The week in focus
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In touch: Suffering, death, resurrection
Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
In times of suffering, Jesus is with us, leading us to a new life (Mark 8.31-38).
Context
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
- Jesus not only tells his disciples about his suffering, death and resurrection, he invites them to become part of it and, in a sense, to share in it. The experience of the pandemic has been a shared experience of suffering. It is only the extent which has varied from person to person. In order to cope with the suffering, people have been crying out for hope. In a sense, that hope was shattered by the late restrictions that were brought in just before Christmas.
- Jesus did not just talk about suffering and death but also about resurrection and new life. The Prime Minister has outlined a hope that takes us through the resurrection of Easter and beyond the empowerment of Pentecost. However, we are told by the Health Secretary that it is important that each person plays a part for the end of the roadmap to be reached successfully. In the same way, in order to share in Christ’s dying and rising, he invites his disciples to play their part by taking up their cross.
- Taking up the cross means entering into a life of service of God. That service is complete in every way. The Queen has made clear that she believes that royal service leaves no room for the partial. It has to be total service. Jesus says that those who want to save their lives will lose them. The response by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is that service is universal. Service and God’s work can be done by all people. However, it is worth reflecting on the servant rather than the service. Jesus explains that being one of his followers entails total submission. That means that there is no place for the half-hearted. Christian service involves accepting every aspect of the commandments to love.
- Can anyone who watches ITV’s Dancing on ice name everyone who was there at the beginning – who’s still in and who’s out? Why are certain celebrities no longer ‘in’? Leaving aside that following Jesus was neither a competition nor on ice (!), who was there at the beginning? Who dropped out? Who lasted the course? What did the disciples expect when they first followed Jesus? Were there surprises along the way? And what are our expectations today? What does ‘take up your cross’ actually mean? And how should we respond to not knowing for certain what it means, now or in the future, for each one of us personally?
Questions for discussion
- In what ways is serving God universal?
- What sorts of things help you through times of suffering?
- Do you think Jesus had a roadmap of what lay ahead for him?
Stuart Wild is the Superintendent Minister of the South Fylde Methodist Circuit and minister of Fairhaven, Kirkham and Lytham Methodist churches.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
How up to date is your vaccination knowledge?
Perhaps you’re beginning to exchange vaccine statistics like you used to do about footballers. Never mind Messi’s shots to goal ratio in 2020 (18.1%, by the way), now it's all about vaccination efficacy. There are fewer chances to jump and shout, ‘GOOOOAAAAAL’ but there is plenty of evidence to give us hope that life might soon return to some sort of normal.
However, alongside that promise of hope there is the debate over how richer countries with more than enough vaccine doses should pass their surplus on to poorer countries who are unable to vaccinate even those most in need. It’s natural just to want to look after ourselves and our families but the global COVID situation reminds us that, if we are selfish, we leave others in danger and in turn endanger ourselves.
In Mark 8.31-38 Jesus talks about the need for his followers to deny themselves, to make sacrifices. He made it clear to his followers not to expect an easy life, but he said their sacrifices would be worth it.
If richer countries ‘sacrifice’ some of their vaccine supplies, that means other poorer countries can vaccinate their populations and it makes the world safer. Similarly, when we, as Christians, learn to deny ourselves, step outside our comfort zones and take risks to show people God’s love, we find ourselves being used by God in ways we could never imagine.
Are there any sacrifices you could make this week to show God’s love to someone?
Take a look at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rowanpatterson where a Christian couple have launched a campaign to ‘twin’ vaccines. It suggests that two doses of the vaccine can cost between £4 and £30 and, by donating an amount to Unicef, as you receive your vaccine, could enable those across the world to also receive a vaccine. Consider donating if you are able – in thanksgiving for your vaccine.
Chris Neilands runs Play it by Ear drama company which helps people connect with the Bible and explore some of the big questions of faith through performances and workshop.
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