I Am the True Vine - A Lent Teaching Series
What is the fruit that our ministry bears? Jesus, the True Vine, teaches what it means to be his hands and feet. Aunty Dr Anne Pattel-Gray wraps up our 2020 Lent series.
View and download the PDF of this Lent Teaching here.
In today’s video teaching, Charlene Delos Santos reflects on Jesus’ statement, “I am the way, truth, life”. Jesus made this statement during the last meal he shared with his disciples before he died. During this time with his disciples, Jesus asked them to let him wash their feet. This was a shock to the disciples and completely counter-cultural: a leader getting down to the level of his followers and serving them in the most humbling way.
There is vulnerability and intimacy in both giving and receiving service. When somebody encounters the most vulnerable and perhaps shameful parts of us and tenderly loves and honours us. Jesus’ way of power is to serve in unglamorous, personal ways. What a contradiction to the image of power that our dominant culture promotes: rising above, serving ones own interests. In the context of this example, Jesus tells us “I am the way, truth, life”. The example of Jesus is the way for us to follow. It is truth and goodness. It is true, abundant life. As we walk the way of Jesus, we are challenged to not only accept his deep love for us, but also to reflect this love in lifting up and honouring the ones who are usually forgotten.
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Today's Reading: John 14:6
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'
Reflection Questions:
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What examples of service have you seen or experienced in your community or your life?
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Who are “the least of these” in your world? Who are the people usually looked down upon or belittled? What would it look like to serve them?
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Reflect to yourself: Consider the idea of Jesus serving and loving us when he sees us at our worst, our most shameful. What are the parts of you that you wish you could hide? What is it like to think about Jesus loving all of you unconditionally, including those things?
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Who are the people you are most likely to belittle or de-value? What makes it hard to serve them?
Daily Bible Readings:
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Wed 1 April |
John 14:1-7 |
In what context does Jesus say “I am the way, and the truth and the life”? |
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Thur 2 April |
John 14:8-31 |
How does Jesus build on what he has said of himself? |
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Fri 3 April |
Exodus 3:1-6 |
What was it like to know God in the past? |
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Sat 4 April |
Isaiah 35:1-10 |
What did the Prophet promise the way to God would be like in the future? |
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Sun 5 April |
John 14:6 |
Sit with this text, mulling it over slowly today |
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Mon 6 April |
Acts 4:1-12 |
How did the first disciples understand how Jesus was the way, the truth and the life? |
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Tue 7 April |
Colossians 1:13-20 |
How did the early church understand how Jesus was the way, the truth and the life? |
Pray:
Lord Jesus, you are the way, truth and life. Open our eyes to see the love that you have for each of us. Give us the courage to let that love transform us. As we do our best to walk the way you have laid out for us, help us when we struggle to love those around us. May we encounter the truth and life that service brings as we both serve and let ourselves be served and loved. In Jesus name, Amen.
Charlene Delos Santos was born in the Philippines and moved to Naarm (Melbourne) when she was six years old. She lives in Maribyrnong, with her husband Michael and is part of Dwell Ascot Vale Church of Christ. She is the director of Surrender, an organisation calling Christians to follow Jesus to the margins, and also coordinates 2nd Gen youth ministries with the Baptist Union of Victoria. She has a youth work background, having previously worked with Scripture Union Victoria in schools ministry for over a decade. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Work) and is currently studying theology at Whitley College. She is passionate about seeing the church flourish in cultural diversity.
