Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B 28th April 2024
Lectionary readings: Acts 8 v26-40; Psalm 22 v25-31; 1 John 4 v7-21; John 15 v1-8.
Joining up the dots on the way to honouring God.
Philip helped the Ethiopian official with his thinking about God. Philip linked the passage from the book of Isaiah about the ‘suffering servant’ with Jesus, the promised Messiah. (Isaiah had viewed the nation of Israel as the ‘suffering servant’ of God).
The good news of how God had revealed himself in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus quickly followed. Philip then (presumably) explained the significance of baptism as dying to rebellion against God and rising to new life in Jesus, as the natural path for believers in the one true God.
The Ethiopian was very keen to begin this new life. A life within the loving purposes of God’s plan, united with God and Jesus through God’s gifts of forgiveness and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Although the Ethiopian never saw Philip again, “he was very happy as he went on his way”. (v39).
The psalmist says; “In the future, everyone will worship and learn about you, our Lord. People not yet born will be told “The Lord has saved us!”. (Psalm 22 v30,31).
Luke, the author of Acts, portrays the actions of Philip as being inspired by the Holy Spirit.(v29,39). The theme of God at work in and through disciples of Jesus, is reflected in John’s writings.
In his first letter, John says, “God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. (v9). “God has given us his Spirit. That is how we know that we are one with him, just as he is one with us. (v13).
In the gospel, Jesus says, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15 v1). “I am the vine and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stayed joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit”. (v5). “Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you”. (v7a).
John explains that, “God stays united with everyone who openly says that Jesus is the Son of God. That’s how we stay united with God and we are sure that God loves us. God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay united in our hearts with God, and he will stay united with us.” (v15,16).
“God is love”, John says, “Love comes from God and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God’s children and we know him”. (1 John 4 v7).
John glimpses the truth that God is the source, the ‘well spring’ of love. When we show love to others by our acts of kindness, compassion, hospitality and generosity, then we ‘reveal’ God to others.
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is truly in our hearts”. (1 John 4 v12).
If our actions are motivated by love, they are motivated by God. In doing so, we are obedient to Jesus’ commandment to “love God and love each other”.
“If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples”. (John 14 v35)
Jesus says, “When you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honoured”. (John 15 v8).
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.