Bible notes June to July 2015 by Rev Barrie Morley

PAUL'S SECOND LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH.

     The second letter to the Church at Corinth may be a composite which includes fragments from several pieces of correspondence between Paul and the church he founded, but had a difficult relationship with.
My two favourite NT books are Mark and  2 Coreinthians, and over the next few weeks the RCL puts them togather in its readings.   2 Corinthians is a gem.  The pearl is produced by the irritations of Pau's passion for the Gospel, his physical weakness, and the emotionally draining difficulties he had with a church which had a very different view of ministry from his own.  This leads him to leave us with the Pearl of understanding the costs of ministry, and seeing it asthe Gospel treasure carried by human vessels who are never more than 'Bog standard kitchen pots'.   (Ch 4:7)

   Many church members at Corinth wanted  a super apostle, physically strong, with great skills of oratory, and who was willing to charge for their services, thus perhaps putting themselves under Corinthian patronage.
Paul however makes a virtue of his physical weakness, poor speaking skills and financial independence.

     Corinth was an important but sleezy sea port, infamous for its imorality rather than famous for its culture.  The church congregation included slaves and wealthy business people.  Corinth contained few notable philosophers or famous citizens, and yet the richer, more powerful members of the church wanted an apostle who was big on the Christian preaching circuit, a worthy orator and something of a philosopher.   Therefore Paul disappointed them.   He insisted that the weak and poor had equal status with the strong and powerful in the Kingdom of God.  Paul takes his stand in a famous passage in which he 'boasts.'   But his boasting in ironical, what Andre Resner Jr. calls a 
Reverse rhetoric.  Paul rejects Corinthian love of power and prestige, but rejoices in weakness.   In doing so he gives us a timeless lesson in true Christian character and living.

JUNE 7th  2 Cor 43:  13 - 5:  1

Paul with his body scourged battered and beaten in Christian service is indeed a 'Bog standard kitchen pot'.  (Ch 4: 7)  But now he looks forward to a future when he will have 'a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens'  (Ch 5:1)

   Bishop Tom Wright in 'Surprised by Hope' argues that we must not let the hope of heaven immediately after death detract from the NT doctrine of a New Heaven and a New Earth at the end of time.   It is true that there remaains a confusion in the Christian mind between Greek philosophical ideas of the immortality of the soul, and the Christian hope of resurrection and a new creation.  Prof Nigel Watson reckons that the opening verses of 2 Cor.5 are among the most difficult of all Paul's writings for Bible scholars to understand and explain.   I confess to being confused by all this and seem to find different strands of thought in the New Testament.  Perhaps what we all can agree is that we all believe with the Scripture that 'In the beginning GOD, and in the end GOD'.

JUNE 14th   2 Cor.  5:  6-10

This is a passage of hope.  'We are always in good heart.'  Paul is well aware of the problems of life in a frail abused body, but he kept his eye on the 'Future glory' of resurrection life with God.  Far from making him 'too heavenly minded to be of any earthly use', his hope shone light into life here and now.

PREACHING POINT.  Have we got right the balance between Christian living here and now, and future hope?'

JUNE 21st

2 Cor. 6  1-13

   Paul now 'boaasts', but his boasting is not in his powers of speech, his physique or his wealth.  Instead Paul flags up what he has suffered and how hard he has worked for the Corinthians as a true apostle.   He hopes that by reminding his critics of how much his work for the gospel has cost him he will be able to heal the broken relationship between them.

QUESTION  What do WE glory in?  Are we happy to be Bog standard kitchen pots in God's service?   How far are Western Christians willing to bear the cost of service to the Lord?


JUNE 28th

2 Cor.  8:  7-15

The Church in Jerusalem was having a hard time.  A Love Gift was being collected among the newer churches in the Gentile lands, but at Corinth things had gone wrong.  Had the Corinthians begun their collection well but failed to complete it? (10-11)  Were some Corinthians accusing Paul of extortion, and trying to bleed them dry?  (13-15). Did some in the church who held Paul in contempt even suspecting him of using the money for his own ends?

   The Methodist Church in Britain has a current focus on Generous Life.  That emphasis is Scriptural.  Some surveys claim that Christians in the UK give a greater proportion of their income to charities than the population at large.

