Andy Graham

I am the true vine…’ (John 15:1)

Over the past couple of weeks our gardens have been beginning to blossom as new life appears on trees, bushes and plants. Much of the preparation for this would have been done in the Autumn of last year and at the beginning of Spring this year when a lot of pruning and cutting back of old growth would have been carried out. Such pruning is necessary in order to encourage new growth and the result of that is the glorious display we see in so many gardens now.

A large portion of John chapter 15 is taken up looking at this, the last of Jesus’ ‘I am…’ sayings and the message is clear. If we want to grow and mature in our faith then we have to remain attached to Jesus Christ, the true vine. What does that mean on a daily basis? It means coming to the Lord in prayer, reading His Word and allowing His Spirit to work within us to make us more Christ like.

However, at the same time we also need to allow God, through the Holy Spirit, as it transforms us from within – to prune all within us that is not of God that we might bear fruit worthy of our faith. That fruit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that we read of in Galatians 5:22-23 ‘…love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…’ Only then will we be able to show ourselves to be the Disciples that Jesus calls us to be and bring glory and honour to His name.

Lord, we confess how easy it is to become detached from You. There are so many distractions and temptations in our lives and all too often, despite our best efforts and good intentions, we do succumb to them. So help us we pray to remain attached to our Lord, the true vine that we may indeed bear witness to Your name in all we say and do. Amen.

‘I am the way, the truth and the life…’ (John 14:6)

Of all the ‘I am…’ sayings of Jesus this is the only one that uses not just one, but three metaphorical comparisons and it is also the one which possibly creates more discussion and debate than any of the others. Why? Because it seems to be very exclusive in what it is saying when we look at the whole sentence, ‘ I am the way and the truth and the life and no-one comes to the Father but through me…’ 

In this short statement Jesus is saying clearly that He is the only way to God – not one way of many but the way. People may come to know Jesus Christ in their lives through a whole host of different ways, but it is only through Him that we can have that relationship with God that will bring salvation. Jesus also clearly states that He is the truth – not a version of what we might choose to believe or accept as the truth, He is the truth – the living Word of God. Finally Jesus states that He is the life – that eternal life that goes beyond our time here on earth. Without Jesus in our lives the lives we lead here and now will remain unfulfilled, no matter how ‘successful’ we might believe them to be. But with Jesus in our life God will be able to fulfil His destiny for us, which ultimately will mean that we will take our place in His eternal and everlasting Kingdom.

‘I am the way and the truth and the life…’ Of all Jesus ‘I am…’ sayings it is here when Jesus makes it abundantly clear who He is and why He came. He is God Incarnate, the very revelation of God Himself and He has come that we might find our way to God, know the truth of God and have life everlasting with God. However, this offer of life is not exclusive to the chosen few. Jesus came for all people – everyone – and for all who choose to accept Him in their lives – they will come to know that way, that truth and that life.

Loving God, we give You thanks that through Your Son You have come to show us the way to You. Help us we pray, to walk in His footsteps and to enter into a relationship with You. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

‘I am the resurrection and the life…’ (John 11:25)

Within this portion of John’s Gospel where we find our next ‘I am…’ saying, we also find the shortest verse in the Bible, ‘Jesus wept. ‘ (John 11:35) and over the years there has been much debate as to precisely why Jesus wept. Was He sorrowful and weeping because of the death of Lazarus? Was it simply an emotional outpouring of compassion for Mary and Martha? Was He weeping because whilst Martha seemed to grasp something of Jesus claim to be the Resurrection and the Life, she didn’t seem to fully believe that Jesus could raise Lazarus to new life now? Or was He weeping in anger over the pain death itself brings?

We will possibly never know for certain precisely why Jesus wept – it may possibly have been a combination of all these things. However, the one thing we are certain of here is that in weeping in this way we see that Jesus experiences all the emotions that we experience and shares them with us. In His fully human being Jesus identifies with us – He is one of us. Even now in all that we are facing in these uncertain days our Lord is here sharing our experiences and standing alongside us. And it is important we understand all of this when we consider verse 25 in this passage.

‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die…’ This short sentence, along with our next ‘I am…’ statement, which we will look at tomorrow, effectively encapsulates the entire Gospel message and why Jesus came. If ever there was a message of hope within Scripture this is surely it – that through faith in Jesus we can spend an eternity in the presence of our Lord. In our world today,  where we see and hear of despair and heartache on a daily basis, these words reassure us that through Jesus God has fulfilled His promise to us once and for all and reconciled Himself to us. No matter what may come our way, as long as we believe, we have hope – that sure and certain hope of knowing that we can be in the presence of the Lord for all eternity.

Lord Jesus, we thank You that You came and gave Your life for us and that through faith in You we can take our place in God’s eternal Kingdom. Help us to believe, we pray, and help us to hold on to our faith in there troubled days, knowing that whatever we face, You are there with us, sharing in all we are going through. And all this we ask in Jesus name.

We continue from where we left off in our study last week and in the remainder of chapter four, and then chapter five, we find Jesus quickly going about His Ministry.

Read Luke 4:31-44

Those listening to Jesus speaking would have heard many Rabbi’s before and many claiming to be men of God so why were the people so amazed at Jesus teaching here?

1. He spoke with complete authority. Often in Jewish teaching at that time the teachers would continually quote one rabbi and sage after another and cite from various other texts. Jesus cited no-one. He did not speculate. He did not offer alternative suggestions. He was- is – the living Word of God.
2. His authority was not only a matter of style or content. It manifest itself in great power, by His Word people were healed. Even the demons recognised this authority.
3. In verses 42-44 there is a sense of urgency to go out and take this Good News to others in need.

Today that task falls to us so perhaps we need to reflect on how urgent a task this is for us. How and when do we share the Good News with others and do we do so with a sense of passion and fire in our hearts?

Read Luke 5:1-11

These verses recall the calling of Jesus first Disciples, but what is the central issue of this portion of Scripture^?

1. Here we begin to get an idea of Jesus special interest in Simon Peter.
2. Here Jesus is calling Peter to begin his preparation for his own ministry as an Apostle

Today we are all called to follow in the footsteps of Peter and the other Disciples, however, how willing are we to listen to Jesus as He seeks to prepare us to fulfil our calling?

Read Luke 5:12-26

Why was Jesus touch so unexpected yet so important to these men’⁷

1. Because of their illness they would have been considered unclean.and as such they would have been excluded and outcast from their community.
2. Jesus touch not only cured them, but enabled them to return to their community.

How often do stop to consider how much a hug or simply taking someone’s hand actually means to that person, especially so when they are going through difficult times.

Read Luke 5:27-39

What was the prime complaint and criticism levelled at Jesus by the Pharisees⁹

1. He was associating Himself with outcasts and sinners
2. He was associating with those considered unacceptable within their culture.

Jesus came that all might find salvation in Him. How good are we at sharing that Good News with all people?

It is almost as if Luke is saying to us in these verses, “Listen to the Son of God when He speaks and take note of the power and authority of His Word, The Living Word of God” This Word challenged the minds of those who heard it; they were amazed at the power & authority. It healed their broken bodies; it cured them of their physical ailments. It healed their broken relationships; it enabled them to return to their communities. Indeed it changed their lives completely, so much so that Peter and other left everything behind to follow Jesus.

The question is, what are we prepared to leave behind to follow Jesus?

Lord we continue thank You for the message of Luke and in these troubling days especially pray that You would help us to remember that through Your Son You came to live among us and that by Your Spirit You are here with us now to offer us the support, encouragement and help we need as You share with us in all we are going through. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

‘I am the good shepherd…’ (John 10:11)

The Book of Psalms has long since been a favourite of many Scots and even today when we follow the liturgy in the Book Of Common Order, there is usually the option of a Psalm to use as a reading in our Sunday services or in the opening Call To Worship. And when we think of the Psalms, it’s perhaps fair to say that the most well  known of these will be the 23^rd Psalm.

