11th Sunday after Pentecost – Sermon 3

Prayer to start

May every word and every thought be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ.

AMEN

Introduction

 Ever been to a charity auction ? – an auction of promises – I’ve been to one or two and you can get a bit – carried away if you’re not careful – particularly if its for a good cause – you can bid for a willing person – to do some work for you – a servant for the day? or even for a few hours ?

Someone to do the gardening – a bit of D.I.Y? – painting – baking a cake? – or the dreaded ironing

In our first reading we are told about God’s servant – this is one – of four – passages in Isaiah that describes the Lord’s servant and the work that He wants him to do –

– not selfish tasks like we might choose – but tasks linked with the salvation of His people –

From verse 1 to 4 it says:

He will establish justice among the Nations

He will not shout, – cry out or raise his voice or make Himself heard in the streets – ( He will bring peace ) – He will not break a crushed reed or snuff out a smouldering wick – (He will mend broken lives) – He will never faulter or be crushed until he sets justice on the earth

and in verses 6 & 7

I have formed you and destined you to be a light for peoples, a lamp for nations – t open eyes that are blind – to bring captives out of prison – out of the dungeon where they live in darkness –

The reference to Jesus is unmistakeable – isn’t it – a description of our Lord and His ministry to come – written hundreds of years before he came on earth – but its not only about Jesus –

– not only about the Messiah to come – Up to the end of the last century – it was considered to be mainly about Israel – God’s chosen community – Isaiah’s prophesy is also about God’s people – the work that God wanted Israel to perform in the world – it could equally describe therefore – the work that God wants us to perform in the world – how we should behave in the service of God ! –

It also describes how God feels about us! –

It’s not a case of leaving us alone to get on with it –

– in verse 1- Isaiah writes:

– Here is my servant whom I uphold – My chosen one in whom I take delight – I will put my spirit upon Him

and in verse 6 –

– I the Lord have called you with righteous purpose and taken you by the hand –

God is there to guide us – To pour out His love upon us – help us perform the tasks – He wants us to do –

– when we feel unable to cope – and out of our depth – and nothing seems to be going right – God’s love will shine through and give us the support and help that we need –

In 2 Corinthians chp 12 v 10

When I am Weak, I am strong –

Only when we are constantly dependent on God are we truly full of His power – without this dependence we are powerless

– Jesus knew this when He met with His disciples in the upper room – on the night before His death – In our second lesson we are told that Jesus was – "Troubled in Spirit" –

The disciples were about to go through a testing time in their ministry – He would not be there to help them! – They were soon going to be alone and confused – He would not be with them – and it would be a time when they would be severely tested –

Jesus was troubled not for His own sake – not because of the pain and humiliation that He knew He was going to endure – but for the sake of His disciples – His close friends

In the first part of the reading we see Jesus identifying the one who is to betray Him – This must have been a real low point for Jesus – A close friend who He loved and had been with Him on the road during His ministry – one of His close followers –

– was to betray Him – was going to help turn Him over to be ridiculed and put to death – one of His twelve disciples – had succumbed to temptation – and despite all he had witnessed and heard – he had been lost to Satan.

– But even then Jesus didn’t give up on him – He gave Judas – a place of Honour at the table -He gave him a piece of bread during the meal – again a sign of honour – a tribute to the love Jesus had for him – to try to appeal to Him – but all to no avail – Judas was not listening – He was not going to change his mind – So Jesus instructed him to go and carry out his task quickly – to enable God’s purposes to be fulfilled according to God’s timetable

With the traitor had gone – to carryout his deed – and Jesus is left with His faithful eleven! -Jesus knew what was coming next – they will soon be alone – He knew the anguish and helplessness that they were going to feel

– He was soon to die on the cross – His time as a man was drawing to a close – it is going to be extremely painful to those that love Him – He was about to enter the climax of this part of His ministry on earth – to perform the ultimate act of love –

– To die for the sins of the world – to be ridiculed, flogged, beaten, – and all this for the Glory of God

