Life, Faith & Vegetables

Tag: Lent Readings

Lent Reflection Day 16, 22nd March

March 22, 2025 / / 0 Comments

John 9:1-41

This is a remarkable story of one man’s encounter with Jesus and its aftermath.

It begins with the disciples asking a question ‘who sinned that he was born blind?’, and this reflects the prevailing view that all sickness or suffering is punishment for sin. There is a general connection between these two things in regard to the Fall, and some scripture implies a direct connection, but the disciple’s question is in regard to congenital affliction. Jesus rejects this idea, but sees it as the opportunity for God’s power to be displayed. There is some contention over the translation in v3 that implies God allowed it so that he could be healed. However, early Greek manuscripts had no punctuation and the words ‘this happened’, which appear in many translations, are not in the original. It could be translated  ‘Neither this man nor his parents. But that the works of God may be revealed in him it is necessary for us to work the works……etc.’

Once again we learn Jesus has healed on the Sabbath and another confrontation is set up with the Pharisees. Their efforts to verify whether a miracle has taken place or not seem almost comical. While the man’s parents tried to distance themselves from upsetting the Pharisees, the man himself is very clear about what has happened and challenges the Jewish leaders. His sincerity becomes clear in verse 38: he believes.

Jesus has come to bring light into the world physically and spiritually, answer challenge full spirituality wherever he finds it

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflection Day 14, 20th March

March 20, 2025 / / 0 Comments

John 8:1-30

We begin today’s reading with the story of the woman caught in adultery. A story which does not appear in the oldest manuscripts but has the hallmarks of historical veracity and so has been accepted as true to the text. Reading this story we are told that the purpose of this encounter is to trap Jesus. If he disagrees with his adversaries and shows compassion he has broken the Jewish law, if he says yes to stoning her, he breaks Roman law, which denies the Jews permission to carry out the death penalty. It is a trap. It should also be noted that both the man and the woman were condemned to death according to the law, but only the woman is present.

Jesus has come to save the world not condemn it, and to be the bearer of grace and truth (3:17, 1:17). So he stoops to write in the dust, we are not told what, and then speaks. His words challenge and confront the motives, attitude and perhaps the behaviour of her accusers and one by one they leave. Jesus shows her mercy but does not condone her sin.

In verse 12 we have the second I am saying of John. Jesus declares I am relatable world. Again, this may be linked to the candle lighting ceremonies of the feast of tabernacles. Coming to Jesus means we step from darkness to light and into eternal life, we never need to walk in the dark again.

This is followed by yet more argument over Jesus claims to be the Messiah, the’ light of the world’. Despite this John tells us many believed in him.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflection Day 13, 19th March

March 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments

John 7:25-53

The inactivity of the Jewish leaders causes some people to wonder if they know that Jesus is the Messiah. This passage shows us more of the confusion that Jesus teaching is creating. His listeners think they know where he is from i.e. Nazareth They don’t know he was born in Bethlehem and is of the line of David. Jesus on the other hand says that what matters is that he comes from and knows the Father. This would have sounded like blasphemy, but the leaders are unable to arrest him. John says this is because it is not yet the right time, the time of his death and resurrection is still to arrive.

Many of the crowd and the temple guard persuaded by his words and the miracles, much to the annoyance of the rulers and the Pharisees, with only Nicodemus speaking up for justice. In teaching that is reminiscent of the conversation with the Samaritan woman (ch 4) Jesus offers his listeners the water of the spirit that would flow from inside them. During the Feast of Tabernacles water would be poured over the altar every day for seven days, but this is not the water that will lead to life.

Whenever the gospel is preached people respond in different ways. Some just refuse it, some are interested but not serious, some get distracted by life and some sincerely pursue the Lord. It was no different during Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t always make it easy to understand, you had to seek after the truth. Now, as then, let us be seekers of God’s truth.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflection Day 7, 12th March

March 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

John 4:31-54

Here we finish the story of the Samaritan woman and her village. The disciples have arrived shocked at what they see, and then express concern for Jesus’ well-being and his need for food. He tells them his lunch is not the most important thing right now; it is the harvest of souls that matters most. Perhaps it is a lesson for us that pursuing the will of God is the most satisfying thing we can do. We see how effective his interaction with the woman has been when the villagers, after listening to Jesus, come to faith for themselves and make the amazing statement that Jesus is the saviour of the world. In other words, salvation has not just come for the Jews but also the Gentiles.

The Galileans are welcoming to Jesus, they have seen his ministry first hand, but the arrival of a royal official seeking his help is significant and John includes this event as one of his signs. Being a person of position does not exempt you from the tragedies of life. He pleads with Jesus to come and is not put off by Jesus’ criticism of people’s dependence on signs in order to believe. Jesus sends him on his way with assurance that his son will live, and the father believes and goes. He believes without a sign and his faith is rewarded. He chooses to trust that Jesus’ word is enough and the healing will follow.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflections Day 5, 10th March

March 10, 2025 / / 0 Comments

John 2:22-36

Here we learn that John the Baptist has continued his ministry of calling people to repentance alongside Jesus’ ministry right up until his imprisonment.

