Category: Archive

Welcome once again to our Church at Home online service. We are glad you could join us.

Intimations

• Morning worship online has moved to start at 10am and JAM at 11:15am on the Zoom platform.
• You may want to use some of these resources for daily worship during this week – Engage Worship
• Sunday Evening Prayer Livestream 7.00pm – We will be continuing the Prayer Livestream at 7.00pm on Sunday, celebrating the theme of Resurrection Hope with live prayer and news from churches around the country. This will be another significant time of national prayer for us. Please join in and, if you don’t already do so, would you let your fellowship know about this and put it on your social media. To access the event visit Facebook.

Call to worship

Let us be still in the presence of our amazing God who is with us as we gather to worship in His name. Psalm 145:1-7 is a powerful song of praise that focusses our minds on our amazing God

1I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.
³ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty –
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works –
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

We thank David for choosing the songs for our worship service today. Our opening song of praise and worship is: ‘Praise is Rising’   

Our second song of worship reminds us that:  ‘Your Grace is enough’

Grace stands for God’s riches available at Christ’s expense for us. We are privileged to come into our Father’s holy presence through Christ alone. He opened up the way for us as God’s children to come both reverently and with confidence because He has invited us.

Our third praise song is a wonderful declaration of our faith:  In Christ Alone.

Opening prayer

‘Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of Your glory’ –these words uttered by the heavenly beings in the prophet Isaiah’s vision remind us that You are so awesome and majestic, The God who is above all; we come in our weakness, but acknowledge Your great power and authority over all Your created order.

No wonder the Psalmist in Psalm 145 declares: One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. ⁵ They speak of the glorious splendour of Your majesty – and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. ⁶ They tell of the power of Your awesome works – and I will proclaim Your great deeds.

We come as creatures to our Creator, but equally as Your children to our Heavenly Father. Thank You for the incredible privilege of being welcomed into Your family. Thank You that because Jesus died in our place on the cross we have free access to all the privileges of being Your children. Thank You Father for Your love to us each day of our lives. We are sorry once more for our thoughts words and deeds that are not pleasing to You.

We come confessing our sin, thankful for Your forgiveness obtained through Jesus’ sacrifice for us.  At the start of this new week fill us afresh with the power of Your Holy Spirit to equip and enable us for what lies before us, in Jesus ‘name we pray. Amen.

Let us say together the words Jesus taught His disciples when He said:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'”      
For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever Amen.

JAM Kids’ focus

There is the fifth of a series of five Bible based activities for children on the Out of the Box website.   This series looks at the Armour of God from Ephesians 6.

Activity sheet available here for Episode 5.

JAM young adults Ignite Live have a separate programme at 11:15am on the Zoom platform –parents of teenagers can get a link code by contacting Gary Torbet on garytorbet@btinternet.com

All Age Talk

(Transcript of video) So it will have been back to home schooling and learning for a lot of you on Monday, if you are in Angus you are still on holiday I think. I want to tell you a little story about my experience of home schooling. Most of you know that I am a teacher but I am also a mummy. So the very first Monday the school were closed I was asleep in my bed and I was woken up by Hamish saying come on Mummy its time to start school and we need to do PE first with Joe Wicks on the TV.

If you don’t know who Joe Wicks is he is a fitness coach who has been filming daily PE workouts for kids while they aren’t able to be at school. I got out of bed went downstairs in my PE clothes and joined in with 30 mins of exercise that then meant I was in pain for the rest of the day! Before I could even get my breath back Hamish had the laptop open and we were on to maths, fractions and decimals- yuck! Then French, then art and so on.

At 10.30am it was finally time for playtime. I was just sitting down to enjoy my coffee when Hamish announced playtime was over and we better get started again. So I thought for a moment and said to Hamish that we were going to have an extended playtime that would last until 9am the morning when daddy would be taking over as the new home school teacher!!

Learning at home is very different and maybe you are loving it or maybe you are like me and not enjoying it at all. As I said last week we are all having to get used to a very different way of life at the moment. This morning I would like to especially mention our children and young people because they have very suddenly had to get used to a very different way of life. Learning online, staying in the house most of the day, not able to see their friends from school, for those in S4, S5 and S6 you will be unsure about what will happen with exam results and those in university will have had to return home sooner than they thought.

But do you know these wee heroes are taking it all in their stride, they are a whiz at getting online, finding new ways to keep themselves entertained, eating their parents out of house and home, camping out in their back gardens and so much more. I would like us to give all our children and young people a big round of applause.

You see this is what God needs us to do at the moment, help, encourage and support each other through. We need to do this within our church fellowship and beyond into our families, our friends, our neighbours and community. It says in the bible in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Hebrews 10.24 says “We should keep on encouraging each other to be helpful and do thoughtful things.” We won’t all be front line workers or key workers, and most of us will not really be able to leave our house right now unless it for our daily walk, but we can all pray for each other, encourage each other and show love to each in these difficult times.

Last Sunday we were celebrating the good news that Jesus has risen. This was the greatest act of love our world has ever seen. We can’t match what God did when he gave Jesus for our forgiveness, but we can think of small ways we can show love, support and encouragement to each other.

So here are just a few simple ideas that you can try this week:

1. I would like everyone on here today to think of someone they could send a card, an email or make a phone call to this week. Boys and girls you might want to pick an older person in the church and those of us that are older might want to pick a younger person.

In the card, email or phone call ask the person how they are getting on, tell them some of the things you are doing to keep busy, encourage them with a bible verse that has really inspired and supported you at this time. Remind them how much God loves them.

2. Last week I encouraged you to make pictures that included the word hope. This week I would like you to do the same again but include the word love. Cut out love hearts, decorate them and write the names of places/or people who are really making a difference at the moment on the heart. Stick them in your window. This might be our NHS, people working in food shops, the police, lorry drivers, someone in your family or your street who is going above and beyond.

3. Again, last week I asked you to try leaving stones on your daily walk with the word hope on them and this week do the same again but put the word love on them. You could even do a really big stone for your front garden with the word love on it.

4. As well as making cards for people in the church you could make a card or a picture for someone in your street to cheer them up, this is a great way to show you care and bring a smile to their face.

We worship and serve a heavenly Father who says that nothing will separate us from his love, who sent is own son to die to express how much he loves us, he is always with us and can do more than we could ever hope or imagine, he is calling on HIS people here in Broughty Ferry to show His love through simple acts of kindness, support and encouragement. Let’s pray for opportunities to that this week. Amen 

Our next song that is a favourite with some of the younger members of our congregation

https://youtu.be/tJePCzTaQo4

The Bible reading for today is Philippians 1:12-30:

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. ²⁰ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Prayers for Others

Thank You God for the privilege of praying not only for our own needs but also for many other people at this time. Thank you that You hear and answer our prayers. We thank You that we have an opportunity as Christians to share the hope they have in Jesus. We do sincerely pray that many people will take this time to seek You and come to a living faith in Jesus.

We thank You too for the blessing of the internet and social media platforms that allow us to keep in touch with families and friends and church family as well as sing Your praises and hear and receive Your Word online through sermons and devotional thoughts. However, we are very aware of those people who are not online and connected via technology.  We pray that You will help us to think of them and keep in touch by telephone or written form by card or letter that can be used to bring comfort and cheer to those feeling isolated.

We continue to pray for our national leaders who must feel the pressure of their inadequacy to alleviate all the suffering and hardship many people are experiencing. We are very conscious of the many small businesses that are struggling to get loans from the banks to keep them afloat and their workers in employment. Lord we pray this difficulty can be overcome this week or in the near future.

We are deeply grateful to the many lives saved through our dedicated healthcare staff in recent weeks. We pray for continuing strength for those who under great pressure have put in many long and difficult shifts in hospitals and care homes and for their continuing service to those in need of their care. We also remember others who are serving in unfamiliar work settings in paid or voluntary capacities to assist our country through this time of crisis.    

We thank you too for the wider network of Christian Churches at this time as they seek to serve their local communities. We thank you within our wider Scottish Baptist Church family for:

Al Nicoll (RAF Chaplain) – Please pray for him and his colleagues at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre as we move the facility from Hampshire to Wiltshire. Pray for those who will lose their jobs as a result. Please pray for me and my family as we prepare for our next posting in the summer, with all the upheaval the move will entail.

