Blessed we are So that we can be a blessing.

2026  03  01  Lent 2 A

Genesis 12.1-4a Psalm 121   Romans 4.1-5, 13-17  John 3.1-17

“Father Abraham has many sons….”   This was the song I learnt when I was little.  Through it, I learned that Abraham is considered our father in the faith.  He is the father of all who live by faith.   I have recently returned from a holiday where I cruised to New Zealand.  Through this we met a variety of people, notably a ministering couple from Ohio.  They shared with us that their church has a core motto; “Love God.  Bless People”.  To make it clear what it means to love others, they used the word “Bless”.    Be a blessing to others.   Abram was called, and in him all the families of the earth were to be blessed.

 

God called Abram (at this stage God had not changed his name to Abraham), and gave him a very sure promise.  "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

 

The promise was to make of him a great nation and make his name great.   Did God keep his promise?  yes, his name is great and his nation is the nation of Israel….  Although it could be correctly noted that he was the father of the Arab tribes, the Edomites and many others also… but the nation through whom the promise of God was through, is Israel.   Abraham is most famously considered the father of those who have faith in God.  God spoke and Abraham believed what God said.  This is an important aspect in the story of Abraham’s life and through that faith and trust and belief in God, Abraham is considered to be righteous.  This important understanding about the Good News, is explained in the letter to the Romans.  Abraham was justified by his faith and not by his works.   He trusted in God.  Faith is not just about believing in God.  It is about trusting as well, and therefore, following what God says.

 

Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldeans.  Ur was THE main center for the worship of the moon god, Nanna - also known as Suen or Sin.  It is safe to say that Abram was well acquainted with this god.  When God called Abram, he was called to leave his country, his home and his family…. Not an easy thing to do, but also God was calling him to leave behind the religion that worshipped many gods.   Abram obeyed because he believed what God was telling him.  As we follow the story of Abraham we find that he had chosen to turn away from all other gods and serve the LORD.  We are told when Abram reached that land, he built an altar to the LORD.  It would be many years- many, many years before Abram would have a child.  Abram’s wife was barren.  Abram still remained faithful to God.  Many years of being separated from his homeland and family.  Many years of waiting to become a great nation and still no child.  Abram up and left all that he had known because God called him, but here he was living in what seemed to be exile and the promise was not fulfilled.  He passed through towns where he could well be murdered so that others could have his wife, who, as rumour would have it, was very beautiful. 

 

It was a treacherous time, and God was with him to save him and confirm his blessing on him, but still no child to fulfill the promise of the great nation.  Why I’m highlighting these tough times of Abram is because we are living in times that are tough.  We are a church hard pressed by legal and financial demands.  We are in a position where we wonder about our future.  There is a scripture verse that is quoted about us paying for the “sins of the fathers”, but this is actually only part of the scripture passage. It actually says in Exodus 20: 4-6 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”  The second and more important part of the scripture says that God shows love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.  We are recipients of his love and favour.

 

We too, are like Abraham.  We have been given a promise by God.  He will show love to the thousandth generation.   We have a hope and a future.  We, like Abraham, are always being called to leave behind the things that might ensnare us.  We are always being called to let go of any false gods that we’ve been inclined to trust in rather than trusting in God.  The people of Abrams home-town trusted in many gods – Abraham made a choice and he chose to believe the ONE God El Shaddai/ the Almighty…. then he put his faith into action.  We are always being called to let go of the sins of yesterday and walk into the promise of what God will do in our tomorrow.   God promised to make Abraham’s name great.  Why?  So that he would be a blessing.  The point of the promise was so that others could also be blessed.   The world is blessed through Abraham, because it is through him that Jesus came into the world.  Through him we are brought into the family of God.

 

In our Gospel reading Jesus tells Nicodemus that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  What he is referring to, is his crucifixion.  Through his death anyone who believes in him can have eternal life.  Eternal life is an amazing gift, and we receive it, not by anything we do to be “good enough” – because we can never in our own strength BE good enough.  However, simply by making a definite choice to believe God and by believing that God is who he says he is and knowing that he is Good and loves us, we are counted as the people of faith, and we like Abraham are considered righteous and acceptable to God.   Our challenge is always to get our lives to line up with our spiritual reality.  Our spiritual reality is that we are considered clothed in Christ through our baptism.  In other words, Christ has atoned for the sins of the world and God the father sees us as perfect and acceptable through him.  Yet, the fact is we fall even in our faith.  Even in our believing in God…. We doubt.   Last week our readings talked about Adam and Eve and how Satan planted doubt about God.  It was that doubt that led to the fall.  It was doubt that the devil tried to plant in Jesus’ mind when he said, “IF you are the son of God….” “IF” – it was a vain attempt to planted doubt about Jesus own identity. 

 

Our call is to BE the people of faith.  It is easy to be people of faith when all is going our way.  It is harder when things are not going well.  It is harder still when everything goes “pear-shaped”.   How hard was it for Abraham to believe in God’s promises of making him a great nation when his barren wife reached 90?   It is easy in those times to doubt.  Abraham didn’t know how God would make him into a great nation, but he continued to be trust God.