Jesus knew it would bring Glory to the Father and through Him He would also be given Glory – but Jesus’ motives were not selfish – He was full of love – love for the Father – and through that love – true obedience and faithfulness – love for His Father’s people – Jesus was to take onto His shoulders the sins of man to suffer and be subjected to pain – to pay the price for our sins – to buy our redemption with the price of His own blood

Jesus knew the disciples wouldn’t understand where He was going – or why He was leaving them – so His explanation of what was to happen next was not given in a direct way but in a gentle roundabout way – because he knew they would not yet understand the importance of the next few days –

Then – He gave them a new commandment
" To love one another, as I have loved you"

not the same commandment as before – to love your neighbour – but a new commandment – one that will bind them together during the days ahead – to love one another – as He had loved them – a special love Christian to Christian –

Jesus knew they would need each other – they would be confused – lost without Him – but there was more to the new commandment than just the disciples comfort – more than a means of keeping them safe while He was away – it is also the way in which the disciples will be noticed by others – a way of encouraging others who were making their first steps towards knowing Jesus – people would notice something different about them – something special -Their special Christian love for each other –

In verse 35 -Jesus said

" By this everyone will recognise you as my disciples, if you have loved one another"

their Christian love will be a beacon -shining out to others – to encourage others to come and find out more – about Jesus

– These final verses also show how easy it is to fall if we are tempted – this is shown in Jesus’ conversation with Peter -Jesus knew Peter – He knew his nature – and his response from the heart was typical of him – Peter proclaimed that he would die for Jesus – but Jesus knew better – He knew that in a few hours time the opposite would happen – that Peter would deny Him three times –

like Peter we sometimes think we can do wonders for Christ -but we soon learn that unless we really depend on Him – and do the things He wants us to do – we have no power at all –

– we are weak – we depend on Jesus for our strength – we think there are things we will never do

– but if we are without Jesus it is so easy to slip – to get carried away by the moment – and when we fail – we realise how vulnerable we are – but because of Jesus’ love for us – we know that if we are truly sorry – we will be forgiven –

– We must try to be more like Jesus – to depend on Him – to rely on Him – and to
do this we must know more about Him and understand what He wants us to do – we must pray constantly – read our Bibles – worship together so that we can grow in the strength of Jesus – Jesus depended on prayer -He knew and read the Scriptures – He worshipped and loved God -and was truly God’s obedient servant –

So as one of God’s serving community we must try to be more like Jesus –

We know that God loves us and He will give us the strength we need to do His work – if we stay true to Him – He will send His Spirit upon us –

We must carry out God’s work in a loving compassionate and obedient way – not putting ourselves first but like Jesus caring for others in need – being gentle and understanding – and like Jesus – by our actions and our Christian love – acting as a light for others to notice

Jesus loved without limit – no demand was too much – Jesus died for us! – we sometimes expect love to bring only happiness – happiness may come in the end but sometimes it comes with pain and puts heavy demands on us – and we will have our own cross to bear –

We should love others for who and what they are – it’s easy to accept the good side of someone – but everyone has weaknesses and faults – we have to be bighearted enough to accept them as they are –

We have to be forgiving – Jesus’ disciples never really understood him – they were sometimes insensitive – slow to learn and understand – yet he held nothing against them – He forgave all their faults – Peter was to deny Him three times and he ran away at Jesus’ hour of need – yet He knew Peter loved Him and He loved and forgave Peter for his moment of weakness – for despite Peter’s faults – Jesus knew there would be one day when Peter would follow in His footsteps

Today we are the Lord’s disciples here on earth – we are His means of spreading the good news of God’s love and salvation to others – Jesus wants us to be like Him – to put others before ourselves – to serve God and to serve others –

Jesus can see the potential in all of us – He sees us as we really are – and also what He can make of us – Jesus’ love shows us what can be – and He gives us the is power to make it happen – We must love one another as Jesus loves us – and with the power of the Lord we can fulfill our potential in God’s service for His greater Glory –

– As Jesus says " Just as I have loved you – you must also love one another. – By this love, everyone will know that you are my disciples " Ever been to a charity auction ? – an auction of promises – I’ve been to one or two and you can get a bit – carried away if you’re not careful – particularly if its for a good cause – you can bid for a willing person – to do some work for you – a servant for the day? or even for a few hours ?

