The Messiah's Secret - A Slender Thread

Sunday - Only almost two days to go before 2013 begins.

Keeping a Diary.

Diaries hold information that might otherwise be forgotten, so it is good to have a diary, to keep a record and a reminder of where we have been, people we have spoken to and other things that have seemed worth noting. It is also used to remember appointments and  special days like birthdays.
Jesus did not keep a diary, he did not write anything down about his activities. But later people who knew Jesus: Matthew, and John wrote about Jesus.
 A diary is good for recording prayer especially when we notice they have been answered.

This mornings readings: Luke 2: 41- end.  Colossians 3: 12-17.                                                                                                                                                                          

Lord Roy Jenkins in 2002 wrote a biography about Winston Churchill, it is a written record of Churchill’s life.  Lord Jenkins had personal contact with Winston Churchill as a member of Parliament for sixteen years.

Sometimes we may think of the gospels as being a biography of Jesus’ life, but that is not the case. We have gaps in his childhood and also the years before he started his ministry. The gospels are a history of the Saviour.

 In our reading Luke records the family’s annual visit to Jerusalem for the Passover, when Jesus was twelve years old.

 After the feast was over, Joseph and Mary left for home along with a number of others travelling to Nazareth in Galilee.

On the way, Joseph and Mary realised that Jesus was not with them. It took one day to do the return journey to Jerusalem and two days searching the places that they thought he might be. We are not informed where they searched, common sense would suggest that Jesus might have just missed them setting off, so they might have gone first to his friends house or the relations home where they probably stayed to celebrate the Passover, he could have been waiting there. Maybe they looked at the places where the visitors or a twelve year old lad might visit: the markets, the Pool of Salomé, The Roman Garrison, and the stables where the horses and camels were kept.

The last place they searched is where we would think that they would have looked first. Jesus was found conversing with the Teachers of the Law in the temple.  When Mary and Joseph found him, Jesus was surprised that they had not known where to find him.

God was greatly at work in Jesus’ life, as we read in verse 52 that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man.

I would think that Jesus had the disposition of wanting to learn, having a hunger and thirst for knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures. Perhaps he had questions that he needed to discuss with the teachers at the temple in Jerusalem, the hub of learning, that neither Joseph nor the rabbi in Nazareth could answer.

Joseph and Mary were Godly people yet I dared to ask myself the question had Joseph and Mary in their walk with God faded, crowded out by family life. By this time Jesus had brothers and sisters.  Matthew 13: 55, 56.

Joseph and Mary were probably, like us, very busy with work and bringing up their family, this I felt was reflected in their search taking two days to find Jesus.

For us today our faith can be crowded out not just by the business of our lives, but also by the advancement of science that raises complex issues like gene technology it has the ability to intervene in the makeup of plants and political correctness were a nurse is not allowed to pray with a patient.This maybe is reflected in the recent census.

Archbishop Rowan Williams Christmas Day address                                                                                                                                                                

 Archbishop Rowan Williams in his Christmas Day address said this: “Fifty-nine per cent of British people describe themselves as Christians, so the census informed us a couple of weeks ago; twelve per cent down from ten years ago.  There was, of course, great delight from a couple of secularist organisations.  But if I were a member of the British Humanist Association, I might want to pause before I became too excited.  It remains true that three quarters of the public still want to identify themselves as having a religious faith of some kind.  And what the census doesn’t and probably can’t measure is exactly how those who don’t identify as religious think about religion."

When the Archbishop said, “Those who don’t identify themselves as religious in the census. so what do they think about religion.”                  

Perhaps he is referring to those who once belonged to a church, but one reason or another their faith has faded. Three weeks ago we had a lady call in church on Wednesday Morning’s ‘open door’ she informed us of how she used to attend St. Mary’s and then left. Since that time her faith has declined.

On another occasion in June, during the serving of refreshments to the people who came into church after watching the Olympic Torch pass through Rawtenstall, we noticed in their conversation with us that quite a number of them had once belonged to a church and that their faith had waned.

The reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians he points out that even though they may have faded back into Judaism, or even the world. He reminds them and us, we have received Jesus as our Saviour and he will never leave us or forsake us.

When we become aware of someone who is hanging on to their faith by a slender thread, It may be useful to have something that we can give them to comfort them, that would just remind them of their Saviour's love for them.  

 Recently I came a across this: ‘A Cross in My Pocket’ It is something that is simple to make and acts as a reminder of Jesus’ cross. The poem that goes with it, speaks of Jesus compassion, kindness and patience. How he forgave me my sin and having been forgiven by such great cost to God our Father, whose love embraces all who come to him in faith in Jesus and blesses us.

                     A Cross in My Pocket

 I carry a cross in my pocket a simple reminder to me,
of the fact that I am a Christian no matter where I may be.

This little cross is not magic, nor is it a good luck charm.
 It isn't meant to protect me from every physical harm.

When I put my hand in my pocket to bring out a coin or a key the cross is there to remind me, of the price he paid for me.

It reminds me too to be thankful for my blessings day by day and to try to serve him better in all that I do and say.

It's also a daily reminder of the peace and comfort 
I share with all who know my Master and give themselves to His care.

So I carry a cross in my pocket reminding no one but me,
that Jesus is Lord of my life,  If only I'll let Him be.


 Mrs Verna Mae Thomas

 (Each person was given an envelope containing instructions of how to make 'A Cross in My Pocket', the yarn, 3 tapestry pieces of canvas, a tapestry needle and the poem.)                          

           

 The idea is to make the pocket and give it to someone who you may feel would be blessed as they are reminded of Jesus' love for them.

Happy New Year