Includes Sermon Audio
22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Sentence:
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Collect of the day.
God of unchangeable power, when the heaven and earth were made, the morning stars sang together, and a host of heaven shouted for joy: open eyes to the wonders of creation and teach us to use all things for good to the honour of your glorious name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Today’s readings:
Job 38:1-7, (34-41)
Psalm 104:1-10, 26
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10: (32- 34) 35-45
A thought to ponder upon
Mark 10:32-45
James is the son of Zebedee and the brother of the apostle John (Matthew 10:2). He is almost certainly the older brother of John since he is mentioned first in 17 of the 18 verses where the 2 of them are listed together (the exception is in Luke 9:28). James worked with his brother John, with his father Zebedee (Matthew 4:21), and with Simon Peter (Luke 5:10), in the fishing business on the sea of Galilee (Mark 1:16). He certainly had been a follower of John the Baptist as were all the early disciples (Acts 1:21-22). He immediately answered the call to follow Christ when he received it (Matthew 4:18-22).
When Jesus prayed all night and chose 12 of his disciples to be apostles the next morning (Luke 15:12-16), James is the 3rd man mentioned (after Peter and his brother Andrew and immediately before John). Jesus called James and his brother John “Boanerges”, which means the Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17). Both brothers evidently had fiery tempers. They proved this when they sought permission to call fire down from heaven on a village of Samaritans who did not receive Jesus (Luke 9:51-56). They also had the audacity to ask him that they might sit on his right hand and left hand in his kingdom (Mark 10:35-44).
Yet this aggressive tendency did not keep Christ from drawing James into his inner circle. The inner circle of disciples included Peter James and John. Only these 3 went up with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. The same 3 were taken into see the raising of the daughter of Jairus from the dead in the garden of Gethsemane, these 3 were taken further than the other disciples to pray with the Saviour. On a couple of occasions, Andrew was included in a slightly larger inner circle.
Sermon Audio
The Reverend Josie Steytler preaches from the Gospel after the gospel reading.
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