 

Nicodemus struggled to understand Jesus, because he had a cultural understanding about his world and the spiritual world.  What Jesus was telling him was new, about being born from above.  He had to let go of his prior understandings, to accept what Jesus was saying.  We are challenged likewise to let go “Other gods” that we are inclined to put our trust in, rather than God.  Our own efforts?  Our own intelligence?  Our own culture?  Are we accepting the worldview of those around us and becoming no different from our secular culture?  This is why God called Abraham to leave his country – so that he could be different and true to the living God, the LORD almighty.  No doubt, as the years without an heir went by, many would have said to Abram, “Did God really call you?”  The world around us would say to us “Did God really call you?”  “Is God really with you?”  It seems to me, through last week’s message, and this week’s, we are encouraged to remember that God loves us.  Remembering this is important so that we don’t fall for the devil’s lies. 

 

"Hosanna" is a word we hear, mostly when we read about Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the word of praise, but the  Hebrew phrase hôšîʿâ-nā means "save, I pray" or "save now". It is a plea for help that became a shout of praise.  It is the praise we give God expectantly sure of His deliverance before the battle has even begun.  It is the image of the small shepherd boy David declaring his trust in God as he stands before Goliath. Be encouraged to stand firm in times that are tough and, like Abram, answer God’s call – We chose God, the LORD almighty.  We are his and we are in his hands.  God has chosen us and has called us to be blessed  - and blessed we will be, because he wants us to be a blessing to our world. Hosanna!

The first commandment ! Lent 1 A 22nd Feb 2026

 

2026 02  22 Lent 1 year A

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7   Romans 5:12-21   Matthew 4:1-11   Psalm 32

 

I’m often amused at how many non-church going people will tell you that they are pretty good because they are law-abiding people who keep the Ten Commandments.  What amuses me about this is that they have no idea of the first and most important command.  To love God and have no other God’s before him.   I mention this because it is central to our readings today.

 

Speaking of laws, did you notice the extent of freedom enjoyed by Adam and Eve in our first reading?  Adam was free to eat of every tree in the garden, but one.  We may have the Ten Commandments, but Adam and Eve only had one!  Also, perhaps of note, just to balance the blame that woman gets for the fall, this command was given to the Man before there WAS any woman.  However, have you ever considered the freedom enjoyed by Adam and Eve?

 

From the very beginning, Adam and Eve were free.  God created us to be free, and He gave us free will.  Death was not initially part of our reality, and you might have missed the fact that in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve could freely eat from the tree of life.  That all changed when they followed the advice of the serpent and God exiled them from the garden of Eden. 

 

Adam and Eve disobeyed God, but why….?  What could have been so tantalizing that they would risk death?  Firstly, the fruit looked good for food.  Notice how this is echoed in the temptation of Jesus in the desert.  He was first tempted with food… this was at a time when Jesus was hungry – very hungry and a very real temptation.  But Jesus does not sin.  He answers by quoting spiritual truth that emphasizes the will of God and trust in God. 

 

We are told that Eve considered the fruit desirable for making her wise.  Many scripture verses encourage us to aspire to be wise but also advise that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  God is first and foremost and His ways are truth and life.  Was it wise to eat from a tree that God said would cause your death?  To accept that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, means to have a humility towards God.  It means we defer to God’s wisdom, rather than our own and we trust in what HE says….. God says, “Don’t eat that fruit”, we accept that God knows what is best for us and we don’t.  We might think this was simple and foolish of Adam and Eve, but do we still do the same?  Are there aspects of our life, where God’s direction is different from our actions?

 

The second and third temptations of Jesus in the desert have been suggested to be about pride and about authority and power.  Jesus knew he was the Son of God – THE son of God.  He knew his importance, but he humbly submitted to the will of the father - always– even to the cross.

 

The third temptation of Christ was where Jesus was offered all power and authority by bowing down to Satan, to which Christ answers with our familiar commandment to worship God alone and serve him only.

 

Although there were three temptations described as happening to Jesus in the desert, they are all essentially about the same thing…. They are all about that first commandment – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.   It is about allegiance.  Which side would Jesus choose?  God or the Devil?  Jesus was faithful to God – three times – therefore the matter is well and truly settled.

 

The serpent had told Eve that God lied to them.  They wouldn’t really die but would be like God.  All they had to do was eat the fruit…. All they had to do was not obey God…. All they had to do was to obey the serpent.

Adam and Eve took a side.  There was Satan on one side and God on the other.  In eating that fruit, they took the side of Satan.

 

Many people in the world around us today, don’t trust in God.  They might hear about God or read parts of the Bible and decide that God is lying to them.  And we all know those people – we’ve come across these people.  But here is where the rubber hits the road…. Sometimes those people are us.  When we know what God wants us to do, but we don’t do it, or anytime we put ourselves before God and anytime we make a judgement about what is good or bad, rather than deferring to what God tells us, then we are eating that fruit all over again…. We are taking a side – and it isn’t the side of faith.  And we ALL do this.  Even with our best intentions…. Sadly.  Sin entered the world through Adam, but we all bear his image, and sin is passed on as though part of our DNA.  Now, we need a saviour!