POSSIBLE PREACHING QUESTIONS

How generous are WE?
Does our generosity lead us to work for Global and National economic justice?
Do we value genorosity of time and service (not just money) highly enough?

JULY  5th
2 Cor.  12:  2-10

  Now we come to the heart of this wonderful letter as Paul uncovers wounds he has received from his criticism by some conceited Corinthians.  We are given Pauls credentials as an apostle.  They are a boasting in his pains and weakness.  His willingness to be content to be a  'Bog standard kitchen pot', and, what makes all that worthwhile, the realisation that in that pot is contained the treasure of the gospel.

     I shall never forget the unhappy time I had when asked to discuss with a certain church the possibility of becoming their next Minister.  The whole process seemed far from satisfactory.  The low point came, at the end of a long tiring day, in a room of over 60 people 'interviewing' me, someone asked.  'Will you now 'Blow your own trumpet - sell yourself.'    On reflection I felt I ought to have replied, 'Have you never read Paul's second letter to the Church at Corinth?     I now understand that modern selection techniques require candidates to 'Big up' their powers and  gifts.  In the church however , may God help us if we ever forget that all who engage in Christian service are nomore than 'Bog standard kitchen pots.'

Barrie Morley   June 2015

RESOURCES USED

The Second Epistle to theCorinthians   Nigel Watson   Epworth Commentaries
'Surprised by Hope'.   A.T. Wright.
The Letters to the Corinthians   W. Barclay
'Preacher and Cross'.  Andre Resner Jr.

****************************
'New Light on 1 Corinthians'  Prof. Ahtony Thiselton.  (Lecture to Nottingham Theological Society).

Bible notes 3rd-31st May 2015 by Stuart Gunson

May 3-31: Easter 5 to Trinity

Introduction:

The readings for four of the Sundays (Easter 5 to Pentecost) are from John 15-17. (The one for Trinity Sunday is from John 3 and stands alone.)

John 13 is this writer’s account of the last supper, and 14-17 are, we should presume, intended to be the teaching of Jesus ‘over the table’ so to speak, because after that Jesus and his disciples go together to theKidron Valley (John 18.1) where Jesus is betrayed by Judas. They are sometimes referred to as the ‘final discourses’

Serving as ‘bookends’ to this passage are the accounts of the raising of Lazarus (John 11) and the resurrection of Jesus (John 20)

 

All this emphasises the craft of the gospel writer as the story is shaped.

The content of this discourse is not to be wrestled with by asking questions like: ‘what would the disciples understand by this?’ This ‘trying to put one’s self into the minds of the disciples’ would only serve to confirm the mystery of this teaching.

It would have been

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after the Crucifixion- that the words of hatred (15.18) would have their significance,

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after the Resurrection- ‘a little while you will no longer see me … and again you will see me’ (16.17) would mean something

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and after Pentecost- ‘when the spirit of truth comes’ (16.13) will be understood.

Jesus says to them (16.4) ‘I have said these things …..so that when theirhour comes you may remember that I told you about them’. So the questions by which we interrogate this scripture should be shaped in the light of the disciples’ later experience.

We also need to remind ourselves that this gospel is dated to the late first century and is written for a post resurrection community ‘so that you might come to believe that Jesus …..’ (20.11). And of course we are the continuation of that post resurrection community, so the questions we need to be asking are:

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In the light of their later experience, what would the disciples make of this conversation and teaching?

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What does the gospel writer intend the early church to take from this conversation and teaching?

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What does the church of 2015 take from this conversation and teaching?

 

At the start of Chapter 14 Jesus begins to prepare the disciples for what is to come: He knows that at least separation from them, and probably death, is on his immediate horizon and he assures them of his continued presence (14:18-27) a promise that is repeated in (16: 4b-20) the reading for Pentecost Sunday.

 

May 3 Easter 5 John 15: 1-8

This uses a familiar horticultural image of pruning to improve growth and quality. It begins gently and has a caring feel to it, but by verse 6 a sense of harshness is creeping in. We should be careful not to let this take us towards a judgemental and vengeful God rather than the God who loves (v9). Perhaps the strength of the language comes from a concern that no one should be lost.

