St Michael's Inveresk Church

20/03/2022

Sunday 20 March 2022
Reading: John 15:18-27 The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ The Work of the Holy Spirit 26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father-the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father-he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
REFLECTION We have spent the last six weeks looking at the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus. I hope we have discovered something new on that journey or maybe even rediscovered something long known but buried away somewhere in our memory banks that has resurfaced and challenged or comforted us afresh. I see this morning’s reading as one of those transition pieces, similar to that of a few weeks ago, when we looked at Jesus, ‘I am the gate’ and ‘I am the Good Shepherd’ readings. Jesus has laid it all out there over the last few weeks. He has spoken to crowds of people. He has spoken directly to his disciples. He has spoken to and challenged the religious leaders of the day. Last week Jesus made it very clear that by remaining in his love we will find a joy that is complete. He made it clear that he will give his life for us, his friends. The last verse said, ‘This is my command: love each other’. From there we move into this morning’s opening verse,‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hates me first’. Surely there are no greater conflicts within the human nature than these two things, to love and to hate. And yet how often do we witness this on our journey through life? People meet and get to know one another, a relationship is formed and eventually they fall in love. One major falling out and almost in an instant people fall out of love and into hate. We see it in families where sibling rivalry goes beyond having a competitive edge and degenerates into families falling apart and once where there was love for kith and kin there is unabridged hatred and denial of blood connections as family members disown each other. Across society we see hatred such as Jesus describes.People decide to hate one another. They choose elements of life and set these as parameters for hate. Those who follow Jesus will be hated simply for following him. There is no need to find out something of the person who is a disciple there is that one requirement, they are a disciple, let hatred begin. The entire reading throws up some of the deepest held polar opposites in this world. The very fact that Jesus sets up his kingdom as having the opposite view to this world. Those who choose whichever one will be different and because of that difference the followers of Jesus will be hated, as he was hated. This brings a whole host of opposites; there is the question about good and evil, about truth and falsehood, about light and dark. The whole evocative master and servant relationship is addressed. Remember last week, ‘I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends.’ Now Jesus says, ‘no servant is greater than his master’ this coming from the one who is the servant king. He tells his disciples this treatment comes about because the world does not recognise him. They do not recognise the one who sent him, therefor they hate the father also. Had Jesus not come among us and ministered to the people, had he not performed these miracles and healed the people, had he not spoken to them of the kingdom that was near and offered them the way of entry into it, then they could not be accused of rejecting the Son and the Father and now the disciples. It is here we come to that transition I mentioned earlier. On the surface the future all must have appeared quite dark and gloomy for the disciples being told that the future held persecution by and hatred from others within their own communities. Jesus tells them he will send the Counsellor, the comforter, the Holy Spirit. It will be for those who abide in the vine. This Counsellor will be the source of spiritual knowledge and strength to face what lies ahead. Through this comforter, sent by God the Father through God the Son will be the very source of joy and peace and love for those who remain in Christ. It will bring new birth into those who believe and it will dwell within them. God the Father is in heaven and has sent Jesus, God the Son, who will be returning there, but God the Holy Spirit will be with us forever, guiding and leading, teaching and empowering the people of God. We will pick up on the work of the Spirit next week when we move onto the next chapter of John’s Gospel and our journey through it.

13/03/2022

SEE YOU THERE!

Communications Church Re-Opening We are pleased to announce that Sunday Service will now resume per the following: St John's Whitecraig 9.30am St Michael's Inveresk 11am Click here for information on our Covid-19 restrictions and requirements Covid-19 Click here to read the ministers weekly reflecti...

