John 12: 20-26 - reflection for opening worship of Synod meeting of National Synod of Wales.

   

Our theme running through today’s synod is

Doing the little things (Gwnewch y pethau bychain).

 

In the part of John’s gospel we have just heard, we are approaching the end of Jesus’ earthly life. Just before this section there has been the triumphal entry into Jerusalem – which we will be remembering next Sunday – Palm Sunday.

But this story is a quieter one, a smaller one, if you like.

 

Jesus’ disciples have a small role in the story – but a vital one.

 

The Greeks who have arrived for the Passover festival want to see Jesus.

They go to Philip – who has a Greek name -  “Sir, we wish to see Jesus”.

Philip goes and tells Andrew and then together the 2 disciples tell Jesus.

 

The whole area is talking about Jesus – but these Greeks have sidled up to try to get close to the great man.

And Philip & Andrew help them – they use the small amount of influence they have to tell Jesus these men want to meet him.

 

Those words “we wish to see Jesus” are often found in pulpits – in a place where the preacher, not the listeners, can see it.

It is reminder to anyone who preaches God’s word that the whole point is not to show off great learning or even dazzle with great rhetoric (good job you might say!).

Preachers open up God’s word to other people so that they might see Jesus.

 

And when the Greeks – and when we -  see Jesus  he speaks amazing words about the power of little things.

 

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

 

But these are not just wise words from Jesus – they are words which are about Jesus – they help us to see Jesus.

Jesus is telling anyone who listens that he is about to die and be buried – but that his death will not be the end, because through his death there will be new life – and that new life will bear much fruit.

 

Do you see Jesus in these words?

Jesus honours small actions by his disciples.

He meets those who might be considered outsiders.

And he shows us that no life is lost – death is not the end.

When we lay down our lives, following Jesus, God is glorified.

In our larger actions and in the small things.

 

So may we see Jesus in the small things, in our Synod today.

Amen.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spring IS coming!

I love to dip into Revgalblogpals, and though I don't usually 'play' at the Friday five questions, I thought that with no sermon to do I would, for a change: Sally writes: Candlemass is past, and Christmas is well and truly over, here in the UK February looks set to be its usual grey and cold self. Signs of spring are yet to emerge; if like me you long for them perhaps you need ways to get through these long dark days. So lets share a few tips for a cold and rainy/ snowy day.... 1. Exercise, what do you do if you can't face getting out into the cold and damp? I do find it therapeutic to clean the house vigourously - but if you could see the dust you'd know I don't often get round to it! I also make a point of always running, rather than walking, upstairs - something my mum always did until her stroke. 2. Food; time to comfort eat, or time to prepare your body for the coming spring/summer? I try to eat healthily, but my body craves carbohydrate. 3. Brainpower; do...
Read more

Chapel Anniversary: Zion’s Hill, Spittal

  Matthew 7: 7-11 & 24-17           Ephesians 2: 17-22 We are celebrating the 202 nd anniversary of the building of this chapel - What does it take to build a chapel? I can recommend typing that question into a search engine if you want to give yourself a giggle. One website solemnly describes the process of engaging an architect to help you decide the best site – and then the need to discuss “ sufficient office spaces, the children’s department, the proper sanctuary size, adequate parking, church kitchen and/or café, and needed storage areas   - just to name a few”. Or you find a man like Thomas Skeel. Thanks to the fact that the “History of the Welsh Independent Churches” by Thomas Rees & John Thomas (published in 1871) is available online I can tell you quite a lot about Thomas Skeel – and it’s worth hearing! Thomas Skeel was born in 1758, in Hayscastle, the son of farmers. He was ordained at Trefgarne in 1795 and later married M...
Read more

"The perfume filled the house" - Mary anoints Jesus' feet

  Introduction to reading   Today’s reading is the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus’ feet – it’s John chapter 12   verses 1-8. In Chapter 11 of John’s gospel – just before the reading we’re about to hear, the story is told of the raising of Lazarus. Surprisingly, perhaps, the earlier chapter introduces Lazarus, & his sisters Mary & Martha, and then says: (11.2) This Mary, whose brother Lazarus had fallen ill, was the woman who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair.   But the story of the anointing of Jesus is not told in Luke’s gospel until after the story of the raising of Lazarus. If someone was reading chapter 11 for the first time, they would find that the astonishing story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead is told using a reference to today’s amazing story – so amazing that the writer of the gospel could assume that people might know the story already.   This is a famous story – there are v...
Read more