Let’s rather concentrate on the use of the word ‘abide’ that is used to mean ‘remain joined on’. It has a warm, cosy, ‘wrap-around’ feel to it. ‘Abide’ and ‘abode’ are very similar words - make your home in me andlet my words make their home in you. There is that hymn that begins ‘may the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day’ it may be appropriate for today and/or for next week (May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea...)

 

May 10 Easter 6: John 15: 9-17

This extends the ‘abiding’ from person and words to love - make your home in my love and let my love make its home in you!

It develops the relationship from just being a ‘joined on branch’ to being an integral ‘friend’. This friendship is more than the disciples wantingand choosing Jesus to be their friend, it is also Jesus wanting andchoosing them to be his friends … there is a mutuality in this relationship.

We are taken forward from just friendship to love,

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there is a family/fellowship dimension in the words ‘love one another’.

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The quality of this love is built into the words: “As I have loved you”

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and then spelled out:  “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.

This passage moves us forward from “Love your neighbour as yourself”!

The post crucifixion/resurrection/Pentecost experiences of the disciples and of the audience of this gospel would grasp both the significance of this ‘no greater love’ and the integral friendship marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

 

May 17 Easter 7: John 17: 6-18

Jesus changes from teaching mode to praying mode.

He delivers powerful words of encouragement that stand true forfollowers of Jesus from those first  disciples to the present day: “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”. (Given the events in Kenya during Holy Week this year (2015), they have real significance.)

These words shape the body of the prayer which is for the continued protection of those who follow in the way of Jesus Christ. There is much to be worked on in this passage:

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It reinforces that sense of abiding which we explored earlier.

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Jesus seems to feel that he has held them together by his presence and there might be a sense of fearfulness - that without his physicalpresence strength might fail and things begin to fall apart.

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There is that sense of the sacrificial …. “ I am not asking for myself, but on behalf of…” (v 9)

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There is that sense of responsibility ‘they have believed’ (v8)

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Did Jesus feel that the loss of Judas was inevitable or does he carry it as a sense of failure? (v12)

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In the world but not of the world … invites us to explore what Christian discipleship is all about as we recognise that it is counter cultural.

 

May 24: Pentecost John 16: 4b-19

“A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me” (v 16 and 19) would seem quite confusing and mysterious to those disciples seated around the table. These words would be much more clearly understood in the light of crucifixion and resurrection. However these verses take us further to that eternal and indwelling presence.

The reading offers that presence as a promise, Pentecost realises that promise. Pentecost is the beginning of the followers of Jesus standing on their own two feet.

There have been inspirational characters in recent generations: those that spring to mind easily are Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela (and this is not intended to detract from those of earlier generations or other contemporary characters who may spring more easily to your mind than mine). Some have identified with the Christian faith, others have embraced values of the kingdom of God without necessarily acknowledging it. There is something, not of this world, that has empowered and sustained them.

Jesus promises a ‘something’ to his disciples and calls it the Spirit of Truth. In this particular passage he uses the language of the law courts ‘an Advocate’, elsewhere we find ‘comforter’ or ‘teacher’ fits. In Ch 14 v17 we find again that word abide ‘You know him (the spirit of truth/advocate) because he abides with you and is in you’

The Acts reading for the day, and quite a number of our hymns, engage us with the Holy Spirit but here we have the Advocate.

An advocate is one who represents and in a court of law there is one for the prosecution and one for the defence … the Spirit of Truth is both prosecution and defence, it is about justice and mercy.

The indwelling of the Spirit confers an advocacy role on God’s people:

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they/we represent God to the world; that gives us a caring ministry and a prophetic ministry;

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they/we represent the world before God: the ministry of intercession;

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and they/we represent God to each other: ‘love one another as I have loved you’. 

 

May 31: Trinity Sunday John  3 1-17

Trinity is a doctrine of the Church, a formulaic way of speaking about God. If scholarship is to be trusted, this formula, expressed fully in 2Cor 13:13 (written mid first century),  was shaped decades ahead of the writing of John’s gospel (late first century) so we should expect to find evidence of this interconnectedness in the language and writings of the early church. In this encounter with Nichodemus we see evidence of all three: There is the love of a father for the world, there is the sacrificial love of the Son (who will be ‘lifted up’) and the renewing power of the Spirit.

