This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 80; Judges 6:25-40; Acts 2:37-47; John 1:1-18

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Canticle 9 (“The First Song of Isaiah,” Isaiah 12:2-6, BCP, p. 86); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3-4, BCP, p. 94)

Judges. Leading up to today’s Old Testament passage we learn that because of their disobedience, Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites. Nevertheless, Yahweh mercifully determines to rescue them through his appointed “valiant warrior,” Gideon. He sends an angel to break this news to Gideon.

It’s instructive at this point to consider how different people in the Bible respond to angels sent from God, and what it reveals about character. When the angel tells Gideon he will rescue Israel from the Midianites, he asks, “How can I do this?” When an angel approaches Mary and tells her she will bear a child, she asks, “How can this be?” Gideon requests proof, “Give me a sign that it is you.” Mary’s response is, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.”

Thus, we are not surprised, in today’s passage, that, when he obeys a command from God to destroy the Israel’s sacred Baal worship altar, cowardly Gideon does this furtively, under cover of night. When his deed is discovered anyway, it is Gideon’s father who must defend him from the townspeople, who want to put him to death. We see that God’s “valiant warrior” has much to learn about trusting God. In fact, following this incident, Gideon again asks for proof that he is to lead Israel against the Midianites. He asks for a sign, involving placing a fleece on the ground and having it remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew. When God provides the sign he asks for, Gideon changes up the terms and asks for the same sign, but with the results reversed. God again confirms the truth of his word to Gideon (we can imagine God doing this with a kind of celestial, but somewhat patient, eye-roll). 

Acts: Today’s Acts reading follows Peter’s eloquent proclamation of Jesus as the One foretold in Scripture, most specifically recounting his resurrection in Psalm 16. Peter declares that David knew when he composed the Psalm, that he was writing, not about himself, but of a promised descendant who would be enthroned forever (Psalm 132). Peter concludes that his listeners can be certain that “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (v. 36).

Peter’s listeners, believing, ask how they might properly respond (Acts 2:37). They are told to repent and be baptized, and we see the beginnings of Christian worship and community taking shape. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” There developed a communal life—believers meeting together daily, worshipping, praying, and generous sharing with those in need.

John. We begin the study of the book of John with an eye to John’s purpose in writing, themes he discloses, and his declaration that he is an authentic and trustworthy eyewitness to the events he describes. 

John makes his purpose clear at the outset of his gospel, and he will reiterate his purpose at its conclusion. Thus, today’s reading in John 1 begins with the first words of the book of Genesis, “In the beginning….” John wants us to know that Jesus is God: “the Word was with God and the word was God.” Not only that, but John tells us that Jesus was present, and participated in, the creation of the world (v.2-3). Jesus became a human being, and John attests to having personally seen him, and to having seen him in his transfigured state “we saw his glory” (v.14). John further wants us to believe: “that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

The Gospel of John has themes to watch for as we study this book. One of the main themes is the concept of light and dark, which we observe even in these first poetic verses: 

in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.                                                     
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 

Keep an eye out for “light and dark,” “day and night,” as we read further.

John also wants us to understand that the miracles Jesus performed were much more than amazing incidents. John calls them “signs,” that is, they signal something greater than the events themselves. They point to Jesus’s identity and mission, and to his control over the created world, from healing the lame to raising dead people to life. (Who is able to do this but God?)

John directs us to observe that there exists a preordained time for the accomplishment of God’s plans. “An hour is coming,” Jesus says at various times (John 4, 5, 16). Further, there will be occasions when John tells us that Jesus’s “hour had not yet come,” and later, that “his hour had come.” 

And of course, look for the wonderful “I am” sayings contained in this beautifully written book: 

• “I am the bread of life … the bread which came down from heaven” — 6:35,41,48

• “I am the light of the world” — 8:12; 9:5

• “I am the door of the sheep” — 10:7

• “I am the good shepherd” — 10:11,14

• “I am the resurrection and the life” — 11:25

• “I am the way, the truth, and the life” — 14:6

• “I am the true vine” — 15:1,5

In these early verses in chapter 1, the eyewitness John states: “and the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory…” John will conclude his book with this attestation:  “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” That John is not only an eyewitness, but likely a member of Jesus’s closest circle—Peter, James, and John—gives his gospel a unique and pricelessly “up close and personal” perspective. 

In sum. When we read of Gideon’s lack of trust in God, and when we note God’s kind patience with him, we can, with confidence, ask God for his own patience with us. The early church in Acts developed an identity and a communal life that may be difficult for us to imitate in exactly the same way, especially in these days of social distancing. However, I pray we may be able to find ways to express a similar glad and greathearted love and care for one another despite the difficulties.  Finally, in these opening verses of John’s gospel I pray you may find assurance of God’s gracious love through Jesus Christ. John shows us Jesus, bringing light and life to the world, come to make the Father known to us, willing to go hell, and back, for us.

Be blessed this day, 

Reggie Kidd+