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Day 40 - A bit more than breakfast

Reading: John 21:1-25

There’s a lot going on in this final chapter in John’s gospel.  Fishing, no fish, then lots of fish, an unexpected swim, breakfast and a very important conversation.

It’s Jesus’ restoration of Peter that intrigues me the most. Breakfast is over and Jesus starts to speak.  I wonder whether the disciples had a sense of anticipation every time Jesus began a conversation? Waiting for the next story, challenge or insight.

This time it’s a chat one-on-one with Peter who had let him down so badly just before he was crucified. In chapter 13 Peter has said loudly and emphatically that he would follow him wherever, and lay down his life for Jesus. But he went on to blatantly deny him.  Not just once but three times. And now Jesus is wanting to give him a chance to make amends.

If I want my kids to take in something important I’m saying I usually repeat myself several times.  I’m convinced they know how to nod even when they have no idea what I’ve said! I want to make sure they’ve really heard me. Even if they say, “Muuuum you’ve said that already!” it’s worth doing to make sure they’ve actually taken it in.

Jesus asks the same question three times – Peter do you love me? One for every denial. He gives Peter a chance to make up for each disowning, and to make sure he properly hears that he is restored.

Knowing we can be restored is the most wonderful truth. Jesus offers forgiveness and a fresh start. He restores us from shame, anger, guilt and pain. This is our God. This is the Jesus that the whole of this gospel has been celebrating. 

By way of forgiveness Jesus gives Peter a job to do - feed my sheep. He receives a fresh commission. 

I’m so glad to have given my life to the One who forgives, restores, and then calls me to go on serving him.

Response

Worship Jesus for the forgiveness and restoration that he can bring.  You can receive that from him, right here, right now.

Ellen

Day 39 - The extended biography

Reading: John 20:1-31

Do you enjoy other people’s stories?

I like reading biographies. I enjoy them because they are real life stories. They fascinate me because they add pieces to the jigsaw of my knowledge of history. I’m challenged to be more determined by the accounts that I read. I am warned by them as I see human flaws emerge. I learn from them of mistakes that I should avoid (but often commit). 

But I notice a difference in the biography that continues in today’s verses.

In every other biography I’ve ever read, the account of the individual ends no later than their death.  Certainly, some will provide an analysis of the influence of the person, and that influence may extend beyond their death, but the story of their life ends when their life ends.

But in John chapter 20 we discover the biography with a difference. Jesus lives even after he died. John, the author, doesn’t waste his time arguing that this is true. He knows it because he was there. But he does tell the story of how it influenced and changed some of the disciples in such a way that their lives become evidence themselves.

Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, the remaining nine disciples, and then, of course, Thomas. 

Some of my computer-using friends will jump on the bandwagon of a virus rumour and circulate it to everyone without checking it out first.  Thomas would have brought a dose of cynicism and asked for a reality check.  So I can understand Thomas.  But I also note that in the presence of Jesus, he didn’t need to know all of the answers, because he was in the presence of THE answer.

And the promise for you and me?  Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

Response

Thank you, Father, for the blessing of belief now before we see Jesus in heaven.

Ian

Day 38 - Faith displaying opportunities

Reading: John 19:38-42

We read today of Joseph’s, up to now perhaps, unseen courage as he approaches Pilate to secure the release of Jesus’ body so that Christ might be afforded a proper Jewish burial.

Accompanied by Nicodemus, Joseph takes Jesus’ body and has it prepared for burial with an amount of herbs and spices equivalent to what would have been the norm for a royal burial.

Joseph and Nicodemus, both members of the Sanhedrin, would have found it difficult to publically support Jesus’ cause openly prior to his death. However their tremendous courage and attention to detail demonstrate that they were clearly aware of the significance of Jesus and wanted to bury him as befitted a king, rather than leaving him out in the open to decay, as was often the case with criminals that had been put to death by crucifixion.

This account really helps remind me that what Jesus experienced was a real death that put an end to his earthly human existence.

We can probably all recall times when we’ve witnessed injustice or situations that have required someone to step in and stand up for what is right.  Joseph and Nicodemus could well have been accused of being a day late, however we know that there was a bigger picture at stake and that they did have the faith and courage to secure Jesus’ body from Pilate when they could have easily just melted away into the background. My prayer is that as we live with Christ’s amazing story on our frontlines we can’t help but have that steadfast faith that displays itself in a very natural way to others around us.

Response

Lord Jesus, you died that I might live forever in your kingdom of peace and righteousness. Strengthen my faith to know the power of your resurrection and to live in the hope of seeing you face to face for ever.