There is therefore material for the person who wants to remain true to the theme of the day, but perhaps the passage is better explored as ‘standing alone’ from the previous 4 weeks, and before our calendar returns to Ordinary Time and to the gospel of Mark.

 

The passage follows Jesus ‘purging the temple’ (ch 2) and in chapters 3 and 4 Jesus encounters three quite different characters: Nichodemuswho comes to him in secret, a Samaritan woman with whom the encounter seems to be by chance, and a royal official who sought out Jesus in order to ask Jesus to heal his son. Perhaps there is some significance in the variety of people and the context of the encounters!

Nichodemus had some knowledge, either first hand or by hearsay, of what Jesus was doing and saying and recognised that it was of God (v2).  Nichodemus appears to be either unable or unwilling to take anything from the ensuing conversation about being born from above. 

From our post-pentecost and therefore post-resurrection perspective

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we might sensibly conclude that Jesus is talking about baptism andits public declaration of belief (rather than Nichodemus’ secrecy).

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We might explore the Exodus story of Moses setting a bronze serpent on a pole (Number 21:9) (so that those who have been bitten by a poisonous snake can look at the serpent and then live) and relate it to Jesus being lifted up (3:14), and ask ‘does this mean being set on a cross, or does it mean being raised up (resurrection).?”

A little later there follows a statement (3:17) of God’s ambition for the world: not condemnation but salvation. The determinant of this salvation is belief in Jesus (described as the Son of God). It then becomes interesting to speculate whether this belief demands baptism, whether it is belief in the sonship of Jesus, or whether it is simply belief that the way of living both taught and lived by Jesus Christ will determine the course of the world’s future for good.

Bible Notes 15th March - 26th April by Barrie Morley

March 15th   Lent Four

 

The choice of set readings today is between those for Lent four, and  others for Mothering Sunday.   These notes stick with the theme of Lent.   The RCL always focuses on the fourth gospel during both Christmas and Lent/Easter.   This gives us some great material but robs us of the treasures of the other three gospels at this season.  Would you agree that it might be a good idea sometimes to stick with the Gospel of the Year (Mark this year) throughout Lent?  

For the sake of faithfulness to the G.Ro.W. concept the following thoughts are based on the RCL passages mainly from John.

 

John 3:  14-21   Nicodemus is a Jewishscholar.  However after the conversation between him and Jesus, Gospel writer John wants to widen our understanding of Jesus' work by pointing out that Jesus the Jew is in fact the universal saviour.  'God so loved  THE WORLD'.   John also brings one of his other favourite themes into this passage - Light (v 19-21)

 

POSSIBLE WORSHIP THEME.   This Lent can we 'Big up' the fact that our Lord is universal Saviour?

                                                       This passage makes uncomfortable reading becuase it is true that we tend to hide our bad deeds away in dark corners, (vs 19-21) What is the Gospel/Good News for us when we have things in our lives that we would rather keep hidden away in darkness?    

 

 

 

March 22nd Lent 5   John 12: 20-33

 

It's generally accepted that John's Gospel was written from Ephesus in what is now modern Turkey.  A Gentile setting, and yet a Gospel peppered with descriptions of places in Jerusalem that reveal a Jewish background.  So, here is a Gospel which comes out of an older faith but is 'New' (another  favourite concept in this Gospel).

 

POSSIBLE WORSHIP IDEA.    What can we Christians learn from our Jewish rootes?

                                                    What is 'new' about our faith?

 

 

 

 

March 29th  Lent 6  Palm Sunday  Mark 11: 1-11    (or John 12:  12-16)

 

William Barclay draws our attention to the triumphal entry of the Jewish hero and saviour of the nation Simon Maccabaeus  generations earlier.  Barclay thinks the crowd's  'Hosanna -  Save now' shows an expectation that Jesus would be the next triumphant liberator of the Jewish state.   Cranfield however notes how Mark presents this 'triumphal entry' in a low key way.   'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord' is a quotation of Psalm 118:  26.  This passage also reflects Zechariah   Ch. 9   Cranfield thinks their is no obvious recognition by the crowd of Jesus as Messiah.

