The Fourth Sunday in Lent the 19th of March 2023 and The Third Sunday in Lent the 12th of March 2023
The Light of the World
Year A Fourth Sunday In Lent19/3/2023
1 Samuel 16:1-13. Ephesians 5:8-14. John 9:1-41.
1. I like maps. I have always enjoyed looking at maps, whether it’s a road map, or a map of Australia, or even of the world.
When I was young, I had a large map of the world on my bedroom wall.
There was a little girl at one time, who wanted to know what the world looked like.
Her father was reading his new magazine, and he didn't want to be disturbed. However, she asked him what did the world look like.
He noticed, in the magazine he was reading, was a map of the world.
He tore the page out of the magazine that contained the map.
He tore the page into small pieces, he gave it to his daughter and said, “Go into the other room and see if you can put this jigsaw together. It will help you to remember what the world looks like.”
He was hoping this would keep her occupied for at least half an hour.
After a few minutes she returned and handed him the map, all correctly fitted and taped together.
The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly.
“Oh,” she said, “on the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus. When I put Jesus back where he belonged, then the whole world just came together.”
That is so true. If our world put Jesus where he belonged, the whole world would come together.
2. In our reading today, we see where Jesus was where he belonged.
He was among the people. As he went about his Father's business, he was teaching people, and healing people, healing the blind man.
He was doing his Heavenly Father's work. God had visited his people.
3. In this church we have two candles on the altar. Why do we have candles? We certainly don't need them to be able to see.
Before electricity, many candles were used in a church service.
We still place candles in church, because they are a sign. A candle is a sign of Jesus as the Light of the World.
A sign always points to something far greater than itself. The small candle on the altar is pointing to the Saviour of the world; the Light of the world.
In our Gospel reading today, Jesus said “As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5.
In this Gospel of John, Jesus has seven “I am” sayings. With this one today, he said “I am the light of the world.”
What are the other six ? Well they are - I am the bread of life, I am the gate for the sheep, I am the good shepherd, I am the resurrection and the life, I am the way the truth and the life, I am the true vine.
Jesus was just about to heal a blind man, when he said “As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.”
With the healing of the blind man, God was going to be manifest in a big way. The Light was going to reveal the works of God. The Light was going to illuminate the glory of God, in the healing of this blind man.
4. I'm sure we all love the traditional hymn called “Amazing Grace.”
The hymn Amazing Grace, was written by John Newton. He wrote it in 1779. In his early days, he was wild and reckless. He was Godless.
He later became a Captain of a slave ship, taking Africans to America.
His wife was a believer, so were a few of his friends. They had an influence on his life. His faith was nurtured over a period of time.
When he took sick, his ship had to sail without him. The ship became lost and was never seen again. John Newton saw this as Divine influence. God spared his life. He became a firm believer in Jesus.
Later he was ordained as an Anglican Priest.
In his hymn Amazing Grace, he uses the words” Once I was lost, but now am found, I was blind but now I see.”
These are the words of the blind man after the miracle. He said to the Pharisees “Though I was blind, now I see.”
This miracle was a physical healing. How ever, in the hymn Amazing Grace, the words are used in a spiritual way. John Newton was blind to God. He could not see that the life he was leading, was one leading to destruction. He could not see that God wanted him to turn to him.
However, upon his conversion, he could see. He was not blind anymore. He could see, that to live for Jesus, was to die to self.
He saw the Light.
5. There is a painting called “The Light of the World.” It's a famous painting by Holman Hunt. Jesus is standing with a lantern in his hand. He is at the door. Knocking on the door.
There is no door handle on the outside. The only door handle is on the inside. Who must open the door? Yes, we must. The world must.
Sinners must open the door, and accept Jesus. It’s from Revelation chapter 3.
That is what God is wanting of all his creatures. To turn to the light. To turn their eyes upon Jesus.
6. The blind man, in our reading today, experienced Jesus personally. He was healed. After he experienced Jesus for himself, he could have nothing but praise.
That's what we need to do. As temples of God's Spirit, we need to continually give praise to God. Not praise to ourself - but give it to God. Not to rejoice in our own doings - but praise God.
We couldn't do what we do, if it wasn't for God. Tell other people that. Tell your family, that you couldn't do what you do, without Jesus.
When you rise above problems and adversity, tell the family it is because of your faith. When you are healed, tell your family. When you overcome concerns, and overcome money worries, tell them you give praise to God.
What about the Pharisees? Could they do that? Not today in this reading.
The Pharisees could not give praise to God for this healing. Hear again what they said – “This man Jesus is not from God, because he does not observe the sabbath.” John 9:16.