James

Day 37 - Things are not as they seem

Reading: John 19:17-37

My favourite university lecturer, and the most brilliant man I've ever had the privilege to know personally, was a humble, unassuming guy with the unlikely name of John Smith! His office was a jumble store of papers, an administrator’s disaster zone which gave the impression of a life out of control, but which in reality disguised a very orderly mind and a man who was very much on top of his work.

To the casual observer John 19 has all the appearances of a chaotic situation. Jesus is powerless, nailed to the cross, an object of ridicule. And yet, there are lots of little signs that indicate that this situation is far from being out of control. The notice nailed to the cross informs the passers-by that this IS the King of the Jews, contrary to the wishes of the Jewish leaders. The soldiers think they are in charge of the crucifixion, as indeed they are in one sense, but they are also unwittingly fulfilling the prophecies from of old. It’s Jesus who takes charge of the arrangements to see that his mother is cared for, and it is Jesus, ultimately, who gives up his spirit when he is satisfied that the job is done.

From start to finish this passage, despite the surface appearances of chaos, has a strong stamp of God’s sovereignty over events. Things are not as they seem. And what a comfort that is to me, today, when I look around me at scenes of apparent chaos. Whether it is global chaos or the chaos in my own life, I can be confident that, in the words of the hymn, “God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year.”

One day that purpose will be revealed, and God’s work will be plain to see. It’s a day “that shall surely be, when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.” It’s a day when, once more, Jesus will say, “It is finished!”

Response

Who do you know who would be encouraged to be reminded that God is in control? Why not contact them, and help them find strength in God through this passage or that well-known hymn?

Roger

Day 36 - Getting our own way

Reading: John 18:28-19:16

The account of Jesus’ arrest and show trial may be very familiar to us. Reading this account can be tough because we know what Jesus went through, suffering a fate we all deserved. But through it all we can see Jesus is in control, focussed on fulfilling God’s plan and not flinching from it in spite of what lay ahead.

In our passage today we see the Jewish religious leaders trying to get Pilate to do their dirty work for them and convict Jesus of a crime – any crime – for which the death penalty was prescribed. Over a number of hearings Pilate finds Jesus has not committed any crime, never mind one deserving of the death penalty. But despite being the top Roman official in Judea he fails to exert his authority and eventually hands Jesus over to be crucified.

We may well shake our heads in disbelief at the scheming of the Jewish leaders, seeking to have Jesus convicted of a crime, and culminating in the chief priests saying, “We have no king but Caesar”! Clearly this degree of cruelty is not something we can relate to. And yet the Jewish leaders did not get up that day and decide to have Jesus killed. Their actions had been brewing for many months. I am reminded of the words James writes about temptation and sin: “After desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:16). I suspect we can all relate to those words to some degree. Are we ever tempted to dress up something we want as something God wants to give us – a better paid job? An expensive new gadget maybe? Or anything that makes us look more important to other people? We all try to get our own way at times, in spite of knowing where that can lead. We know God’s way is far better and we know what it cost Jesus to open that way for us. May his Holy Spirit help us to live God’s way.

Response

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Chris

Day 35 - Betrayed by a friend

Reading: John 18:12-27

Imagine the feeling of betraying your best friend – not just once but three times, and then realising that it had all been predicted (John 13:38) when you had just declared your undying affection! Then, as if to compound your feelings of guilt, your friend dies before you have the opportunity to seek forgiveness.  We can only guess at Peter’s state of mind – his total desolation, his cry of anguish. “What have I done?” With the benefit of hindsight we know that this is not the end, yet it must have seemed so to Peter. 

I suspect that all of us, in some way, experience betrayal or perhaps remember times when we ourselves have betrayed a friend. It seemed quite harmless, it was ‘only’ a choice piece of gossip, but we allowed ourselves to quietly assassinate a friend’s character. It might even be that we have experienced betrayal within our own marriage or even been the one who betrayed a loved one.  When we look at how it all turns out for Peter we realise yet again how the big picture takes time to be revealed. Only our heavenly Father knows what the future holds. Further on in John’s gospel we learn that Peter is reinstated and his betrayal forgiven. For the Christian, guilt is not meant to burden us for life: it is there to point us towards seeking forgiveness, from God first, and then from any that we have offended. After all, every time we sin we betray our relationship with God, yet he offers us forgiveness again and again through the sacrifice that Jesus made. 

Response

Father, teach us how to forgive as you forgive us. Help us to release those who have betrayed us and set us free from all that prevents us from living life to the full by accepting the grace and peace that Jesus offers.

Peter