13/03/2022

Sunday 15 March 2022 Reading John 15:1-17 15 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Reflection
We reach the last of the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus this morning. Most of you will be able to recognise the reading and probably associate the second half of it with Remembrance Day Services. This morning we will concentrate our thoughts on the first half and the true vine. It really is quite amazing that this is our reading this morning as it speaks of us being the branches of the vine that is Jesus. The baptismal family and I have been communicating through email since the beginning of January and today’s date was set for Isla’s baptism. At that time, we in St Michael’s were just beginning our journey through John’s Gospel none of us knew at that point where we would be on that journey. When I started to map out how I was going to lead us through the Gospel I did not know at the outset we would have this series on the ‘I am’ sayings. Then this morning Isla through her baptism is grafted into Christ and into the family of faith. As is the case so many times, God is at work in our situations long before we know it, and his plan becomes evident as he reveals his goodness to us. To have that sense that God knew this family would be with us here today from Canada and better still he knew what reading would be the most apt for this service. All of this ahead of me/us knowing how, where and when God had it all under control and was putting his plan into place through us. A week ago would have been too early and next week would have been too late. God had the timing in place all along. It reminds me so much of that beautiful reading from Ecclesiastes chapter three when it speaks of God setting a time for everything. And to our reading today. As I said last week, all of these ‘I am’ sayings strike home with the Jewish leaders. This reference to a vine is common language used by Old Testament prophets as they spoke of the people being God’s vine or vineyard. There is much written about bearing fruit and Jesus told parables of good fruit and bad fruit of yielding a crop or being barren. As any horticulturist will tell you a plant needs to be firmly rooted, it has to be watered and fed for growth to flourish in it. Here in our lives as the branches of the vine our roots are firmly placed with God, Jesus becomes the living water through whom we will never be thirsty again and the Holy Spirit is our feeding as it flows in us and through us. As we prayed at Isla’s baptism that the Holy Spirit would be upon us and the water in the baptismal font. Jesus says to remain in him and he will remain in us. Our journey through life is spent in relationship with him. As we continue to love him, obeying his ways and walking within them, we speak with and listen to him in our prayer time and we gather in times such as this to worship him and offer our thanksgiving to him. All of that really meaning, in simple, but not simplistic terms, that when remaining in Christ, we remain joined to him spiritually. We become one with him and part of him. Just as he continually tells the crowds who gather round him. Just as he tells those religious leaders who cannot understand him. He is one with the father, we are one with him. All of this speaks to me of the importance of regular gathering together as a community of faith. It speaks to me very powerfully of the importance of church and having a healthy church connected life. When we are baptised as an infant or adult, or when we come to faith in later years we become part of that believing community and part of the vine. Now like any branch that becomes disjointed from the plant it will wither and it will eventually die off. Our faith runs the same risk if we remove ourselves from regular contact with the worshipping community. Yes, sure it might last for a while but I think it has limited life time. Like beautiful cut flowers in a vase. When attached to the plant root these flowers will bloom for their full life cycle, when cut they must be watered for them to survive anytime at all but to sever them from their source and simply stand them in a dry vase is surely the worst thing for them. I think that is what is being said in verse five when Jesus says apart from him we can do nothing. When we cut ourselves off, when we become apart from him, then no more growth is possible. Thankfully that is not where this ends as Jesus also says that if we remain in him then all things are possible, life will continue. There is a common thread that runs through scripture when promises are made there are often conditions as well. In Matthew’s gospel, if we forgive others is the condition God will in turn forgive us is the promise. And in our reading just as in last week’s reading whatever we ask of the Father in the name of the Son it will be given to us. Remain in Christ is the condition, you will receive whatever you ask is the promise. All of this is to the Father’s glory when we show ourselves to be disciples of Christ. When Jesus says ‘remain in me’ we are to have the same spirit of Christ. Our mind and our will must at one with that of Jesus. As he lived for others, so too we live not for ourselves but for others. We are, as Isla was earlier, baptised into Christ and from that moment we belong to him, this is not a fear filled belonging to some oppressing, overpowering force, but rather a submission by us into the love and gentleness of God.

