Thursday 1 May 2025 - Eternal life

Thursday 1 May 2025

Today is Thursday the 1st of May, in the 2nd week of Eastertide. Eliza King sings, ‘Christ Abides’. In the crowded thoughts, You are an open space And I hear Your voice, calling me to come away Where the eagles fly, You're raising me high with You To heavenly places, heavenly places I have the mind of Christ My portion is His perfect peace For Christ abides with me I'll seek You, Lord, and here in Your shadow hide I won't dread the day, nor fear the terror of the night Though thousands fall, I've been seated all along In heavenly places, in heavenly places I'm with you in heavenly places, in heavenly places I have the mind of Christ My portion is His perfect peace For Christ abides with me He's closer than a friend He takes the weary by the hand And says, "Come abide with me" "Come abide with me For my yoke is easy and my burden light I will raise you up like an eagle into flight You will not grow weary nor will you be faint In your every weakness, I will be your strength" I have the mind of Christ My portion is His perfect peace For Christ abides with me He's closer than a friend He takes the weary by the hand And says, "Come abide with me" Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 3:31-36 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. In today’s reading, John gives us a description of who Jesus is, where he comes from, the truth he speaks and the gifts he brings. He begins by proclaiming, ‘The one who comes from above is above all’. Take a moment to reflect on the words ‘above all’ and see what images come into your mind. Perhaps there are disturbances in the world at present where you need to remember that God is greater than even these. Offer them as a prayer to God who is above all. ‘The Father loves the Son and has placed all things into his hands’. Now with these words in mind, let your thoughts turn to someone you know who is suffering. Maybe they need to know or feel that they are held in the hands of the Son. You may like to name them and picture them as you pray. As you listen to the reading again, notice all that God gives through his Son. John 3:31-36 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. John writes, ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life’. Take a moment to let these words rest upon you. Let them reassure you, delight you perhaps, and give you peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen