Lent Reflections: Week 6 – The Way of Servanthood

6 April by Rev Phil Gough, District Secretary for Ministry and Vocations

Reading: John 12 v. 1 – 8

Theme: Jesus is anointed at Bethany

Notes

Today is Passion Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent.

As a complete aside, Wikipedia tells me that it is traditional on this day, especially across areas of old Lancashire – Bury, Bolton, Preston, Atherton, Leigh etc – to eat parched peas (black eye peas)! I wonder how many of us will, and how that is connected to Passion Sunday?

In today’s story, we see Jesus ‘at home’ with friends in Bethany (Lazarus, Martha and Mary) – a place and people he knew well, and a meal is prepared in Jesus’ honour – after all, he had only recently raised Lazarus from the dead.

As we focus on ‘the way of servanthood’ this week, it is interesting to note the characters in the story.
Martha is serving the meal to all who are present – she serves through hospitality.
Mary serves Jesus by anointing him with very expensive perfume – she serves through an act of devotion.
Judas, who criticizes Mary’s extravagant gesture, is in turn condemned by the writer, John, as one who is only serving himself.

Wonder

I am left wondering who am I serving, and how?
And as Jesus allows himself to be served, at the table, and in the anointing, who am I appreciating serves me, serves us, and how?

Prayer

O Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
AMEN

7 April by Rev Hayley Edmondson, Probationer Minister in the South Lakes Circuit and the South West Cumbria United Area

Reading: Isaiah 49 vs. 1 – 7

Theme: Carrying God’s light

Notes

God’s people are in exile, following their defeat and the destruction of the temple. They are having an identity crisis far from home and are questioning their faith. Into this context, Isaiah brings hope by saying that God will send a servant who will bring justice.

Isaiah explains that this servant will not be instantly recognisable as someone mighty. They will appear invisible and perhaps quite ordinary to begin with, but they are someone who will do extraordinary things. Ultimately they will be recognised as powerful despite their initial appearance, showing that God can work through even the most unexpected of people to bring about his purposes for the world.

Isaiah explains that God intends to restore his relationship with humans through this servant, bringing hope that this exile is not the end of the story of God’s people. Isaiah continues and says that even restoration of their relationship with God is not the end of the story. God’s people are to serve him by carrying the gospel, the message of salvation, to the ends of the earth. God’s people are to be bearers or carriers of God’s light in the world.

We, of course, know that the servant Isaiah was talking about is Jesus Christ. Christ came to offer God’s saving grace to all people and in doing this, he removed the barriers between nations and peoples and showed that there is no restriction on God’s love. It is freely available to everyone. Through God’s servant Jesus and his instruction to his followers in Matthew 28:18-20 the mission of God, described by Isaiah as bringing God’s salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6) began. Still today, God calls unlikely and unexpected people to represent the gospel. God calls you and me to serve him by taking his light to all people.

Wonder

Do you see yourself as a servant of God, chosen by him to share his light and hope with the world?

How can you share the light of the gospel with others today?

Prayer

Generous God,

Thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save us.

Help us to recognise your call and commission on our lives and on the lives of others.

Open our eyes to see you and your light in the most unexpected of people and the most unlikely of places.

Give us the words and the actions to enable us to serve you as carriers of your light and true agents of your love in this world, wherever we go and whoever we meet, each and every day.

Amen

8 April by Rev Phil Gough, District Secretary for Ministry and Vocations

Reading: Isaiah 49 v 8 – 18

Theme:

Following on from Hayley’s reflection yesterday, on the first part of Isaiah 49, the call for us to be ‘light’, in the way practise servanthood, the word which stood out for me in v. 8 – 18 was ‘compassion’:

‘Whoever has compassion on them (the captives / exiles) will guide them and lead them beside springs of water’ (v. 10)

‘The Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on all his afflicted ones’ (v. 13)

or the question about whether a parent can have no compassion for their child (v. 15).

We know that God’s nature is full of compassion, care, loving-kindness – we see that more fully in the life of Jesus, and the time he takes with so many, to serve, to heal, to restore, to nourish.

And God is looking for those who follow Jesus to also act, to be guided by the compassion they feel for the needs of the world and those around us.