Even some in the crowd, could not give glory to God. Hear what they said “How can a man who is a sinner, perform such miracles.” John 9:16.
But the man who was healed, only wanted to praise God. After he experienced the compassion and power, he had nothing but praise.
It's a lesson for us in our prayers too. When we commence our prayers, we should start with adoration and praise. Not to start our prayers with what we want - but start with thanks to God.
7. It’s a State election shortly. The election is on Saturday the 25th of March. It will be the 58th time that NSW has had an election.
This country has lost its moral compass. If you lose a compass, you can go anywhere you like. This country has lost its leadership compass. We have lost our energy compass. We are losing our one country, our unity compass. We have lost our spiritual compass. Proverbs 28:2. Judges 17:6.
We need to think strongly on the 25th of March.
Alice in Wonderland; the book. Alice came to the crossroads. There were three roads in front of her. And then up in the tree was the cat.
Alice said to the cat “Which road will I take?” And the cat replied “Where are you going?” And Alice said “I don’t know where I’m going.”
And the cat replied “Well in that case, you can take any road you like.”
This country needs a spiritual compass. It can only be met through God, only met through Jesus and his Holy Spirit.
It is met by meeting him; by believing in the work of Jesus on the cross.
God bless us so much every day. Through all our changes and chances of this fleeting world, God blesses us so much.
Let us always praise God. Praise God for his wonderful benefits. Praise God for all he gives us. The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. Amen.
8. After the healing of the blind man, Jesus and the man were alone together. They had a good conversation. Jesus took the opportunity, to build on the miracle. He followed up the man after the healing took place.
Then the man basically gave his life to Jesus.
I will read the last verses again for us. “Jesus said to the healed man 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He answered 'And who is he sir? tell me so I may believe.’
Jesus said to him 'You have seen him, and the one speaking to you, is he.'
The man said 'Lord I believe, and he worshipped Jesus.'"
9. Let's not worship ourself, or our possessions, or our own egos, and our own wills.
We worship Jesus; the Light.
We need to say with the blind beggar “Once I was blind, but now I see.”
Amen.
Living Water
Year A. Third Sunday In Lent. 12th March 2023
Exodus 17:1-7. Romans 5:1-11. John 4:5-42.
1. We couldn't live without water. Water is life giving. The theme of water runs through our bible readings today.
My wife Janice and I have lived in Griffith three times. The first time I managed the Coles Variety Store. The second time I was the General Manager of the Griffith Cooperative Society. The third time I was the assistant Priest at the Cathedral.
We enjoyed the city of Griffith. Lots of citrus trees, and grape vines around Griffith. Lots of vegetable growing too. It’s an irrigation area. Years ago, it supplied about 87% of NSW wine.
The Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, could not be sustained without water.
Charles Sturt was the early explorer around these districts.
Captain Sturt looked out over the plains, and he is reported to have said “This dry and arid land could not sustain man or beast.”
Little did he realise it would change. And it only changed because of the abundant supply of water.
2. Our first reading today is from the OT. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. He led them into the wilderness; they remained 40 years.
While they were in the wilderness, they complained that they would have been better off as slaves back in Egypt. Exodus 16:3.
God led them through the Red Sea. It opened up, and they went on to safety. God had blessed them. The people had such short memories.
The people quarrelled with Moses. “Give us water to drink” they said.
God instructed Moses to take up his staff, and strike the rock. When he did, water gushed out of the rock, and the people were satisfied.
Our psalm today was number 95. It speaks of God as the rock. “O come let us sing to the Lord, let us shout in triumph to the rock of our salvation. "
He is the Rock, which produces life giving water. The water of salvation.
3. These water motifs combine in our third reading today, from John chapter 4. Jesus meets a woman at the well, and the conversation is centred around water.
Jesus and his disciples went through Samaria. Samaria was a country of mixed races. There had been intermarriage between foreigners and Jews.
They would be called half casts. They were despised.
But here we find Jesus right in the middle of this despised country.
He stops at a well, and who should come along? - a Samaritan woman.
It is surprising that a Jewish man, would even speak to a Samaritan, let alone a Samaritan woman.
Jesus said “Give me a drink.” The woman replied “What, you are a Jew, and you ask me for a drink!”
Our Lord says to the woman, that if she knew who he really was, she would be asking him for a drink.
The woman replied “How can you give me a drink, you don't have a
bucket? "
Jesus then says “If you drink this water from this well, you will be thirsty again. But if you drink the water that I give, you will never be thirsty again. The water I shall give will turn into a spring inside you, welling up to eternal life.”
Even after the woman said “Sir, give me some of this water” she still went on to say “so I don't have to keep returning to this well.”
