From Grief to Wonderful Joy

Reading: John 16:16-33

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 

John16:20

As Jesus comes to the end of his final discourse with the disciples, they are confused when he goes on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me (‭‭John‬ ‭16:16‬ )‭. So Jesus allegorizes the coming traumatic time in their life, to the agony of a mother giving birth to a baby (John 16:21). The personal experience of giving birth is an extremely frightening, painful and sometimes dangerous too. But the long awaited expectancy of seeing her own child fills the mother’s heart with joy and excitement when she finally lays eyes on the baby. The bundle of joy that the mother shares with her family, turns to a wonderful celebration over the new birth, her labor of love.

Jesus, as he speaks of his temporary absence, he is preparing their hearts and minds for the shock and confusion of his arrest and crucifixion. His death is an extremely grievous and harrowing experience. However it turns to a Joyful Surprise when they see him triumphantly alive again. The happiness that the world has to offer is only temporary. But the joyful faith, hope and love that comes with the resurrected Christ is eternal (1Corinthians 15:19-20). The same allegory of giving birth is used by Isaiah as he prophesies the birth of a new age where the faithful dead will rise, Daniel prophesies everlasting life and St. Paul goes on to say that we will all be given new bodies (Isaiah 26:17-19, 1Corinthians15:19-20;Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44). With the resurrection of Christ we are assured that these prophesies will come true. It is the joy that promises that death has been defeated.

A lasting much deeper joy comes with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit opens the door to a prayerful and living relationship with God our father. It is the pleasure God the Father has when we repent of our sins and do his will (Luke 15:7, Psalms 147:11). This joy that God has to offer when we live in a good and faithful relationship with him is deeply strengthening for our souls (Nehemiah 8:10).

Prayer:-. Lord Jesus we adore you and worship you as we remember the price you paid by your death on the cross. Have mercy on us and set us free to serve you with joy. Amen

Walk in the Light

 The Light is with you for a Little Longer. John12:35

Reading: John 12:12-22

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,

Open the eyes of our heart that we may see you 

and follow you, the light of the world. 

Amen

It was the Passover in Jerusalem and large multitudes of faithful Jews came to celebrate this festival. As Jesus rode on a donkey into town, the people hailed him as King , shouted Hosanna and waved palm branches (John 12:12-19). They had just witnessed or heard of the miraculous raising from the dead of Lazarus and were convinced the scriptures have been fulfilled (John 11:38-43). This apocalyptic miracle persuaded them that Jesus is the Messiah who has the the power to redeem them. The religious rulers were red hot with rage and sprang into action to devise a way to smother and stamp out the leader of this fiery crowd a threat to their leadership and faith.

The multitudes were seeking a King to overthrow the Roman dominion over them and rule the world. They were completely blind to what Jesus had really come to do. Evidently the world did not see the light! Nevertheless Jesus stoked the flames of his final hours in the world with a blaze of fulfilled messianic prophesies (Psalm 118:25,26; Zechariah 9:9). Jesus knew by shedding his blood as a sacrifice he would open the way to draw the people of his own nation and all the nations of the world into his fold.

So Jesus slipped away from the hysterical crowds and stayed at Philip’s home near the wilderness where he was hiding from the religious leaders who felt the blood of Jesus would bring back order to the Temple. He knew the hour of dreadful darkness of suffering and death was at hand. However some Greeks came to the scared disciples in secret seeking The Light, their humble request was, "Sir, we want to see Jesus (John 12:20-22).”  How many of the multitudes came out with this deep desire to see the Light of the world? Did the disciples realize what Jesus meant when he said “the light is with you a little longer”?

Closing Prayer

As we rejoice in the gift of life, 

May the light of your presence, 

Set our hearts on fire with love for you; 

That we may walk in the light of your Word. 

Amen

The Witness

The Witness

Reading : John 15:18-16:4

“26 But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and bear witness about Me. 27 But you will testify also and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:26-27‬ ‭

After speaking of the hostility of the world to his followers without mincing any words, Jesus prepares them to fight their spiritual battles. He assures them that even when they go through the darkest days of their lives, the light of the Holy Spirit will shine through, strengthen them and enable them to endure the hatred and evil in the world. What is it that the Holy Spirit can do that they cannot do? By the power of the Holy Spirit the testimony of the disciples will not only work in their own hearts but also convict the hearts of those who hear their message.

For the past three years the disciples lived and worked with Jesus on his ministry on earth. Jesus, by choosing them, and through his teaching and miracles gives them an exclusive opportunity to be eyewitnesses to his historical Godly life. As the time draws near for his departure back to God the Father, Jesus reveals to his disciples a wondrous truth. The Holy Spirit previously was  present selectively and temporarily within the prophets of old and a few other saintly people. Jesus now speaks of sending the comforter and advocate who will be come directly from God the Father. He says he will send the Holy Spirit who intimately knows God the Father. The witness of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds is to experience the witness of the God the Father. 

The wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit is unmatched. The Holy Spirit will teach and guide them to be a witness to the life of Jesus Christ and spread the gospel message of his redeeming love. The Holy Spirit will counsel them in two dimensions of their lives, their heart and mind. The Holy Spirit will encourage them to continue their mission in times of persecution. Further, the Holy Spirit will exhort them to not be discouraged, and will strengthen their hearts to face the hatred and evil in the world and direct their vision to spreading the gospel message all over the world. Paul says in Colossians 3:1-2, “Set your mind on things above.”

David’s life is a great example to understand how to build faith in God in times of jealousy and hatred,. When David is pursued by the anointed King of Israel, Saul (his father-in-law), and much later his own son, Absalom, both of whom he does not in any way want to harm physically, he surrenders his life at the mercy of God knowing that God’s great purposes will prevail. David learns to trust God for protection in the darkest hours of his life. In the Psalms David sings, “Lord, You are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head.(Psalm 3:3)” David was a man of prayer and his Songs  in the Psalms have been a source of strength from the times of the Apostles to generations of faithful Christians down through the centuries. Like David the disciples learn to trust in the working of the Holy Spirit to counsel and lead them.

Even today the Spirit of Truth speaks to us about Jesus as He did to the disciples. As we read the Bible and pray, the Holy Spirit continues to teach and guide us to be witnesses to the life of Jesus Christ and the gospel message of saving love. We learn through prayer, meditation, and fellowship to share our gifts and talents. The gifts of the Spirit St. Paul refers to as Charisma is to be, Loving, Forgiving, Encouraging, Giving, and Serving (Romans 12:1-10). These are gifts that can be cultivated within us as we experience the outpouring of the Spirt of Christ in our lives. We are called to live Spirit Filled lives, to be the Salt and Light to the world. We are to live our lives in such a way that we can be living witness of the grace and love of God that springs from our lives through the working of Holy Spirit to flood the earth with peace and goodwill to everybody on earth.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank you for calling the Apostles to follow your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that by following their lives and witness we may, through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, bring those who are lost home to your fold. Amen

Why will they hate us?

 

Worlds Hatred

Reading John 15:18-25

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. John 15:18

What will life be for the disciples when he is gone?? A Paradox??

As the last supper and parable of the vine is slowly warming the hearts and minds of the disciples, Jesus goes on to celebrate his life with them as his friends. He charges them to love each other, in so doing he tenderly unites them all to him. All these wonderful truths are oft repeated, beautiful melody for their souls.

Then like the sudden clash of cymbals, he goes on to say, “if the world persecutes you remember that it persecuted me first. If the world hates you, remember it hated me first.” He is preparing them for his imminent crucifixion and the persecution that lay ahead of them in the years to come. He emphasizes the relationship with the world will flare up based on their hatred for him and his mission (John 15:21). Just like day turns to night, so the relationship between God and the World, will continue to be hostile. The rejection of Christ as the Godhead, indicates the prophetic messianic voice in the Psalms will be fulfilled (Psalm 35:19, Psalm 69:14).

The disciples wonder why he is saying all these things. It is difficult for them to understand that like a bipolar magnet they will attract and repel people. On one hand, Jesus’ love binds them to him and those they love, on the other hand, his love repels them from those who do not share this divine life. The consequence of following Christ is the rift that comes between the church and the world. 

The grief and sadness of Jesus’s prophetic voice of the future on the stark reality of the world views  makes hard reading. Despite the hatred of the world, Christ’s disciples eventually were the foundations on which the world wide church was built. The disciples went out and sowed The Word of God all over the world. They were not scholars or world travelers, but ordinary working men who were taught and ministered to by The Son of God. Can anyone ask for a better work experience? Can anyone question the fruits of their labor?

What happened to the twelve disciples? Did they all die as martyrs?

The Church is One Foundation-Lyrics

Prayers : Dear Lord Jesus, we thank and praise you for the confidence that we have that one day all hatred will cease and your love will prevail. We know that one day all our sicknesses and diseases will be healed. We do believe in our future resurrection and living with you in glory one day. Amen.

Chosen People

 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 

‭‭John‬ ‭15:16‬ ‭

Reading : John 15:11-17

When Jesus begins his ministry he goes by the Sea of Galilee where two brothers, Peter and Andrew are fishing.(Matthew 4:18-22). As they are casting their nets out to catch fish, He calls them to come and follow him, to fish for people. At once they leave their nets and follow him. Traditionally disciples choose the Rabbi they want to learn under. But it is Jesus who chose his twelve disciples to fish for souls (Mark 3:14). 

C. S. Lewis says, a Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us really want it: and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian. I may repeat “Do as you would be done by” till I am [blue] in the face, but I cannot really carry it out till I love my neighbour as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbour as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him. When we learn to love and obey God joyfully we are able to love our neighbor. It is Love that defines the Christian communities relationships with God and our neighbor. 

Christ came that we may be filled with love and joy (John 15:11-13). We are often under the misconception that we chose to follow Christ. It is the other way around, Christ chose us and died for us in his abundant love so that we may by his grace be part of God’s family. This blessed assurance frees us to love. We are chosen so our joy might be complete as we open our hearts and minds to the light of God’s Word and delight to do His Will. We are chosen to love one another; to proclaim the gospel message that Christs sacrifice on the cross has opened the pathway to a relationship of love with our Heavenly Father. Christ said greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends. What an amazing challenge to his disciples to follow in his path of love to do works of love?

The Christian Church by commonly accepted tradition firmly believes that St. Thomas came to India in 52 AD. He arrived at the Port of Cranganore, a center for trading spices during the Roman Empire. He planted seven churches in the state of Kerala in South India. His evangelical work took him to Mylapore, a sacred temple town for the Hindus and an ancient port of trade for the Roman Empire. Here the orthodox priests became extremely jealous of his work and he was martyred in 72 AD on a hill, which much later came to be known as the St. Thomas Mount. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Jesus said, “I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit (John 15:16).” The lasting fruits of St. Thomas’s labor live on in the hearts of millions of Christians and thousands of churches bearing his name spread all over India. In 1952 there was celebration all over South India by Christians for the nineteenth centenary arrival of St. Thomas.

Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin” (John 16:8). If ever there is a phrase that will pierce into the heart of the congregation of the churches planted by St. Thomas is the oft repeated prayerful Greek chant “Kyrie Eleison” means “Lord have mercy.” This prayer of a repentant heart has been passed down through the centuries along with the fragrance and smoke of burning incense, a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. The gift of peace given by Jesus to the disciples (John 14:27) now being a blessing to so many all over the world who have found forgiveness in Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, open our hearts and minds that we may love you and our brothers and sisters in gladness and in peace. We offer our lives as a living sacrifice and empower us to proclaim your word with conviction. Amen

Keeping Christ at the Center

Navigating Worldly Temptations in Church Communities

In the midst of the challenges and distractions of the world, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters in our lives and in our church communities. St. Paul reminds us that as members of the body of Christ, each of us has a unique role to play in keeping Christ at the center of our lives and our communities. However, the allure of power, money, and worldly success often leads us astray, shifting our focus away from the teachings of Jesus and towards the values of the world.

Jesus Himself warns us against being consumed by the temptations of the world—physical pleasure, possessions, and pride. These distractions can lead us away from our spiritual path and hinder our relationship with God. While it's not inherently wrong to enjoy the blessings of this world, we must be vigilant not to prioritize them over our faith and obedience to God.

As we examine our church communities, let us reflect on whether we are truly living out the teachings of Jesus. Are we prioritizing service to others and the needs of our community over personal gain? Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness, or are we driven by a desire for wealth and status? Let us also consider the example set by our church leaders—are they humble servants of God, or are they focused on worldly success and acclaim?

In a world where material wealth and success are often equated with happiness and fulfillment, it's essential to remember the words of Jesus: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." As followers of Christ, our ultimate treasure lies in the kingdom of God, not in the fleeting pleasures of this world. Let us strive to align our lives with His will, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, and trusting that He will provide for our needs.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help us to keep our hearts and minds focused on You amidst the distractions of this world. Give us the strength to resist the temptations of power, wealth, and worldly success, and to prioritize service to others and obedience to Your will. Guide our church communities to be beacons of Your light, shining brightly in a world filled with darkness. May we always seek first Your kingdom and righteousness, trusting in Your provision and eternal promises. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Bearing Fruit

JESUS SAID,
I am the vine; you are the branches. 
If you remain in me and I in you, 
you will bear much fruit; 
apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

All through ancient history the vine was used as a metaphor for God’s people. Time after time they disappointed Him in not producing fruit. In Psalm 80 the worship leader composed this Psalm of lament after the fall of Israel in 722 B.C. He laments the vine was brought out of Egypt planted in the promised land of Canaan but no measures were taken to protect it from thieves and wild animals who plundered and ravaged it. Isaiah speaks of the vineyard that God cared for with love and grace but yielded wild grapes that were of sour taste and fowl smell. Nevertheless God so loved the world, He sent his only begotten son to reveal to us how God nurtures His Vineyard.

