It is finished!

A couple of Sunday's ago at church we began a journey through the gospel of Mark and I was particularly struck by a phrase that I often ponder. It is when John the Baptist appears to refuse to baptise Jesus because he is not even worth to 'carry his sandles.' Jesus responds that this must be done to "fulfil all righteousness" and that is the phrase that I always struggle to understand. That Sunday I sat with my eyes upon the Bible and read and re-read the words that were written there, and then it came to me!! The baptism of Jesus was as much about John the Baptist and his mission as it was about Jesus and I was then bathed in the vision and words of Jesus at the end of his mission, if not his time, on earth as he hung on the cross and murmured "It is finished" (John 19:30b) and died. The act of the Baptism of Jesus marked the end of the ministry of John as he had finally been able to point the way towards Jesus, a way that he had been preparing, and by fulfilling his obligation was right with God and subject to the salvic righteousness of God.

This epiphany got me to thinking about my own situation, my brief ministry at Station Hill Baptist and my current situation; I am not sure of my future and how I might serve God. And all of these revelations served to bring be to conclusion: It is finished, my ministry at SHBC is done and I must accept that and move on. It is God's will. By doing this, by accepting God's will in my life I can move forward in my ministry, whatever that may be. As I do that and as I rest in the relief of closure of that chapter in my life I hear ringing in my ears my favourite passage from Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths."

A message for both for me and for the church that I served.