CBC Community Church, Crookston, Glasgow – We praise God and give thanks for the provision of their new building, and how He is leading them through this transition period when they are without a Pastor. That God would reveal to them how He wishes them to use their new home to grow as a family of His people. That God would also reveal to them more effective ways to reach out into the community He has placed us in with His message of hope and salvation.

Crown Terrace BC, Aberdeen – We praise God for the new people who have been joining them on a Sunday morning, prior to the present crisis, and those who are now regulars at their Tuesday lunchtime pop-up Cafe. We pray that God would supply the abilities and skills required to support and help those who join them for their Sunday services or midweek activities.

Culduthel Christian Centre, Inverness – We join with them in thanksgiving for new life in Christ, baptisms and growth in commitment to Christ. We pray for wisdom for them in developing their Christian discipleship, equipping of leaders and outreach to youth and children. After the recent appointment of a youth and children’s worker we ask God to guide the development of their team ministry.

In our own congregation:

We continue to remember those families who have gone through recent bereavements, in particular Betty W and her family after Paula’s funeral last Friday and Betty and Scott R after Ian’s funeral also last Friday, together with Eloise P and Elizabeth F and their families after their own family bereavements. God of all comfort at this distressing time when families are not free to attend funerals or gather to comfort one another as they would wish we pray for particular strength to cope with these additional causes of stress and sadness.

We are also aware of other people with ongoing health problems, in particular Jim and Jan F, in the silence we name those particularly on our heats at this time… Lord we also come with our own needs and in the silence state them to You…

Lord, we have our ‘why’ questions and are acutely aware of so much we don’t understand at this time, but we bring our prayers to You with confidence that You will hear and answer our prayers as we bring them in the wonderful and precious name of Your Son our Saviour Jesus, Amen.  

Before we come to God’s Word we will sing one of the most moving hymns penned by a Christian man who was experiencing the toughest time of his life.  You may want to view an account of what led to the writing of this hymn- and realise the difference Jesus Christ can make as we go through the most difficult days of our lives

Let us sing:  It is Well With My Soul  

The Message

Philippians 1:21: For to me living is Christ

If you had to write one sentence only to state what mattered most to you; what motivated you for living and what you were most passionate about in life –what would you say? Many people would find a paragraph easier to write than a phrase or a sentence but honing it down to one sentence is the task in hand.

This verse is an incredible statement of what motivated the greatest Christian missionary to the non-Jewish world in the first century AD. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21: For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better.

This letter was not written from the comfort of a nice armchair with a beautiful view on a sunny evening in the Mediterranean, instead it was probably dictated to a Christian scribe who could write for Paul, whose arms were chained to a Roman soldier or more probably to one on either side, who were on guard duty for their work shift with this political prisoner sent from the province of Syria (which included modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories together with the western part of Jordan).

The apostle is in prison for his faith, an extreme form of lock down, but this is problematic territory for the Romans who were thoroughly confused as to how to treat someone who was a Roman citizen and loyal to the Government on the one hand, but who was practising a form of a legal faith (Judaism) that was not accepted by its official religious leaders. Almost certainly Paul would be released the first time he was imprisoned in Rome, but he was later executed the second time a few years later when the Emperor Nero, by then suffering from serious mental health issues, was executing as many Christians as his forces could conveniently arrest in the capital city of the Empire between 64 and 68AD.

The Roman army like Islamic State in Iraq and Syria ruled by terror. The majority of subjects in occupied countries simply wanted to live and so put up with whatever rules the occupying power had imposed. However, the Christians were not afraid to die and what is more had different priorities to the majority population of the empire. Significant numbers of them were prepared to say with Paul that For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better. What would your personal mission statement say? Our Church statement is: Building a Christ centred church: Looking to Christ – Growing in Christ – Sharing Christ. Can each of us identify with this declaration of our convictions?

1. It means something personal to me  

(a)The context of his claim Anyone can make theoretical claims about their convictions but it is only when they are tested and especially when put under severe pressure that we find out whether we truly hold to them or not. Here it is the apostle’s testimony based on what he has experienced that is the basis for this extraordinary statement. Philippians 1:12 states: Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Personally he has been disadvantaged by the loss of his liberty and although he doesn’t know it he actually has very little free time left before his execution in Rome. However, Paul’s mind set is more focussed on what is happening to the Christian Church as a whole rather than any hardships which he may personally have had to endure.

In II Corinthians 11:23b-28, written late 55 or early 56AD, he gives a quick summary of the kind of pressures he has endured year after year as a ‘free’ man.

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

The letter from prison in Rome to the Philippians was dated probably between 60 and 62AD, only four or five years later. It is in this context that Paul writes: For to me, living means living for Christ and dying is even better Do we share his passion for the cause of Christ? Have we come to faith in Christ or is that the step you need to take at this time? Are you here as a Christian but your enthusiasm and passion for Christian service has been dimmed in recent years? If so this is the ideal time to ask for prayer for a fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit to reinvigorate you in His service.

(b) Illustrating his claim This passion is not only for Paul but for each and every believer in each and every generation. In the eighteenth century in Saxony, Germany, lived a young Lutheran nobleman, who encountered Jesus Christ in a way that not only transformed his life but led through an extraordinary ministry amongst Moravian Christian refugees for whom he cared on his estates and through whom the Moravian missionary movement was formed that took the Gospel to many countries in the eighteenth century, decades before William Carey and the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society in 1792.

What motivated Count Zinzendorf to undertake ventures that took over his life? He declared: ‘For me living is Christ’. In effect nothing matters more to me than my faith in Him and my desire to give Him my very best in daily life, in my priorities and in all that I am and seek to do. Years earlier as a young man Zinzendorf had seen a picture of Jesus on the cross with a caption underneath it that said something like this: ‘All this I have done for you –what are you doing for me?’ If that question was being addressed directly to you today –what answer would you give? Would it be one that you were comfortable with?

2. It means something practical living

(a)Overcoming Obstacles Sometimes people profess allegiance to a cause but there is little evidence to show for their claims. Each football team has different levels of support from the dedicated few who travel to all the games; a greater number who attend home fixtures; a larger number who watch their games on television and a significance number of others who notionally support them ahead of any other team looking out for their results most weeks. We are all well aware that in every area of life and workplace there are different levels of commitment on display by the people associated with that activity or workplace.

By personal example Here it is very clear that Paul is modelling a way of life that is centred on His relationship with and service for Jesus Christ. In fact his dedication has been inspirational for other Christians in Rome. In Philippians 1:13-14 it states: As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

What amazing words these are. All of us have our concerns about how we witness whether our words are adequate, appropriate or even whether we will have the courage to say anything at all when opportunities arise. Yet Paul’s boldness under challenging circumstances had so encouraged his fellow believers that they had been inspired to more effective levels of witnessing through his example. When our priorities are set in order we are then able to assess the context in which we are working and invest our time and other resources in a way that reflects our priorities both individually and as a church.

(b)Making spiritual investments (Philippians 1:18b-20) And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. ²⁰ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 

There are always forms of ministry that each one of us cannot do. However, it does God’s people no good at all to dwell on such things as our heavenly Father expects us instead to focus on what we can do for Him and on what He has called us to do.  There are countless examples of Christians who accomplished far more for the Lord than their fellow Christians thought was possible in both home service and overseas mission. The majority of the China Inland Mission workers who served as pioneer missionaries amongst the vast numbers of Chinese who had never heard the Gospel in their native land in the later nineteenth century would have been rejected as unqualified by existing Christian agencies working in that country at the time.

Our skills and qualifications are important, but our availability and our dedication to living for Jesus are the most important factors required. The two provinces of China in which they focussed are the most strongly Christian areas of China today. Gladys Aylward, who served in the last century in the same country was another example of someone turned down as unsuitable, but God’s call enabled her to accomplish a specific work for Him in that land.

How did Paul believe that the ordinary Christians of his day through their work and witness for Jesus could accomplish their work for Him? Philippians 1:19 gives the answer: ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ… Are these resources open to us as well in 2020?  Yes they are!