This is one of the few places where we are told of Jesus also baptising people, although in 4:2 we read that it was Jesus’ disciples who were doing the actual baptising.

Clearly this is causing some confusion to John’s disciples. They seem to be jealous for his reputation. John however has no such reservations, he is secure in his ministry and calling, and knows who he is and is not. He is so secure that he can find joy in Jesus’ success and the knowledge that Jesus’ ministry must increase and his decrease. His humility and dedication to God are an example for us all to follow. We are of the earth, but Jesus is from heaven. He speaks of heavenly things with the power of the Spirit. Those who choose to believe and follow the Son will have eternal life, only Jesus, the Son of God, can offer this to us.

John the Baptist exemplifies the role that we are to take up now, to point others to Jesus, not drawing attention to ourselves, and be happy to step into the background when the job is done

‘Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.’ Ps 115:1

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflection Day 4, 8th March

March 8, 2025 /

John 3:1-21

This passage comes in two parts:

Vv1-15 the account of the interview between Jesus and Nicodemus

Vv16-21 John’s comments on it.

Nicodemus is a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council, he is one of the Pharisees who are generally critical and antagonistic towards Jesus. He will appear again in John 7:50, where he appears to be defending Jesus, and in John 19:39 where he comes to help bury Jesus. He seems to be one of those in the ruling class who are secret followers, coming by night to see Jesus, which suggests there is a risk evolved. Clearly his curiosity is piqued by what he has witnessed and heard of Jesus.

He claims to believe that God is with Jesus, but his own religious understanding is not sufficient for the challenge that Jesus is about to present him. Nicodemus would have assumed his being born into a Jewish family, and being a religious leader would assure him a place in the Kingdom of God. “Not so” says Jesus, it is only spiritual rebirth that can ensure entrance into the kingdom. Physical birth cannot produce spiritual rebirth, which being spiritual is difficult to explain! Perhaps it is not surprising that Nicodemus does not understand.

John finishes this passage with his commentary including the famous verse 3:16 which assures us it is the love of God for all humanity that has brought about the arrival of his son. Jesus’ arrival brings a separation and judgement between light and darkness (which is one of John’s themes)  and this is dependent on the choices we make.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflection Day 3, 7th March

March 7, 2025 /

John 2:1-25

This passage recounts two remarkable events that display Jesus’ authority over nature, and his passion for the honour of God’s house. They also show us Jesus’ humanity in conceding to his mother’s wishes and blessing the young couple getting married, as well as his concern for those being charged in the temple for the opportunity to bring their sacrifice to the altar. John chooses these two events to underline Jesus’ power over creation; he was involved in it from the beginning. The cleansing of the temple indicates the confrontation there is going to be with the Jewish leaders who are ruled by the law of Moses whereas Jesus is bringing a Kingdom of grace and truth. The temple practise required those from outside of Israel to change their money to a different currency before animal sacrifices could be purchased. This is happening in the court of Gentiles. The temple is his father’s house and meant to be a place of prayer, Isaiah 56:7 speaks  of the temple as a House of Prayer for all nations not just the Israelites. The only place a non-Israeli can go to pray is being turned into a marketplace. Jesus is going to bring salvation to all peoples of the earth, not just the Jews.

This Kingdom can only fully come after Jesus’ death and resurrection, an event he alludes to in this passage. He knows what it will take to bring salvation to everyone who believes. Although many come to believe or trust Jesus, John tells us Jesus does not entrust himself to anyone, he knows what we are like.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

Lent Reflection Day 2, 6th March

March 6, 2025 /

John 1:29-51

In the previous passage John the Baptist made it plain that he was not the Messiah but the one preparing the way for him by baptising those who would repent. Here we see the first reference to Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God’, the one who will take away humanities sin. (There are echoes in this of Abraham’s sacrifice, the Day of Atonement, the Passover, the sin offering, and Isaiah’s suffering servant). There is only one way this can happen, and so we have the first indicator of Jesus’ death. John has baptised Jesus and seen the Holy Spirit descend upon him. Jesus is anointed for his ministry and so begins to call his disciples.

As two of John’s disciples follow Jesus, we find that one of them is Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. The brothers both follow, as does Philip who is from the same town. John 1:45 tells us they are already convinced of who Jesus is. Philip in turn tells Nathaniel who is doubtful until Jesus demonstrates his supernatural knowledge of him. Jesus promises they will see the Kingdom of heaven coming down on the ‘Son of Man’.

The fact that Andrew was already following John suggests that there is a searching for truth and a hope in them that draws them to Jesus. His person, his character, words and action reveal who he is. There has been no prophetic word in Israel for 400 years, they are living under Roman occupation, there is a longing for a rescuer, the Messiah, to come. They know what the scriptures say about the Messiah and are convinced he is the one.

The invitation of Jesus and Philip is to ‘come and see’. That’s what we will do over the next few weeks.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it.

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