World Day of Prayer

The World Day of Prayer takes place every year on the first Friday in March. Women in the United States and Canada first formed this event after the devastation of World War I, when they were convinced that world peace was tied to world mission. 

Each year, Christian women from all over the world join together to plan and organize events, and suggest a theme and focus. This year the theme was set by the women of Zimbabwe:

Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk 

John 5:2-9

The program is based on Jesus’ encounter with a person who, although positioned for healing, had not acted upon the opportunities given. Jesus asked –“Do you want to be made well?” 

We are faced with this life-changing question. What are we going to do?

Agenda today:
1. Read John 5:2-9
2. Action on Peace & Reconciliation
3. Prayer for Reconciliation

1. Read John 5:2-9:
Again the study guide for this verse is fascinating. It compares John to Mark and explains that John is poetry about Jesus:

The gospel of John was not written in one piece, but we name the person or group “John” that is responsible for the gospel as we read it now. The context of the gospel is a split within the community  – and “John” belongs to the group that insists to be the true followers of Jesus. 

Unlike the other gospels, Jesus proclaims Himself as the only Son of God, Light of God etc. right from the beginning. ... John’s gospel is a kind of religious meditation about Jesus, it reflects the experiences of the believers with Jesus as Savior.

1.3. The Healing as Sign in John’s Gospel

Jesus’ healings are called signs (Greek: semeia) ... the meaning of the healings as a sign in John differs from the healings and their meaning in the other gospels. In Mark, Matthew, and Luke they are signs for the kingdom of God ... prophetic signs of God’s rule. ...

The signs of John's Christ are, without exaggeration, directly the opposite ... What the signs indicate lies on a fundamentally different level of reality. Who only sees this earthly reality of bodily life, healing, and death does not see the real meaning of the sign at all. Only those who recognize in the earthly process the reference to a completely different, divine reality can understand the healing. Healings and other wonders as signs represent an alternative reality, accessible through faith. This term is connected with the typically Johannian understanding of miracles. 

2. Action on Peace and Reconciliation: 

I love the motto of the World Day of Prayer: "Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action." Our sisters from Zimbabwe are taking Jesus’ encounter with the sick man to be a call to act in love for peace and reconciliation. 

“God is offering us the steps for personal and social transformation.” This is the time for change! May we hear the words of this compassionate God to act upon the healing of ourselves and our communities to bring peace and reconciliation into the world.

I see lots of possibilities for reconciliation in my own life and community.

3. Prayer for reconciliation:

Gracious God, your amazing love extends through all time and space, to all parts of your creation, which you created and called good. You made a covenant with Noah and his family, putting a rainbow in the sky to symbolize your promise of love and blessing to every living creature, and to all successive generations. ... As people of faith, we are called into covenant. Your covenant of faithfulness and love extends to the whole creation. We pray for the healing of the earth, that present and future generations may enjoy the fruits of creation, and continue to glorify and praise you.
—National Council of Churches