Titles of Jesus – Son of Man Sometimes the small words matter in how we understand a section of scripture. Some translations of Revelation 1.13 refer to ‘one like a Son of Man’, while others say ‘one like THE Son of Man.’ This small change makes a surprising difference, and takes us to the heart […]
URC Daily Devotion for Easter Friday by Peter Meek
Titles of Jesus – Son of God Mark wants us to know very clearly, and immediately, why he is writing his Gospel which begins with a declaration that Jesus is the Son of God and, within a few lines, recounts Jesus’ baptism. The stories in Matthew and Luke are almost identical. The question of […]
URC Daily Devotion for Easter Wednesday by Michael Hopkins
Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in […]
URC Daily Devotion for Easter Monday by Angela Rigby
In Heathrow airport, there is a poster of Admiral Lord Nelson’s statue in Trafalgar Square taken from an unusual perspective. The photo focusses on his face and his bicorne hat. At a glance, I thought it was Napoleon, but then recognised Nelson – due to context (London airport) and prior experience (I’ve been to Trafalgar […]
Daily Devotions over the next Two Weeks
Dear <<First Name>> Christ is Risen! Happy Easter. I hope you have had chance to celebrate the resurrection today as we mark the triumph of love over hate, life over death, and good over evil. Over the next two weeks a range of writers are going to be exploring some of the Titles of Jesus used […]
URC Daily Devotion for Easter Sunday by Martin Knight
1 Blessed is the one who cares for those in need;The LORD delivers him in times of strife.2 The LORD will surely bless him in the land;He will protect him and preserve his life. He will not hand him over to his foesThat they may satisfy their evil will.3 The LORD will on his sickbed […]
Pictures for Passiontide
Dear <<First Name>> Over the last two weeks our reflections have included various pictures and many folk have asked for more details on them. Here’s the list of what they were and where you can find them. Some of you have noted that you can’t see the pictures. There could be two reasons for this – […]
URC Daily Devotion for Good Friday
Today the Church ponders the horror of the Cross. Despite knowing what happens next we are appalled by this shameful method of execution. Stripped naked, slow asphyxiation killed the victim who tires of the agony of lifting himself up to breathe. A dreadful lingering death – to encourage others to obey the might of Rome. […]
URC Daily Devotion for Maundy Thursday
I am struck by two ‘spaces’ in this picture. The first ‘space’, shows Jesus a huge separation from his mother and the disciple whom he loved. Even though Jesus is still rooted, by the cross, within humanity, this painting denotes that he has entered into another realm which is beyond our sight. He is present […]
URC Daily Devotion 28th March
Like many of Spencer’s pictures, his portrayal of the removal of Christ’s garments projects a haunting and somewhat sinister effect. John’s Gospel, like the Synoptics, places this scene at Golgotha, whereas the painting seems to be set indoors judging by the floor tiles: not in a cell or dungeon, but in the same dark room […]