Friday 3 January 2025

Today is Friday the 3rd of January, the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Checko Ankrah and Nicky Lathbridge sing, ‘High and Lifted’. You are worthy to be praised You are worthy to be praised You are high and lifted up You are high and lifted up You are high and lifted up Oh Lord You are high and lifted up We're surrounded by Your presence, oh God You are high and lifted up Your glory fills Your glory fills the space, oh God You are high and lifted up I hear the sound of angels I hear the sound of Heaven I see Your glory fill this place, oh God You are high, You are high and lifted up Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 1:29-34 The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ At this point in the gospels, John the Baptist has many followers. His message has struck a chord with people. Yet to their initial surprise, all he wants to do is to point them towards Jesus. What does this suggest to you about John? John himself first recognises Jesus when he sees the Spirit descend on him. Who are the people in whom you can recognise God’s Spirit at work? John describes Jesus as the one who “takes away the sins of the world”. What sins do you see in yourself, or in the world, that you would hope that Jesus will take away? Notice, as the passage is read again, everything that it tells you about Jesus, who he is, and why he came. Your prayer today might finish by talking with both John the Baptist and with Jesus about what you have experienced in the last few minutes. 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.