Sunday January 16th

Lectionary readings for Sunday January 16th

Isaiah 49.1-7
Psalm 40.1-12
1 Corinthians 1.1-9
John 1.29-42

You can read the Gospel here (That’s  the NIV but of course you can read it any translation (and language) you prefer. Do leave a comment if you feel like it. Over at Imagery Words eija posted this photo (with her permission I’ll post it in this blog later) but what I wanted to say was that as I looked at the photo of the page from the Bible again it really impressed on me that the Bible – the Word of God – is many layered – and so there is so much more to it when we read, re-read and medidate on it than a first or superficial reading will give.

That’s what into the Bible is all about. What does the Word of God say to you? What new revelation comes from an old and familiar passage. What it says to me might be good and important – but what it says to you personally is even more so. So don’t take what I write here as Gospel – go feast on the scriptures yourself.

So to the Gospel.

What really spoke to me were two things

Firstly that John writes that John the Baptist “saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him” … what a sight, what a revlation this must have been. Did John also hear the love of the Father as He spoke this words “This is my son, with Him I am well pleased” … did he come to apply it for himself too – not that he was the Son (i.e God) , but that he was a very beloved son, equal in that love relationship.

Secondly, John really rushes through the calling of Simon and Andrew. Elsewhere in the synoptic (other) Gospels, Simon is called Peter much later on. Here John lumps it altogether.  But what really struck me – not for the first time I must admit – was this

“Rabbi, … where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

Jesus didn’t explain. He didn’t rationalise. He invited them into a relationship with Him. And that changed their life!

And mine too …

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Sunday Jan 9th

For the next few weeks – even though I’m going to go to church – I won’t be hearing the Gospel or the sermon as I’m going to be particating in Godly Play with the kids.I’m looking forward to that, and really hope that it will re-vive my relationship with God and to be frank with the church.

I thought that as a spiritual discipline I’ll post the Gospel reading for the Sunday here and reflect on it. That means that you can – if you want –  read along, and as ever feel do free to comment if you want to. Together we learn, together we move closer to the heart of God.

You can find the weekly (lectionary) readings here.

Today – Sunday Jan 9th – the Gospel reading is Matthew 3.13-17.

I honestly don’t think it matters which version or translation we use, it’s the reading it and allowing it to read us that really matters! But as today’s Gospel reading is very short I’m going to post the text (from NLT)  –  but you can also find other translations here.

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

¹⁵ But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.^[a]” So John agreed to baptize him.

¹⁶ After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened^[b] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Read it, meditate on it, let it read you. My thoughts are a lot less important than what God says to you through the passage!

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