 

In the desert Jesus faced the same temptation as Adam and Eve, but he didn’t fall, he continues to reverence God the father and submit to his will – three times he was tested – which means the matter was confirmed and absolute.  Jesus, standing true to God the father in this time of testing, demonstrates his role in reversing the disobedience in the Garden of Eden.

 

The temptation was ultimately about being “God” – having the power and authority and wisdom of God and being our own God and therefore, not needing God.  Therefore, choosing the way of Satan.  Adam and Eve were enticed to doubt God.  They were enticed to be their own God.   They were enticed to disobey God.  The consequence was death.  Without God’s spirit and presence, and without access to the tree of life, they began to die physically.   Death entered the world and reigned ever after – Then Jesus rose from the dead, proving that he had power over the grave, and he brought about something new…  the opportunity for redemption.

 

We, like God, are triune beings.  We have a body, soul and spirit.   The consequence of sin was death… physical death eventually, but spiritual death through being separated from God’s spirit.  Often people see this time of Lent as being the big build up and preparation time for Easter, with it’s culmination being resurrection Sunday.  But those apostles, after experiencing the resurrection, did very little, even after seeing the risen Christ, until they received the Holy Spirit.

 

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit.  It wasn’t an optional extra.  The Holy Spirit is vital.  The story of the salvation we have through Christ is not finished until we have experienced Pentecost.  Someone once said it this way, “Jesus did not come to die for your sin” – and that sounded like heresy – because Jesus did die to atone for sin– he died as the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world…  but the speaker went on to explain.  “Jesus came to bring you life!” 

 

Yes, Jesus brings us eternal life through dying to atone for the sins of the world, but that life – the abundant God type life -  is what comes through the Holy Spirit.  God desires for us to be truly alive.  His desire is to be in communion with us… to have us walk with him just as Adam and Eve did in the beginning, but better, because we have already chosen a side… through our baptism into Christ we are considered to have chosen the side of faith.

 

Our journey today begins with understanding that Adam and Eve fell, and we all do the same.  We come before God in humility knowing that we have also questioned God, not followed His call and by doubting God, we’ve unwittingly given allegiance to one who tempts and lies to us.  In acknowledging this, we turn back to God. 

 

Romans tells us; “If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”  This is the Good News.  Our unity with Jesus, who didn’t fall for the temptation, means that we have life – abundant, spirit-filled life!  Grace, eternal life and unity with God is the free gift of God, which is ours through Christ Jesus.

 

Lent is a time of consecration, where we commit our lives to God.  We know our weaknesses, but we don’t rely on our own resolve and efforts. …. Instead, we know that our life is assured through our unity with Christ.  However, we take this time to focus on prayer and fasting, as we acknowledge the reality that we are not as law abiding as we wish we were…. We do fall… often... but in this time, we remind ourselves that we continue to choose God.  We, through the gift of Jesus, are absolutely the people of God.  It is who we are and who we always choose to be.  We choose the way of faith.

WHERE ARE WE GOING? Australia Day and Epiphany 3 25th 01 2026

 2026  01  25  Epiphany 3 plus Australia Day.

Deuteronomy 8:5-14 – AUS DAY

Isaiah 9:1-4     Psalm 27:1, 4-9      1 Corinthians 1:10-18      Matthew 4:12-23

 

I have some questions to ask; Do you know where you are going…? Do you know where you’ve been?  Today we ponder the lives of some fishermen, who, as Jewish men, were connected to a great history of faith, but whose lives had an eternal destiny and an impact that would cause their names to be known by most of the world for all generations to come.  These men were called by Jesus and they could have said, “No”, but instead there, “Yes” was so enthusiastic that they immediately left their form life and followed Jesus. 

 

These questions about history and future are good things to think about at the start of a new year.  Do you see where you’ve been and do you know where you are going?  As we gather on Australia Day weekend we can reflect on these questions for our country.    Our country has a history - a story, and our country has a faith story.  God, most certainly, has a vision for our nation. 

 

In 1606 Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, claimed Australia as the "Great Southland of the Holy Spirit".  He thought he was on Australia, but was actually on Vanuatu.  Never the less, he claimed the surrounding lands, stretching to the South Pole, as "Tierra Australis del Espíritu Santo" (The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit).  I guess if Pedro had stuck around we might all be speaking Spanish.  But he left and others came.  Obviously, this is just one tiny part of our Country’s story. 

 

We, as the children of God, reflect on the past with an understanding that we have a responsibility and call as God’s children, to be stewards in our country and to intercede – pray and take action, so that it has a good future.  We always have the free will to answer that call or not.  But learn from the Ancient Israelites who chose not to answer that call – they were taken into exile and scattered so that for many years there was no nation. 

