Archive for 'Lent Challenge'

Friday, 14th April 2006

LC Day 39

John 17-19 in the Lent Challenge

Jesus’ love continues to amaze and confound me. This is no easy love, cuddly and clean. This is powerful, raw love; willing to be no matter the consequence. I suppose that’s what passion is all about. Thank You Lord.

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Thursday, 13th April 2006

LC Day 38

John 14-16 in the Lent Challenge

It was strange and actually quite hard to read today. Perhaps it was because I what’s coming tomorrow and being on the actual day of good friday it feels so much more real. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Coming straight after the passover meal and first communion, I can’t imagine how confusing it must have been for the disciples. “What do mean you’re going away and someone else is coming? Where are you going?  What will you be doing?  Who’s this other person?  Do we know them?”

Again love runs through everything Jesus says, “I love you, the Father loves you and I love the father.”.

I think 15: 13 sums it up for me “The greatest love a person can have is to die for his friends.”.

Looking towards tomorrow, that is a truly amazing statement.

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Wednesday, 12th April 2006

LC Day 37

John 12-13 in the Lent Challenge

“You must love each other as I have loved you.  All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.”. (13: 34,35 cev)

Jesus’ love simply blows me away. He says this just after Judas has left him to go and tell the Jewish leaders where to arrest Jesus.

All through the meal he has given Judas love and time to repent. He washes his and the other disciples feet, the work of the lowest servant and then gives Judas the place of the honoured guest at the passover table! Judas is the first to be served the Lamb sop (passover sandwich).  This amazes me everytime I read it, what love.

This is how we should love each other, that’s what I call a lent challenge!

(if you’d like to know more about the passover meal, please visit one of my other sites: http://whyeaster.com/story/supper.shtml)

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Wednesday, 12th April 2006

LC Day 36

John 9-11 in the Lent Challenge

I didn’t know what to comment on this yesterday, but after going to Spring Havest yesterday and seeing the drama, something really came to mind.

In 10: 9 Jesus talks about being the door, one of the bits in the drama said ‘if Jesus is the door, as the church are we the hinges that lets the door open or the lock that keeps thiose in ‘in’ and those out ‘out’.

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Friday, 7th April 2006

LC Day 33

John 3-4 in the Lent Challenge

John 3: 16 is such a familiar verse, but seeing it here in context really bought it alive for me.  The whole of ch3 is buzzing with excitment, the whole good news summed up in one chapter.

Jesus really went out on a limb in ch4.   Not only was it illegal for him, as a religious leader, to speak to a woman (!) but a Samaritan at that. Again he talks about water, not at a wedding this time, but at a well.  Water that comes like a spring to give eternal life.  Using something then and there, that she would understand to teach her about himself. He doesn’t ‘lord’ it over her, but tells her exactly what she needs to know.

He also knows her through and through, like he did Nathanael in ch1.  So he knows me just as well, and to be honest, that makes me somewhat uncomfortable.  There are bits of me I wish he didn’t know. I think John the bap sums it in 3:30, more of him and (much) less of me.

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