The second resource Paul highlights is given in the same verse: God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ… It is not simply God’s people giving every ounce of effort and energy in His service that will make the difference. We do need to work hard and offer dedicated service for the Lord, but the honest reality is that neither you nor I can convert a single person. However, if we are available to the Holy Spirit then what we might accomplish is far greater than we might even be praying for or expecting to happen.

Remember Paul’s amazing words of prayer for the Christians in Ephesus in Ephesians 3:20 –our Bible verse of the year for 2020: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! If you can quantify what that means then I am seriously impressed! However, it is what Paul was praying for the members of that congregation because it was in the light of His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20b).

3. It means something possible for Christ

(a)The equal desirability of life and death (Philippians 1:21-23) ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

In our relatively comfortable lives in Broughty Ferry we struggle to identify with Paul’s words here –if we are honest. Unless we are extremely old or seriously nearing the end due to a major health condition we are likely to have an overwhelming preference for life rather than death. Yet in a world where many Christians live with a realistic possibility of serious discrimination, imprisonment, torture or death for themselves or a family member how they might view life might be very different to us. Paul has lived out what he is commending to his readers in Greece.

His words in each generation come across as a challenge to us. Am I truly open to God and willing to be wholly available to Him? Will I acknowledge His lordship over my personal affairs; my family, my career or work, my social life –everything? To say ‘yes’ and mean it is to take a radical step that many Christians took in the Roman world and this meant that the growing Church outlasted the empire which expired a few centuries later. Let us pray these words: ‘God You are sovereign please direct my life in whatever way You choose’.

b) The reason why life had to be embraced (Philippians 1:24-26) …but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.  

However, Paul was consistently pro-life and entrusted his life into God’s hands. While God grants me the gift of life I will embrace it because there must be things I can do for the benefit of other people by remaining alive. What is more, he declared: I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

You know what circumstance you are currently going through; what pressures you may be facing; what trials may be coming your way in the coming months. Or even what tests of your faith might arise. Can you declare this same conviction as Paul that I can do all this through Him who gives me strength? (Philippians 4:13) If you share with Paul his core conviction that living means living for Christ then it is entirely possible through the equipping and enabling power of the Holy Spirit, Amen

Our closing hymn is a wonderful song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord

Benediction:  The Grace

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore, Amen

Remember tonight the national online prayer service at 7pm in Scotland.

Life some days is so tough we struggle desperately to hold things together. We may keep that watery smile in public that communicates a please don’t ask me how I am doing or I willburst into tears. It is actually part of being genuinely human to admit that some things that happen in life are too much for us to handle; that our emotions just overflow at the enormity of what we are facing, or others around us are facing. For those of us used to being in control of our emotions and our daily circumstances and our work commitments such times make us feel very vulnerable and inadequate. 

Over these last few weeks many of us will have privately shed tears over our own circumstances or those of others around us. At a time like this of serious social restrictions it is particularly hard to support others going through hard times or to receive support ourselves in these circumstances when we are not free to visit and spend time with other people.

Although there are snatched moments of conversations on the street or in shops when we are allowed outside our homes to buy food it is not the same as our normal social interactions. In addition, the fear of not knowing how long these abnormal times will continue will be something that will cause a number of people to struggle with their emotional wellbeing.

On the cross 2,000 years ago Jesus uttered a series of short statements which the Gospel writers have recorded. It is clear that Psalm 22 is in His mind at that time and the saying highlighted today is a direct quotation from it. It is the most solemn of all and is cited in Matthew 27:45-46.

It states: From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?’). 

The felt experience of Jesus that day was of abandonment. For the first time in His life He felt completely alone as He bore our sin on the cross. We can never understand the depths of what He went through that day. We must not tone down the anguish suffered as it was absolutely real. Equally, we must also affirm that there was never a time in His earthly life when Jesus was loved more by His heavenly Father. He had lived a perfect life of obedience to the will of God on earth modelling for us an example to follow.

The uncomfortable fact this teaches us is that we too can live a God-honouring life in a sin-damaged world and face all kinds of heartaches and fears, ill health and premature deaths as part of living in this world. We would rather focus on the good things of life, and rightly so, but in the present time they are overshadowed by the difficulties caused by this Covid-19 virus crisis.

The message God wants us to hear in the midst of our tears and our fears for the future is one that became in time an immense comfort to the apostle Paul as he came through a personal time of crisis. We need not detain ourselves looking at the details of his struggles to appreciate his desire for their removal and his struggle to accept God’s answer to him.

In II Corinthians 12:8-10 Paul wrote: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

God’s promise to Paul and to us is that in the midst of our heartaches and tears, our struggles and our fears, that He will sustain and strengthen us to keep going for as long as it takes.

Our song for reflection today is one I have greatly appreciated in recent years and probably some of you have also valued it too.    ‘Blessed be Your name’

Brian Talbot

In Western countries we have grown up with endless choice options from clothes and fashion to footwear; from incredible food options from around the world in our supermarkets, and nearly all the year round too – not just when it is in season. Too often it can be assumed that a world of such luxury is our ‘right’. Could it be possible that this Covid-19 crisis will raise questions about the extravagant use of the world’s resources in the wealthier countries on the planet?

Yet in life there are many other choices we have to make. The most important one of all is our attitude towards the person of Jesus Christ and His claims on our lives. Have you taken time to reflect on His call to you and me to follow Him? That first Easter, though, there was another choice made in the judgement hall of Roman governor Pontus Pilate. The details of the story are recorded in Matthew 27:15-26. Let us read through these verses this morning:  

¹⁵ Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ ¹⁸ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. ¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.’ ²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. ²¹ ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered. ²² ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’ ²³‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’ ²⁵ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’ ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:15-26)

1.The Governor’s question ( Matthew 27:17b) ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah? When the criminal justice system of a country turns into ‘a reality TV’ style show with audience participation it is obvious something is seriously wrong. I won’t spend time explaining how this came about, instead focussing on the question Pilate asked. The two men shared a first name Jesus which means ‘Saviour’ or ‘God saves’. But they were offering very different kinds of ‘salvation’. The man officially on trial that day with two of his gangster colleagues was in Roman eyes a terrorist. He was a violent man and a killer. The other Jesus offered a message of Peace with God and love for one another.  This was a costly way of life that few were choosing to follow at that time. The man on trial had as his second name Barabbas ‘Son of the Father’. The other man claimed God as His Father and repeatedly declared: truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19) It was a remarkable scene. It was a travesty of the legal process, yet it is also a challenge to us about our response to Jesus of Nazareth. He wants us to follow Him. What response have you made to Him up to today?    

2. The people’s responses (Matthew 27:21) ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor.‘Barabbas,’ they answered. Some people make a big mistake in interpreting this passage and assume it was the same people as sang hosannas to Jesus a mere five days earlier on Palm Sunday. It could not be further from the truth. Those that sang Jesus’ praises were mostly Galileans whereas this gathering was largely people from the south of the country. What is more the vast majority had come because their gangster hero was on trial. The idea of turning up randomly and sitting in the public gallery of a courthouse might be possible here but how many of us have ever even contemplated such a choice? It never enters our heads to do so.  Pilate the Roman Governor was not known for his intellectual powers, on the contrary, he had the greatest of difficulties following the lines of evidence in a court of law and had previously presided over other disastrous cases.  So Pilate asking the hard-line followers of Barabbas whom they wanted him to release was a forgone conclusion. 

The question comes back though to us. What is your response to Jesus Christ? Have you put your faith and trust in Him or are you living your life another way? This is the most important question you will ever have to answer because it determines where you and I will spend eternity. The men and women that day made a dreadful choice in choosing Barabbas. Now the baton is passed to you and me – What is your response to Jesus Christ?

Our song for reflection today is: ‘There is a green hill far away’

Brian Talbot

‘It all ended happily ever after’. The typical younger children’s story books want to present upbeat and encouraging accounts of the primary characters’ lives and although they may go through tough times, things usually come to a happy conclusion. I am giving away my age when I admit as a child enjoying many of the adventure stories of Enid Blyton.

Idyllic worlds were portrayed in many of the stories and why not, we want children to be children and to enjoy reading storybooks and exploring the wonderful world around us. Unfortunately, life is rarely quite so straightforward as we know from painful experience. All of us are aware of people we greatly loved who were taken from us, from our perspective prematurely,and whose contribution to our lives and those of others has been sorely missed. 

