Daily ScriptureVery truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24)Daily ReflectionWhat a very simple farming image to understand: the grain of wheat needs to be planted in order to produce more grain. (If it’s left in a sack, it stays as just one grain.) Metaphorically, the seed of grain dies; it is then transformed, grows, and produces much more than one grain of wheat. Easy to understand.Jesus used these words as he was speaking to his disciples, trying to get them to understand why he must die. Suddenly this moves from a farming story to thinking about life and death…..and life once more! This is the kernel (if you’ll forgive the pun!) of what we are thinking about in Lent; of what we are preparing ourselves for in Holy Week, before celebrating the joy or the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Will Jesus’ death bear much fruit in you? Revd David
Daily ScriptureWho is like the Lord our God, that has his throne so high, yet humbles himself to behold the things of heaven and earth? (Psalm 113.5)Daily ReflectionJust nine months to Christmas! Today is the traditional Feast of the Annunciation, marking the time when the ‘ordinary’ girl Mary became pregnant with the extraordinary child who was to be a colossal figure in world history – the man who was lifted up on a cross, looking down with the eyes of God and offering forgiveness. The idea that God is powerful is familiar enough – here the focus is on the humility of God, God side by side with criminals, God in the cemetery, God with us wherever and whatever. “He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride. He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide.” (John Bunyan in The Pilgrim’s Progress) David Harmsworth
Daily ScriptureIs it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 1:12, 3:21-23)Daily Reflection These are verses of scripture read every day through this period of Passiontide; words from the book of Lamentations. That first verse will be so familiar if you enjoy Stainer’s “The Crucifixion”. They are words that should make us stop, turn, and look upon Jesus on the cross. (Read them again.) This is what Lent is about…. a time to stop and think about Jesus; what he did; why he did this; why God did this? And then…… the joyous hope, as we look beyond the act of crucifixion; as we begin to understand why God did this. He did it because of love. That love never ceases. God’s love for you never ceases. He just waits, quietly, patiently, for you to respond to His love. Tell God, right now, “I love you, Lord.”Revd David
Daily ScriptureFrom the Thanksgiving Prayer (Isaiah 53.3)‘As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, your only Son was lifted up the He might draw the whole world to Himself’Daily Reflection <span style="font-size: 1rem;">We are used to speaking of Jesus as 'light of the world', 'hope for our salvation', and other positive, uplifting phrases. Perhaps these are easy to believe when things are going well for us and life is good. But they aren't always that easy to believe when life takes a turn for the worse, are they? In this verse, we see a different depiction of Jesus - a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, loss and pain. Here is the human Jesus - the God who rolled up his sleeves and entered into the middle of all of our mess, the God who loved us all so much, that He wanted to be with us and draw us close to Him, whatever the cost. The wonder of the human Jesus, is that, in Him, we see a God who has walked in our shoes, who has experienced the joy and the pain of being human - a God we can relate to. Jesus, man of sorrows, gentle and accessible friend. As we enter Holy Week next week, let's take time to think of our Saviour, who has surely "borne our grief, and carried our sorrows and pain" with Him, all the way to the cross.</span> Vicki Young