 

Last week we saw that St. Peter received a new identity.  Through his call from God he became Peter, but he had been Simon.  Through his interaction with Jesus, we reflected on our own identity and how we might be Simon-ish – or Niki-ish, but we are called to be something more.  Through our baptism, God’s hand is on us, just as it was on Simon, who became Peter – Rock solid in his understanding of who he was in God.  

 

Last week we pondered, “Who am I?”  This week, now that we know we have an identity in God, we focus on the next part of our great adventure in faith – “Where am I going”?    - in other words; our calling.

 

We are in the season of Epiphany, the season where it is realized that Jesus came, not just for the Jew, but also for the Non-Jew – or Gentile.  This is highlighted in our readings today, by the fact that Jesus left where he was ministering and went to “Galilee of the Gentiles”.  This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says…  ‘”… He will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations”  - of the nations refers to the Gentiles.

 

In the time of Jesus, Galilee was a place where there were Jewish towns, but also many Gentile towns.  It was ethnically diverse.  Both in the prophecy and in the actions of Jesus ministering in Galilee, God revealed that He is concerned for everyone.  Jesus showed that God’s gifts and calling were not just for the chosen nation, but through that chosen nation, all nations would be blessed.

 

All nations will be blessed.  That includes the nation of Australia.  The scripture verse from Deuteronomy says;  “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills;”.  The verse is speaking to the Israelites when God was about to bring them into their land, promised to them by God.  It was a good land, and it was a gift from God.  But there was an exhortation to remember God; “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.”

 

Every nation will be blessed because the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross is for everyone.  His exhortation to love our neighbours as ourselves and his call to live following his example of sacrificial love is the way to a society that would be Heaven on earth – but we are still falling short… very short.  Thankfully God is gracious to us still.  St. Paul also encourages all to “play nice”, when he tells the church, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose.”

 

The same mind and the same purpose….  Sounds like pie in the sky.  Yet it is to this we are called.   Mother Theresa is famous for saying, “Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other–that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbour, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?”

 

The same mind and the same purpose to which we are called is our calling in Christ.  It is the mind and purpose of Christ with which we need to become acquainted…. More than merely acquainted!  Saint Paul talks about the divisions in the church where some follow Peter and some Paul etc…  much like the divisions within our denominations, unfortunately not much has changed in 2000 years.

 

We will always have differences, and those differences are actually good.  The scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit teaches us.  There will be differences because WE are all different – but these things should not divide us.  We all belong to God.  We all need to seek the mind and the purpose of God.  To this purpose we are called.

 

Last week we read about the first disciples who went to follow Jesus.  They sought Jesus out.  The interactions were personal and we were told of the interaction where Simon became Peter.  The interaction caused Peter to understand something new – something of his identity in God.  This week we have a later account that emphasises that Jesus, who already knew them personally, sought out and called these men to a specific purpose.  These men already knew Jesus.  They already identified with him.  Now they were called by him to be about his business.  To do this, was not like getting a job description and hopping to it.  To do the work of Jesus they would need to have his mind and purpose.  We too are called to know that we have an identity in God.  And we too are called to have the mind of Christ and be about His purpose.

 

I am, you are… we are Australian!  But what is our purpose here?  No matter who we are and where we come from, there is a much deeper connection between us all, when we know, as Mother Theresa says, that we belong to each other.  And of course, the reason that we belong to each other is because we belong to God.  We are the children of God and as such, we are called by him to have his mind and be about His purpose.

 

We are one, but we are many.  There is a music term called harmony where two or more different notes are played at the same time, and it makes a beautiful sound.  This is the best example of the freedom we have in Christ and yet the one-ness.  God didn’t make us to be clones, but in all our differences and uniqueness we ARE all called to have HIS mind and be about HIS purpose.    

It isn’t just the fishermen who were given a calling.  We too are called, but we too have free will.  What of our country?  There is a calling for our country also.  Whether it is for our own personal life, our family, our town, state or country, Jesus calls us to follow him.  Not just on Sunday or in our spare time.  Come and follow me…. Leave your nets – Those fishermen didn’t stop being fishermen, but they left them to follow Jesus.  Jesus is first and foremost.  We are all called to leave our nets in the same way and follow Jesus.  Through him this world was made.  Where are you going?  The message from Jesus this day is to Leave your nets and, first and foremost, follow Him who is the life, the truth and the way. 

What's in a name.... What's in a call...?? Epiphany 2A 18th Jan 2026

2026  01  18  Epiphany 2

Isaiah 49.1-7 Psalm 40.1-14 1 Corinthians 1.1-9 John 1.29-42

 

Who am I?  Is this something you’ve ever pondered?  As I look at the modern trends where absolutely everything is encouraged to be questioned, especially among our young people, I’m not in any way surprised by the rise of mental health issues and depression.

 

Research confirms that the issue of identity is at the core of the rise in depression, and certainly, a lack of a sense of identity is linked to an increased risk and severity of depression.

