Campbell Street Church

Luke records the account of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus and what stands out in his account s the innocence of Jesus, the insults that were directed to him and the irony that the king is being crucified.

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to a very mixed response. The crowd are praising him and proclaiming him to be God's king. The religious leaders are plotting his death.

The story of the resurrection of Lazarus is one of the high points of John's Gospel. Jesus shows in the clearest possible way that he is able to give eternal life.

Jesus is still talking to the leaders of Israel ... and when he starts talking about being the good shepherd he no doubt has Ezekiel 34 in mind ... a passage about the failure of Israel's leaders and god promising to send the Good Shepherd.

This episode is almost farcical. The religious leaders want to get Jesus. They accuse him of breaking the Sabbath. The blind man who has been healed says “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

One things that stands out about John's Gospel is that Jesus repeatedly makes bold claims ... which are met with confusion from his listeners.

People have a wide variety of responses to Jesus in John’s Gospel. Some are amazed. Some are angry with him. Some are confused. But what is clear is that Jesus has come to put into place his agenda … which may not always be popular.

This is one of the more sad chapters of John. Jesus feeds the huge crowd … but when it comes to accepting who Jesus is the crowd seem unwilling and many walk away. Jesus asks the disciples if they are going to walk away and Peter answers “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

One of the things that the Bible makes very clear is that you need to take Jesus at his word. You don’t get to pick and choose which aspects of Jesus character or which parts of his teaching you will accept. You take Jesus at his word.

Jesus encounter with the woman at the well reveals a lot about Jesus, what he is like and what he has come to do. He knows what we are like, knows what we need and is able to give it to us.

At the start of a new year for our church it can be helpful to think about how it is that you serve within the life of our church. The greatest example of service, the example we should follow is that of Jesus.

After his first confrontation with the religious leaders one of the Pharisees comes to see Jesus at night (in secret) because he can see the truth of what Jesus is saying. This is the passage containing the best known verse in the Bible ... John 3:16 ... and another well known expression ... "Born Again".

John gives us 7 “Signs” in his Gospel … and water to wine at the wedding at Cana was the first … and the beginning of Jesus’s ministry. The religious leaders demand a sign from Jesus. He responds by saying “Knock the temple down and I will rebuild it in 3 days” (pointing to his death & Resurrection)

John the Baptist could probably be more accurately called John the Witness. His primary role was to witness to Jesus … to prepare the way for the Messiah to come. Those who realise who Jesus is always want to tell others.

John opens his Gospel in a very different way to Matthew, Mark & Luke. He introduces "the Word" ... shows us who the Word is ... and how we should respond to him.

Psalm 1 gives us comparison between 2 people: The “blessed” person and the “wicked” or “ungodly” person.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ... (1 Timothy 1:15)

Music & Christmas seem to go hand-in-hand ... and its been that way since the very beginning. The Shepherds heard the first Christmas son ... a song that sums up what Christmas is about.

Paul says those who come to trust in Jesus are a “new creation” … that we are to live changed transformed lives as we seek to follow Jesus and serve others.