There is a part of the Easter story, a dark side that we would rather not dwell on, but it is there and there is a place for acknowledging some of the painful aspects of living in the real world too. One, for example, in the current Covid-19 virus crisis has been the cost of the lives of dedicated health care professionals who died caring for their patients. It will be an incredibly bitter-sweet moment for a patient who recovers their health to know that one of the professionals caring for them died of that illness, possibly contracted while carrying out their vocation. Let us read and reflect on this short part of the Easter story from Matthew 26:47-54:  

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.⁵⁰ Jesus replied, ‘Do what you came for, friend.’ Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ⁵² ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’ (Matthew 26:47-54)

1. The dreadful choice (Matthew 26:47-50) How many boys do you know that are given the first name Judas? None! I expect will be the answer from us all. The dreadful choice made by this follower of Jesus was recklessly foolish. For the record, Judas was probably a supporter of the Jewish Freedom Fighters movement (Zealots) who wished to evict the occupying Roman Army from Israel. He wanted to force Jesus into leading a military rebellion in support of this cause. He did not want Jesus to be killed. However, his thoughtless actions, humanly speaking, contributed to the course of action that led to Jesus’ death on the day we now know as ‘Good Friday’ in April AD33.  We all are aware of wrong choices people made that had tragic consequences for others. The name of Judas is infamous for what he did that day.  Let us ask God to give us the wisdom we need in the choices we make so that we may never say or do something that causes harm or in the worst case scenario devastation in the lives of another person or other people.

2. The impulsive action (Matthew 26:51-53) ‘Count to ten before you…’! Rash impulsive actions can have the right motivation, but do much more harm than good. Simon Peter, the disciple of Jesus who wore ‘his heart on his sleeve’ was a very emotional impulsive man. He could be so loyal and committed to the cause, but still needed to learn to stop and think through a course of action before opening his mouth. Here he is unnamed, but this Galilean fisherman who was probably as much of a danger to himself as to others when holding a sword, was so grieved at what Judas and his accomplices were doing that he swung a sword recklessly injuring a servant of the Jewish High Priest.

Violence is not a solution to problems then or now, it only leads to an escalation of a problem. Jesus came to model a different way of living as the Prince of Peace and invited His followers to walk in His footsteps.

Then and now control of our tongues and the actions we propose are so important. When we get things wrong we must be quick to put our hand up and apologise. It is best of all to seek God’s help to avoid making the mistake in the first place.   

3. The will of God (Matthew 26:54) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? Human beings freely made inappropriate choices in Jerusalem two thousand years ago. Yet what took place was not a tragic accident but the will of God. This was confirmed in the words of the prayer of the first Christian Church in Jerusalem, some weeks after these events took place.

Acts 4:27-28 states:  Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  

The events in themselves were evil because a man known to be innocent of the charges brought against him was executed. However, God brought something incredibly good out of what happened that week. It is one of a number of examples in the Bible where a greater good triumphs.

What can we say about the current crisis? There is no good in what the virus is doing. People are going hungry around the world, economic difficulties are all around and many people have died. However, the Easter story reminds us that out of the darkest days some good can come. It is too early to tell what that might be in our present circumstances, though some good suggestions have been made. Christians can be assured that God is ultimately in control of His world and when we acknowledge that then we have real confidence and hope for the future. May we continue to pray: ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’

Our song for reflection today is a modern Christian song by Rend Collective – ‘Build Your kingdom here’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcSWpVKKMcs

Brian Talbot

There have been quite a number of occasions as a minister when I have been aware that someone I was going to visit was going through a situation that I had no experience of, or even any real understanding of what it was like to be in that position. It is something that probably all of us have experienced at one time or another. We can by our presence express our sympathies, but feel helpless to do any more than that.  

There is absolutely no doubt at all that Jesus’ disciples had not the slightest idea of what was going on in the evening and night prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. At one level we cannot blame them because they simply had no categories in which to place these events to give a framework of understanding. God was never more honoured or glorified in human history than in these extraordinary few days in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. On earth to this group of men what happened was probably the most confusing time of their lives. Yet in heaven there was absolute clarity about what was going to happen to Jesus. In their darkest hour God’s light would ultimately shine its brightest.

In our lives today we too sometimes feel confused, maybe even experience the darkness, but the brightness of God’s light and love may suddenly appear on our horizon to give a sense of meaning and purpose.

Take a few moments to read Luke’s account of this event that demonstrated the priority of prayer for our Lord, recorded in Luke 22:39-46). Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. ⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’ 

Here we see Jesus as:

1.The disciplined Saviour (Luke 22:39) Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives… I hope and pray that for each of us like our Lord and Saviour here we will have our regular routine of prayer and seeking God through His Word. Jesus’ followers knew His prayerful routine when in the Jerusalem area. This quiet olive grove on the edge of the city was a place of refuge and peace where time alone with God could be spent in the absence of the hustle and bustle and the demands of the crowds. He could not withdraw into a bedroom or other home venue to be alone with His Father, but instead he creatively found another setting for seeking the presence and will of God the Father.   

2. The obedient Saviour (Luke 22:40-42) He did not neglect the needs of His followers that night. Luke tells us in Luke 22:40 On reaching the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’  What Jesus did was not only something for His benefit but also for ours. He said to His disciples: Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’Temptation to do what?  Surely it was to avoid being too spiritually weak to stand when the tests of adversity would come that night. Jesus would stand firm adhering resolutely to His calling, but the disciples would flee or deny Him under the pressure of the unexpected circumstances. 

Jesus led by example here. Luke 22:41-42 illustrates this fact in Luke 22:41-42: He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² ‘Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’  Clearly Jesus was visible to them, but almost certainly the vast majority of His words were not audible at this kind of distance. It was private prayer alone with His heavenly Father. It was an agonising prayer because He knew that to follow through on what God the Father had asked Him to do would be the hardest thing He had ever done.

3. The supported Saviour (Luke 22:43-44) Luke tells us: Anangel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him (Luke 22:43). We do not live for God on our own. We do not stand for God on our own.  We sometimes say to someone ‘I don’t know how you did that. I couldn’t do that.’ Now it may be not humility but truthfulness being uttered here.

God only gives the strength we need to do what He asks us to do or allows us to pass through. It was an agonizing time for Him as Luke reminds us in Luke 22:44.  And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Life as a Christian is not easier than life outside of faith in Jesus Christ. Sometimes it will be harder and more challenging as our goals and ambitions may be quite different to many people around us. In terms of our prayer life there will be agonising times as we cry out to the Lord when some particularly tough situation presents itself before us. Yet we have the reminder here that the Lord has not called you and me to do anything He did not expect first of His beloved Son.

4. The disappointed Saviour (Luke 22:45-46) ⁴⁵ When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.⁴⁶ ‘Why are you sleeping?’ He asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’ (Luke 22:45-46) Our faith can so easily be spoken and the language of faith commitment can pass our lips with ease at times, but how will Jesus view your commitment and mine to His invitation to follow Him?  I sincerely hope we are choosing to live as His followers. Amen

A hymn that we can use to help in our reflection is ‘King of my life I crown Thee now’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tXhTpXd24s

Points for Prayer    

• Continue to pray for our governments and the chief medical and scientific officers as they seek to plan a way forward through this crisis situation

• Pray for the people struggling most to adjust to our new situation of lock-down and for some the loneliness of isolation

• Pray for relationships in homes that might be strained from the amount of time people have to spend together, that creative ways may be found to adjust to it. 

• Pray for those who have lost their jobs or struggling financially that ways may be found to provide for the needs of everyone.

• We give thanks for each worker on the frontlines in the battle against the Covid-19 virus. We pray that each one may get all the equipment they need to carry out their duties effectively and the wisdom to operate as safely as possible.

• We remember the families of those who died in this covid-19 crisis. Please comfort and uphold them. 

• We pray for those with ongoing health issues in our church family at a time when medical support may not be as easy for them to obtain.

• We pray God’s comfort for those who have been recently bereaved, especially remembering Betty and Scott R as they prepare for Ian’s funeral service on Friday. We ask that you would uphold and strengthen them all at this time.

• We thank God for the success of the Zoom platform service on Sunday and pray for His guidance over the planning and preparations for future services. 