 

I strongly believe the solution is here in understanding who God is and what is our identity in Christ.  We plan to study this more, this year in our Bible study, but this week’s readings also have something to say about identity.  Sometimes it might appear somewhat mysterious, but let’s look at it and discover what God says about us.

 

Before we do; my little aside is that; we can develop a sense of identity apart from God, but I believe that all apart from God is arbitrary and fallible.  When we lose our health, for example, or financial status etc… we can lose our sense of identity.  However, when we know who we are in God – nothing can sway or change that identity.

 

Therefore, here is some really great news, and it starts right from our first reading where the prophet Isaiah makes it clear that God knows us and has a call on our lives from before we were born.  There is identity 101!   

 

Isaiah’s prophecy is a typical prophecy in that there are numerous levels of meaning.  The word of God is sometimes described as being like a multi-faceted diamond, with multiple facets of fulfilment.  Isaiah’s prophecy is talking about the Messiah, but at some points it is also talking about Isaiah himself.  Then we notice that the prophecy is speaking of the nation of Israel.  As we learn about how God is so involved in the lives of his nation and His people, Israel, we glimpse that God also personally knew each of us and calls us each to his purpose as well.

 

What do you want?  What do you want from God?  John the Baptist had testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God – a somewhat mysterious statement indicating a lot from a Jewish perspective.  They knew that it was a lamb – a perfect lamb that was used to sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.  The lamb of God indicated the sacrifice that Jesus would make to take away sin.  Some of those who followed John turned to follow Jesus.  Why?  What did they want?  Jesus asked them this question and they answered with another question, “Where are you staying?”  By asking this they were saying that they wanted to be his students.  These men were so committed to the Kingdom of God that they were willing to go and stay with Jesus so that they could learn about God.

 

To be a disciple means to be a learner.  This is what was happening here.  We are also disciples of Jesus, we are learners.  The learners stayed where Jesus stayed because that was the way to learn from a Rabbi.  They didn’t just learn from what he said, but they learnt from all that he did.  They learnt or aimed to learn to do all that he did.  This is how we are meant to be as followers of Christ also.

 

What’s in a name?  This week we are introduced to Saint Peter, but he wasn’t always known by that name.  He was simply, Simon.  

 

Jesus looks at Simon and then does something that we, English speaking readers miss.  In our English version the text says, “you are Simon, son of John.”  In the Hebrew Jesus addresses him as, “Simon, bar- Jonah.   As I was reading the text it struck me as an odd way to address Simon, therefore I did a little research.  Do you recall anyone else named Jonah?  Jonah was called to preach to the Ninevites and he tried to run away.  In doing so he boarded a ship and a great storm arose, which immediately stopped when Jonah was thrown into the sea.  Jonah was then swallowed by a whale and then spat up on the beach.  The incident is a prophecy of Jesus’ three days in the belly of the earth.  In the Gospel of Matthew, 12:39 Jesus says, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah,”.   When Jesus refers to Peter with his full name, he is prophetically connecting him to the sign of Jonah, indicating that Peter will see this sign.  

 

But what about this change from Simon to Peter?  What is in a name?

 

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me….” Well, I might suggest, we all know that names and labels can hurt – but they can hurt a whole lot less when we have a name that is sure and connected with our destiny….  Our destiny, which is a hope and a future, such as a future that God secures for us.  Evidence of this we see in all of those in the early church.  In reflection, I suspect, we in the present day church have lost this edge… this courage and conviction…. Perhaps we also need a name change…  we are simon-ish.

 

The name, Simon, is often theologically connected with being a reed and swayed in the breeze according to which ever way it blows.  However, the name Simon is more accurately defined as being heard or listening.   Perhaps too much is made of what Simon does or does not mean.  The important aspect of our reading today is that, from an encounter with Jesus, Simon is given a new name, and his destiny becomes connected with the call of God on his life.

 

In the book of Revelation there is a mysterious verse about names. Revelation 2:17says this ;  “… To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” 

 

When we are born and named by our family, it shows us and all who witness it that we belong.  We have a history and a future associated with our name.  At our Baptism, especially if we were baptised as an infant, the name our family have given us is stated and we are named and claimed as also belonging to God.  This is a prophetic sign of what God does…. He names us and claims us. 

 

Last week we heard that God the father said to Jesus, “This is my beloved, in whom I’m well pleased”.  Jesus was claimed as the Son of God.  We noted that the baptism of Jesus wasn’t for the forgiveness of sins, but a commitment to the kingdom of God.  However, we are baptised into Jesus, through whom we do have our sins forgiven.  He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Through our baptism we identify with Jesus.  It is in our baptism that we die with Christ and rise with Christ.  When God the father looks at us he sees his perfect son.  A new name that we all receive from God is the name “Jesus”. 

 

The name of “Jesus” for each of us, means that we are clothed in Christ.  The sacrifice of Jesus atones for sin and cleanses us.  St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addresses a people who are described as being sanctified in Christ.  By Christ we are cleansed and made holy.  This is what sanctified means.  This is what it means to call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and to receive his name.