In Old and New Testament times the shepherd would sleep out in the open with his sheep the whole year round and as we see in the story of the Lost Sheep in Luke, would probably know each and every one of them individually. Indeed, when we look at the words of this Psalm we have this wonderful image of the shepherd looking after his flock; protecting them when need be and keeping them safe from danger.

In our latest, ‘I am…’ saying from Jesus, whilst He doesn’t actually call Himself a shepherd, our Lord describes Himself as the Good Shepherd and just as shepherds back them watched over and cared for their sheep so Jesus watches over and cares for us. He provides us with all that we need and guides us through the dangerous paths of life that we all encounter everyday, and in Him we are able to find peace and rest for our souls.

Like sheep we too at times wander and get lost, like sheep we too need protection and watching over and like sheep we too need someone who will care for us no matter what. In Jesus we have that Good Shepherd.

Lord, we give You thanks for Your care and mercies, and for all the blessings You pour upon us every day. Help us to acknowledge our need of You, to listen for Your voice and to come to You when You call us. All this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

‘I am the gate for the sheep…’ (John 10:7)

I’m not a fan of labyrinths. I’m not claustrophobic but there is something about labyrinths that just make me want to look for a quick way out and wish that suddenly a door or gate might open up to enable me to make that escape. But I wonder if we’ve ever given any thought to the question. What is the real purpose of a door or a gate? Is it to keep us out or to keep us in? Or is it to let us out or to let us in? All one and the same, you might say, and you might be right. But maybe the way we view a door or gate is dependent on our frame of mind at that time.

In the passage in John where we find this next ‘I am…’ of Jesus, we find Jesus talking about sheep and how He is the good shepherd, and we’ll reflect more on that tomorrow. But in this short verse Jesus is effectively telling us that he is both the way out of all that is wrong in our lives and the way in to all that is good – life everlasting in the presence of God. Jesus is that door or gate that no-one else or nothing else can be. We can only come to God through Jesus and unless we open that door or gate and enter in we will spend an eternity without God. In Revelation 3:20 we are told, ‘Here I am. I stand at the door and knock…’ The only question that remains is this, are we going to open that door?

Lord, we thank You that You provide for us a way to be reconciled to our Father in Heaven. Help us to open that door that we might be with You and help us also to bring others along with us that they too might find salvation. And all this we ask in Jesus name.

‘Peace be with you…’ (John 20:26)

Read John 20:19-31

The season of Easter allows the Church to look at how the early church understood the Easter story and what difference that experience made as it sought to witness boldly to its truth and power. Following the Resurrection, John answers the question as to what difference the Resurrection of Christ makes in the lives of those who come to believe it. And on the same evening of that first day of the week, John begins to answer that question by depicting the followers of Christ hiding, huddled together behind locked doors, hiding in fear of the religious authorities. In essence,  what happened earlier at the tomb doesn’t seem to have made much of a difference!

I remember some time ago, before I came here, talking to someone who had just joined the church. But later, after the wonderful celebration of that day, he confessed that he found himself asking the question – what now? And in a sense, by beginning his story with the disciples all huddled together in fear, keeping out of sight, John now sets the stage to answer that question – what now? – in terms of the Resurrection.

As the disciples are together behind the locked doors, Jesus appears and brings greetings by offering peace to them. It was what they needed in a time of chaos and fear. But then that shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus has a way of knowing about us and He brings us just what we need. However, Jesus has a much larger purpose here as he has come to help the disciples experience the fullness of His Resurrection.

For the other Gospel writers it was important that the Resurrection be confirmed with appearances of Jesus in a risen form. To see Jesus is to believe. Evidently an empty tomb is not enough. But for john, Jesus has more in mind, however, than merely appearing. John relates how Jesus fulfils his promise of a counsellor that would come and be with them. Therefore, in the upper room Jesus breathes on the disciples the Holy Spirit and gives them power and authority to forgive sins. Jesus seems to have a purpose as to how he wants to leave the disciples who cannot follow him. In that room he gives them a purpose, a presence, and an authority. In essence, Jesus commissions them to go.

