‘Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful’ (Revelation 17.14).
We come — from across the world — to remember our brother John. We come to give thanks to God for him; and to offer his family, with those like Frances Whitehead who were closest to him, our shared support in loss, and in that grief which goes with love. And along with them, his curates, colleagues, study assistants and innumerable friends — and latterly his devoted nurses and carers at the College of St. Barnabas.
John Stott would, I think, be pleased that my text begins by drawing our eyes to Jesus; not the child Jesus of Christmas and Epiphany, not even the Man of Galilee, but to Jesus Christ, risen, exalted, victorious and reigning. It is that Jesus who is at the heart of our worship today as he was always at the heart of John’s life and ministry.
