Faith Daily | 31 March 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 48

Almighty God,

in Christ you make all things new:

transform the poverty of our nature

by the riches of your grace,

and in the renewal of our lives

make known your heavenly glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: John 5: 31-47

131 ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. 33You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, 38and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.

39 ‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. 40Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41I do not accept glory from human beings. 42But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. 43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Penny Graham

This is about Jesus' testimonies.

If I give evidence about myself, my evidence is not true. There is someone else who gives evidence about me, and I know that the evidence which he brings about is true. This is from my Father.

You sent messengers to John, and he gave evidence about the truth. He was saying that he doesn't need evidence from human beings, but he was also saying this, so that we will be saved.

John was a burning and bright shining light, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. Jesus says that he has a greater testimony than John's He has even greater works to complete that the Father has given him to do so. These works will provide evidence about me, evidence that the Father as sent me. You have never heard his voice, and you have never seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you because, you do not believe him whom he has been sent.

People who study the Bible, says Jesus, won't find eternal life there, but if you come to me you will have life. He also says that he doesn't accept glory from human beings, he will know that you haven't got the Love of God within You.

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you're not looking for the glory from the one and only God ? As God spoke to Moses how was he to be believed if he didn't believe if he didn't believe himself ? it was me that he was writing about, and you don't believe my writings, how are you going to believe my words ?

FINAL PRAYER: from “Repairing the Breach” ABM Lent Study 2022

Redeemer God,

may we truly live your abundant life

in the eternal now in which You meet us:

riches lavished, celebratory feasts spread

delights beyond our imagining.

Loved, restored, known fully, knowing You,

with spirit-softened hearts and new names,

that we may be ‘like a well-watered garden

like springs whose waters never fail.’

Your spirit flowing from within us

to bless others as we are blessed.

Amen