Saturday 20th December 2025:
Peter Wood
“The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.”
John 3:35
I was born in a small cottage hospital in Stonehaven, first child of Eric and Mary. My parents set up home in a flat above the ‘Co-opie’ pharmacy where my father worked as the local chemist. The birth was not easy and my mother struggled with poor health for several years afterwards. In my childhood I enjoyed playing racket sports with my father. He remained a squash player into his sixties.
What he wasn’t always so good at however was passing on his knowledge of things. I remember learning how to check the pressure of the tyres (when it was only using a wee gauge at home) but my father could run out of patience with me when it came to other things – especially when it came to his prized VW Passat! I remember getting into trouble for not washing it well enough. I never yet saw, let alone got to touch, the keys of that car, no matter how old I got!
In his gospel, John is interested in the relationship between the Father and the Son. Throughout the gospel John keeps mentioning that which the Father has given over to the Son. This includes such topics as power over all flesh, what to say, judgement and even glory. Here in this passage we read that that, “the Father has handed over all things to the Son”.
“Keychain leadership” is an important theme that we talk a lot about with churches who are on the Growing Young programme. This relates to an older person handing over the keys of something or of somewhere to a younger person. This marks a handing over of responsibility. It is something that involves a great deal of trust. It is saying to that new younger keyholder, “I believe in you and that you can and will look after these premises – the bricks and mortar, but also make it work and flourish.”
This is something that is not always easy for existing key holders to do!
In the third chapter of his gospel, John teaches us that the Father has given to Jesus the keys of the Kingdom. The Father has given to the Son all things. In Jesus we see what God is like.
Shall we pray?
God, I thank you for sending Jesus. Help me to see in him my example and my hope.
Make me more like him so that your love may abound. Amen.
Peter Wood is the Mission Officer for the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders.
Thinking it through:
When have you last chosen to share responsibility with someone?
Who has keys to what matters in your local church?
How would you describe the relationship between younger and older people in your church?