We see Jesus

Hebrews 2.1–9        Hèbreux 2.1-9

Genesis 44. 1- 17     Psalm 50       John 6. 52- 59
Genèse 44. 1 - 17    Psaume 50    Jean 6. 52-59 

The writer quotes from Psalm 8. Mankind is a “little lower than the angels”, “crowned with glory and honour”; it has dominion over all of creation – “everything is under their feet” (vs 7-8).

Such lofty comparisons are embarrassing. As I recall the dishonourable things I’ve done (today, even) and the humanitarian crises we face (the result of our greed?), it’s clear that we’re far from this ideal. As Antony Billington explains:

“Though formed in the image of God, our representation of his rule and authority in the world is distorted. To be sure, threads of beauty, compassion, and productiveness are woven into the fabric of our existence; but so are threads of darkness, disease, and disorder. In our more honest moments, we don’t need to go further than ourselves to be confronted with the twists and turns of the human heart. We walk tall, but fall short.” 

Thank goodness, then, that we are not the end of the story. Thank goodness, then, that there is still hope. For even though we can’t yet see this world where all is as it should be (“yet”)! (v8)): “we do see Jesus” (v9).

We don’t see how refugee camp kids can have a childhood.
               But we do see Jesus.

We don’t see how the spread of Zika can be stopped.
               But we do see Jesus.

We don’t see how we can love our neighbours (or ourselves).
               But we do see Jesus. 

We don’t see how [your own concern for today] will be resolved.
               But we do see Jesus.

We see people who bring light to darkness. We see the bigger picture, where no one is beyond God’s love. We see Jesus’ own care for the poor, the sick, the marginalised. We see the God who lived among us, who understands our pain and sadness—who tasted death so we don’t have to (v9).

Hannah Bill

The healing of the paralytic, believed to be the oldest known image of Jesus, from the Syrian City of  Dura Europos, dated about 235

The Road to Salvation

Psalm 32   Psaume 32

Genesis 43. 16- end    Hebrews 1     John 6. 41- 51
Genèse 43. 16- fin      Hébreux 1      Jean 6. 41- 51

I sometimes think that it's quite easy to do a meditation on a Psalm, because the Psalms lend themselves to this sort of exercise.

But not Psalm 32, I find! This Psalm is a special one for me, even so, as it meant a lot when I was going through a difficult time many years ago.

It begins in triumph, a good place to start: we are blessed when we can know the Lord's forgiveness! But then it plunges straight into the reality of not being right with God: the psalmist portrays this as a profoundly physical sensation of "bones wasting away" (weight loss?), sapped strength, and the sense of heavy heat. All this makes him physically groan.

He needs to stop thinking he's right and acknowledge his deviation from the straight-and-narrow. When he does this - just in time - he can confidently assert that he is protected by God.

We are warned to be malleable before God - capable of being changed - as then we are free to trust Him. And finally, the righteous heart can really rejoice!

Thanks be to God for providing the road to salvation!

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Même si c'est parfois difficile, merci a Dieu pour son pardon !

Sue Bird

Stars = Descendants

Genesis 15.1-12,17-18     Genèse 15.1-12, 17-18

Psalm 27      Philippians 3. 17- 4.1     Luke 13. 31- end
Psaume 27   Philippiens 3.  17- 4.1    Luc 13. 31 - fin

At the beginning of this passage Abram is feeling a bit desolate. He felt that everything he had worked for would be lost to just some servant and not to a true descendant, as he didn’t have any. How do you reckon you would feel if God then said to you that your offspring will be as great as the number of stars in the sky? I suppose we can’t really imagine seeing that amount of stars living here in Belgium (the only country completely visible from space at night due to so much light pollution). Luckily for Abram there was no light pollution so he could see the true wonder of God. I do find verses 6 and 8 in this passage a bit contradictory. In verse 6 you see that Abram believes the Lord on face value, but in verse 8 he wants proof that what God promises will truly be his. Which Abram are you and which is the best one to strive towards?

Personally I think you should trust God on face value, which is a bit odd for me as I’m a scientist, who of course always wants to prove something. That’s just the strength and beauty of the Christian faith.

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Welke Abram ben jij? Degene die God op zijn woord gelooft of die God voor bewijzen vraagt? Welk van de twee is de beste? Persoonlijk vind ik dat je God op zijn woord moet geloven. Dit is wel een contradictie voor mij als wetenschapper, die juist naar bewijzen streeft. Dat is juist de kracht en schoonheid van het Christelijk geloof.

Jenny Freeman

Ed The other readings and pcture wil be added later

The Joy of Easter

Psalm 63        Psaume 63

Genesis 43 . 1-15    Galatians 6    John 6.16- 27
Genèse 43 . 1-15     Galates 6         Jean 6. 16-27

Easter is probably the most joyful festival in our church calendar. However Easter this year has perhaps never seemed so severe. Easter this year has perhaps never seemed so severe.

