The way to ‘see’ Christ The biggest challenge for the Christian: … is to know their Christ A Christian is a … Christ-follower … we follow whom and what we believe in … … we follow whom and what we know… St Stephen’s 22 April 2018

Three ways to ‘see’ Christ Through His word By His spirit Through the sacrament of Holy Communion St Stephen’s 22 April 2018

1. We get to know Christ through his word 1. Breaking bread with Christ makes us recognise him. John 6: 33: ‘For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world’ John 6: 35 I am the bread of life John 6: 41 I am the bread that came down from heaven John 1:1 Word=with God=God. John 6 Word=bread=Jesus=manna from heaven St Stephen’s 22 April 2018

when he was walking with them, they did not recognise him The Emmaus walkers when he was walking with them, they did not recognise him But…. when they had a meal with him, their eyes were opened and they recognised him (Luke 24v31) The disciples (Luke 24:36-45) After they had something to eat, together (Luke 24:36-45): ‘he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures’ The disciples after the night of fishing (John’s account in John 21) He invited them on shore, where fish was already on the fire and bread was at hand ‘No one dared asked: who are you? They knew it was the Lord’ v 12 Thus he had prepared food for them and their eyes were opened to recognise him. St Stephen’s 22 April 2018

2. He is revealed to us by his Spirit 2. He is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit Matthew 16: 17: ‘Jesus replied: ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven’. John 14:26: ‘But the counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’ 2 Cor 3:13-16 – we who have unveiled faces (because we have the Spirit of the Lord) can recognise him, and moreover, we can reflect him, become more like him St Stephen’s 22 April 2018

3. We remember that we belong to him, as we partake of the Sacrament of Communion 3. Through the sacrament of Holy Communion Luke 22:19: ‘And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying: ‘This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me’. 1 Cor 10:16: ‘Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the body of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?’ (see also 1 Cor 11:17 -33). St Stephen’s 22 April 2018

So, three things that will help us to ‘see’ Christ… ‘See’ him in and through the word by which he feeds us Receive the revelation of him, not by man (‘flesh and blood could not reveal this to you’), but by the Spirit By participation in the sacrament of communion, we share, collectively, as his body (being the church, the bride), also in his life. Thus we remember his life, his death, his teachings, his legacy. Amen. St Stephen’s 22 April 2018