 

An important difference in the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Jesus is that John testifies that he, John, baptises with water so that Jesus, the Messiah might be revealed.  He goes on to explain that Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit.  The baptism that Jesus gives, baptising into or with the Holy Spirit is far superior.  It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us.  It is through the Holy Spirit ever with us, that we even now have eternal life.

 

Jesus gives us his name and all who believe in him become the children of God.  We are forever connected to God and we are grafted into the family of faith – grafted into the family of Abraham – grafted into Israel – saved by the Lion of Judah.  Being part of this family gives us a deep, deep connection with the past.  Our story is connection with the creation of the universe.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the good news of salvation, we are assured of a glorious future.  We are called and chosen right now.  God knew us and called us from the time we were in our mother’s womb.  We have a purpose in the present.  This is a place of identity that is rock solid.  I guess, to some extent, we are all called from being Simon to grow into the future and become Peter – Rock solid in the certainty of who we are in God.

 

We all need a Simon/ Peter encounter with God.   In this name change, Peter is connected with all the great people of the Bible who God called and altered their name.  None of them were without fault or even became perfect, but their lives would never be the same, as they were forever committed to walking with God, connected to the call and love of God.

The Baptism of Jesus - 11th Jan 2026

2026  01  11 Baptism of our Lord Year A

• Isaiah 42:1-9    Psalm 29   Acts 10:34-43   Matthew 3:13-17

What do you imagine when you hear about John the Baptist?  His whole life was so invested in baptizing people that he became known as, “John the Baptist”.   He called people to repent, for the Kingdom of God was at hand.  John knew that the Kingdom of God was at hand because his own birth was a miracle, surrounded by miracles and he was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was still in his mother’s womb and it was him, as an unborn babe, that leapt for joy while still in his mother’s womb, when Mary greeted his mother, Elizabeth.   John knew that the Kingdom of God – the coming time of the Messiah was here.  His job was to prepare the way, and he did this by telling people, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. 

 

In our culture, “Repent” is generally understood to mean, “be remorseful and sorry for your sin, turn to God and dramatically change your life”.   Although this can happen, it isn’t exactly the original understanding.  For a start, it is important to understand that John could not forgive anyone their sins.  Being baptized by John, did not mean having your sins washed away – he did not have that power – no one did – or does.  The only way to have sins forgiven was for Jesus to be crucified and pay the spiritual price for sin.  There is no other way.

 

It seems cruel that Jesus had to die for us, and we don’t fully understand how it all works, but we are told by scripture that because we have all fallen by turning from God, God respects our choice and our free will, and it means that we are no longer belonging to God.  Originally, when God created mankind, we had an eternal Spirit.  But it was connected to God – and the connection was broken by turning away from God.  The spiritual price for sin is death –– not just physical death, but spiritual death It wasn’t so much a punishment, but simply a consequence.  The only one who could redeem us – pay the price and restore us, was Jesus, who was God and without sin, paying for us- Dying for us.

 

So, it is important that we keep in mind that these people who were coming to John, responding to his message, were not going away cleansed of their sin.  What was happening was that they were responding to John’s message that the Kingdom of God was imminent – and they were committing themselves to be part of that Kingdom.  In order to be part of the Kingdom, they stepped down into the river, figuratively out of the darkness and into the light and into the promises of God.  The word, “Repent”, means “Change your mind/heart”.  

 

Jesus came to John to be baptized and from our perspective we think, why would Jesus need to repent of his sin?  Jesus didn’t have any sin in him, as we know, yet what was happening here is that Jesus was also making a commitment to step into the Kingdom of God.   It was a public declaration that he was committed to the Kingdom of God.  From that time on, Jesus’ life was to take on an even more focused direction.  He had come to us to achieve a purpose, and by this baptism, he confirmed his direction and showed all his intention. 

 

An important aspect that we might miss in these readings is that in Matthew 3:17, where we read, “this is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”,  it is actually the same quote as the famous Isaiah reading that we began with today, which says; “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”  Slightly different words, but the same message.  This is an absolute confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus is the one who was promised and prophesied about all those hundreds of years before he was born. 

 

At the Baptism of Jesus, God was making some things abundantly clear.  At the time, perhaps it was only glimpsed that God’s hand was on him, but when we understand that God’s message, at that time was re-stating his word to Isaiah, we can look at Isaiah’s message and know some more about Jesus and his role as Messiah.  Following on from last week’s celebration of the Epiphany, which celebrate’s that God’s salvation is for all the people, that the Messiah was to come to save the Gentile – or non Jew as well, this first sentence from Isaiah also confirms that this was God’s intent from the beginning.  Note that phrase, “for all the nations”.  It means for all the Gentile – non Jew people.  In the original language; the Messiah (or Christ) brings divine “Mishpat”  - which is God’s justice or righteousness to the “Goyim”, meaning Gentiles or nations.