Someone to do the gardening – a bit of D.I.Y? – painting – baking a cake? – or the dreaded ironing

In our first reading we are told about God’s servant – this is one – of four – passages in Isaiah that describes the Lord’s servant and the work that He wants him to do –

– not selfish tasks like we might choose – but tasks linked with the salvation of His people –

From verse 1 to 4 it says:

He will establish justice among the Nations

He will not shout, – cry out or raise his voice or make Himself heard in the streets – ( He will bring peace ) – He will not break a crushed reed or snuff out a smouldering wick – (He will mend broken lives) – He will never faulter or be crushed until he sets justice on the earth

and in verses 6 & 7

I have formed you and destined you to be a light for peoples, a lamp for nations – t open eyes that are blind – to bring captives out of prison – out of the dungeon where they live in darkness –

The reference to Jesus is unmistakeable – isn’t it – a description of our Lord and His ministry to come – written hundreds of years before he came on earth – but its not only about Jesus –

– not only about the Messiah to come – Up to the end of the last century – it was considered to be mainly about Israel – God’s chosen community – Isaiah’s prophesy is also about God’s people – the work that God wanted Israel to perform in the world – it could equally describe therefore – the work that God wants us to perform in the world – how we should behave in the service of God ! –

It also describes how God feels about us! –

It’s not a case of leaving us alone to get on with it –

– in verse 1- Isaiah writes:

– Here is my servant whom I uphold – My chosen one in whom I take delight – I will put my spirit upon Him

and in verse 6 –

– I the Lord have called you with righteous purpose and taken you by the hand –

God is there to guide us – To pour out His love upon us – help us perform the tasks – He wants us to do –

– when we feel unable to cope – and out of our depth – and nothing seems to be going right – God’s love will shine through and give us the support and help that we need –

In 2 Corinthians chp 12 v 10

When I am Weak, I am strong –

Only when we are constantly dependent on God are we truly full of His power – without this dependence we are powerless

– Jesus knew this when He met with His disciples in the upper room – on the night before His death – In our second lesson we are told that Jesus was – "Troubled in Spirit" –

The disciples were about to go through a testing time in their ministry – He would not be there to help them! – They were soon going to be alone and confused – He would not be with them – and it would be a time when they would be severely tested –

Jesus was troubled not for His own sake – not because of the pain and humiliation that He knew He was going to endure – but for the sake of His disciples – His close friends

In the first part of the reading we see Jesus identifying the one who is to betray Him – This must have been a real low point for Jesus – A close friend who He loved and had been with Him on the road during His ministry – one of His close followers –

– was to betray Him – was going to help turn Him over to be ridiculed and put to death – one of His twelve disciples – had succumbed to temptation – and despite all he had witnessed and heard – he had been lost to Satan.

– But even then Jesus didn’t give up on him – He gave Judas – a place of Honour at the table -He gave him a piece of bread during the meal – again a sign of honour – a tribute to the love Jesus had for him – to try to appeal to Him – but all to no avail – Judas was not listening – He was not going to change his mind – So Jesus instructed him to go and carry out his task quickly – to enable God’s purposes to be fulfilled according to God’s timetable

With the traitor had gone – to carryout his deed – and Jesus is left with His faithful eleven! -Jesus knew what was coming next – they will soon be alone – He knew the anguish and helplessness that they were going to feel

– He was soon to die on the cross – His time as a man was drawing to a close – it is going to be extremely painful to those that love Him – He was about to enter the climax of this part of His ministry on earth – to perform the ultimate act of love –

– To die for the sins of the world – to be ridiculed, flogged, beaten, – and all this for the Glory of God

