Scripture Reading: John 18:12-27

Before we dig into this morning’s text, we should pause for a moment and remember what happened at the end of John 13 as Jesus had the last supper with his friends. This encounter happened after what we looked at last week, where Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.

John 13:31-38:

When he [Judas] was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

We should remember this when we pick up in our reading today. Jesus predicted Peter would deny knowing him. Yet, Jesus continues to love him. read more…

Scripture Reading: John 13:1-17

Have you ever had someone do something for you, an act which may have even seemed small at the time, but you realize later it was a huge thing they did?

Maybe someone bought you something you needed which you realized later was a big sacrifice for the giver because maybe they couldn’t afford it at the time or gave up buying themselves something. Maybe someone drove well out of their way to come see you when you really needed some company. Or maybe they gave up an important event to spend time with you.

I’ve experienced all those things at some point in my life. My parents drove me all over the province so I could play basketball or take part in track and field events when I was a teenager. It wasn’t until much later I realized how much they gave, and even sacrificed at times, so that I could pursue the things I loved.

And there have been times when I’ve done it as well. I’ve given up things, I’ve given up events so I could be with others when they needed some company. Would I have liked to be part of the event I had planned to attend? Sure, that’s why I wanted to go. But sometimes friendship or family is more important. read more…

Scripture: John 9:1-41

Photo by http://www.sxc.hu/profile/_cheese

Some of you know that last month Bev and I went to a play at the Highland Arts Theatre. For Christmas someone gave us the package deal of taking in all five plays over the winter and spring season. As we went for the first time, as part of the performance I was pulled up on stage to take part in a scene. It was kind of weird, but it was also kind of fun.

This past week we went back for our second play, but this time we got seats in the balcony. We thought we’d try a different vantage point. So we arrived, went up the stairs and found our seats. Just as we were getting settled, the ushers called out to me, “You won’t get called up on stage from up here!”

For the particular play last month, four people were used from the audience in four different scenes over six shows. I was on the stage for what felt like a really long time, but it was probably five minutes at best. And the ushers remembered me. All I could respond with was, “I don’t know what it means if you remembered me!”

She laughed and gave me some sort of compliment about the night. read more…

Scripture: John 4:1-42

Photo by http://www.sxc.hu/profile/ross666

When I was in high school, I found things to be tough. When I look back, I can see it started in junior high. As I became more and more focused on sports, I saw less and less of my friends from my earlier childhood. There’s nothing abnormal about this, people grow and change all the time, and they choose different paths in life.

The problem was, as I moved into a new social circle, growing apart from my friends, I found it increasingly hard to fit in. I was a jock who was enjoying technology, a lot. Now remember, this was the late 80s and early 90s. It’s not at all like today. The internet was just beginning to emerge as a tool in schools and large businesses. My high school was one of the first in the country to get internet access. And back then there were no pictures, it was all text. People just didn’t understand this new technology. But I was having a lot of fun figuring it out in the computer lab.

Others didn’t understand technology. People didn’t use technology. And very, very few homes had computers. Not at all like today. read more…

Scripture: John 3:1-21

When Anna was in grade 1, I think it was, she brought home a plant they had started in class. It was a nice little plant in a little cup with pretty little flowers.

Our reaction to bringing home this plant was, “Isn’t that nice… it’s going to die!”

You see, we generally suck at plants. In the 20 years Bev and I have been married, we’ve managed to keep dogs and children alive. Plants? Not so much.

I suppose the advantage dogs and kids have over plants is that when we forget to feed them, they remind us. Plants have no vocal cords so are unable to audibly communicate their need for nourishment. And we don’t tend to look at the plants often enough to notice them wilting towards death. read more…