A Fresh Start

The writer Jasper Rees was driving one day and listening to the radio.  On came a piece of music that he knew very well but hadn’t heard for some time.  It featured the french horn which he used to play but hadn’t touched for many years.  Something happened while he listened.  As often happens with music he was moved in a deep place and later he wiped the dust off his french horn and began playing again.  Like many people before him he learned that it is never to late to start again.  

This time of year is often seen as nature making a fresh start.  Spring is traditionally thought of as a time when the earth comes to life again with more colour, more warmth and more light.  The poets have seen in this signs of hope for the world.  If nature can make a fresh start then perhaps people can too.  Mistakes are made, faults persist, but perhaps this can be put behind us and a new beginning made.  

It was the promise of this which drew many people to Jesus.  It didn’t matter where people stood in the eyes of the world, he gave them hope that things could change.  Whatever people had done, whatever their inner darkness, Jesus made them feel they mattered, that God’s love was going out to them, and that motivated them towards change.  

This work of renewal was such a big part of Jesus’ ministry that even on the cross it persisted.  One of the men who was crucified with with him wanted an assurance that there was hope even for him beyond death.  Jesus gave him that: ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’  Even when Jesus himself was suffering his heart was going out to someone in need and even if that man would not enjoy a fresh start in this life there was still paradise. 

This hope is at the heart of the Easter message and it is my privilege to have seen it making an impact on people’s lives.  In my association with the Preshal Trust in Govan I have met so many people whose lives were coming apart through addiction to drugs or alcohol.  The promises of Jesus has given them the strength to make a fresh start and to go into the future with new values, new priorities and new expectations.  

The Easter message assures us that that the Christ who made a difference two thousand years ago is present still to open up the possibility of a fresh start to the whole of humankind.  

Missing

This is the new video from Sanctuary First.  Set in a future where gatherings are strictly limited and seeking to influence people towards belief in God is forbidden, we hear of Josh Emmanuel who not only speaks about God but in a mysterious way seems to reveal God.  As a result he has attracted a small but faithful following.  

The result of this is his arrest and subsequent execution.  Three days later the cabinet in the prison morgue is opened and his body has disappeared.  An urgent investigation is set into motion with an unexpected ending.  

Throughout the video we never actually see Josh Emmanuel.  Christ figures have dominated art for generations but there has always been a problem about depicting Christ in films.  Directors either go for the ethereal as with Max von Sydow or the down to earth bruiser like Willem Dafoe but very few get it right.  Probably still the best is Pasolini’s The Gospel According to St Matthew with Enrique Irazoqui, an unknown Spanish student, taking on the role.  His rather fragile appearance belied an inner strength which dominates the film. 

The problem is we do not know how Jesus looked.  I was led to think about this recently by a comment made by Donald Macleod in his excellent new book Christ Crucified: Understanding the Atonement.  Speaking of the worldly and spiritual pressures acting on Jesus throughout his ministry the Professor says: ‘they clearly took their toll, even of his physical appearance: so much so that he could be taken for a fifty-year old (John 8: 57) when he was scarcely thirty.’  The Scripture reference is to the religious establishment’s reaction to Jesus’ claim to have a unique relationship with the Heavenly Father and that Abraham ‘rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’  They respond: ‘You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham.’  

It is a verse I have often read and but have never take it to mean what the Professor suggests.  I am still not convinced but when you think of Jesus’ earthly life, especially as it is summarised in Understanding The Atonement (pp. 17-18) it makes some kind of sense.  

If you wish to see Missing click on www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/video/watch/missing

Spring Power, Easter Promise.

I’ve always loved this time of year.  After the darkness and the cold of  Winter it is good to hear the birdsong, see new colour in the gardens, enjoy the longer day and see new life in the fields.  Spring is the season of new possibilities, new strength, new vision.   Philip Larkin has a poem called ‘The Trees’ in which he sees Spring as a time of new beginnings.  This only comes, however, through struggle.   The buds have been forced open, the trees are leaved again, but only after the ‘death’ of  Winter.   But from this, come May the trees will stand as a testimony that even through the struggle and the ‘death’ there can be a new beginning:

‘Yet still the unresting castles thresh

In fullgrown thickness every May.

Last year is dead, they seem to say,

Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.’ 

