More than 80 years before Jesus was born in that manger in Bethlehem, a little girl was born somewhere around Jerusalem. I’m sure that she was her parent’s pride and joy. And I’m sure that she was strong, active and healthy. Anyway, in due course, she grew up and fell in love with the man of her dreams. They married, and she must have thought that they would live happily ever after. But after a few short years of married life, her husband died.…
When Jesus Christ laid down his life on the cross of Calvary, it was an act not only of supreme love, but also of deepest humility. The Son of God lowered himself to become a human being, and then descended still further to submit to death, even the brutal, shameful, accursed death of crucifixion.
Yet even while Jesus was being executed, his Father sent visible demonstrations of the fact that here was no ordinary man, and his was no ordinary death. …
[Note: the following was presented in the form of a semi-scripted, role-played interview with ‘Joseph’]
A little earlier, we listened to a reading from Matthew’s Gospel, 1:18-25. This is a very familiar story, and yet quite puzzling in many ways. So I thought it would be good if we could get it straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were. I’m very pleased to welcome a special guest. Joseph, thankyou for coming along and agreeing to answer a few questions about how the birth of Jesus came about.…
Matthew 2:11 – ‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ‘
To us, it’s as cosy as a Christmas tree and as comfortable as an old pair of slippers. Of course, we just couldn’t leave it alone, this story of the Magi from the East who came to visit the infant Jesus.…
John 4:29: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
When was the last time you wore a mask? Actually, we wear masks all the time. We pretend to be what we are not. We pretend to be happy, though really we are sad. We pretend we are tough, though we are hurting inside. We pretend we are confident, though really we are quaking in our shoes. We pretend that everything is OK, even we have done something we know is wrong.…
How good are you at remembering things? There is a little exercise that I sometimes do with my students. I get people to line themselves up according to how they see themselves on certain characteristics. Do you see yourself as tall or short, as old or young, as out-going or shy, as optimistic or pessimistic? Do you have a good sense of humour? Do you have a good memory? Two things I have discovered without fail: nobody ever admits to having a poor sense of humour.…
The Sermon on the Mount is the most comprehensive and systematically arranged collection of Jesus’ teaching to have been passed down to us. It is also the most celebrated piece of public speaking of all time. Phrases and sayings from this sermon have become part of everyday speech for countless numbers of people, even though they may never have stepped inside a church or opened up a Bible: “Blessed are the meek” – “You are the salt of the earth” – “Casting pearls before swine” – “Turning the other cheek”, and so on.…
Which place in the world would you most like to visit?
Paul had longed to visit Rome. Two years earlier, the Lord had appeared to him and said, “Don’t worry! Just as you have told others about me in Jerusalem, you must also tell about me in Rome.” Now, after waiting all that time under house-arrest in Caesarea, Paul is about embark on his journey of a life-time.
1When it was time for us to sail to Rome, Julius, a centurian from the Emperor’s special troops was put in charge of Paul and the other prisoners.…
‘My dearest sister, I offer you no consolation, for I know of none. There are things which each must bear as best he may with the strength that has been allotted to him.’ (Aldous Huxley, writing to his sister on the death of their mother.)
‘There is a darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendour, no vastness anywhere, only triviality for a moment and then, nothing.’ (Bertrand Russell)
What a terrible thing it must be to face death without hope.…
The Israelites have been camped out on the eastern side of the river Jordan. Now, things have moved on:-
*they have crossed the Jordan, and entered the Promised Land ch 3.
*as a memorial to this momentous event, they have set up at Gilgal a stone memorial, ch 4
*the males have been circumcised at Gilgal, ch 5.
Now we reach 5:13-6, and the account of the conquest of Jericho. I wonder how Joshua and the Israelites must have felt as they faced the prospect of attacking this city, with its seemingly impregnable walls, its fast-shut gates, and its fighting men inside? …