Jesus knew it would bring Glory to the Father and through Him He would also be given Glory – but Jesus’ motives were not selfish – He was full of love – love for the Father – and through that love – true obedience and faithfulness – love for His Father’s people – Jesus was to take onto His shoulders the sins of man to suffer and be subjected to pain – to pay the price for our sins – to buy our redemption with the price of His own blood

Jesus knew the disciples wouldn’t understand wh
ere He was going – or why He was leaving them – so His explanation of what was to happen next was not given in a direct way but in a gentle roundabout way – because he knew they would not yet understand the importance of the next few days –

Then – He gave them a new commandment
" To love one another, as I have loved you"

not the same commandment as before – to love your neighbour – but a new commandment – one that will bind them together during the days ahead – to love one another – as He had loved them – a special love Christian to Christian –

Jesus knew they would need each other – they would be confused – lost without Him – but there was more to the new commandment than just the disciples comfort – more than a means of keeping them safe while He was away – it is also the way in which the disciples will be noticed by others – a way of encouraging others who were making their first steps towards knowing Jesus – people would notice something different about them – something special -Their special Christian love for each other –

In verse 35 -Jesus said

" By this everyone will recognise you as my disciples, if you have loved one another"

their Christian love will be a beacon -shining out to others – to encourage others to come and find out more – about Jesus

– These final verses also show how easy it is to fall if we are tempted – this is shown in Jesus’ conversation with Peter -Jesus knew Peter – He knew his nature – and his response from the heart was typical of him – Peter proclaimed that he would die for Jesus – but Jesus knew better – He knew that in a few hours time the opposite would happen – that Peter would deny Him three times –

like Peter we sometimes think we can do wonders for Christ -but we soon learn that unless we really depend on Him – and do the things He wants us to do – we have no power at all –

– we are weak – we depend on Jesus for our strength – we think there are things we will never do

– but if we are without Jesus it is so easy to slip – to get carried away by the moment – and when we fail – we realise how vulnerable we are – but because of Jesus’ love for us – we know that if we are truly sorry – we will be forgiven –

– We must try to be more like Jesus – to depend on Him – to rely on Him – and to do this we must know more about Him and understand what He wants us to do – we must pray constantly – read our Bibles – worship together so that we can grow in the strength of Jesus – Jesus depended on prayer -He knew and read the Scriptures – He worshipped and loved God -and was truly God’s obedient servant –

So as one of God’s serving community we must try to be more like Jesus –

We know that God loves us and He will give us the strength we need to do His work – if we stay true to Him – He will send His Spirit upon us –

We must carry out God’s work in a loving compassionate and obedient way – not putting ourselves first but like Jesus caring for others in need – being gentle and understanding – and like Jesus – by our actions and our Christian love – acting as a light for others to notice

Jesus loved without limit – no demand was too much – Jesus died for us! – we sometimes expect love to bring only happiness – happiness may come in the end but sometimes it comes with pain and puts heavy demands on us – and we will have our own cross to bear –

We should love others for who and what they are – it’s easy to accept the good side of someone – but everyone has weaknesses and faults – we have to be bighearted enough to accept them as they are –

We have to be forgiving – Jesus’ disciples never really understood him – they were sometimes insensitive – slow to learn and understand – yet he held nothing against them – He forgave all their faults – Peter was to deny Him three times and he ran away at Jesus’ hour of need – yet He knew Peter loved Him and He loved and forgave Peter for his moment of weakness – for despite Peter’s faults – Jesus knew there would be one day when Peter would follow in His footsteps

Today we are the Lord’s disciples here on earth – we are His means of spreading the good news of God’s love and salvation to others – Jesus wants us to be like Him – to put others before ourselves – to serve God and to serve others –

Jesus can see the potential in all of us – He sees us as we really are – and also what He can make of us – Jesus’ love shows us what can be – and He gives us the is power to make it happen – We must love one another as Jesus loves us – and with the power of the Lord we can fulfill our potential in God’s service for His greater Glory –

– As Jesus says " Just as I have loved you – you must also love one another. – By this love, everyone will know that you are my disciples "
Ever been to a charity auction ? – an auction of promises – I’ve been to one or two and you can get a bit – carried away if you’re not careful – particularly if its for a good cause – you can bid for a willing person – to do some work for you – a servant for the day? or even for a few hours ?