• We bring whatever issues are on our hearts today to God in prayer concerning either ourselves or other people.

Brian Talbot

It did not look promising as Easter week progressed. Jesus’ earthly ministry is about to end. He is having a serious conversation about events scheduled for later in the week and beyond, but these grown adult men have been arguing about who is the greatest. Worst of all Judas is thinking of betraying Him for a significant sum of money. Was that the end of the bad news? No! It is going to get worse as Jesus will explain in Luke 22:31-34.

Have you been in a situation where you felt things couldn’t get any worse, but… then it did! Maybe you are in that place now and are beginning to struggle physically, mentally or emotionally. For all of us at the present time the future is quite uncertain. There was always a degree of uncertainty about the future because our health and even the length of our lives is a gift from God –we cannot guarantee even another full day tomorrow. Now of course for many of us, under all normal circumstances, we have many reasonably good years to come.

The present crisis will be over in the not too distant future, although no-one can say exactly when. Let us look briefly at these words of Jesus to Simon Peter in Luke 22 and then apply them to our own circumstances today. ³¹ ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you [plural] as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ ³³ But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ ³⁴ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’ (Luke 22:31-34)

1. Life is tough and getting tougher (Luke 22:31)

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you [plural] as wheat. Jesus was a loving shepherd of His spiritual flock over those three short years of ministry. He knew them all very well. What is more He planned to get them through the tough times to accomplish far more than they ever imagined was possible in service for God over the next few decades.  These Galilean working men had rarely left their home villages apart from an annual visit to the Temple in Jerusalem to attend the Passover Festival alongside the majority of other people from their home villages.

The idea that the Christian Church could be launched and spread across the world with these people as leaders would have been seen as absurd to almost anyone else and especially to them at such a time as this. In the midst of their spiritual panic attack Jesus turns to Simon Peter and drops this bombshell in Luke 22:31. Please note the ‘you’ here is plural meaning all the disciples not just Peter. All the disciples without exception would go through this time of trial.

It is remarkable that around the globe ordinary men and women, old and young alike are going through the same uncertain times. Inevitably the poorest citizens of each country will face the toughest challenges because they have almost no money put aside for tough times, because there have been no easy ones for them. However, we will all have our struggles –Jesus never hid that from these first disciples nor us today from the Bible. In the Upper Room He warned them: ‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33). But He also encouraged them to see that He had come through times of trial successfully.

2. Life is uncertain, but getting better (Luke 22:32) But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.  Why could those first disciples then and us now have confidence in uncertain times? Because Jesus promised to pray us through them successfully; it is not a question of whether God is on our side- this was the faulty logic of many countries in times of war to make assumptions about that.  A more biblical question is this: Am I on His side? Am I seeking to live my life in a way that pleases Him? As any investigator knows in whatever field of learning – if you ask the wrong questions you cannot assume you will get the right answers. So what should we be asking God about the way we live as individuals, families and church families at such a time as this?

I believe it is something along these lines. Lord I don’t pretend to understand all that is going on in the Covid-19 crisis. The implications are potentially so serious that we might never get back to the lifestyle we had before. However, nothing takes You by surprise. In every situation we can see obstacles to progress, but Lord, open our eyes to see the opportunities. When Jesus is praying to get us through our times of trial we can have a quiet confidence about the future. What we need to grasp, though is this: ‘Lord what are You wanting to say to Your Church individually and collectively in such a time as this? Help me to play my part in proclaiming Your love to the world that others may see Jesus at work by His Holy Spirit in my life.’ When Jesus is intentionally praying for His people to accomplish great things in His service, let us be encouraged that nothing –not even the Covid-19 virus- takes God by surprise or places immovable objects on our pathway to prevent us from accomplishing His work today. He will hold us fast and bring us through this time of trial successfully. Praise God for that! Amen.      

The hymn for reflection  today is ‘He will hold me fast’

Brian Talbot

Most people would be too self-aware as adults to stand up in their family circle, workplace or church or any similar context and proclaim themselves the greatest. Muhammed Ali, the famous boxer was well-known for making such a claim, but few other people would get away with it for long. It is part of our culture to take issue with people having grossly important ideas about their own prominence and self-importance. We tend by nature to side with the underdog. Human nature, however, has not changed over the centuries and we tend to face the same kinds of issues in every generation, even if the cultural expression of them changes. Two thousand years ago the first followers of Jesus was not immune to these kinds of challenges. What happened and how did Jesus deal with it?

A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves (Luke 22:24-27)

1. Selflessness overlooked (Luke 22:24-25) The context for Jesus’ teaching was of selflessness overlooked (Luke 22:24) A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. The underlying issue is that deep down we all want to be recognised and acknowledged for the good things we do and although the vast majority of us will not create a major fuss if this is not so, we will be disappointed.  It has been quite revealing which countries have been willing to share scarce resources with others in need during the Covid-19 virus crisis and which thought only about their own needs. On a more basic level the sharing of other supplies during this crisis by people in the wider community has been most encouraging.

In tough times we often see the best and the worst of human nature and it is then that we can learn a lot about ourselves –and not always a perspective that we are comfortable with. The reality is some people who can do take advantage of others as Jesus highlighted in Luke 22:25. The challenge for us all is this – who is my role model? What are the standards by which I will live at this time? Our choices should not be determined by what ‘everyone-else’ is doing?  Do I trust God enough that He will provide for me so that I will not live by fear of missing out on what is my ‘right’, instead trusting that if I live the right way He will honour me for that.

2. Selflessness exemplified (Luke 22:26-27) But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. In that culture priority and preference was age-related. The oldest people are the most important. The benefit of such a cultural assumption was that senior citizens were highly esteemed and taken care of by their families. However, Jesus wanted to convey the truth that we must not make assumptions about who was in need or who had something to offer in given situations. Someone other people thought had little to offer might surprise us by what they could do. Another person who appeared to be so talented or well-resourced might be unwilling to do what they could for others. It is not about our status but about our service. In case any of them didn’t get it –Jesus declared: But I am among you as one who serves (Luke 22:27b).

I have been so encouraged by the number of people in our city who have offered in different ways to help others at this difficult time. There are, for example, those who cannot go out who have made a point of phoning others to check on how they are doing? Others have assisted with shopping or obtaining medication or volunteering for the NHS or Food Banks, for example. There are so many things small or larger to be done.

Never forget each day to pray for ourselves and for other people. There is always plenty to be done so it is vital we don’t forget to pray about it! This week let us seek to fill those gaps and help one another through the tough times we are facing. The Covid-19 crisis still has a long way to go. A few weeks of restrictions so far feels much longer, but only by standing together and assisting those in need will we be following the example of Jesus. 

Our hymn for reflection today is: From heaven You came (the Servant king) 

Brian Talbot

Welcome to Broughty Ferry Baptist Church online on Easter Sunday morning 12 April 2020 the fourth Sunday of our temporary way of life that we share with billions of other people around the globe.

Today is Resurrection Day when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The most important things haven’t changed. The tomb in which Jesus died is empty and Jesus rose from the dead and is in heaven today praying for us- hallelujah!   

Intimations

• An outside event that you may find of interest is Spring Harvest Home coming up this week Easter Monday 13 to Friday 17 April 2020- it is a series of worship and teaching ministry opportunities that are available from your own home.
  

• JAM Kids’ focus: There is the fourth of a series of Bible based activities for children on the Out of the Box website.   This series looks at the Armour of God from Ephesians 6 – Watch the video.
  
• JAM Kids’ Activity sheet available here.

• Sunday Evening Prayer Livestream 7.00pm
  We will be continuing the Prayer Livestream at 7.00pm on Sunday, celebrating the theme of Resurrection Hope with live prayer and news from churches around the country. This will be another significant time of national prayer for us. Please join in and, if you don’t already do so, would you let your fellowship know about this and put it on your social media.

• In this service we will endeavour to share the Lord’s Supper together so if you could gather some bread and juice to represent the body and blood of Jesus before starting the service that might be helpful.

Call to Worship

Christ is risen (Worship leader)
He is risen indeed (Congregational Response)

‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. ⁷ But go, tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.”’

