Wednesday 30 August 2023

Psalm 110

Background

Earlier in the week we were studying passages from John chapter 15. Returning to this,  today we have only a short passage but one packing a big punch with a promise of total wish fulfilment and insight into some of John’s favourite words – 'glory' and 'joy' – all associated with us 'abiding' ('remaining') In Christ’s love.

This passage repeats the thought from Monday’s reading (John 15:1-6) about the intimate nature of a Christian's relationship to Jesus described as 'the true vine'. We must bear fruit and without our unique connection to Jesus nothing we do will have significance, but there is also a glorious promise of all our desires being met if we continue to remain in Jesus. The permission to “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (verse 7) is presumably tempered by the fact that whatever it is we wish for, will be for the 'Father’s glory' – so put that Ferrari on hold. Nonetheless it is a startling promise that leaps from the page and must have been a very attractive selling point of the new faith to 1st century minds.

We are encouraged to remain in Jesus' love because he loves us just as the Father loves him. Interestingly, coming from Jesus who often seems to break rules, one of the ways we can remain in his love is by following his commands. It seems that love is not a feeling here. Jesus implies that it is something based on obedience. Similarly, joy is not a light frivolous result of this obedience, it is the result of a life lived in total devotion to Christ. And in living this life and bearing much fruit we are glorifying God through being disciples of Jesus.

The fullness or completing of joy was a familiar idiom and remains the most wonderful prospect for us – what can be better than 'complete joy'?

 To Ponder:

• Bearing in mind the context – what wishes would you ask to be fulfilled?
• What fruit would you say you are bearing?