Thoughts for the Day

Again he said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’ Then the Jews said, ‘Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ He said to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.’ They said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Many of us can see that the earth has a problem, our climate is changing. Heat that many have never felt before is scorching the earth and its people in countries like Australia and the USA, causing enormous wild fires. While countries accustomed to snow are finding that their glaciers are melting faster than any time since recorded history. Meanwhile other countries are experiencing flooding at an unprecedented scale. Most of us realise we are damaging our world and causing the climate to change. However, some people and some governments still refuse to believe what the scientists have long reported!

Something similar is happening with those opposed to Jesus. Despite all the 'signs' (that is, miracles) recorded in John's Gospel - from turning water into wine at Cana, to the healing of the royal official's son, and the feeding of the 5,000, his opponents refuse to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. When he declares "I am not of this world", they mock him assuming he is going to hell, and they have no intention of going there!

It is their sin that separates them from God. Despite this God loves the world that He created so much that He sent His Son to bridge the gap and rescue His people. Yet despite this there is wilful blindness. As the old saying goes "There is no-one so blind as those who cannot see." For those who accept Jesus as God's Son, they are offered freedom from that sin and a future life; for those who reject it there will be judgement. The responsibility lies in each person's hands.

Loving Lord Jesus,
may we not be complacent
that we have accepted Your call to follow You.
Teach us that this is a daily decision
to be retaken in the light of fresh choices
and temptations.
Keep us ever on Your path
and following in Your footsteps
we pray this day.
Amen.