‘Come to me all of you who are weary…’ (Matt. 11:28)

Bible Reading:  Acts 17:22-32

The apostles and missionaries of the early church often encountered people who were simply unable to understand the story of Jesus, without trying to put it into their context, which, of course, did not always work. Back then there were already many stories of gods and goddesses around and it was easier to fit a powerful experience of healing or of the holy spirit into what one already knew – rather than try to learn something new altogether. And that got me thinking, what do we already know that we might try to make an experience of Jesus fit into today? What other ‘gods’ form part of our everyday lives today? Money, power, status? How do these fit in to our faith and understanding of our relationship with God?

Paul sees how the people are trying to fit the experience of Jesus into the story they already know and I wonder how guilty we are of that, at times. Whereas what we should be doing is ‘writing’ our own story of Jesus as we experience him in our lives – day after day. And this is what Paul is trying to do here…to draw them away from the story they know to the evidence of God in life, with which they are already familiar.

Paul sees the altar that the Athenian people have erected to an unknown god and even though they have the a whole host of Greek gods and goddesses they worship, still it would appear that there is something in their hearts that realizes they cannot know everything, that they have not identified the source of all things. Paul, however, identifies that restlessness and that openness as the longing the Spirit has stirred up in each of us – until we rest in God.

Through Jesus, we come to understand the invitation and welcome of God and through his Holy Spirit we learn to recognize how, in God, we live and move and have our being.

As Paul speaks to those gathered in the market place he doesn’t insult them or scare them in any way. Rather he invites them to see something familiar in a new way and exciting way. And I wonder, when did we last take us such an invitation as this, to look for new and exciting ways in which God is working in our lives. Paul allows and indeed encourages them to reinterpret their tradition in light of what they now know of Jesus. Indeed, he encourages them to consider that the god for whom they have been striving to know who was until now unknown. Is now able to be known through the person of Jesus Christ.

Paul then calls the Athenians to imagine God, and themselves, in more lofty terms than they are used to doing. Rather than worshiping a god of stone or silver or gold, they are called to consider that we are offspring of God – the one true living God. And there are a couple of lessons we can take from this passage.

Like the people of Athens we too have to accept that Jesus does not merely fit into any category that we might wish to place him in, based on what we have read or heard from others. We should all have our own unique personal relationship with Jesus and it is that personal relationship which should be the basis of our own experiences of Jesus in our everyday lives.

Yes, we can and should share these experiences with others and having others share their experiences with us might help at specific times. However, it doesn’t automatically follow that the experiences of others will be the same as ours – and that’s something worth remembering.

Because otherwise, there might be times when we we might think, if God acted in a specific way at a specific time for such and such a person, surely He will do so for me. But if we think and believe in this way, we then come to expect the same outcome. But as I’m sure we all know deep down, that’s not how it works at all.

Just as our lives are all different and unique, so the way in which God acts in those lives is also different and unique.

And secondly, like Paul, we are called to witness to the good news of Jesus Christ. But what is the good news of that story? Reconciliation with God, the promise of peace, the words of eternal life, the hope of the life of the world to come, the forgiveness of sins. Ultimately, guidance in how to live – and no other story can do that.

But as to how we bear witness to all of this, well, we might all have our own different ways and means of doing so. However, it needs to be rooted in our own relationship with Jesus, so perhaps the best way ultimately is to show how we have known these in our own personal experiences with Jesus. What has Jesus done in our lives. How have we known his love in a practical way. How has his life and example changed our life. What does he now mean to us as we journey through our life.

This is how we best bear witness to our Lord.

Amen.

‘God has given gifts to each of you…’ (1 Peter 4:10)

‘And my God will meet all your needs…'(Philip. 4:19)

‘Make me walk along the path of your commands…’ (Ps. 119:35)

‘…with God all things are possible…’ (Matt. 19:26)

‘Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart…’ (Ps.37:4)

Bible Readings:  1 Peter 2:4-10  John 14:1-14

Our Gospel passage this morning is one that is used by many at funeral services, indeed I myself use it at every funeral service I conduct. And part of the reason for this is because these verses from John – which form part of what is known as the farewell discourse – are often understood as means of saying goodbye. And when Jesus talks about going to prepare a place for them where they can later join him, we perhaps understandably think of them joining Jesus in Heaven at a later date, which is why it is used at funeral services. But is there more to eat as we read the remaining verses in this passage?

Every Sunday we pray for God’s Kingdom to come upon us…our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come…Thus effectively praying for things to be here on earth just as they are in Heaven. Indeed didn’t Jesus himself say that in him, the Kingdom of God was at hand. So what if, at a different level altogether, the place that Jesus talks about preparing is in fact right here on earth, among those who follow him, His Kingdom come…What if this discourse was also intended to help build up God’s Kingdom here on earth right now. That in speaking to his disciples in this way, Jesus is in fact fostering a new spiritual dimension.

If so, perhaps the question is then, what does this mean for us here and now…

The former Moderator of the General Assembly of The Church of Scotland, the Very Rev’d. Dr. Lorna Hood reminds us that after the death of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles made a commitment to follow the pattern of loving service that the late Queen had demonstrated throughout her life – a service of loyalty, respect and love. And perhaps this is something that we either tend to forget or overlook. That stripped of all the pomp and outward regalia, the Monarchy is essentially a call to service.

Of course the ultimate servant King was our Lord and Saviour, Christ Himself, and the first words spoken by the King at the coronation service yesterday clearly reminded us of this…in his name and after his example I come not to be served but to serve…However, this idea of service doesn’t end with the Monarchy, nor indeed with all who find have positions of responsibility or leadership. It is incumbent upon us all to play our part…

The Apostle Paul once said to those in the new churches that he helped to establish that they should imitate him in their behaviour. Not because he was anything special or worthy of imitation in his own right, no, but because he, Paul, sought to imitate and emulate Jesus Christ in all he said and did. And maybe this is where we begin…

If we are indeed to follow a life of service in Jesus name then we need to remember His teaching. Not because it gives us a definitive answer as such, in telling us specifically the things that we should or shouldn’t do. But rather because it makes us think about what Jesus is actually saying here – that He is the way to follow. Because it’s only when we take the time to reflect on what Jesus is saying to us here that we begin to ask questions like, What would Jesus do in this situation, which way would He choose?

And the more we ask ourselves questions like this in our lives, and the more we take time to look in scriptures for the answers to these questions. The easier it becomes to imitate Him and to walk in His footsteps. Because when we look at Scripture in this way, we realise that by his example, Jesus showed us exactly what we should do…To allow the fruit of the spirit to shine and work through us…showing kindness, love, compassion, generosity, mercy to all. To look out for those less fortunate than we ourselves are. To take care of those most in need. To share the abundant blessings of God in the best way we can. To seek to help others at all time.

This is the life of service we are called to as disciples of Jesus Christ. A way of life that He not only taught us but showed us how to live by His own example. Of course, we all know this deep down within us. Yet, sometimes, somewhere in the entanglement of the busy lives that we lead every day, we can easily lose sight of it.

And only by walking in His footsteps…only by walking in His truth…and only by following His example…Only then can we find our way through this life…to our life with the father ever after…

Every single day life presents us with so many challenges, dilemmas, opportunities, difficulties and tribulations, often all rolled up into one. And the only way we are ever going to find our way through them, in His service and in the way that God would have us do, is to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour, to walk the path that he Himself has set before us and as best we can emulate Him in all we say and do.

In his name and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve…

May God give us all the grace, mercy, strength and faith to do just this – every day of our lives, to the praise and glory of His name.

Amen and thanks be to God.