Restored and Forgiven

On Sunday I preached from John 21:1-9, looking in part at the exchange between Peter and Jesus. A number of things come from reading this but the big one for me was related to forgiveness and restoration.

If you know the Easter story, you will know how bravely Peter had said he would follow Jesus, even if it meant dying with him. When the chips were down, Peter, as Jesus had told him, denied that he knew Jesus for fear of his life. A monumental failure.

So what would be our' response to a monumental failure or even a small failure, on the part of a friend, which caused us hurt and damage? Insist on reparations (some making up for it); public humiliation (maybe it might make us feel better); Ignore it and drop them as a friend?

Jesus did none of these things, didn't even mention it, he simply took Peter aside and ask him if he loved him. Oh, and in the process charged him to shepherd, look after, care for the church that would grow in Jesus' name.

Why was this possible? Well I think the look from Jesus post Peters denial of knowing him and Peters heart broken reaction at the realisation of what he had done, tells it all. He broke in tears, recognising his failure. Peter had made no attempt to make light of it as he met Jesus, he made no attempt to justify it, after all the rest had all run away. He simply walked with Jesus and was restored, knowing that he was forgiven, because he had faced his mistake and not tried to hide it or justify it.

We will all mess up at times, some more often than others, but recognising that we have should break our hearts as we realise that the cross was for just such as us and forgiveness from Jesus is possible if we can only admit that we got it wrong.

Son-light

The sun making an appearance in the last few weeks had me thinking how good it feels to have the sun light brighten things up. There is no doubt in my mind that many of us are cheered up when we are in the sun-light. Its why so many head of to warmer places for their holidays, to soak up the sun. There is warmth, a colourfulness to everything that it touches. The warmth that it brings stirs new life and plants shoot up and bloom.

A few weeks back as we drove home in a rainstorm, my wife and I were talking about how dark it was in the middle of the day, only to find bright rays of sun shine coming through and a lovely double rainbow. Again the light cheered us up.

We talk of Jesus as the light of the world, he said he is just that. A light that can shine through any darkness in our lives and give us the warmth that comes from knowing God. A song I like, reminds me of the fact that just as we sun light to see things in colour, the light of the Son can set our lives ablaze with colour as we begin to see things very differently.

Just as sun light warms our physical selves, so the light of the Son lights our spiritual selves.  For me that light guides my direction, my attitudes and my actions. Let the light of the Son of God touch your lives and see everything in full colour.

Jesus in the storm

You may remember the song "You raise me up" made popular by Westlife but originally by Secret Garden. There is a line in it that I think sums up life.


"When troubles come and my heart burdened be"

All of us have struggles as some point in our lives, storms to brave and overcome. Some of us can manage it on our own, sometimes, others need help. Understanding our need for help and having the courage to call out, to ask, is so important.

John Donne wrote

"No man is an island, entire of itself .." as he put down his thoughts and he goes on to suggest that each has impact on each other, we rely on each other. You can read the whole mediation here.

The disciples in the boat on the stormy lake, were afraid for their lives while Jesus slept in the boat, unconcerned about the turbulence of the storm. The disciples knew the waters, they fished there for a living, but the storm was beyond their ability. Jesus awoke, calmed the storm and peace returned.

The disciples needed something as they were beyond their abilities, sometimes we need help, from friends, relatives, even from complete strangers. Admitting the need is a strength not a weakness.

When we call on Jesus, all things are possible. Storms calmed, illness healed, lives changed. Recognising our need for him in our lives is a strength that will produce a rich reward. Life in all its fullness, life that will not be trouble free, but life that has the help that we need to deal with them and overcome them. Turning to him can never be a sign of weakness or failure but a sign of strength.

A tinted view

There are some news stories that really make me wonder what we are about in this country.

Stories like that of Edwina Currie questioning if food banks were really needed in Britain, just reinforce the issues raised late last year by other politicians questioning food  banks and their supposed agenda. Then there is the issue of benefits claim reform and of course the building up of fear of the possible influx of European union nationals as more countries have joined and now take advantage of migration opportunities. Before anyone thinks this is a comment on the current government, we have also to ask why we are in the economic mess we are in, since that has created many of the problems and fears? Politicians often look through tinted windows seeing only what they want to see.

Possible those giving out their opinions and those converting them to print or news bytes, might benefit from getting a ground level view. It seems to me that being detached from the real folks, those that struggle, those that can't make ends meet, those that have been caught up in the pay day loans cycle of debt, those who can't find a job that enables them to support themselves and their families, gives a view through a tinted window.

Its all too simple to focus on the negative, those who abuse benefits, those who abuse the hospitality of another country, those who use food banks but have the funds for tattoos and pet food. All too simple to miss the point that many more in our country do rely on food banks (as many in Harlow do), can't find jobs with adequate pay, struggle when benefits claims changes remove all payments during reassessment and many migrant workers positively contribute to the economy of this land. The windows being looked through are tinted.

What's all this  got to do with faith in Jesus? Well quite a lot, in my view. The other day I conducted a funeral and after meeting the family of the person selected this passage to read ...

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

I got to thinking again about what this means as a follower of Jesus. We are called to wipe the tints off of the windows we look through and regardless of our politics, regardless of our economic situation, recognise that many do need help, support, comfort and compassion and that we might well be able to help to give it. Food banks and Credit Unions are a part of that, they are not perfect but imperfect is, in my opinion, better than nothing at all.

There is no doubt that reforms of our social systems are needed but they should surely focus on fairness with compassion and dignity? Jesus showed His compassion over and over during His earthly ministry, going against the established norms of the day to include, encourage and heal many on the margins of life. Shouldn't we be the same?

Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

Happy christmas 2013

 This year we have sent cards to our far away friends but not to the those in Harlow Baptist Church, our home church, opting instead to give the money we would have spent to Operation Christmas Child and putting a card in the church hall instead. Different, maybe, but hopefully the lack of a card for some will help others who really need to hear "Happy Christmas" who might not have otherwise heard that wonderful greeting.

Our prayer is that this Christmas, whatever you are each doing, where ever you are going to be - at home, with friends, with relatives or on your own, you will know the joy of Christmas and be able to celebrate it, knowing that God is with us "Immanuel".

We will be celebrating as we sing carols with all of our friends at Harlow Baptist Church, we hope you will be able to celebrate with a church near you. Go on treat yourselves this Christmas :-)

Happy Christmas, to all of those who read this blog and to all of our friends.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

from Tony and Nicola