As we live our lives, sometimes a national or international crisis can impact our lives. Governments changing, wars affecting food prices, even impacts of AI. Today we read of this happening to Abram. However the events that unfold become a vital part of the ongoing story of God’s working. In our reading from Genesis 14 we had a dramatic account of three battles. The first two concern attacks by 5 Eastern kings (Chedorlaomer of Elam plus) on 4 Western ones.
I wonder, what do you make of Jesus? Last week we considered how God the Son is eternal just as God the Father is, so this week we come to consider his becoming human, incarnate, in the person of Jesus and some of what that means for us. What do you make of Jesus?
We’re in the third part of our series on the Nicene Creed and the second part of four looking at the person of Jesus. And today we’re wrestling with the question of what it means for God to become human.
Our Gospel reading tonight starts on the largest scale you could imagine. It’s like we’ve zoomed right out, wound time right back, and we’re standing in the void of nothing and there with us is God. God and the Word. And we’re still at this cosmic scale as galaxies and stars and nebula and planets and moons are created. All the way down to animals and plants, particles and sub-atomic particles. We’re watching as the universe in its infinite complexity is created. And what are its hallmarks? Light and life.
Our Gospel reading today begins with the request of two Gentiles to see Jesus. And whilst they immediately drop out of the picture, they’re never mentioned again, their request prompts this revelation from Jesus that his hour has now come, the time is here, and what does that mean? Glory for him, and glory for his Father.