07/03/2022

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Reflection
How would you go about telling or writing the story of another person’s life? Would you like to concentrate on one aspect or would you rather try to cover a whole range of things? I have quite a few biographies and autobiographies on my book shelves and the range of people is quite something, biographies such as
Gyles Brandreth ‘Philip the final portrait’ to David Meikle ‘The Krays, the prison years’ and autobiographies ranging from David Jason ‘A Del of a life’ to Fern Britton ‘My story’. At the moment I am halfway through
Bob Mortimer’s ‘And away’. I suppose like most life stories there are absolute peaks and some very deep troughs to be journeyed through. In the main, the biographies I have centre on a specific time or incident
in the life of the person or people being written about. It may centre on personal family life, relationships with colleagues or the general public. When one time or aspect is chosen we do not get that fuller picture of a life lived. What we do get is a writing that clearly identifies a very specific window. The author somehow has to keep the reader captivated in the story and leave them wanting to read further and discover what happens next. This morning we once again are doing something a bit different, we are having a more recognisable traditional service. With a traditional order of service and singing traditional hymns. In the life of our congregation I think it is good to try new things and discover if new things work for us. The same is true across the church and as we all know it is true in our everyday lives. Different stages of the journey in life require us to re-evaluate that journey and our response to what is happening within it. Having said that I do think there is great merit in knowing who we are and, for want of a better expression, ‘what our default position is’ when we are challenged by life. As we have journeyed through the Gospel of John we have seen elements of that biographical writing. These ‘I am’ saying we are looking at just now revealing the width of who Jesus is and how interconnected; Father, Son and Holy Spirit of God is. And as we visited very early in this journey through John he states quite clearly in the final verse of the penultimate chapter his reason for writing the Gospel and maybe more importantly the message he wishes to convey in doing so. ‘These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.’ This may lead us to question if it is written as a biography on the life of Jesus, with all its historical references, or is written more as in legal terminology,
written as an argument for the accused. John is looking at the life of Jesus, writing after the other three gospels, and taking incidents at different times as a way of demonstrating to his readers that this Jesus is like no other man that has ever lived. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus saying ‘I am the way and the life’
just as with all the other ‘I am’ sayings is striking home with the Jewish leaders. Moses in the book of Genesis asks God, ‘when people ask your name what shall I say?’ God replies, ‘I am who I am.’ Tell the people, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ We enter our reading this morning following Jesus telling his disciples
he was going away. He has told them one among them will betray him. He has said that Peter, seen by many as their leader, would deny Jesus three times. All of this can only mean something awful is about to befall them. Jesus calms them as he says, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.’ Once again he binds himself to the Father. ‘You trust in God, then trust in me also.’ Even after Jesus description of what is going to happen we have the honesty of Thomas. When he doubts something he doesn’t just sit allowing things to fester away he speaks out, he says what he thinks, and even admits when he cannot think his way through
what he is being told by Jesus. ‘I am the way.’ Through his teaching, through his sacrificing, the way of heaven is open to all believers. ‘I am the truth.’ Many had led the people astray, many today, are still trying to do so, Jesus stands as the truth of God that offers salvation to us all. ‘I am the life.’ Jesus offers us life in all its fullness but more than that he himself is life. He is the eternal life. As we approach the end of the ‘I am’ sayings, with next week being the final one. What are we reading? What are we hearing?
What are we seeing? Jesus is showing us the way, he is teaching us truth, and he is giving life to every part of who we are. As a man who is approaching the indignity of being hung on a cross he says, ‘I am the way.’ As a man who is about to be condemned on the strength of the lies of men he says, ‘I am the truth.’
As a man who is about to be placed in a tomb for the dead he says, ‘I am the life.’ Jesus simply says to his disciples, ‘believe me, I will do what you ask in my name.’ The power of prayer has no limitations. We should not put limits on what can be achieved when we pray in the name of Jesus. Jesus answers our prayers that God may be given the glory that ought to be our basis for offering these prayers. It is not about self-glory or personal gain. Prayers offered in and through the name of Jesus reflect what lies within our heart and in the bigger picture of our lives. Just as I opened with biographies and autobiographies.
I close with reference to that in our prayer life. There are times when our prayers are biographical specific to a time or situation in life’s journey, revealing things that resonate with us. But our prayers are autobiographies because they are spoken by us about us and they say a great deal about the relationship we have with our God. Who is The way, the truth and the life.

27/02/2022

Reading John 11:17-31 Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
Reflection: I want us to try something different again this week. I want us to stop and reflect on our journey so far through those ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus. As I said last week there are times we tend to push on at a pace to get to the conclusion but never really stop along the journey’s path to reflect on what we already have before moving onto what comes next. Before the ‘I am’ reflections we read of Jesus meetings with Nicodemus and then the Samaritan woman. Jesus announced he was the living water and of him none would go thirsty again. In light of what is happening in Ukraine and may well spread across Europe I want us to take each of the sayings in turn and pause to reflect on them. As I introduce each of them we will pause in silence for our own thoughts. A moment of silence ‘I am the bread of life’. ’on him God the father has placed his seal of approval.’ To say God’s seal is upon Jesus is to state quite clearly he has come from God the Father. A moment of silence ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’. ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’ A moment of silence ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep’. ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.’ A moment of silence We are midpoint through these services. The first three have Jesus speaking very much about things of this world and attaching a deeper spiritual meaning to them. This morning there is something new. There is the death of a friend and the end to human life. There is pain and hurt and that sense of loss. There is the raising of the body and the direct statement from Jesus that those who die believing in him will never die. ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’

(“Hang it on the cross” By Lisa O. Engelhardt)
If you have a secret sorrow,
a burden or a loss.
An aching need for healing,
hang it on the cross.