We may all be stirred to help in so many different ways, but help we must, where we can, with all the resources God has given.

‘Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can’ – a good motto for servanthood.

And the beautiful promise in these verses is that God, as a loving parent, will never forget us (even if our earthly family were to)

‘See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands’

and that everything about us is known and loved by God.

As we serve, and receive the sacrificial service of others today, may we recognise in all the hands that serve, the hand of our creator, who holds us, and all who hurt and are in need of compassion. May we glimpse the hands upon which our names are engraved.

Wonder

Listen to the compassion stirred inside of you right now – I wonder what that might lead you to do in serving others?

I wonder how we might dwell upon the image of our names, our everything, being engraved on God’s hands – how does that feel, what does that mean for us, and for the way we might serve others?

Prayer

I encourage you to meditate upon some of the words from Isaiah 49 v. 9 – 11 (from The Message), that we might hear God’s heart, God’s compassion, and turn it into a prayer for our day.

‘I form you and use you

to reconnect the people with me,

To put the land in order,

to resettle families on the ruined properties.

I tell prisoners, ‘Come on out. You’re free!’

and those huddled in fear, ‘It’s all right. It’s safe now.’

There’ll be food stands along all the roads,

picnics on all the hills—

Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty,

shade from the sun, shelter from the wind,

For the Compassionate One guides them,

takes them to the best springs.’

9 April by Simon Skidmore, Children’s and Youth Development Worker, Bolton Methodist Circuit

Reading: Isaiah 50:1-9

Theme: The Servant of the Lord

This reading from Isaiah today (Isaiah 50:1-9) offers profound insights about God’s divine faithfulness, the importance of human accountability, and how we can be stronger by relying on God and through us being evermore trusting.

The passage begins with God addressing misconceptions about His relationship with His people, illustrating that separation from Him was not arbitrary but rooted in human sinfulness. This reminds us of the importance of taking responsibility for our own choices, acknowledging how they can distance us from divine love.

God’s rhetorical questions highlight His powerful omnipotence and the unwavering commitment to redemption. Though humanity may falter and not always respond readily to His call, He demonstrates the power to save and transform—even commanding nature to align with His will. This offers us reassurance that no situation is beyond God’s reach, encouraging us to trust in His ability to restore and renew and refresh us.

The Bible reading from Isaiah also focuses on the obedience and endurance of the Lord’s servant—a model of unwavering faith amidst suffering. It portrays a deep intimacy between the servant and God, emphasizing how remaining close to God equips us to face challenges with courage. The servant’s perseverance despite humiliation and pain underscores the importance of relying on God’s strength rather than fearing human opposition.

Ultimately, this scripture invites us to reflect on how we respond to God’s call, embrace His teachings, and remain steadfast in the face of trials. It’s a powerful reminder that God is near, defending and proving His people innocent. With Him, disgrace transforms into honour, and the accusations that are laid, crumble before divine justice.

Wonder

What can we do extra today in terms of being the obedient servant in following God’s call?

Who do we need to stand up together during this Lent and who are the adversaries that we need to confront?

Prayer

Loving Lord, help me to stay obedient to your call and to be faithful to what you need me to do. To be your faithful servant and to be open to new challenges and be courageous in living them out. Renew and refresh me and strengthen my spirit in times of adversity and difficulty and may I always put my trust in you. Amen.

10 April by Rev Phil Gough, District Secretary for Ministry and Vocations

Reading: Isaiah 51 v 1 – 8

Theme: ‘I am doing a new thing’

We now have two days in Isaiah 51. Today, the first eight verses.
Throughout the first eight verses of this chapter, in the section of Isaiah designed to communicate comfort and hope to the Israelites exiled throughout Babylon, the call is to those who ‘pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord’, ‘my people’, ‘you who know what’s right’.

They (and we) are called to ‘listen to me’, ‘look to the rock / quarry’, ‘look to Abraham / Sarah’. ‘listen to / hear me’, ‘lift up your eyes to the heaven, look to the earth’, ‘hear me’. There’s a lot of watching and listening to be done.

Our relationship with God is best served when we listen and pay attention well.