SO...in worship this week will you 'Big up' praise to King Jesus,  or  focus on the humble, misunderstood Saviour about to be 'enthroned' on a cross of torture?   Perhaps there is room for both themes in a whole act of worship.

 

It may seem strange that if Jesus' entry was high profile, and the crowd was loudly acclaiming him as saviour the Romans took no action against him.   However the city would be packed with pilgrims for what was a religious festival, and many Psalms would be sung.   The average Roman soldier would understand neither the religion nor the language of the Jews and so the whole occasion seem odd,  but not threatening -simply a tolerable outburst of national and religious fervour.   Only the Jewish priests and scribes saw what they took to be a threat to their politics,  and status.   

 

For six years we lived in the North East of England and would spend some days off at South Shields with its North Sea ferries, splendid market, wonderful park with a steam railway, and beaches.   I thought I knew the town fairly well so was puzzled on returning years later to spot a statue on Ocean Road which I could not remember.  It appeared to be one more Victorian monument to a General standing beside his mighty, noble steed.  Why hadnt I seen this before?    However, on drawing nearer it became apparent that this soldier was not dressed in officer's uniform but in the crumpled dress of a private soldier.  His beast was not a war stallion but only a donkey, front legs apart, head bent, nibbling a scrap from the earth.    Then I read the inscription.   'John Simpson Kirkpatrick - the Man with the Donkey'.

This  statue was a recent additon to the town honouring one of South Shields most famous (yet long unsung) heroes.  John Kirkpatrick had been the 'donkey man' on South Shields sands before joining the Australian forces in the First World War.  He served in the Medical corps and beneath the blazing Turkish guns at  Gallipoli.  He bravely rescued many wounded men before being shot himself.   If it had not been for an administrative error he might have been awared the VC, but is honoured in Australia and now,  his native town.

 

Think of the parallels between him and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Neither were fighters, but men of peace.  The mission of both was to hea.  They were both saviours.  Both were humble, lowly, and their work cost both of them their lives.

We honour John Simpson Kirkpatrick and people like him, and we too seek to follow in the way of an even greater roll model, our  'man with the Donley' the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

April 5th  Easter Day  Mark 16:  1-8      (or John 20:  1-18)

 

The so called short ending of Mark.   The Greek of verses 9-20, plus the style and content lead many scholars to think that one or two more passages have been added by  different editors or authors.   

 

SO what does this lection as it stands, and this ending which many take to be the ending where Mark always intended to stop say to us as we worship the risen Christ?    I guess there would be plenty of tears in that resurrection garden.  Many women find tears a more 'natural' expression  of emotion than some men.  Mary Magdalene comes across as an emotional person in the Gospels, and no doubt, in bereavement tears mixed with embalming spices on the way to the tomb.   And when she and her companions found it empty?  No mighty angels....no risen lord thought to be the gardener...no earthquake...only an empty little rocky tomb and a man who gives them a message that seems to confuse them even more, so that they run,  not in joy but bewilderment and terror (v8)    No doubt there would be more tears when they told the story to the men. 

 

      The Good News as Mark presents it remains hidden and mysterious from start to end of his Gospel.  When, 30 or forty years after the event, Mark records the good news his target audience include slaves, Christians whose hope of the return of Christ has not yet been fulfilled, and a community under suspicion as persecution kicks in.   Once more the glory of the resurrection has to be searched for under the dark clouds of difficulty.

 

     And today?    For many British Christians in traditional denominations the glory of the Lord has to be searched for.  To most people around it is now what it was in Mark's time - a secret.

 

CAN WE PROCLAIM THE RESURRECTION AS GOOD NEWS WHICH IS STILL AS MUCH A SECRET TO MOST PEOPLE AS IT WAS IN MARK'S TIME - BUT, PRAISE GOD IT STILL GOOD NEWS FOR HARD PRESSED PEOPLE?   

 

WHERE AND WHEN ARE WE LIKE THOSE WOMEN AFRAID?  HOW DOES THE 'SECRET' NEWSOF THE RESURRECTION HELP?