Mark 16: 6-7

Our Easter songs of praise today have been chosen by Moraig.
The first song is the modern favourite hymn ‘See what a morning’

Our second song of praise is the magnificent older hymn ‘Crown Him with many crowns’

Before we come to prayer let us sing the rousing Easter song Happy Day (Greatest Day in History)

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, On Easter Sunday the most sacred of days in the Christian calendar we come with a real sense of joy into Your holy presence as we celebrate the amazing truth of the bodily resurrection from the dead of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. His resurrection from the dead reminds us that no situation in life is hopeless, that our despair can be turned to great joy in the same way that the lives of the first disciples were transformed that first Easter Sunday.

Today we confess that we miss the opportunity to celebrate this worship service in the same physical space as do other Christian congregations around the globe. However though church buildings are closed, You are not confined to religious premises, instead by Your Holy Spirit You are present in the worship offerings of Your people wherever we are found today. Collectively we can bring our praises to honour and glorify Your wonderful and glorious name.

Once more we ask for the forgiveness of our sins and the fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit to equip and empower us for the week to come. Speak into our lives today in accordance with our needs, we pray in Jesus’ name Amen.

Let us say together the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'”      
For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever Amen.’

All Age Talk

So boys and girls I have a very special mission for you today, I am also hoping everyone else will join in too. But I will let you into a little secret boys and girls I think you will be the best at doing this! Don’t tell the big people I said that though! So to do this special mission you just need to listen to what I am going to say and think about how you could do some of it. You might even want to design yourself an amazing costume to wear while you are doing it to make it even more fun.   

So our world today is very different from the last time we were all together in church at Panmurefield. You have maybe heard that there is a virus that has been spreading and is contagious and so that is why we are at home, being very careful. Along with the virus spreading, there is something else which is spreading too and that is fear, fear is sadly becoming contagious as well.

But this morning I want to speak to you about something else which as Christians we all are carriers of, something that we can spread, it can be contagious too and it’s not a virus or fear- it’s HOPE.

Today we are celebrating the good news of Jesus, he is the resurrection and the life, death could not defeat him, the grave could not hold him; he is our risen king of kings and our lord of lords. Jesus came for broken people, people in need and for all of us we were made right in his name by God. That is the good news of Easter that we celebrate every year but especially this year and good news is worth sharing, good news is worth spreading and good news is contagious too.

Even when we might be finding it hard right now we must put our hope in the good news that Jesus is risen and God will never leave us. I wonder will people see that ringing out, spreading out, shining out from all of us in this strange time we are going through.

In the bible Paul talks about Gods people being faithful workers, doing loving deeds and having enduring hope. You can read about this in 1 Thessalonians 1 verse 3. It says: “When we pray to God our father, we always thank him for the things you have done because of your faith. And we thank him for the work you have done because of your love. And we thank him that you continue to be strong because of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul reminded everyone at that time that they have these things and can do these things because of Jesus. As part of Gods family we too have this same faith, love and hope.

So what is this special mission that I would like us all to do? I would like us to do what Jesus called us to do- go into the world and let our light shine. We are carriers of Christs light and during this difficult time we can and need to let HIS light shine out through us in our community. We are going to be faith spreaders, love givers and hope makers.

We need to think about ways we can show God’s world that we care for all the people in our community through prayers, giving and practical acts of kindness.

Lots of people are hoping for this all to be over soon and life to go back to normal. I am absolutely sure that we are all praying for that too, but I am also absolutely sure that God will be planning something better than normal. Jesus is the good news, our God is amazing and as our bible verse of the year reminds us- he can do more than you could ever hope or imagine. I am certain that through this experience God will do wonderful things and teach us important lessons about what really matters in our world and lives.

So what can we do boys and girls, here is your special mission:

Pray! Pray for everyone you know and love, pray for our amazing NHS, pray for our government, pray for everyone who is sick or sad right now, pray, pray, pray!

Make pictures for your windows. You have maybe already put a rainbow in your window which is a great sign of hope so now I would like you to make an Easter picture with the words good news and hope on it. So that when people are out for their daily exercise they can see the words good news and hope. It will get them thinking and wondering.

Find a medium sized stone in your garden and write the word hope on it. Decorate it and make it look amazing with felt tip pens. Then when you are out with your mum/dad for a walk this week put the stone someplace on your route for others to see. You could do a different hope stone each day you go out for your daily exercise.

Peebles Baptist church is asking all the members of their church fellowship to make a cross from two sticks/bits of wood to display it in their front garden. Attach a sign to it that says hope.

Look through your cupboards with Mum/Dad and see if there are an food products you could donate to the new Broughty Ferry Food bank. Mum/Dad can hand these into the Clydesdale Bank in Broughty Ferry.

When you are out for your daily exercise, smile and say hi to people. Give the lorry drivers that are delivering food a wave or a thumbs up. Give your post person a smile and wave from the window. Clap for a wonderful NHS every Thursday evening at 8pm.

I know that you will probably have lots of even better ideas and if you do ask Mum or Dad to email them to me, I will collate list and we can send it out so everyone can join in.

Finally let’s remember that when so many people right now are looking for hope, we need to let our light shine. Good news will spread even though the world seems like it’s getting darker our light must shine brighter. Whatever we are facing right now we look to Jesus for he is the good news. We need everyone to pray for daily opportunities to spread that good news. May this good news that we carry continue to spread the love of Jesus to everyone. We are HIS faith spreaders, love givers and hope makers here in Broughty Ferry and beyond. Amen

Our next song reminds us we are part of a world church celebrating Easter Sunday together –‘Jesus Hope of the Nations’

Prayers for Others

Once more in this time of international crisis we come before You to remember in our prayers our politicians and other national leaders who are grappling with the challenges before them. In particular we remember our First Minister in Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and her government in Edinburgh, together with our Prime Minister Boris Johnston and his government in London. We give You our thanks for the Prime Minister’s improvements in health and pray for a complete restoration of his health and strength.

Lord we continue to remember all those who in difficult times in different workplaces who are so courageously serving our country at this time. We particularly remember those in the NHS and Social Care professions who are assisting so many people in need at this time.

We also want to pray for those struggling with the pressures of self-isolation and lockdown, together with others who are being treated for different health conditions including the covid-19 virus. Please restore each one to good physical, emotional and mental health.

From our national Prayer Guide we want to remember the following in our prayers:

Stuart Murdoch (Chaplain, Strathcarron Hospice) He is continuing to serve God caring for Patients at End-Of-Life, their families and Staff at the Hospice. This is always an emotional journey. We pray that he would continue to serve God with passion, compassion, and quiet diligence.

Cowal BC, Dunoon – We pray for Cowal Baptist Church as they seek to keep Jesus as the centre of all that they do.

Cowdenbeath BC – We give thanks for the positive spirit in this church, a growing sense of togetherness and unity, and an increasing desire to engage with God in prayer. The have also been encouraged by the development of the children’s work. We pray with them as they search for a new pastor and hope that the congregation would be patient to wait on the Lord and trust in His timing and provision

Crieff BC – We give thanks to God for the number of new families joining with them in the last few months. We pray that they will be able to find more helpers to assist with the crèche and Sunday School. We pray too for them as they engage in discerning forward planning and commitment in reaching out to the youth in our community as we engage in a new endeavour working with nearby Youth Projects and alongside Young Life UK.

Baptist Union of Scotland – We pray for the on-line meeting on Thursday 16 April of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Union of Scotland, as they meet to discuss various things regarding BUS governance; We give thanks for these men and women who volunteer their time and skills for this important role.

Our own church families – Heavenly Father you have called us to ‘rejoice with those who rejoice’ and to weep with those who weep’. During this time of separation we have been delighted for Anne M’s news of the safe arrival of her granddaughter Mya and are thankful that both mother and baby continue in good health.

However, we have been so conscious that there have been so many people both within our congregation and outside it who have had extremely difficult times to go through. We continue to remember those who are going through extremely difficult times in their health and we particularly ask for Your strength for Jim and Jan F –grant them a real sense of Your presence with them today. 

We continue to pray for Your comfort for Elizabeth Fand her family in their time of bereavement. We remember too Eloise P and her family as they prepare for her brother’s funeral tomorrow. Please be very close to each member of that family at this time.