Someone to do the gardening – a bit of D.I.Y? – painting – baking a cake? – or the dreaded ironing

In our first reading we are told about God’s servant – this is one – of four – passages in Isaiah that describes the Lord’s servant and the work that He wants him to do –

– not selfish tasks like we might choose – but tasks linked with the salvation of His people –

From verse 1 to 4 it says:

He will establish justice among the Nations

He will not shout, – cry out or raise his voice or make Himself heard in the streets – ( He will bring peace ) – He will not break a crushed reed or snuff out a smouldering wick – (He will mend broken lives) – He will never faulter or be crushed until he sets justice on the earth

and in verses 6 & 7

I have formed you and destined you to be a light for peoples, a lamp for nations – t open eyes that are blind – to bring captives out of prison – out of the dungeon where they live in darkness –

The reference to Jesus is unmistakeable – isn’t it – a description of our Lord and His ministry to come – written hundreds of years before he came on earth – but its not only about Jesus –

– not only about the Messiah to come – Up to the end of the last century – it was considered to be mainly about Israel – God’s chosen community – Isaiah’s prophesy is also about God’s people – the work that God wanted Israel to perform in the world – it could equally describe therefore – the work that God wants us to perform in the world – how we should behave in the service of God ! –

It also describes how God feels about us! –

It’s not a case of leaving us alone to get on with it –

– in verse 1- Isaiah writes:

– Here is my servant whom I uphold – My chosen one in whom I take delight – I will put my spirit upon Him

and in verse 6 –

– I the Lord have called you with righteous purpose and taken you by the hand –

God is there to guide us – To pour out His love upon us – help us perform the tasks – He wants us to do –

– when we feel unable to cope – and out of our depth – and nothing seems to be going right – God’s love will shine through and give us the support and help that we need –

In 2 Corinthians chp 12 v 10

When I am Weak, I am strong –

Only when we are constantly dependent on God are we truly full of His power – without this dependence we are powerless

– Jesus knew this when He met with His disciples in the upper room – on the night before His death – In our second lesson we are told that Jesus was – "Troubled in Spirit" –

The disciples were about to go through a testing time in their ministry – He would not be there to hel
p them! – They were soon going to be alone and confused – He would not be with them – and it would be a time when they would be severely tested –

Jesus was troubled not for His own sake – not because of the pain and humiliation that He knew He was going to endure – but for the sake of His disciples – His close friends

In the first part of the reading we see Jesus identifying the one who is to betray Him – This must have been a real low point for Jesus – A close friend who He loved and had been with Him on the road during His ministry – one of His close followers –

– was to betray Him – was going to help turn Him over to be ridiculed and put to death – one of His twelve disciples – had succumbed to temptation – and despite all he had witnessed and heard – he had been lost to Satan.

– But even then Jesus didn’t give up on him – He gave Judas – a place of Honour at the table -He gave him a piece of bread during the meal – again a sign of honour – a tribute to the love Jesus had for him – to try to appeal to Him – but all to no avail – Judas was not listening – He was not going to change his mind – So Jesus instructed him to go and carry out his task quickly – to enable God’s purposes to be fulfilled according to God’s timetable

With the traitor had gone – to carryout his deed – and Jesus is left with His faithful eleven! -Jesus knew what was coming next – they will soon be alone – He knew the anguish and helplessness that they were going to feel

– He was soon to die on the cross – His time as a man was drawing to a close – it is going to be extremely painful to those that love Him – He was about to enter the climax of this part of His ministry on earth – to perform the ultimate act of love –

– To die for the sins of the world – to be ridiculed, flogged, beaten, – and all this for the Glory of God

