uniting in Worship.)
Lord it is so easy to place our confidence in the material things we own or in the strength of our arm or in the wisdom and skills our minds can create. Help us Lord that we may hand our lives over to you and ask you to lead us. Grant us trust in you alone and in the end cling only to you and to the things of significance to you. May love, mercy, justice, forgiveness and acceptance be the watch words by which we live as your people, now and always. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Your word, O God, cuts through our pretence; we are unable to hide from you. Guide us to know our secret faults, strengthen us to put them aside, and make us grateful for all you give us; this we ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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