We also come with deep sadness to remember two other families who this week have lost precious loved ones. We thank you for the life of Ian R who together with his wife Betty have been such faithful members of this and earlier other congregations. Thank you for the dedication he showed to the end in caring for Betty. We ask Your comfort for Betty and their son Scott as they support each other at this time and as they prepare for his funeral service on Friday 17 April.

We remember also Betty W and her family as they mourn the loss of her grand-daughter Paula. Please draw very close to them as they come to terms with her loss.

We also bring before you now other people we particularly want to pray for …. ; We also bring our own needs before You …; Lord hear and answer our prayers we pray in the wonderful and all-powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Bible Reading

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb³ and they asked each other, Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? ⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ⁶ Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Mark 16:1-8

Before we come to the message let us sing once more, this time the Easter song: ‘Led like a lamb to the slaughter’  

We now turn to God’s Word:

Mark 16:1-8 The most extraordinary day in history!

Introduction
This year more than any previous year in our lifetimes – unless you have memories of 1918-1920 and the ‘Spanish Flu’ epidemic – places us in circumstances as unsettling and disturbing as the people who played key roles in the Easter story. Real life is stranger than fiction more often than we like to imagine.

But there are a small number of times in most of our lives when the ‘comfort blanket’ of familiar schedules and secure routines goes out of the window. For some of us riding on a roller-coaster in a theme park is a fun experience, but in times like this when you cannot get off the ride it is anything but fun. On the contrary, there can be panic and a growing sense of fear at the uncertainty before us. What is more, there is no human we can turn to who can tell us with certainty that everything will be alright in a few months’ time. There is no-one alive in our families or circles of friends who can say I’ve been there before – it will work out.    

The events of that first Easter were beyond the wildest imaginings of almost, if not everyone, close to it in Jerusalem that weekend over 2,000 years ago. On the day we call Good Friday Jesus was confirmed as dead by 3pm and placed in a stone tomb on the outskirts of the city by sunset. They thought it was all over and no-one could have blamed them for it. Mark 16:1-8 records the initial responses of a small number of the followers of Jesus early on the Sunday morning, the first Easter Sunday morning. What was their response? Can we stand in their shoes today?

1. Their Devotion (Mark 15:40-41, 47)
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. ⁴¹ In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Who was it that remained at Jesus’ cross when the vast majority of followers of Jesus had gone into hiding? No speeches of devotion from these ladies to rival the oratory of the male disciples at the Last Supper. Here there was silent suffering as they supported the mother of Jesus helplessly observing the death of her eldest son. Who was it that observed where the body of Jesus was taken after Pilate the Roman governor gave it to Joseph and Nicodemus, leading Jewish figures who had taken responsibility for burial arrangements after His death, but had never had the courage when He was alive to identify with the cause of Jesus of Nazareth, because of the possible cost to their reputations or career? It was these women who were consistent in their loyalty and devotion.

There are people in our society who are sceptical about the accuracy of the resurrection accounts in the Bible. They tell us: ‘dead people cannot come back to life, it is impossible’. What they often don’t know is that in that culture a woman was not acceptable as a witness in a legal case. Had the Gospel writers been writing fiction, rather than describing a historical event, there was zero chance the ‘witnesses’ would have been women. All would have been male in order for the story to have credibility.

Therefore, for each of the Gospel writers to tell us that the people who had the honour of recognising that Jesus had risen from the grave were female could only be because this is exactly what had happened on Sunday 5 April AD33, 1987 years ago. God is looking today for women and men who will be faithful followers of Jesus through tough times as well as good – can He count on you making this commitment?

2. Their Sacrifice (Mark 16:1) 
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

This was not all, Luke 23:56 records that prior to the start of the Jewish Sabbath they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. Funerals in the Middle East to this day take place remarkably quickly after a death. It is not uncommon for funerals to be arranged and carried out on the same day as a person’s death, where this is possible. A mixture of the hot climate and Middle Eastern cultures had led to this practice becoming standard. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were two wealthy men who had done at least all that the law required in terms of taking care of the body of Jesus and arranging His burial.

What these ladies did went beyond that in their love and devotion; not forgetting the high financial cost of their actions. Money and material things, however, was not the source of their motivation in life; doing what Jesus wanted was number one for them. Aromatic oils had been purchased to anoint the body of Jesus and spices to offset the odours from a decomposing body. As this was the third day after Jesus’ death, only the most dedicated follower would engage in such a practise so late after death in that culture. In addition, it has to be remembered that no followers of Jesus were expecting His bodily resurrection, despite Him mentioning it on numerous occasions to them.

The Bible portrays God’s people honestly as they were, revealing their strengths and their weaknesses. The fact that none of them was really convinced anything good would happen on that first Easter Sunday reminds us that they like us at times are weak in faith and having low expectations of what God might do in our midst and in our lives. They were not concerned about what other people were doing, or not doing. Their sole focus was on what I can do for Jesus. Here we see their sacrificial financial giving, their gift of time and their willingness to carry out tasks that were decidedly unpleasant. Does Jesus have first place in your life today? He still did in theirs even when they had no expectations of bodily resurrection. When we stand the other side of this amazing event surely we have no good reason not to want to acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives.   

3. Their Obedience (Luke 23:56)    
Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment (Luke 23:56). Too often when the subject of religion comes up some people immediately have the mental caricature of emotional women and hard-headed men addressing this subject, with only the former ‘needing religion’.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In the real world it is so often the women who are prepared to be honest with each other about their feelings or how life is going. By contrast too often men stick to safe subjects such as work, sport and the weather to avoid discussing what is really going on in their lives. The tragedy of so many young men who commit suicide in our country is just one piece of evidence to support this point. These women were distressed, but as good Jews they were in control of their minds observing the religious guidelines of their faith even at such a difficult time as this.

We need to be honest that women are more willing than men on many occasions to stand up for their principles when men may be absent. It has often been commented that when candidates are sought by Christian mission societies for service in some of the toughest mission fields overseas, that a large majority of the candidates are women, in proportions greater than from a representative sample of church members. On the contrary here it was the male disciples who had gone all emotional and hidden themselves away after the death of Jesus had been confirmed. Then and now it takes real guts to take a stand for Jesus at school, university and in the workplace, where a majority of people will hold to different views.

Yet at the present time in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis things look quite different. The Sun newspaper headline on 8 April 2020 with reference to the Prime Minister Boris Johnston declared:  ‘He stayed at work for you, you pray at home for him’. When did you last recall a national tabloid newspaper recommending prayer for divine intervention as a civic duty? As Christians we have a message to share and a faith to proclaim that is so relevant in our current crisis. Will you pray for opportunities to encourage others to consider following Him too?

4. Their Reward (Mark 16:5-8)
⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ⁶Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Instead of allowing the obstacle of a tombstone too heavy to move frustrating their plans and not even bothering to start on their journey, they did everything they could and entrusted the rest to God. Is that not a great idea for you and me as well in the current crisis? There can be sensible steps we need to follow in the choices we make, but ultimately whether we live or die, or whether we succeed or fail in particular efforts is in His hands.

The challenge to us today is that these women were people of faith who trusted that God would make sense of the crisis they were experiencing. They didn’t have all the answers to the big ‘why’ questions of the week – nor do we; but the bedrock of our faith is established on what happened on Resurrection Day.

The angel told the women these remarkable words in Mark 16:6: Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. This day changes everything.

The women’s immediate reaction was this: Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid (Mark 16:8). Thankfully this wasn’t the final scene in the story, but today it is right to pause for a moment and acknowledge our current fears and frustrations to God. They too were struggling to make sense of what was happening to them. Yet God chooses to use ordinary fallible people to be His witnesses. People like you and me! They gossiped the gospel from Jerusalem to the capital of the Roman Empire in only thirty years.

What might you and I accomplish for God in the next twelve months, if we step out in faith to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus with others? I look forward by next Easter Sunday to finding out some of your stories of what God has accomplished in and through you. Amen

In a moment we will sing the hymn ‘I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene’ before we endeavour to share the Lord’s Supper together.

The Lord’s Supper

Jesus invites all Christian who have committed their lives to follow Him to participate in this act of worship. The apostle Paul wrote these words of Scripture in I Corinthians 11:23-26 to guide our observance of Communion.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ ²⁵ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 

Prayer: Choose your own words of prayer to give thanks for the bread and wine that represent the costly gift of His body and blood for us.

