Jon Guerra sings, 'Jesus'.

The wisdom and the word

The speaking and the silence

The stillness and the stir

The Spirit in the quiet

The son of God and man

The sinner’s lamentation

The flesh of the I Am

The song of our salvation

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

The dawnbird song of life

The spring of earth and heaven

The water and the wine

The everlasting leaven

My life, my truth, my way

The stone on which I stumble

The vineyard owner's wage

The shepherd of the humble

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord

I have believed

That you are the Christ

The Son of God

It’s true, but who

Are you to me

You are my life

The love of God

My Lord, my God

Stay close, don’t be far

You know how I need you

Make in me a heart

Pure enough to see you

In every speck of dust

In dry and lonely places

And in every one of us

Be light, be kind, be gracious

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 7:1-2, 20, 25-30

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near.

But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret.

Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus went “up to Jerusalem in secret,”. Step inside this scene...What is the mood of this passage? Really get a feel for it...

“Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill?... Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah?” There’s a lot going on in this scene... we see how information or misinformation is spreading; crossed wires, rumours...where is the truth?

Perhaps you can recognise similarities in the world today. In your day-to-day life, are you able to let the truth of who Jesus is cut through competing narratives?

As you hear the passage again, listen for the voice of Jesus...

John 7:1-2, 20, 25-30

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near.

But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret.

Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

‘Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from...’ How would you respond to Jesus here? Perhaps you want to cry back to him... Spend these last moments really recognising Jesus’ voice and speaking back.

You have given all to me

To you, Lord, I return it

Everything is Yours

Do with it what You will

Give me only Your love and Your grace

That is enough for me

Amen