Jesus knew it would bring Glory to the Father and through Him He would also be given Glory – but Jesus’ motives were not selfish – He was full of love – love for the Father – and through that love – true obedience and faithfulness – love for His Father’s people – Jesus was to take onto His shoulders the sins of man to suffer and be subjected to pain – to pay the price for our sins – to buy our redemption with the price of His own blood

Jesus knew the disciples wouldn’t understand where He was going – or why He was leaving them – so His explanation of what was to happen next was not given in a direct way but in a gentle roundabout way – because he knew they would not yet understand the importance of the next few days –

Then – He gave them a new commandment
" To love one another, as I have loved you"

not the same commandment as before – to love your neighbour – but a new commandment – one that will bind them together during the days ahead – to love one another – as He had loved them – a special love Christian to Christian –

Jesus knew they would need each other – they would be confused – lost without Him – but there was more to the new commandment than just the disciples comfort – more than a means of keeping them safe while He was away – it is also the way in which the disciples will be noticed by others – a way of encouraging others who were making their first steps towards knowing Jesus – people would notice something different about them – something special -Their special Christian love for each other –

In verse 35 -Jesus said

" By this everyone will recognise you as my disciples, if you have loved one another"

their Christian love will be a beacon -shining out to others – to encourage others to come and find out more – about Jesus

– These final verses also show how easy it is to fall if we are tempted – this is shown in Jesus’ conversation with Peter -Jesus knew Peter – He knew his nature – and his response from the heart was typical of him – Peter proclaimed that he would die for Jesus – but Jesus knew better – He knew that in a few hours time the opposite would happen – that Peter would deny Him three times –

like Peter we sometimes think we can do wonders for Christ -but we soon learn that unless we really depend on Him – and do the things He wants us to do – we have no power at all –

– we are weak – we depend on Jesus for our strength – we think there are things we will never do

– but if we are without Jesus it is so easy to slip – to get carried away by the moment – and when we fail – we realise how vulnerable we are – but because of Jesus’ love for us – we know that if we are truly sorry – we will be forgiven –

– We must try to be more like Jesus – to depend on Him – to rely on Him – and to do this we must know more about Him and understand what He wants us to do – we must pray constantly – read our Bibles – worship together so that we can grow in the strength of Jesus – Jesus depended on prayer -He knew and read the Scriptures – He worshipped and loved God -and was truly God’s obedient servant –

So as one of God’s serving community we must try to be more like Jesus –

We know that God loves us and He will give us the strength we need to do His work – if we stay true to Him – He will send His Spirit upon us –

We must carry out God’s work in a loving compassionate and obedient way – not putting ourselves first but like Jesus caring for others in need – being gentle and understanding – and like Jesus – by our actions and our Christian love – acting as a light for others to notice

Jesus loved without limit – no demand was too much – Jesus died for us! – we sometimes expect love to bring only happiness – happiness may come in the end but sometimes it comes with pain and puts heavy demands on us – and we will have our own cross to bear –

We should love others for who and what they are – it’s easy to accept the good side of someone – but everyone has weaknesses and faults – we have to be bighearted enough to accept them as they are –

We have to be forgiving – Jesus’ disciples never really understood him – they were sometimes insensitive – slow to learn and understand – yet he held nothing against them – He forgave all their faults – Peter was to deny Him three times and he ran away at Jesus’ hour of need – yet He knew Peter loved Him and He loved and forgave Peter for his moment of weakness – for despite Peter’s faults – Jesus knew there would be one day when Peter would follow in His footsteps

Today we are the Lord’s disciples here on earth – we are His means of spreading the good news of God’s love and salvation to others – Jesus wants us to be like Him – to put others before ourselves – to serve God and to serve others –

Jesus can see the potential in all of us – He sees us as we really are – and also what He can make of us – Jesus’ love shows us what can be – and He gives us the is power to make it happen – We must love one another as Jesus loves us – and with the power of the Lord we can fulfill our potential in God’s service for His greater Glory –

– As Jesus says " Just as I have loved you – you must also love one another. – By this love, everyone will know that you are my disciples "

Prayer to Finish

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

AMEN