The season makes its impact on the poet’s heart, speaking to him of the hope that life can begin again.  It is a reminder to us that in the season of Spring we celebrate Easter and the events that have made it possible for humankind to begin again.  We remember the struggle of Jesus’ life as he identified fully with our human condition.  We remember his death that absorbed the judgement of God on the sin of the world and made forgiveness possible.  We remember his rising that points forward to a renewal of body, mind and soul at that time when all things will be made new. 

In Spring we have more than the power of nature to speak to us of better days ahead, we have the story of Jesus and its power.   It brings us the assurance that our God is with us through all our days of struggle and grief.   It brings us the assurance that we can emerge from the worst of our failures knowing that we have been forgiven.  It brings us the hope that despite the crushing darkness that is often our human experience God has fixed a time when the buds of renewal will come to full bloom and there will be a new creation for his renewed people to enjoy.   

The apostle John had a glimpse of this in these startling visions in the Book of Revelation:

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more.

 Neither shall there be mourning or crying or pain any more for the former things have passed away.’  (Revelation 21: 4)

Enjoy the wonders of Spring but more so enjoy the promises of Easter.

Grudge Match!

Christmas isn’t Christmas unless I see a good movie and there is one which has been trailed for quite some time which I don’t think I’ll be able to resist.  It’s called ‘Grudge Match’.  It stars Sylvester Stallone and Robert de Niro as two ex-boxers in their late sixties who were once bitter rivals.  At the peak of their careers they faced one another in two bouts with each winning one but they never managed to have that decisive third.  Over thirty years they have never let go their bad feelings about one another and eventually someone has the idea that they should have one last bout which would settle once and for all who was best.  It’s a comedy film and there is no doubt that  there is something funny about two men of advanced years slugging it out in a boxing ring,  no matter how good they may look.    But in reality those kinds of feelings are no laughing matter and can be destructive of lives and communities.

There has recently been a great deal of reflection on the life of Nelson Madela and how he was able to leave behind feelings of revenge, rise above resentment,  and commit his life to building a better future for South Africa.  A future where people were able to cut across racial and ethnic barriers and find a common purpose in working for justice and peace. He once described the day that he was released from prison:

‘As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew that if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind I’d still be in prison.’  

Now we might say that our grudges are not going to affect a whole community or nation.  But where there is a build up of those feelings you soon have an atmosphere where revenge is more important than reconciliation and that is a bleak outlook for our society and the world.   This is where the message of Christmas comes in.  

When Jesus was born ‘grudge matches’ were pretty common.  Israel was an occupied country, under the heel of the Roman Empire.  That did not go down well with fiercely nationalistic Jews.  And within the nation of Israel there were racial and religious differences which provoked strong feelings.  It was into this atmosphere that the angels brought a message of peace:

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.’  

The purpose of Jesus’ coming was to bring glory to God and peace to the whole of humankind.  His life, death and resurrection would make it possible for people to be close to God, to be at peace with Him.  But the vision went further.   As people’s lives were shaped by this peace barriers that divide and embitter would be brought down.  

One of the most inspiring stories I heard this year was from a Christian relief worker who had just recently returned from the Middle East.  She had been in various countries where Syrians had sought refuge, one of which was Lebanon.  In one town she came across a Syrian family - mother, father and four children - who were living in a derelict building.  They had had a fairly good standard of living in their own country but were now having to live day to day.  Circumstances were made all the more difficult by the attitude of the local Mayor.  He had made a statement to the effect that no Syrian refugees should be given any help.  Apparently, there have been strained relationships between Lebanese and Syrians in the past.

A small Christian congregation was not prepared to accept this, however, and were providing the family with food, clothes and any other items they may need.  This is all the more impressive in that the family are Muslims.  But these are the things that happen when the message of the angels is taken to heart.  There can be peace on earth when people live close to God and commit their lives to His purpose.

Bogled!

When you receive a phone call from Albert Bogle you never know where it’s going to lead.   He phoned me a couple of weeks ago about an idea he had for a Christmas video which would be put out under the banner of his Sanctus First media group.  I liked the idea and made the mistake of becoming quite excited about it which was the green light for the bold Albert: ‘Would you write the script?’  OK.  That was done fairly quickly and Albert was pleased but then there was another question: ‘Would you take the role of Lord Starburst?’  So not only writing but ‘starring’.  I was being well and truly ‘bogled’.  