Take the bread: Jesus said: ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.

Take the wine: Jesus said: This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’

Prayer
Thank you Lord Jesus for the privilege of participating in this special act to remember Your costly sacrifice in our place. Help us in this coming week to live our lives in a way honouring to You, for the glory of Your wonderful and holy Name, Amen

Our closing song is one of the best known Easter hymns: ‘Thine be the glory’  

Benediction: The Grace

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore, Amen

Remember tonight the national online prayer service at 7pm in Scotland on Facebook live.

I have not preached an Easter Saturday sermon that I can recall. Of course, there have been many Good Friday and Easter Sunday messages, but the full day in between is not a common feature of Easter messages in the Christian Church more generally.

Yet this year, unlike any other year of my pastoral ministry, it seemed entirely fitting to stop for a short time to consider this day in the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  The verses below from Luke’s Gospel are taken from His account of Good Friday, immediately preceding Easter Saturday. Luke wrote: 

 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’  ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:44-49)

In the immediate context of this account of the hours prior to Jesus laying down His life, there is a supernatural element to this darkness at a time in the calendar in April AD33. The Jewish Passover Festival took place each year at the time of the full moon. It should have been a series of day of greater light in Jerusalem. Yet in the middle of the day for three hours darkness appeared to reign. It was as if God the Father was veiling the agonies of His beloved Son from the gaze of onlookers outside the city walls of Jerusalem, prior to His death. What do we learn from this passage?

1. The darkness was experienced by everyone and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining (Luke 23:44-45a). Virtuous Jews and Jews behaving badly alike experienced it. God-fearing non-Jews and those of other faiths and none experienced it in that setting in exactly the same way.

We too as a human race today face difficulties in countries across the world in the current covid-19 crisis. The virus does not discriminate between those contributing significantly to their communities and those who offer nothing. Then and now we face the circumstances before us together whether we like it or not. What is so important is to recognise we go through the ups and downs of life as part of the common human experience. We have limited control over our health or economic circumstances. We don’t know how many years of life are ours to enjoy. We need to embrace each day gifted to us as a precious gift from God and not assume how many more might be ours to enjoy in the future.  

2. The blessing that came in the darkness And the curtain of the temple was torn in two (Luke 23:45b) It was not in the happy hours spent by the first disciples with Jesus around the shore of Lake Galilee or on a walk on the hills of Israel that this blessing took place. It was in the time of darkness that one of most wonderful supernatural events of that first Easter took place. This huge curtain was considerably thicker and tougher than any curtains we might possess in our homes. What is more in Mark’s account there is an additional detail: The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom(Mark 15:38).

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross had opened up the way directly into God’s presence with our prayers that had previously been restricted to Jewish priests on behalf of their nation. Yet this amazing event took place at a time of great trial. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament was written to Italian Christians going through extremely difficult times. What significance to them was this extraordinary event in the darkness at Jerusalem?

Hebrews 10:19-22a declares: Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. 

What was the message for them? Darkness was not the last word. They would once again step in the light!  Some of us reading this devotional message will be going through dark times of sorrow, pain and other suffering – physically, mentally or emotionally. God does not leave us in our times of darkness. He is there with us each step of the way. Take time to reflect today on what blessing might come for you through this time of trial? Do not despair in the midst of your difficulties- God can pick you up and help you stand once more for Him. Bring your cries to the One who will hear and answer your prayers.  

Our hymn for meditation, I understand was only written very recently in this covid-19 crisis, but I trust it may be helpful as we reflect on the significance of the ‘Easter Saturdays’ in our lives today.   

This Easter celebration is not like one’s we’ve known.

We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone,

We’re distant from our neighbours – from worship leaders too.

No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.

No gathered choirs are singing, no banners lead the way.

O God of love and promise, where’s joy this Easter day?

With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the place

We ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.

Our joy won’t come from worship that’s in a crowded room

But from the news of women who saw the empty tomb.

Our joy comes from disciples who ran with haste to see-

Who heard that Christ is risen, and the, by grace, believed.

In all their grief and suffering, may we remember well;

Christ suffered crucifixion and faced the powers of hell.

Each Easter bears the promise; Christ rose that glorious day!

Now nothing in creation can keep your love away.

We thank you that on Easter, your church is blessed to be

a scattered faithful body that’s doing ministry.

In homes and in the places of help and healing too,

We live the Easter message by gladly serving you.

AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D (“The Church’s One Foundation”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyjNfP9yTs0 The tune Aurelia alone

Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864 (“The Church’s One Foundation”) 

Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Text and music (PDF file, 52K)

Brian Talbot

It is Good Friday today. A day that felt anything but good for the followers of Jesus. Luke 23:32-33 states in blunt terms:³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with Him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along with the criminals – one on His right, the other on His left. 

There they crucified Him On the surface it appears to be a matter of fact description of a common event of that era in the usual place outside the city walls of Jerusalem. Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, like Herod the Edomite King before him, liked the time honoured method of ruling by fear. The horrors of crucifixion kept the vast majority of people in line. The staging of such executions by the sides of the main roads or near major city gates ensured that the majority of people could not avoid viewing the unfortunate victims of Roman brutality and even if they had been criminals it was difficult to avoid sympathy for someone enduring such horrific pain and agony as they struggled to breathe to stay alive.

This occasion, though, was different because although two of the three executed men were convicted terrorists / freedom fighters –depending on your point of view; there was something extraordinary about the man on the middle cross. First of all there was a crown of thorns savagely placed on his head and then above his head was an unusual statement concerning his identity. The message on that cross declared: The King of the Jews (Luke 23:38) in three languages to ensure that as many people as possible passing by could get the message. Hours earlier at the trial the Governor had declared this man completely innocent but had crucified him anyway. But there was even more to it than that. What does Luke want us to notice here?

1. The compulsion of the cross

Everyone else born on this planet would naturally do anything they could to avoid the possibility of such a death which is too horrible to contemplate, but for Jesus there was no other choice. He knew it was the Father’s will and plan for His life on earth. 

In Galatians 4: 4-5 we read of Jesus: But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Paul confirmed the identity of the One who would redeem us from our sins in I Corinthians15:21-22: For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 

In His earthly ministry Jesus lived under the shadow of the cross. He reminded His disciples with a degree of regularity about what will happen in the future- once they had begun to grasp who He is as the Saviour of the world. In Mark 8:31-32a Jesus stated: ¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this… He knew why He came to this earth and lived in the light of that reality.Could you explain in a sentence or two what is the purpose of your life?  

2. The centrality of the cross

John 19:18 states: There they crucified Him, and with Him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Is Jesus at the centre of your faith; is He the focus of your devotions and praise and worship. Jesus ought to be central because without Him our faith is of no value and for no purpose. He alone was crucified, is risen, ascended and now glorified at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is the glorified Lord who makes our faith come alive and demonstrably real to us. The other men that day were paying the penalty for their sins and the violations of the law of the land.

There was no doubt about that as Luke 23:40-41 declares, in the words of one of the condemned men to his colleague: But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’Why was Jesus on the cross? It was for your sin and mine that put Him there –not His own as He was the perfect man. The person who has come to faith in Jesus has grasped this amazing truth.  Have you put your faith and trust in Him?

3. The conquest of the cross

Did this sacrifice need to be repeated physically or spiritually in any way? No! Jesus on the cross cried out Tetelestai Finished! (John 19:30). It is the most wonderful news we have ever received. Hebrews 10:11-13: explains it so clearly. 

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ and since that time He waits for his enemies to be made His footstool. 

The sufficiency of the death of Jesus to cover all our sins, past, present and future is absolutely wonderful. What does this mean for us in practice? Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2). What an amazing truth this is! But to gain the benefit of it we must turn from our sins and put our faith and trust in Jesus alone for salvation.

I pray that we recognise God’s purpose in the compulsion of the cross –without it you and I could not become part of God’s family. I pray each one of us as Christians will acknowledge the centrality of the cross as it overshadows all our lives as it did His. I pray also that we will rejoice in the conquest of the cross because Jesus is Lord, not only now but for all eternity, Amen.

The hymn for reflection today is Man of sorrows what a name

Brian Talbot