 

IN THE BIBLE THE GLORY OF GOD IS SOMETIMES OBVIOUS, (e.g.) ACTS 2, BUT AT OTHERS IT HAS TO BE SEARCHED FOR.  HOW DOES MARK'S MESSAGE OF THE HIDDEN GOOD NEWS HELP US IN OUR CHURCHES AND OUR SECULAR SOCIETY TODAY?

 

 

 

April 12th   Easter 2   John  20:  19-31 

 

 A different account of Jesus bestowing the Holy Spirit on his followers than in Acts 2.

 

'Sceptic.'  Thomas is finally convinved - and that by hard physical evidence.

 

POSSIBLE WORSHIP THEMES

 

Thomas comes across as a rational, some might say sceptical person.  His cool head needing hard evidence before his heart can be warmed.     In our worship leading and preaching do we cater for all personality types?

 

What is the gospel for folk who seek evidence before they can find faith?

 

 

 

April 19th  Easter 3 Luke 24:  36b-48

 

 Luke's words here remind us of Matthew's in chapter 28:  16-20.  Both passages begin to talk of a mission to 'all nations' (vs 47-48).   This passage has the feel of a transition from bewildered and frightened disiples shortly after the Resurrection to confident evangelists.  This makes it hard to understand why the RCL has omitted v 49.   There are also echoes of John 21 where once more Jesus eats with his followers.   So all in all one gets the feel of a common tradition used by several of the gospel writers.

 

WORSHSIP AND PREACHING IDEAS

 

   'A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have'.  Do some of us overemphasise the spiritual side of the faith and neglect the physical implications of it?  Christians believe in the resurrection of the body - not the immortality of the soul.

 

Jesus, who was more than a spirit, ministered to people's physical and emotional needs as well as their spiritual ones.

 

April 26th  Easter 4      John 10:  11-18

 

The RCL takes us back in imagination from the joy of Easter to the gloom of the approaching passion where Jesus speaks of laying down his life.     However Jesus is still our shepherd after the cross and resurrection.   His flock now is universal comprising both Jews and Gentiles. (v16) 

 

POSSIBLE PREACHING POINT.

 

What does this passage have to do with the Easter season?  Christopher Burkett, editor of 'The Preacher' magazine sees in it a reference not only to the church but all of humanity.  The Good Shepherd offers a promise of safety and a bright future.  But this promise is offered at the cost of the Shepherd's own life.   One preaching and worship topic might be the promise that is offered us because of the cross and resurrection.

 

 

Barrie Morley   March 2015

 

 

 Commentaries used.

'Historical tradition in the Fourth Gospel  C.H. Dodd

John (Tyndale N.T. Commentaries              C.G. Kruse

'Meeting God in Mark.                                  R. Williams

'Christian Discipleship the hard way'.         D. English

The Gospel according to St. Luke                 A.R.C. Leaney

Bible Notes 1st February to 8th February 2015 by Philip Homes and Sue Draper

 

You can’t beat a good book.

 

Mark is one of those writers – direct, quick-moving, pithy – it’s all there! But like all authors, he has favourite language that he repeats. You’ll find this book a real page turner. Time and time again, Mark uses the phrase “Immediately” to convey a sense of excitement and action. Probably written by John Mark of Jerusalem, who was a companion of Paul, Barnabas and Peter, this account of the ministry of Jesus is the shortest and simplest of all the gospels. It can easily be read from cover to cover in less than two hours – and yet it contains the essence of what God has done in sending Jesus as the Saviour of the world. It opens with the words “In the beginning . . .” and ends with this affirmation of the impact of Jesus:

 

“And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said with many miraculous signs”  Mark 16:20 (NLT)

 

In this short period before Lent, Mark’s gospel is helping us to understand the context of the ministry of Jesus as a foundation for the events leading up to Easter. We could not choose a better focus than these early chapters from Mark’s gospel.

 

 

 

Sunday 1 February 2015:  Mark 1: 21-28

What distinguishes Jesus from other religious teachers?