The whole experience was a delight.  The concept is taken from ‘The Apprentice’.  Three people are sent out by Lord Starburst to buy a gift for a king and they return with items which are more appropriate than they realise.  We shot scenes in the Barras, the St Mungo Museum, Mappin and Webb, the Glasgow City Chambers and a board room of Ernst and Young.  Along the way we gathered a few people  who were only too glad to join in, so thanks to Wee Jimmy at the Barras, Sonia at the St Mungo Museum and the receptionist at Ernst and Young.  

If you want to see how it all turned out have a click on www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/themes.  The video is called ‘You’ve Nailed it!’  

Gifts For A King.

This year has seen the birth of a royal baby.  If you were given the task of finding a gift for him, what do you think would be appropriate?  Certainly he will need all the things that every baby needs.  But if you were to get him something special what would that be?  Most people would probably think of something very expensive or something highly unusual.  That was certainly the case when a group of Babylonian philosopher scientists brought gifts to the infant Jesus.

There is a degree of mystery as to what drove them on the long journey from their homeland to Israel.  It is quite possible that their studies had led them to the Hebrew Scriptures and the great hope of Israel that one day a  King would emerge who would hold the key to all the mysteries of life.  But how did the Magi connect this hope with the unusual cosmic disturbance that occurred on a particular night?  We do not know but the ‘star’ spoke to them of the King’s birth and the need for them to make the journey to honour him. 

They brought gifts.  There is no explanation why they brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Perhaps the gospel writer believed that no explanation was needed.  Gold, highly valued, durable, to wish the infant King a long reign.  Frankincense, used in religious ceremonies, to wish the King a close walk with his God.  Myrrh?  This was used to preserve dead bodies.  What has this to do with the freshness and the promise of new life?  Were the Magi given some insight into the nature of this King’s mission?  That his death would be in some way significant?

All we know is that all of the gifts were appropriate.  This King was destined to reign forever and ever.  Of all human beings he was closest to God, indeed God in the flesh.   His death opened the way for humanity to be renewed in body, mind and spirit.  There is a sense in which the gifts told the whole story of the King.  How close are we to that story?     

In T.S. Eliot’s poem Journey Of The Magi they returned to their homeland changed, ‘no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation/With an alien people clutching their gods.’  Will there be a change in us as once again we are brought to the familiar story this Christmas?  The story of a God who became one of us, who lived our life, who died to open up the way for us to be at peace with God, who has risen to assure us that our journey of life will continue beyond death.

Remembrance Reflection

I am sure, like me, you have been staggered by the sight of thousands of refugees streaming from Syria to neighbouring countries where they believe they can find some security for the future.  Some of these countries are small and not best able to respond to need on such a large scale.  As often happens, however, at times of great crisis the best in humanity can emerge to bring hope.

I attended a meeting recently organised by Tearfund which was addressed by one of its workers just recently returned from the Middle East.  She had been in various countries where Syrians had sought refuge, one of which was Lebanon.  In one town she came across a Syrian family - mother, father and four children - who were living in a derelict building.  They had had a fairly good standard of living in their own country but were now having to live day to day.  Circumstances were made all the more difficult by the attitude of the local Mayor.  He had made a statement to the effect that no Syrian refugees should be given any help.  Apparently, there have been strained relationships between Lebanese and Syrians in the past.

A small Christian congregation was not prepared to accept this, however, and were providing the family with food, clothes and any other items they may need.  This is all the more impressive in that the family are Muslims.    

In this season of Remembrance when we are conscious of the things which divide humanity and cause hostility we need stories like this which show how barriers can be broken down by compassion.  This was part of Jesus’ ministry as he  responded to those in need without regard for their nationality or religious background.  He rejoiced to see the greatest example of faith in a Roman soldier; he responded to the pleas of a pagan woman for the healing of her daughter; he used the character of a Samaritan, always suspect in the eyes of a Jew, to teach responsibility for anyone bruised and battered by life’s road.  

Jesus has warned us that there would always be ‘wars and rumours of wars’ but he also proclaimed the growth of His Kingdom throughout the earth and that that would be strengthened as we learn to love our God and our neighbour in need.