Every obstacle to faith
or doubt you come across,
every prayer unanswered,
hang it on the cross.

If worry steels your sleep
and makes you turn and toss,
if your heart is feeling heavy,
hang it on the cross.

For Christ has borne our brokenness
and dearly paid the cost
to turn our trial to triumph,
hang it on the cross.

A moment of silence. A prayer for Ukraine.
Lord Jesus Christ in this dark hour across our continent we reflect on those ‘I Am’ sayings of Jesus and we ask that you here our prayers for the people of Ukraine. Those in the country itself, those who have had to flee their land and those who already live in other nations. For the basic things of life such as bread and water deprived of families Lord we pray. For light to shine upon this darkness that a nation may once again be free Lord we pray. For the gateway that leads to safety and a shepherd that will lead the people Lord we pray. For those who have lost their lives, for those loved ones who are holding deep pain in their hearts Lord we pray for resurrection and new life. Amen

Reading: John 11:32-44 NIV 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Reflection: Last week Jesus had left Galilee and journeyed up to Jerusalem before moving across the Jordan. This morning he leaves that area once more following the news of his friend Lazarus and moves to Bethany just outside Jerusalem. His disciples tried to talk him out of returning because of the high risk of being arrested. Jesus places this news of Lazarus above all care for himself and his safety. The household is that of his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This was a place where it appears Jesus felt more at home than anywhere else during his earthly ministry. The action of restoring life to a dead man in the immediate vicinity of the city of Jerusalem was an absolute guarantee the backlash would be swift and heavy. Those religious authorities would want to silence Jesus once and for all. According to them Jesus would either be an agent of the devil or a charlatan who was leading their people on a merry dance of fancy. Whatever way they sliced it, Jesus knew they would be out to get him from that moment. We see in Mary and Martha so much of what we witness when bereavement comes into our lives. In the first reading it is Martha who asks the question, ‘What if?’ Then in the second one Mary asks the same, ‘What if?’ We know these sisters from elsewhere in the gospels. We know they have different characters. One is a lady who likes to be busy and organising things and making preparations. The other is more studious and likes to sit and listen and ponder over things. Just like you and I, just like the families we all come from, related by blood and one in kin but very much separate individuals who respond with pain and hurt and questions when a loved one dies. They both have faith in Jesus, Martha knows God will give Jesus whatever he asks for. She is not rebuking him nor is she having a go at him. She is displaying her faith in amongst her confusion that she knows Jesus could have healed him had he been there. But then when Jesus goes to raise her brother Martha did not think it would be possible. Martha believed Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. Confusion and doubt surrounded in grief and misunderstanding. Mary gets up immediately and goes to him with all those same emotions playing havoc within her too. Why was Jesus so moved? He was about to raise Lazarus so it was not for himself he felt sorrow. Some would say it was because of the unbelief of those meant to be comforting the sisters that caused him hurt. Then others would say he knew that once this action was carried out and Lazarus was raised this would be the time for the authorities to make moves to arrest him. I wonder if it was the shepherd, the pastor, within Jesus that caused verse 35, ‘Jesus wept.’ the shortest verse in the Bible. His sorrow came about because of the pain his friends were feeling and the sorrow that, for now, was part of their lives. This raising of Lazarus is more than Jesus raising a family friend. Jesus is making this pledge to the people. Those who enter into life in Jesus enter into life eternal. Jesus says, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God.’ Those without faith would simply see the miracle of a man being raised from the dead. Those who believed would recognise the significance of the glory of God within the miracle. Once more as we come to the closing of the reading Jesus and the Father are shown to be together as one. As he thanked God he did so that others might hear him. Jesus once more displaying the work of the Father done through the Son. It was in the power of God that Lazarus was raised. Jesus did not work on his own without his Father and unlike other so-called wonderworkers Jesus was not in the business of self-glorification but gives the God the glory.