SIMON PHIPPS

What does it mean to be born again? For many, the term has come to mean adherence to a particular geographical and political movement. For many others the term is just as confusing as it was for Nicodemus 2000 years ago. My last 2 posts have covered Jesus’ reaction to 2 integral Jewish institutions in Johns Gospel: A wedding , and the Temple . We looked at how Jesus took those institutions and showed that He is the reality to which these institutions point* . The water into wine representing the coming Kingdom of God – through Jesus. The clearing of the Temple representing Jesus as the true touchpoint between heaven and earth. In this post, we look at Jesus’ reaction to another Jewish Institution: The Rabbi . And how this helps us understand the term ‘born again’. The Story In Brief The story in question takes place at night, when Nicodemus, a religious leader approaches Jesus. Nicodemus starts with assertions about who he believes Jesus is: a teacher fr...

Why did Jesus kick everyone out of the temple? Last week I introduced a series of 8 stories . The stories are found in Johns Gospel and centre around different Jewish establishments*. In these stories Jesus shows that he is the fulfilment of these establishments. We first looked at the wedding in Cana in John 2 where Jesus turns water into wine. This week I want to turn our attention to look at the clearing of the temple in John 2. The Story At this part of the narrative, Jesus has turned the water into wine at Cana and then gone down to Jerusalem. John tells us that it is the Jewish festival of Passover . Within the Temple , animals are being sold as sacrifices and money changers are exchanging money. Jesus enters the Temple, makes a whip from chords, and drives the animals out of the Temple. He overturns the money changers tables scattering their coins everywhere . Jesus then tells the people to stop turning His Father’s house into a market. Understandably, the leaders are an...

Why did Jesus turn water into wine ? and what does this have to do with you sitting there 2,000 years later? In the first half of Johns Gospel, John lays out eight stories* . Four of these stories are to do with Jewish Institutions: Wedding , Temple , Rabbi , Sacred Well . Four of these stories are to do with Jewish Feasts: Sabbath , Passover , Tabernacles , Hanukah . In each of these stories Jesus takes these institutions and feasts and re-orients them around himself. The stories end with Jesus at the centre of each of them . To understand why this happens we first have to look at the grand sweep of Johns narrative; particularly, John’s love of the number 7 , and his love of the statement “ I am ”. Number 7 Within Judaism the number 7 held particular importance. Within the book of Genesis, the created order (including God resting) takes 7 days to complete. Due to this the number 7 came to represent “ completion ” or “ fulfilment ”. I Am Within Jo...

I both love and hate lent. I hate giving up stuff; hate that I cant do whatever I want. I love all that it stands for. I love the way that it challenges our hedonistic consumerist mindset and creates a space for something that we rarely do: sacrifice . For me, Christ is the greatest example of sacrifice .  He laid down his life for us. He didn't want to, He didn't have to, He chose to.  As His disciples, we are also called to a life of sacrifice, to walk along the narrow, difficult path. One thing that you learn in life is that some people choose a life of sacrifice, whilst others have sacrifice thrust upon them . This can happen through sickness, experiences, circumstance and many other ways.  The picture that is painted of God in the scriptures is one of a God who comes along side us, comforts us, cares for us.  The same is called for us as the Church.  We are called to walk alongside those who are already ...