 

Isaiah’s prophecy tells us, “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.”  When Jesus began his ministry, he did not seem to be dimly lit or a bruised reed….  But then he was crucified.  It wasn’t the end because he rose from the dead, being witnessed by more than 500 people, we are told elsewhere in the Bible.  Jesus, in his life, death and resurrection accomplished God’s justice and righteousness.  He lived a life perfectly in complete submission to God and that role was only complete by being obedient all the way through his suffering of the whips, false accusations, and finally the nails and death on the cross.  Through all this, he completely submitted obediently to God’s will. 

 

We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  That one baptism is Christ’s baptism into all the sin of the world which he bore on the cross.  He identified with us and took it all to the cross.  When we are baptised, we identify with Jesus and accept his making us righteous – right in God’s eyes…. He brings justice to the world because justice demanded that we pay for our disobedience to God, and Jesus paid that price for us.

 

Our baptism is different to the baptism that those people experienced who were baptised by John.  They responded to his message and committed to setting their hearts on God, but they couldn’t be forgiven for their sins.  Our baptism is greater, because we are baptised into Jesus.  Through our baptism we are also called to repent, just as they were, and set our hearts on God, but our baptism is about being identified with Christ.  The scriptures talk about being clothed in Christ.  Through our baptism we take on the identity of Christ.  Through that identity alone, we are cleansed from sin.  St. Peter tells us in our reading; “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."   St. John’s Gospel spells it out, that through that identity, all who did receive Jesus Christ, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God!  Through our baptism, which is our commitment to continue to identify with Christ, we become “Born of the Spirit”…  We receive something new – the Spirit of God…. The Holy Spirit.  God lives in you and me, and that Holy Spirit brings us to life spiritually.   Without the intervention of Jesus there was a part of us that was not alive…. Our spirit.  It died in the garden of Eden, and since then it is only through God’s gift, that we can have eternal life.  Jesus brought us that life and our eternal life begins from that moment that we identify with him.  

 

Life is still hard.  But we continue to identify with Jesus because through him we have eternal life and that life is absolutely secure.  John the Baptist became known as such because he committed his life to his role in God’s plan.  We are also called to a new identity in Christ.  Are we so committed to that new identity that people know us as belonging to Christ?  We are called to be so…  called to be doing the good works that Jesus wants done in this world.  We are human and always fall short, but rest assured, because we identify with Jesus, even though we are far from perfect, God the father sees us and says of us, “This is my beloved, of whom I am well pleased.”

Lord, we need an Epiphany! Feast of the Epiphany 4th Jan 2026

2026   04 -  Epiphany Year A

·        Isaiah 60:1-6  Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14  Ephesians 3:1-12   Matthew 2:1-12

 

I feel like today’s readings are good ones to pray through.  Especially the Psalm; “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.  May he judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice.  May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.  May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.”  Leading in difficult times needs prayer support.

 

That word JUSTICE is an important one.  When we are wronged, we cry out for justice.  When we have done wrong, we cry out for mercy.  Fortunately, our God is both and He is the King that we need.  At Christmas, this is the kind of King who was born and placed in the manger.  This is the kind of King that Jesus is – he is a King of Justice, and he is an advocate for the poor and the vulnerable.  He is both – Just and merciful.

 

We start our readings with a glorious prophecy; “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.  Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”   Notice that we are continuing this theme of light and darkness – the theme of Advent and Christmas where the light of the world stepped down into darkness.  In particular, notice that it is a thick darkness covering the peoples.  This “word from God” was a prophecy for the Israelite people of that time, also for the coming time of the Messiah and it is for Christ’s coming again.  It is NOW a prophecy for you and me! The people are covered in thick darkness – They can’t comprehend the Good News or see it -   BUT ARISE!  We are people of the light and the nations need this light.

 

In the days of Isaiah the prophet, the Jews were constantly being oppressed by the nations around them, and then, they were under Roman rule at the time of Christ’s birth.  The prophecy acknowledges that there is a darkness, but the hope declared by the prophecy is that the LORD will arise and then Nations shall come to the light… 

 

Gold and Frankincense and myrrh; gifts from the visit of the Magi, represents the nations that came to honour Christ, and those Magi were a sign of Gods plan – the mystery, now revealed, is that Christ came for all people – not just the Jew.  The honour given by the Magi showed what was to come with the message of the Gospel coming to all the world, where Christ would be honoured by many. 

 

These Magi were wise men from the East, looking for "the child who was born king of the Jews. They observed his star in the east and came to pay him homage.  These learned men saw a particular star and knew what it meant, yet Jesus’ own people missed it.  How did the Magi know to even look for Jesus, and why was it so important to them?

 

It is believed that the Magi were people who studied the stars.  How they knew to look for the “King of the Jews” is a mystery that is most likely solved when we realize a little of the Jewish history. The King of Babylon rose up to power in about 605 BC, and took the King of Judah into exile.  He also ordered that some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility to come into his service  - particularly he was looking for the best and brightest, and in doing so, Daniel – the same Daniel who wrote the Book of Daniel in our Bible, was brought in to serve the king.  Daniel proved to be quite brilliant and was put in charge of the other wise men, and the wise men were known as Magi.