John also wants readers to understand that this new work of God in Christ is now in the hands of these who have dared to follow Jesus. Through these Disciples, the church is commissioned by Christ to witness to the power of Resurrection living and John wants the Church to claim the purpose for which it was created and commissioned. He wants the Church to trust the presence of the Holy Spirit as it seeks to lead and guide its ministry to a broken and hurting world. Such is the nature of the church and what Jesus calls it to be.

After Jesus departs they witness to Thomas, who was absent from the upper room, but as Thomas hears their story he responds by saying the only way he will believe is to see it for himself.  And once again the biblical narrative describes us for who we are. Like Thomas, we all want to taste, touch, smell, see, and hear the fullness of something before we will accept its claim. Isn’t this an honest portrayal of who we are. So where then does this leave us?

Much is made of the doubts of Thomas in this passage, but maybe the real message of this story is that when we experience the presence of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, we are never the same – either way. Or at least we should never be the same. We may have doubts, questions or concerns, and the story of Thomas lets us see that it is okay to have these. However, such an experience should not only transform who we are, indeed that is only really the beginning, such an experience should empower us to boldly bear witness to our Lord and Saviour.

Through such an experience we too are commissioned and sent. We too are given power and authority. And we too are provided with a presence and called to a purpose. Ultimately, our mission now, is like the mission of those first century apostles. We are the ones who are now to go and make others aware of the difference knowing Jesus Christ in our lives makes. That together, as we too stand in such an experience, we can do little else but echo the words of Thomas, …My Lord and my God.

Lord, as we stand in Your Risen presence, help as to allow You to transform us from within. That by the Holy Spirit, no matter what fears, doubts or concerns we may have, we may boldly go in Your name, proclaiming the Gospel message far and wide in all we say and do. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen

Sunday Evening – National Call To Prayer

As has been the case over the past few weeks, the leaders of all Churches have come together to call us to prayer at 7.00pm this Sunday evening. Underneath is a prayer by the leaders of all churches that could be used to begin this time of prayer. The full statement can be found on the Church of Scotland website where it also lists all those leaders whom signed that statement.

Living God, speak into the depths of our experience,
Speak the word that stills our fears
And calms our anxieties:
‘Peace be with you.’
Speak your word to the lonely and to the broken,
To the bereaved and to those whose world has crumbled:
‘Peace be with you.’

Faithful God, speak to us behind locked doors
As we remember others, who risk their own safety,
In order to serve others:
Peace be with them.
Carers and nurses, doctors and ambulance drivers,
Delivery drivers and shop assistants:
Peace be with them.

God who inspires Hope, speak to us in the present
And speak to us of the future,
For though the doors are locked, in time they shall be open:
Peace shall be renewed.
For those who lead the life of our Nation: Our Queen Elizabeth,
First Minister and Prime Minister, and all who shape our common life,
For us all: Peace shall be renewed.

God whose name is love and whose gift is love,
Open our hearts to know you and to love you,
To love you and to love our neighbour
And as we do, to hear again: ‘Peace be with you.’
May we find our strength in you,
And hear again:
‘Peace be with you.’

‘I am the light of the world…’ (John 8:12)

Have you ever been in a room, or indeed anywhere, where it is so dark that you can’t even see your hand in front of your face. When I left school and joined the Merchant Navy, before going to sea I had to do a Fire Fighting Course at Macdonald Road Fire Station in Leith and in one exercise we had to enter a replica engine room, with no power or lighting and filled with smoke. It was terrifying. We were of course under supervision and being watched at all times, but having to feel your way forward, inch by inch, using the backs of your hands because you couldn’t see a thing. It’s an experience I will never forget.

In such darkness it only takes one small light to suddenly make a difference. Your visibility may not improve all that significantly, however, something in that small light lifts your spirits and calms your fears, and suddenly you feel so much better. You now feel you can move forward with whatever you are doing.

