more than one message

Have you ever looked at the bottom left of our church newsletter? You'll see a passage of scripture that Mark, me, or whoever's preaching will be focusing on for that coming week. Just like you can learn more by teaching a class than by sitting in a class, worship can be far more engaging when you understand and have contemplated the perspective it
is emphasizing.

This week, we're continuing a sermon series on "Questions for Lent and Easter," and Jeff and I will be preaching from John 6:60-71. Our question this week is "Do you also wish to go away?"

A beautiful thing about scripture is that there's always more than one message in a passage. John 6:70 reminds us that Jesus called his disciples despite the fact that one would betray him completely. That Jesus would call Judas, that Jesus would minister to Judas, that Jesus
would spend so much time with one who would betray him is fascinating to me, because that's not the way I think. If you're going to let me down, if you're going to betray my trust, if you even have different political views or cheer for a different team, it can be hard to spend time together when forced, much less choose to. Yet in addressing my own issues and insecurities, realizing the insignificance of the differences that are so upsetting to me when compared with the overwhelming love of Christ, I appreciate that we are called and loved by the same God. Perhaps Jesus was onto something, and we should use time with those who differ from us or frustrate us to remind us of what's really important.