John 12: 20-33 Jeremiah 31: 31-34 Hebrews 5: 5-10

In our Gospel Jesus and his disciples are celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem , a huge Jewish festival. The Pharisees are worried that Jesus’ fame is spreading far and wide and influencing people away from their control . Some Greeks ask to see Jesus but he replies that it is time that he is glorified so all the world will see him. He likens himself to a seed that cannot produce harvest until it goes into the ground and breaks out of its shell. He is saying that he cannot give us new life until he breaks himself open for us through his suffering and death on the cross and subsequent resurrection.

Jesus in his humanity is, of course, in great trepidation and cries out that his soul is troubled. Paul tells us that Jesus prayed with fervent cries and tears to his Father God but was obedient unto death on the cross. His purpose was to glorify God by bringing light into the world. The voice of God, like thunder, is heard as it was at Jesus’ Baptism and Transfiguration , acknowledging that he is God’s son. He is going to the cross to put us right with God by standing in our place and enabling us to become new creations.

Jeremiah foretold this new covenant that will no longer be written on stone tablets but on our hearts in relationship with God. Our hearts will be melted by the love of God, as we are all children of God and the Holy Spirit will dwell within us. This love doesn’t come from head knowledge but is of heart knowledge. We are put right with God not by keeping numerous rules but by experiencing God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for ourselves in our hearts and then letting that same love reach out to others who God puts on our hearts to serve. Jesus did not come as a military king as the Jews expected but as a suffering servant. He experienced all the betrayal, pain and suffering that we can possibly feel. He did not retaliate with violence but allowed violence to be done to him. He is alongside us in both our suffering and joy.

As Christians in Sheringham, thankfully we are not called to be crucified but we are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Our breaking open, as in the seed parable, is to be born again in the spirit to produce fruits of love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. We are called to be lights in a dark world. Our breaking open is to become new creations. By dying to ourselves we paradoxically experience new life. It is only through the crucifixion that we have the resurrection. In words of a hymn: our hearts that dead and bare have been will produce wheat that springth green.

Angela Stewart, Lay Minister