In this passage where we find this next ‘I Am…’ saying of Jesus, our Lord isn’t just saying that he can light up a room or any other enclosed space. He isn’t even saying that He could light up one community or one town. He is the Light of the World.  However, Jesus wasn’t thinking here of the kind of light that we might think of.

All too often darkness is associated with fear and with bad things. But with Jesus in our life nothing is ever as dark as it first might seem. Our Lord brings light into our lives as nothing or no-one else can. He is the very embodiment of light – of all that is good and true – and no matter how dark a situation we might find ourselves in, His light will always be there for us. A light to follow as we navigate our way through the darkness and a beacon of hope as we look to the future, and how we need that light in our lives today. So look to Jesus, allow His light to shine in your heart and follow that light every day. But more than that allow it to shine in you that others may also come to know the light of the World for themselves.

Lord, we give You thanks that through Your Son You are always there for us. Even in our darkest days You are there to shine in that darkness. Help us we pray to follow that light as best we can, in Jesus name. Amen.

‘I am the bread of life…’ (John 6:35)

I wonder how many of us have been to a show or a concert, or watched one on television, where after the performing artist has finished and left the stage, the audience clap and call for an encore. From the audience point of view it shows that they have enjoyed the show so much that they want more and from the artist’s point of view it lets them know just how much their performance was appreciated by the audience.

It could be argued that a similar situation exists in our Gospel passage in John where we find this, the first of seven ‘I Am…’ sayings of Jesus. It follows soon after the feeding of the 5000 and the crowd follow Jesus to this location, wanting more of the same, in a sense. Yet it would seem that the crowds here are more interested in their physical needs and have failed to truly understand the spiritual significance of the feeding of the 5000 prior to this.

In saying that He was the Bread of Life Jesus is letting the crowds – and us today – know that He is the one who is able to feed us spiritually. He isn’t saying that he was like the bread they had just eaten to fulfil their physical needs, rather He was speaking metaphorically. He was emphasising that He isn’t just bread to fulfil our physical hunger, He is the Bread of Life that sustains and we all need this Bread of Life every day. Every day we need to feed on the Living Word of God – to nourish and sustain us and to enable us to grow in faith. Every day we need this Bread of Life to give us the strength, courage and encouragement we need to help us find a way through all that life throws at us. Every day we need Jesus in our lives, so come to Him and allow Him to sustain you as only He can.

Lord, we give You thanks that through Your Son You have come to us and that in Him we can grow in faith and draw closer to You. Help us to do this, to come the Living Word each day that we may flourish in our faith and at the same time witness to others, that they too may come to Your Word. Amen

‘Do not worship any other god…’ (Exodus 34:14)

Sociologists will tell us that as human beings, even when there is no form of religion or spirituality involved, we practise rituals, almost on a daily basis, that effectively constitute a form of worship. In our working lives and our leisure activities, wherever we do things that follow specific patterns and whenever we do things that we are passionate about, at the same times each day or each week, then without perhaps being aware of it, our actions effectively equate to a form of worship. Needless to say, however, from a Christian perspective worship means something different altogether.

Scottish Theologian John Macquarrie once said, ‘It is because God has first of all made us in His own image that we find implanted in us the desire to worship Him and to grow in likeness to Him…’  and certainly when we look through the pages of the Bible we find this idea of worship clearly illustrated. But what does it actually mean for us as we seek to live out our lives of faith every day.

True worship in a Christian sense is the fulfilment of the relationship we have with God through His Son and by His Spirit. Yes, it’s about coming to Church and about joining with others in worship and fellowship when we can and yes it’s about personal devotion time, when we are alone with God, reading His Word and coming before Him in prayer. But more than this, true worship is about living our lives every single day in a way that honours and glorifies God. It’s about putting God first in our lives and seeking as best we can to live as He would have us, walking in the footsteps of His Son, bearing witness to His love and His message in all we say and do.

Lord, You have made us to worship You, so help us to do so, we pray. Help us to live lives worthy of Your name, that might worship You as we should, to the glory and honour of Your name. Amen.