Worship At Home - February

2024 - September, November, December, January

Reading: John 1:29– 33

The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, “Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born.” I didn’t know who he was. But I came to baptize you with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him. I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. Before this I didn’t know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, “You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
 
Reflection

Lamb of God and Rabbi are two of the many names given to Jesus. This event takes place after the Baptism of Jesus so John recognized who Jesus was. To the disciples at this time he was just anther of the many Rabbis who wandered from place to place with their followers.
 
As the disciples got to know Jesus better, their appreciation of him grew, until eventually they acknowledged him as the Son of God.
Through our faith we have come to know Jesus. The words may come easily, but it’s only by living the faith that we can appreciate Christ fully.
We need to make the transition from what we know in our head, to what we feel in our hearts.
 
John the Baptist was always to be the preparer and to point to someone else other than himself. His whole ministry was that as a forerunner. We of course probably know that and now he has finished the task of baptising Jesus I wonder if he ever considered the “what know question?” Well now he introduced others to Jesus. The secret was out—here is the Lamb of God, the unblemished one, the sacrifice, the holy one and he will lead you to God.
 
Things change they always have done and always will. They did for John the Baptist and they did for Jesus and they do for us. John pointed to
Jesus, Jesus pointed to God the Father who do we point to?
 
May our Almighty and loving God bless us and we draw closer to Him always and everyday day
 
Prayer

Gracious God,
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, may the light of your presence set our hearts on fire with love for you, now and for ever. Amen
 
Lord, our God, You are eternal and wonderful. Giver of life to all; you help us when we come to you, and give us hope when we call out to you.
 
We bring our prayers before you now, with confidence and joy, knowing you will hear us.
We ask our prayers in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
 
Suggestions for prayer:-
For the world – especially at this time the people of Gaza, Ukraine and North Korea. For the church worldwide that we may work together for God’s kingdom here on earth…….
For those who are ill or suffering in any way. For those who have recently died and all who are grieving. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
 
Further Pondering

From those early disciples, across the world and down through the ages, people have been following Jesus and we are part of that great following today.
 
It doesn’t matter who we are, what age we are or what our circumstances are – we can still follow Jesus. We can worship him and keep close to him through prayer and Bible readings either in church or at home; with other people, or on our own.
January is the month when churches join together to celebrate Christian Unity.  A time when we celebrate the things we share and acknowledge that there are many ways of following Jesus.
 
Let us rejoice and give thanks that God made all of us in his image, and our differences reflect this.
 
Song: Breathe on me