After the last supper Jesus and his disciples may have been walking through a vineyard attached to the house or nearby as they headed to the garden (John 15:1-17). Jesus declares he is the true vine, God the Father is the Gardener or Keeper of the Vineyard and we are the Branches. Jesus warns us of branches that do not bear fruit the Gardener cuts them off.  Vines are planted in soils and places where they draw their sustenance to grow and flourish. Jesus’s Life is rooted and grounded in God the Giver of Life. The Life we receive from Jesus is from God Himself. The branches that bear fruit are lovingly cared for while the fruitless are cut off. Jesus is the vine from whom we the followers grow or get grafted in as the branches. If a branch is not connected to the vine it cannot grow and bear fruit. When Christ’s life flows through us in time we begin to bear fruit like love, joy, peace, etc (Galatians 5:22-23). It is only in Jesus that we find full and abundant life. 

God is love, whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in them (1John 4:16). Our relationship with God is an interdependent bond of love (Isaiah 43:7). We look up to God the Father for our daily bread and we are united to Christ in his love. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts and minds to make us more fruitful and Christlike. Though we have the free will to do as we please, it is Christ who has called us to do the will of our Father in Heaven. He has invited us to a new and intimate relationship with Him and to be God’s chosen people (Colossians 3:12). To grow or be grafted into the true vine and bear fruit. The fruit we bear are for the benefit and building up of our friends and family. To comfort and strengthen people. The taste and beauty of our fruits will depend on how much of the life of Christ we draw into our lives. William Barclay says there are two characteristics of disciples of Christ. Firstly they enrich their lives to be fruitful branches. Secondly they bring glory to God, by living lives that attract others to a life in Christ by the fruit they bear.

The gardener prunes the branches so that they may yield better fruit. The pruning in our lives could come in the form of pain, suffering, loss and frustration to name a few. It is the disciplining that we undergo to become fruitful disciples. C. S. Lewis says,“We can ignore pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” The pruning knife may be painful but if we continue to transform ourselves into being more Christlike we will glorify God. Philip Yancy elucidates in the video below how we are fearfully and wonderfully made and how the gift of pain saves lives.

In this world there are so many things we can accomplish without Christ. In one dimension it is so easy to see we can live by His teaching without drawing on His Life. We can become self-reliant, self-sufficient, and self-controlled die-hard radicals. But if we want to be Christlike we have to abide in Him. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that either man models himself on the god of his own invention, or the true and living God moulds the human form into His image. There must be a complete transformation, a metamorphosis. It is through the working of the Holy Spirit within us that enables the transformation to come. The transformation has to start from within and begin to show itself in the abundance of fruits we bear on the outside. Lets us learn to live under the loving care of God our Father, as we abide in Christ the Son, and are transformed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to bear bountiful and beautiful fruit. 

Prayer

Lord our Father, we look up to you to bless and prune us to bear the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. Fill our lives with your love, joy, goodness, and peace. Teach us to be patient, kind, gentle, faithful and disciplined. Help us to live our lives to be more Christlike in all our ways. Amen

The Four Seasons of Grapevine 

What a friend we have in Jesus

I will not leave you comfortless; I am coming to you.

‭‭John‬ ‭14:18‬ ‭

I remember singing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so” in Sunday school. Those were my early years of getting to know Jesus as my friend. There was a warmth to the melody in my heart as I sang along in those days. It was the good old days of seeing everybody as friends and neighbors. After all these years this promise has become a solid foundation for my daily walk and growth in my life of faith. I have grown to realize this truth with greater conviction that Jesus loves me and continues to be the voice that speaks to me in times of trouble and tranquility. He will not leave me comfortless or friendless, but continues to shower me with his love and counsel everyday as I seek to do his will.

How many of us see God as a friend? God refers to Abraham as his friend (Isaiah 41:8). Abraham’s love for God endured him to be his friend. Ellicott says, “ The word for "friend" implies loving as well as being loved.” Jesus said the greatest way to show your love for your friends is to die for them. The world often challenges us to compete, dispute, or fight with one another. Do we follow the Ways of the World or the Way of Love? 

The hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” has been a source of comfort and strength for Christians down through the ages. The hymn was originally written by a preacher Joseph Scriven as a poem to comfort his mother in 1855. She was living in Ireland and he had moved to Canada. Scriven himself had met with personal tragedies of his own and in his brokenness he wrote these heartfelt words that comfort us at times when we feel broken, empty or lonely. The hymn has been translated into multiple languages and is an old favorite even today.

If our lives are anchored in Christ, the Holy Spirit will be our refuge and strength against all the hostility we face in our daily lives. Jesus followed the Way of Love for you and me (John 15:13). Jesus calls us his friends, if we follow the way of love for God and one another (John 15:14). Isn’t it comforting and heartening to listen to Jesus saying you are my friends? Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as the words teaches and encourages to bear witness to Jesus and his redeeming love. If we love him wont we do what he has asks us to do? 

Prayer

Lord Jesus as we enter into the mystery of your love for us during this time of prayer and meditation, comfort and strengthen us through the blessedness and brokenness of our lives as we forge our friendship with you and all those we share our lives with. Amen.