John 8 v57 – “You are not yet fifty years old” the Jews said to Jesus “and you have seen Abraham?”

Have you ever wondered why Jesus’ hearers mentioned the age of fifty? It had associations for them, like 60 is the bus-pass milestone. Fifty meant you had reached a grand old age – which not many did. Simeon and Anna, who lived to see the baby Jesus brought to the Temple, were exceptions.

So here I am, at a grand old age. I was watching a retrospective of the 1980s the other night, and thinking, that’s far too soon for that! The 80s were RECENT! Thankfully now, 50 is the new 40. Barring volcanic cataclysms, global warming, nuclear terrorists, and eating everything the Daily Mail says is bad for you, I should have a while to go yet. 

I do have milestones to look back on:  

Surviving a life-threatening illness at the age of 2-3.
Passing the 11+.
Getting into Oxford.
Qualifying as a solicitor.
Meeting Margaret, and getting married.
Being called to train for the ordained ministry.
First (unpleasant) curacy.
Second (rather better) curacy.
Becoming a Vicar.
Becoming the Vicar of a rapidly growing church.

But there is one milestone that stands out above them all. I may not have met Abraham – but I did meet Jesus (on my first weekend at Oxford). To be able to say that is life-changing and destiny-changing. Even without the dog-collar, it defines a lot of who I am and everything about where I’m heading.

You will have different milestones. But I hope that last is one you and I can both look back on. You could give me no greater present than your assurance that, because of the same Saviour, you know you are bound for the same wonderful destination.