The all too often tragedies we have experienced within the last 12 months in Europe, whether the terrorist attacks, or the fearful hope of some to find the Europe, whether the terrorist attacks, or the fearful hope of some to find the way to a bearable life elsewhere, leave us with a feeling of both confusion and consternation.

Guide us in our choices and actions Lord, teach us to hate our selfish thoughts for the sake of those who are lost, and help us to love our neighbours as ourselves.

In the end, you know we are confident and can rely on your Mercy and Grace only.

“O God, You are my God”; “My flesh longs for you";  But those who seek my life to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth”; “But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped; "But the king shall rejoice in God, everyone who swears by Him shall glory."

Pâques est probablement la plus joyeuse des fêtes de notre calendrier liturgique. Cependant, jamais peut-être Pâques n'a semblé aussi grave.

Les trop nombreuses tragédies que nous avons vécues ces 12 derniers mois en Europe, fussent-elle d'ordre terroriste, ou témoignant du dangereux espoir de certains voulant trouver le chemin d'une vie meilleur ailleurs, nous laissent avec un sentiment de confusion et de consternation.

Guide-nous Seigneur dans nos choix et actions, enseigne-nous la détestation de nos pensées égoïstes pour l'amour de ceux qui sont perdus, et aide-nous à aimer notre prochain.


Vous savez que nous sommes confiants, et pouvons faire confiance en votre Miséricorde et Grâce seulement. « O Dieu ! tu es mon Dieu » ; « Mon âme a soif de toi » ; « ceux qui cherchent à m'ôter la vie iront dans les profondeurs de la terre » ; « Car la bouche des menteurs sera fermée » ; « Et le roi se réjouira en Dieu; Quiconque jure par lui s'en glorifiera ».

Julien Boutique-Leenen

Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5.15-end   Galates 5. 15-fin

Psalm 22               Genesis 42.29- end     John 6.16- 27

Psaume 22             Genèse 42. 29-fin       Jean 6.16- 27

Some thoughts from John Wesley

[15] But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

But if — On the contrary, in consequence of the divisions which those troublers have occasioned among you, ye bite one another by evil speaking.

And devour one another — By railing and clamour.

Take heed ye be not consumed one of another — By bitterness, strife, and contention, our health and strength, both of body and soul, are consumed, as well as our substance and reputation.

[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

If we live by the Spirit — If we are indeed raised from the dead, and are alive to God, by the operation of his Spirit.

Let us walk by the Spirit — Let us follow his guidance, in all our tempers, thoughts, words and actions

An end to exile

Psalm 42      Psaumes 42



Genesis 42 .18- 28   Galatians 5. 3- 15  John 6. 1-15
Genèse  42 .18- 28   Galates  5. 3- 15    Jean 6. 1-15

‘As a deer longs for a stream of cool water so I long for you, O God...where can I go and worship in your presence?’

‘I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise him my saviour and my God.’

These are the words of the psalmist in exile who is far from home and struggles to find God in his present circumstance.

As we prepare for Easter we remember that no territory is ‘out of bounds’ for God, Jesus steps into his own exile to redeem us from ours. As the temple curtain is torn from top to bottom the ‘most holy place’ is opened up to us all. “Where can I go and worship in your presence?” asks the psalmist, the answer is wherever we are willing to turn our attention to Him and pour out our thanks and affection.

I do not know where I will be in 30, 40 or 50 years time but I know exactly where I will be in 10,000 years time; I will be here, with the psalmist, worshipping my saviour and my God. With this perspective I know that there is far more certainty than there is uncertainty, far more hope than there is reason for despair and far more joy than I ever thought possible. He is a good father, let us not wait until everything is finished before we trust him, let us praise him in the process.

Spend some time to acknowledge the presence of your proud and loving father with you, imagine Him in the different places where you will be today and thank him that He is always available for you and treasures every moment you spend together.

Prayer: help me to remember that You are the prize and to joyfully anticipate your redemption.

In de aanloop naar Pasen denken we aan het geweldige nieuws dat God altijd en overal bij ons is. Hij is een goede Vader, die ons vertrouwen en onze aanbidding ten volste waard is. Hij kijkt altijd reikhalzend naar ons uit!

En nous préparant aux Pâques, nous nous réjouissons que Dieu nous accompagne partout et toujours. Il est un bon Père, digne de notre amour et de notre confiance. Il nous attend toujours avec impatience !

Christine Redding

Freedom

Galatians 4.21-5.1       Galates 4.21-5.1

Genesis 42. 6 - 17       Psalm 6       John 5. 30 - 47
Genèse  42. 6 - 17       Psaume 6    Jean 5. 30 - 47

Christ sets us free! Doesn’t that sound glorious? Except do I really want freedom? Life is so much easier with fixed boundaries, pre-set rules. Freedom means taking responsibility, making choices, being willing to change. God is not limited in what he offers us; his gifts are both genuine and enormous. But I often feel inadequate, unwilling to accept a gift that will require greater faith and vision. I seek to tame His grace, by pouring it into channels which seem new and clean, yet will contain and control the ways God can act in my life.

God is trying to give me the gift of freedom; can I allow myself to receive it?

Ann Milton