When God’s people take the time to listen and watch well, we shall see how God serves us – with ‘comfort and compassion’ as desert wastelands are refreshed like plush gardens; with ‘instruction’ and guidance, ‘righteousness, salvation and justice’

The result of all of this looking and listening for God in our history – in all who have served us, and created the people we are today – and of receiving, from the God who serves, all comfort, compassion and guidance – there are some wonderful results promised:
‘joy and gladness will be found – thanksgiving and the sound of singing’
‘my salvation will last forever – my righteousness will never fail’
‘my righteousness will last forever – my salvation through all generations’

Wonder

I wonder, as you listen and watch for the many ways God’s goodness serves us well, what song of joy, gladness and thanksgiving is in your heart?

The writer invites us to delve into our past, our heritage – ‘the rock from which we’re hewn’, our spiritual ancestry – and to see the eternal dimension to our relationship with God, salvation and righteousness enduring for ever. I wonder how we hold together all our past and our eternal future, and how this perspective might shape our decisions and attitudes today?

Prayer

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies
For the love which from our birth, over and around us lies

For the wonder of each hour, of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light

For Thyself, best Gift Divine, to all people freely giv’n
For that great, great love of Thine, peace on earth and joy in heav’n

Gracious God, to Thee we raise, this our sacrifice of praise!

AMEN.

11 April by Rev Phil Gough, District Secretary for Ministry and Vocations

Reading: Isaiah 51 v 9 – 15

Theme: ‘I am the Lord your God’

Today we continue to read through this chapter of Isaiah, looking for signs of servanthood – the theme for this week’s Lenten journey.

In remembering God’s faithfulness to the Hebrew people throughout the generations – enabling them to conquer enemies, and parting the sea for their escape to freedom
‘who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over’ – they are served with hope and promise for the future.

There will be singing, gladness and joy again, as exiles return, and all the sorrow, sadness and sighing will be no more.
‘Everlasting joy will crown their heads’.

Once again, how are we served by seeing God’s faithfulness in the past – in ancient history and in our own story – in an approach to, a perspective on, our current struggles and challenges?

We are called to remember who this God is, the One who serves us – our Maker, the creator of the heavens and the foundations of the earth. ‘I am the Lord, your God, the Lord Almighty.’

Wonder

I wonder how we may experience and encounter the Creator, the Almighty God, today?

I wonder what causes us ‘sorrow and sighing’ today, and how we might recognise God serving up the hope and promise of ‘everlasting joy’?

I wonder who will serve ‘joy and gladness’ to us, or who we might serve in this way, today?

Prayer

Finish, then Thy new creation – pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory, till in Heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
AMEN

12 April by Becca Ainsworth local Preacher in the Preston Ribble Circuit

Reading: Isaiah 52:1-10

Theme: How beautiful on the mountains…

Notes

We carry on in the book of Isaiah with further prophetic text offering hope to those in exile at the time. They are reminded that historically God’s people have been here before, equating bondage in Egypt and suffering under Assyria.

They will recall that they got through oppression in Egypt, so they can do it again now.

They are promised restoration of Jerusalem, a new Jerusalem, that is better than before.

Salvation will be received from God before the eyes of all nations to the end of the earth.

If you were one of the scattered, I can see that this would be of comfort, to know that God has not abandoned them, that he would restore Jerusalem to something even better.

In our passage there is a lot of language about kings, how God will be on the throne.

It reminds me of those visions of heaven, the new Jerusalem, with Jesus, the Lamb upon the throne. I invite you today to imagine what our world would look like if this was the case now.

Verse 7 and 8 interests me and presents an interesting challenge to us. Talking about messengers bringing the good news people and those on the lookout for these messengers.

Both are people we need in the church and will help to bring about the New Jerusalem. Are you able to proclaim the good news of Christ? Are you able to be aware of when there are messages being spoken, we need to pay attention to?

Wonder

Todays Methodist Way of Life symbol invites us to TELL. We will tell of the love of God. How are you able to share this vision of a New Jerusalem with those that need to hear it the most?

Prayer

King of Kings and Lord of Lords,

We bow down to worship you. We offer you our lives that we can be your messengers, and watchmen watching for signs of your kingdom around us. Help us to be open that we can share the good news with all people. Amen.