 

Daniel was not only brilliant, but he was a prophet, and God gave him details about just when the Messiah would come and even when the Messiah would die. Most of us would look at the prophecy and scratch our head.  However, after the King of Babylon fell, the area was controlled by the Persians.  It is believed that Daniel and the Persians and probably other nations also, all studied and shared learnings together.  This means that the prophecy about the Messiah was known to the “wise men” the Magi, and it is assumed that the knowledge was passed down through the years to other Magi.

 

The Magi knew a lot, but not everything.  They noticed a star.  Many have surmised what this could have been and have suggested such things as supernovas, comets or conjunctions.  Apparently, there were some rare astronomical occurrences around the time of Jesus birth, but we really can’t know for sure, what the Magi were noticing.  We do know, that whatever it was, it is led them to journey to find the Messiah.

 

The Jewish experts were well acquainted with the prophecies about the Messiah, and they were able to tell Herod and the Magi exactly where the Messiah would be born.  They quoted from the prophet Micah, 5:2, “'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

 

Bethlehem was a town that belonged to the tribe of Judah and was the birthplace of King David, the great King described as being a man after God’s own heart, who wrote most of the psalms, and who was the ancestor of Jesus…. Coincidently, Bethlehem means “house of bread” – and Jesus said, “I am the bread of Life”.

 

Here is the thing that is really quite significant; these non-Jewish outsiders, went out of their way to seek for Jesus, but his own people, who also knew the prophecy and the times, and then had this extra information from the Magi, seemed to miss it.   

 

The Magi travelled to find Jesus.  It was revealed to them that this was no ordinary baby.  This was the Messiah, and they gave Frankincense, signifying the deity of Jesus.  They knew the prophecy and that the Messiah would die, and they gave Myrrh, the ointment for embalming.  They also knew that this was the King of the Jews, and they brought the gift you give a king – gold.

 

The online dictionary gives two definitions for Epiphany:  1- the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi  - outsiders – non Jews.

2. - a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

We celebrate this feast of the Epiphany as the revelation – the epiphany- that Jesus came as messiah and saviour for ALL people - including the Gentiles.  That is, salvation is for the Jew and the non–Jew.  In other words, Jesus came for them – and us.  From the nation of Israel, God gives His greatest gift…  a frail baby is born who is Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… Jesus.

 

In the letter to the Ephesians, we read; “the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  And we are told that this was God’s plan all along.   Galatians 3:28 makes it very clear, as it says;  ^“ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.  In Jesus, there is true equality, and we are united through him – part of the one body.

 

The Jewish people were seen as a separate people who were particular about things like what they ate and keeping holy the sabbath.  These people were (and mostly still are) waiting for the promised Messiah.  Although be sure to note that first Christian church was the Jewish people.  Traditionally they believed that the Messiah was someone who would set them free and put all things right.  They didn’t realize that He would do this for everyone who calls on his name.  Even the disciples of Jesus didn’t completely understand what Jesus was to accomplish.  It was written in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis; Genesis 12:3: "and in you (speaking of Abraham) all the families of the earth shall be blessed". It was always the plan of God to bring all people into his family.

 

We are told in the letter to the Ephesians that this inclusion of all, this joining of the Jew and the Gentile into one body, is a witness to the spiritual powers and authorities as to the wisdom of God.  Is it any wonder that this unity is constantly being attacked.  The Jew and the Gentile (non-Jew)….  The male and the female… the slave and the free…  All one through the sacrifice of Jesus who has died to redeem both the one and the other.

 

Many Jews, at the time of Jesus birth, death and resurrection, missed that he was the Messiah.  This shows us that you can know all the prophecies and stories and pray to God and yet miss something as significant as this!  What is it that makes the difference?  Why did those outsiders respond, when Jesus own people missed it?  Beyond any shadow of a doubt, we need an epiphany. 

 

We might be able to tell all the stories of Jesus and know all the history of the story of Christianity, but does it touch our hearts.  Does it light up our whole being and bring us to a such a point of aliveness that people wonder at our difference?  This is what the epiphany of God achieves.  Regardless of what we do and what we know about God – we need an Epiphany … a realization that God is talking to us personally.  A realization that he is not just the Messiah, but that he is “MY Messiah” – “My Jesus” – “My God” – and I’m his child.  To know Jesus as the one who came for you personally… to really and truly know this to the extent that we understand his love like St. John who refers to himself in the Gospel, as “the one that Jesus loved”.

 

Those Magi made it a priority to seek for the Messiah.  They put their lives on hold to find him.  And they found him.  God wants to be found.  God wants to show us his love.  The Magi were warned in a dream to go home by another road, and they obeyed.  God spoke to them.  We also need to be familiar with the voice of God, and we need to be obedient to the voice of God.  More than anything, even though we are followers of God and may have previously had an epiphany, we need to live in the reality of that Epiphany, or experience Epiphany again –  the Epiphany being that God loves us.. personally.  As we enter this new year, lets continue to seek God.  Let’s chase after him with all our strength…. and in doing so, may we all know his great love for us.