 

Mark tells us that Jesus, when he spoke to teach, was “quite unlike the teachers of the religious law” (Mk1:22b).  I heard John Cleese talking about how he spent a few years as a young man working as a teacher. He openly admits that he just kept one page ahead of his students and that it did not take long for one student in particular to notice that he was lacking a love, a fascination and a depth of understanding forHistory. You know when you are in the presence of an expert don’t you?  A passion and a rich seam underpin everything they say – and you are left in no doubt that theirs is not simplyhead knowledge. It abides deep within them so much so that it overflows in all sorts of unlikely contexts!

 

We know that all sorts of rabbis were teaching at the time of Jesus. But it seems that people discern that the ministry of Jesus is distinctive – he is special and he stands out both in terms of how he expresses himself and also through the way in which he is active pastorally amongst the people. Indeed, one man shouts out “I know who you are – the Holy One sent from God” (Mark 1:24). This incident in the Temple court leads people to question what they have witnessed: “What sort of new teaching is this?” (Mark 1:27). There is excitement in the air and everyone can sense that they are in the presence of someone very special.

 

Question: ​What does it take to get you excited?  Is there a spark missing in worship? How can

we, as preachers and worship leaders, ensure that the people of God sense the presence of God amongst us with awe and wonder?

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 8 February 2015: Mark 1: 29-39

Jesus – the healer and the preacher

 

It has been a glorious day and the winter sun has sat low in the sky during the hours after noon. As evening approaches the deep crimson ball sinks towards the horizon and the air is still. It is an awesome sight as wisps of cloud dapple the winter light.  At such a time as this, people from all around Capernaum begin to gather. We are not told what inspired them to come to Simon and Andrew’s home, but soon a handful of people became a large crowd. Waiting and watching. And then, quietly and humbly, Jesus moves among them. He takes hold of an outstretched hand, he speaks quietly as he prays over the sick, and his majestic presence silences the demons.

 

Moments like this are rare.  Life is often much too busy to notice how God is working amongst us. Moments like this are rare – especially for those nursing a fever, for those feeling an overwhelming burden of sickness, for those for whom days fly by in the madness of work pressures, and for those who are so troubled in spirit that they cannot find relief in sleep.  Yet, Mark reminds us that moments like this can still be found when Christ meets with us in our circumstances and when he brings wholeness and blessing into our busy lives. The clue is to be found in verse 35. Although busy undertaking his Father’s work, Jesus makes time to be still and to pray. This daily priority is never neglected and it is for him the source of the strength that powers his preaching and his healing work.

 

Question: ​When we lead the people of God as they gather together for worship, what can we bring that will help us all see the Lord moving amongst us, meeting our needs?  How might the blessings of God be found more consistently in our corporate acts of worship?  

 

 

Sunday 15 February 2015: Mark 9: 2-9 (Sunday before Ash Wednesday)

Jesus – his glory revealed

 

Friendships are built on familiarity. Just when you think that you are on familiar terms with someone – the relationship has deepened to a level such that quirks and mannerisms go un-noticed. The physical presence seems normal and almostordinary, the inflections of language become predicable. And then, when you least expect it, something happens that causes you to stop almost in shock. Surely this is out of character? Is this the real person I know? What is going on?

 

Mark takes us to higher ground in chapter nine.  Peter, James and John make the climb with Jesus to a place of blessing. Though they did not expect it, they were brought to a meeting place where Jesus is revealed in all his glory. Peter records the event in his letter: “We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:18). It is a moment that seems so out of character with the other events that crowd the ministry of Jesus. And yet, it is such an event as this that transforms Peter’s understanding of who it is that he is following. It is a unique and fresh encounter with God. We realise that, sometimes, our unthinking response and even our words get in the way.

 

Question:​If possible, can you walk up a local hill and spend some quality time alone with God? It can be a wonderful and surprising thing that may lead us to ask ourselves: “Do I make enough effort to climb the mountain?”  On reflection, is my own habit alittle bit like Peter - one of filling the encounter with words that are irrelevant?

 

 

 

Sunday 22 February 2015: Mark 1:9-15 (First Sunday in Lent)

Jesus – who do you think you are?

 

The popular television programme ‘Who do you think you are?’ helps celebrities trace their ancestry, discovering secrets and surprises from their past.  Some things are shocking: singer Lesley Garrett learned that her great-great-grandfatherwas suspected of killing his wife by replacing her medication with carbolic acid.  Happily, many discoveries generate pleasure and pride in the courage and achievements of family members in overcoming the challenges of their day.

