…Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’ Acts 16:25-28 (NIVUK)

Jailors in the first century BCE had a widespread reputation for cruelty, as Philo observed: ‘Everyone knows well how jailors are filled with inhumanity and savagery. For by nature they are unmerciful, and by practice they are trained daily toward fierceness, as to become wild beasts. They see, say, and do nothing good, not even by chance, but instead the most violent and the most cruel things.’

Heat or eat is an unwelcome choice that many in our country are facing due to the cost-of-living crisis. Rising gas and electricity bills, petrol prices through the roof, and inflation running at over 6%, all exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, are making it very difficult for people on a tight budget to make ends meet. This week a poll in a national newspaper reported that 52% of people in the UK would be unable to pay their bills within months.

…when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. John 19:33-34 (NIVUK)
Crucifixions tended to take a long time, which was no problem to the Romans, as they liked to leave the bodies of those crucified exposed for quite some time to serve as a warning to others. The trouble was time was running out for the Jewish leaders. This was the day of Preparation and the crucifixion of Jesus had to be done and dusted by sunset so that they could go ahead and observe the Sabbath. So, these leaders asked for Pilate’s intervention to speed up Jesus’s death and have him taken down in good time.

…it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release “the king of the Jews”?’ They shouted back, ‘No, not him! Give us Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising. John 18:39-40 (NIVUK)
Pilate was in a tricky position. He had already had some run-ins with the Jews: he celebrated the glory and power of Rome by hanging large banners bearing the image of Tiberius Caesar everywhere in Jerusalem, including the temple. This was blasphemy to the Jews, and they were enraged. Pilate agreed to meet them for conciliatory talks only to surround and threaten to kill them. The Jews called his bluff with many of them laying down their necks. Pilate gave in and removed the images.

…the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshipped him. John 9:38 (NIVUK)
In the ninth chapter of John’s gospel Jesus heals a man who had been born blind. It was a wonderful healing, enabling this man to see physically for the first time in his life. I can’t truly imagine what it was like for him to see after years of darkness, nor can I fully appreciate the deep joy he must have felt following the miracle. It must have been a magnificent experience: to have been blind, and now be able to see.

This week marked the 70th anniversary of the ascension of Queen Elizabeth II following the death of her father King George VI in 1952. Her Majesty is the UK’s longest serving monarch and the first in history to reach the milestone of a Platinum Jubilee.

‘…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.’ John 4:14 (NIVUK)
I find it fascinating that John chapter 4 follows on from John chapter 3. Now you might think that’s obvious, what else would you expect? Tell us something we don’t know. But it’s not the fact chapter 3 is followed by chapter 4 that I find so interesting, it’s the two characters that are juxtaposed in these chapters.

…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel… (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NIV)
This verse reveals Paul’s approach to his evangelistic work. He is not advocating a compromise of the gospel message, but rather calls for consideration, compassion and empathy as the good news about Jesus Christ is shared with people from different social and ethnic backgrounds.

In the lead up to Christmas an Australian Drive Time radio presenter, himself an atheist, was criticised for including a seven minute segment on his show titled: Do you know the story of Jesus’ birth? Listeners complained that it was inappropriate and offensive for him to cover the topic of religion and Christianity. One person tweeted, ‘We are a secular country, and the national broadcaster is supposed to be too.’

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost…Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. Isaiah 55:1,3 (NIVUK)
The good news of this invitation is that all are called to come, eat, drink, and live. To demonstrate all are included the author describes three types of people:

Friday 19 November marks the 41st year of the ‘Children in Need’ telethon and since it was first broadcast in 1980 the charity has raised over £1 billion for disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK.

…let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24 (NIVUK)
An important way God spoke to Israel was through the prophets. Some spoke in a very down to earth way and others used visions and obscure language. We often think of prophets as people who foretold the future, but that was not the only way that the Old Testament prophets worked. In general, the prophets’ role was to help people understand what it meant to be the people of God, in their particular circumstances. He spoke for God, and he especially tried to get Israel to turn back to God and back to keeping the covenant when they slipped away from him.

‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ 1 Samuel 3:10 (NIVUK)
Do you ever feel that God couldn’t work with you because you’re too old or too young? Maybe there are things in your past that you think disqualify you from participating with God in accomplishing his purposes. Perhaps you feel inadequate to join with him in what he is doing. If that’s you, then take a look at some of the people God worked with in the opening chapters of 1 Samuel.

There was a news report out this week titled ‘Adapt or die’. It was about environmental change, but it could easily have been about the Christian church. Another news item that caught my eye was about St Michael’s church in Bournemouth that is changing its name to St Mike’s.

Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you.’ Genesis 22:2 (NIVUK)
Of all the incidents in Abraham’s life taking his son Isaac to be sacrificed on Mount Moriah is probably the most famous; it is the climax of his life. The narrative is intriguing, riveting, and puzzling all at the same time. As a result, it has been a source of debate for centuries as many have tried to uncover the various nuances of the story.

Is football finally coming home for England after 55 years of hurt? With England through to Sunday’s Euro 2020 final their supporters won’t have long to find out.

Last week I had the opportunity to spend some time in St. Ives, Cornwall, enjoying the good weather and the picturesque scenery. This week the area of St. Ives will host some far more prestigious visitors as the G7 Summit is held at the Carbis Bay hotel.