BIBLE MONTH 2025 opens a Gospel of Superabundance!
For most of us, at some time or other in our lives, we let go of some things or someone or some place that have been very precious to us.
I wonder if such ‘letting go’ has been done reluctantly or tearfully? or with almost unseemly haste or joy? or with a mix of feelings?
Sometimes, letting go brings ‘more’! perhaps in the form of richer, deeper gifts? unexpected experiences and friendships?
I wonder, given previous experiences, how we might respond if asked to 'let go' again and again?
Jesus’ disciples let go of their previous lives to follow Jesus; they let go of Jesus' presence at the Crucifixion; they let go of their earthly mentor at Jesus' ascension home to God. Yet, this third time, they let go with JOY! For them, letting go of their trusted friend brought a new relationship with Jesus - one in which there is Superabundant Life-Light and a new source of HOPE (for us all!).
In the Methodist Tradition, June is a month dedicated to celebrating the scriptures. In Bible Month, there are opportunities to explore one particular book of the Bible in a little more depth. This year’s focus is St John’s Gospel. Here are a few of the opening verses of this Gospel in the very traditional words of the King James’ translation.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by God; and without God was not any thing made that was made. In God was life; and the life was the light . And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not..... And of God's fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ".
These words show the ways in which St John’s Gospel is one of superabundant Love, truth and life in Jesus Christ – a framework as to how we are to understand Jesus and our part in history and reality. John gives the essentials of a Christian world view. This is what gave the disciples joy, gratitude and hope when Jesus left them on earth!
The Message version of the same opening, refers to that which came into existence as LIFE – the Life that was Light to live by – a Life-Light blazing out of the darkness; We all live off his generous abundance, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then, through Jesus, the Messiah, came an exuberant giving and receiving and endless knowing and understanding.
In the GOOD NEWS Translation John 1 16-17 we read that:
Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
For the disciples, letting go of their worldly views and ways led to a growing understanding of the Superabundant Life to be had in Jesus, became a tremendous source of JOY and HOPE! The same call to love God with all our minds and hearts, to be open to being guided ‘into all the truth’ (John 16:13), to step into an ever deeper loving, personal relationship with Jesus is there for each one of us. In John 17:20-26, Jesus prays that those who trust in him would be united in love with him and his Father. He desires for us to have unity with each other for the sake of the whole world. Do we want our lives to be shaped around what Jesus desires for us?