She was still concerned about her physical need, but Jesus was concerned about her spiritual need.
She was concerned about temporal matters, but Jesus was concerned about eternal matters.
However, Jesus went on to tell her that she has had five husbands, and the man she is now with, is not even her husband. The woman realised that Jesus was a prophet, and the Messiah.
She went and spoke to the people in town and said “Come and see a man who told me everything I have done. He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”
4. Jesus is Living Water.
He said “The water that I will give, will become in them a spring of water gushing up into eternal life.”
Jesus gives us the spiritual water. It is available for those who ask the first time, and for those who already believe.
Jesus supplies our spiritual sustenance. He gives us his Spirit.
Jesus is the Light of the World. You know, in this world, it’s a battle between the light and the dark. We must always remain in the light.
The spirit of this world is getting darker.
We must never be grey. We must not be grey just to please the spirit of this world.
5. There was a father who wanted to read his magazine, but was being bothered by his little girl. She wanted to know what the world looked like.
Finally, he tore a page out of the magazine. On the page was printed a map of the world.
He tore the page into small pieces, he gave it to her and said, “Go into the other room and see if you can put this jigsaw together. It will help you to remember what the world looks like.”
Only after a few minutes she returned and handed him the map, all correctly fitted and taped together.
The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly.
“Oh,” she said, “on the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus. When I put Jesus back where he belonged, then the whole world just came together.”
6. Did you ever hear someone say “There must be something more to life."
If you hear someone say that, they need Jesus in their life.
If ever we say that – “There must be something more in life” - it shows we need more of Jesus in our life.
Having Jesus where he belongs, our whole life falls into place.
When we have the living water, we have faith, hope and love.
7. We are at war. As church people, we fight the world, the flesh and the devil. Each day we are soldiers, walking out onto a battlefield.
Some people are acutely aware of the ongoing battle and are fully engaged. Others are either completely blind or indifferent and, they put up no resistance. Because this war is a spiritual battle, far too many do not take it seriously. Ephesians 6:11-13.
In this war, we either stand with Christ or we stand against him. There is no middle ground or neutral territory! If we persevere in grace, it enables us to be participants in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
But God has also revealed that this will not be the outcome for many. Those who allow themselves to be overcome by sin will be lost for all eternity. Victory entails opening our hearts to God’s grace and persevering throughout our lives. Hebrews 10:39.
By believing in the work of Jesus on the cross, and being open to his Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 2:24.
It will be by God’s grace alone that we are conquerors. Romans 8:37.
8. It is the season of Lent now. It is a time when we prepare our spiritual life in readiness to celebrate Easter Day.
Jesus reminds us that true thirst is not met by wells and buckets. It is met by meeting him.
True thirst is not met by the world's standards, or our physical desires, or earthly wants. It is met by meeting him.
It’s a State election shortly. The election is on Saturday the 25th of March. It will be the 58th time that NSW has had an election.
This country has lost its moral compass. If you lose a compass, you can go anywhere you like. This country has lost its leadership compass. We have lost our energy compass. We are losing our one country, our unity compass. We have lost our spiritual compass.
We need to think strongly on the 25th of March.
Alice in Wonderland; the book. Alice came to the crossroads. There were three roads in front of her. And then up in the tree was the cat.
Alice said to the cat “Which road will I take?” And the cat replied “Where are you going?” And Alice said “I don’t know where I’m going.”
And the cat replied “Well in that case, you can take any road you like.”
This country needs a spiritual compass. It can only be met through God, only met through Jesus and his Holy Spirit.
It is met by meeting him; by believing in the work of Jesus on the cross.
Isaiah chapter 55, verse 1 says “Everyone who thirsts, come to the water.”
God bless us so much every day. Through all our changes and chances of this fleeting world, God blesses us so much.
Let us always praise God. Praise God for his wonderful benefits. Praise God for all he gives us. The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. Amen.
This page was updated on 18/3/2023
Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well
The Temptation of Jesus
Sermon on the Mount
Come and See
Baptism of Jesus
Zacchaeus
The Parable of the Unjust Judge
Jesus at dinner teaching on humility
Run the Race
The Parable of the Rich Fool
The Holy Spirit the Helper
Palm Sunday
Mary Anoints Jesus' Feet
The Hope of Abraham
Temptations of Jesus
Jesus reads in the Synagogue
Jesus Turns Water Into Wine
The Widows Offering
All Saints Day
The Healing of Bartimaeus
Faith Like A Child
Take Up Your Cross
James 2:1-17
Jesus is the Bread of Life
Travelling Light
Jesus calms the storm
Jesus taught with authority
Trinity Sunday