 

At Jesus’ baptism, God confirms the family relationship with pleasure and pride.  Jesus, his Father and the Spirit experience the special moment together.  Yet at once the Spirit sends Jesus alone into the desert for a challenge that is as much a preparation for his future ministry as was his baptism.

 

Satan tempts Jesus, and more detail is found in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.  At the heart of the three main temptations are questions of identity: do you really have that power?  Can you trust God to do what he says and not to let you down at the end?  Are you really his son?  Underneath is a deep stab at an insecurity with which many of us identify: who do you think you are?  Can we as preachers take encouragement from Jesus to acknowledge our own insecurities and challenges about identity and purpose?

 

How does Jesus respond?  Mark tells us very simply that he gets on with his mission, proclaiming the good news of God, demonstrating he is secure in knowing exactly who he is and that he has a clear purpose for his life.  

 

Question:​How do we face up to or put aside our insecurities about our own identity and purpose?  Many of the Psalms remind us of God’s faithfulness and care when we falter.  Look back at the good things God has done in your life and give thanks.

 

 

Sunday 1 March 2015: Mark 8: 31-38 (Second Sunday in Lent)

Jesus – “Do you know where you’re going to?”

 

Diana Ross famously sang those words, followed by, “Do you like the things that life is showing you?  Where are you going to?  Do you know?”  These are important questions for individuals and churches.  Some people seem to have them answered whereas others have no idea, and everyone else is somewhere between.  

 

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, “the world’s greatest living explorer”, is a modern example of someone with vision, a clear purpose, and an unswerving commitment to achieving that purpose through high quality planning, preparation and training.  He leads both solo and team expeditions, doing things no human has done before.

 

Jesus explains to the disciples where he’s going in his life journey.  He is focused on his purpose and disposes of distractions swiftly.  His life up to this point has been preparation and training for the final stages, when he will achieve what no human has done before: life in all its fullnessthrough the cross and resurrection.

 

Jesus then challenges a wider crowd to consider their own purpose in life and examine their commitment to it.  He explains that things aren’t always what they seem and it’s important to prioritise on the right things.  I’m sure SirRanulph would understand it, based on his experiences of the unexpected in the world’s most challenging and unpredictable environments.  What is the loss of a few finger-tips from frostbite when trying to walk solo to the North Pole?  Perhaps that sounds shockingly harsh: maybe we need to hear Jesus’ words afresh because they too are shocking.

 

Further in the song Diana sings, “Do you get what you’re hoping for?”  We rejoice that Jesus did, so that we can live in God’s love and glory forever.

 

Question:​How can we help people to have confidence in where they are going in their personal lives, and together as a church?  How do we sustain commitment to our priorities when there may be a personal cost?

 

 

Sunday 8 March 2015: John 2: 13-22 (Third Sunday in Lent)

The unexpected Messiah

 

It’s a shock when the unexpected happens. A BBC news reader, Sue Lawley, was interrupted in 1988   when protesters managed to gain entry to the TV studio and get their message across. In a crowded shopping centre, people become aware that someone is singing and that others are starting to join in – it’s a spontaneous and blessing-filled performance of Handel’s “Hallelujah” chorus.  There can be nothing more calculated to make us stop what we are doing, look up and pay attention, than an unexpected happening.

 

Like all good Jewish men, Jesus is to be found in the Temple at Passover. But he is not just one of the crowd of people gathering together to celebrate the way in which God chose to rescue his people from Egypt. He is here to bring a new message of salvation and, in order to do that, he begins to do something that no-one expected. The comfortable market place becomes the centre of considerable hullabaloo. Voices are raised. A protest is underway. So the Temple authorities step in to quell this disturbance (v.18) and get more than they bargained for. From this point on, the rabbi Jesus becomes the talking point all around the city and there followed miracles and rumours about the Messiah.

Question: How often does church feel like the place of comfort and routine? When was the last time that the unexpected happened?  While we sing “Jesus is Lord”, do we expect God to surprise us and make us stop, look up and pay attention?