02-21-21

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
February 21, 2021
Scripture: John 12:20-21
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Thought for the Day: This is the first couple of verses from our Lenten scripture. Throughout the season of Lent, we will focus on John 12:20-29, and each week we will take a piece of it and explore its meaning within the larger theme: A Whole New Glory. Now the word “Greek” is another way of saying, “Outsider” or “Other.” For Jesus and his Jewish disciples, interaction with the Greeks would have been limited mostly to business or legal matters. There wasn’t much socializing, and even though Jesus had some encounters with Greeks (Gentiles), they were few as compared to his ministry among the Jews. Yet in this situation, these Greeks came seeking Jesus. It feels a little like the story of the Wisemen who were outsiders, but came seeking Jesus (as a child). So many times in ministry, I have heard a member of my congregation meet a first time visitor who did not, for whatever reason, fit the traditional kind of person who would visit our church. And the member said something like, “Why would they want to come here?” I don’t believe Jesus said, upon hearing how the Greeks wanted to talk with him, “Why would they want to talk to me?” The message of Jesus, the message of a love that is unconditional, redemptive and healing, is something insiders and outsiders and no-siders are seeking. It should never be our place to question why someone seeks Jesus. Our response should only be Joy.

Prayer: I honor whoever is moved by your love and mercy, O Lord, and I only pray that I may be an instrument in the facilitation of a growing relationship with the one who embodied those gifts to the world, Jesus Christ. Amen.

---

TODAY’S WORSHIP SERVICE

Click Here
”A Little Glory In You”

---

---

via WordPress https://ift.tt/2ZE0eCh