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.26But 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)
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.
Spring Harvest Home 2020
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.
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 everyoneand 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 darknessAnd 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,
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
What was the most memorable meal you have enjoyed? I am sure there are many such occasions, but I wonder which memory came to mind first and why?
In the earthly life and ministry of Jesus there is no question that the Last Supper Jesus held with His disciples in the days prior to His crucifixion was the one He and they would have named in response to such a question.
Take a few moments to read through Matthew’s account of this event in Matthew 26:17-30:On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do You want us to make preparations for You to eat the Passover?’ 18 He replied, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with My disciples at your house.”’ 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, He said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.’22 They were very sad and began to say to Him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’ 23 Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’ 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray Him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’ Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’ 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he Had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is My body.’ 27 Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’ 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
What should we learn from this meal for our reflections today?
1.It was a planned meal … My appointed time is near(Matthew 26:18) Jesus was well aware that the time was extremely short before He would be crucified. but wanted to make sure His first disciples understood at least in very simple terms what God’s plan was through these confusing events that week. At the time in their sadness the disciples heard words but it made little sense. Looking back some weeks later they finally started to grasp all that Jesus had patiently been teaching them. The events taking place in the life of Jesus that first Easter were planned by God the Father – but these participants failed to grasp what Jesus meant at the time.
It is okay sometimes to acknowledge that we don’t know or understand something. Then and now followers of Jesus live with their struggles. Is there something you want to mention to God in prayer? Something you are struggling with? It is important for us all to remember that God our heavenly Father is in ultimate control of our lives.
2. It was a prepared meal So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover (Matthew 26:19)The physical act of preparation was done by these two disciples. God can work supernaturally in extraordinary ways, but normally He uses our hands and feet and voices to praise and glorify His name. God wants to bring His transforming grace to work in many people’s lives this Easter. Your witness and mine is important as it is the only ‘Bible’ many people read. How are they likely to see Jesus in the light of our choices?
3. It was a prophetic meal ‘Take and eat; this is My body.’27 Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26b-28)
These symbols of bread and wine took on new meanings in the light of His sacrifice. They represented the incredible love of God for us. They teach us that no situation is hopeless where He is involved. The apostle Paul recognised this truth and in the light of Jesus’ sacrifice in our place on the cross explained its significance for us in these words from Romans 8:31-32:
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
The Last Supper was planned by Jesus to explain clearly to His followers what would happen next and why (see John’s Gospel chapters 13-17). Human hands prepared that meal and today God takes those willing to live for Him to accomplish His work in the world today. It was a prophetic meal. An event prepared to tell the story of the miraculous rescue of Jews from slavery in Egypt was transformed by Jesus to explain His death for us. God was not taken by surprise by anything that happened then or happens now and invites us to entrust our futures to Him. There is no-one better to trust to navigate for us through the storms of life.
Our song for reflection today is: ‘Come and see, come and see’ by Graham Kendrick
Today is Wednesday the middle of our fourth week of living in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis. As in previous weeks I want to invite you to put aside an hour to reflect on the biblical passage below and to pray for our nation at this time. For some of us the work pressures have increased further and the strains of exhausting schedules may be making life particularly hard; by contrast others have had to adjust to far less activity and had more time than usual on our hands. Whatever your personal circumstances it is good to take time out with God to pray and reflect on how this week has gone.
Matthew chapter twenty-six contains a beautiful account of an extraordinary gift to Jesus from one of His followers. While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table.8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. 9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’ 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. 12 When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’(Matthew 26:6-13).
Here is an extraordinary scene of a robustly healthy man in his thirties being anointed with an expensive perfume as if it was the time of his death. Can you imagine attending a special dinner and without warning offer an incredibly expensive gift to the individual being honoured –in preparation for their funeral? No! neither can I. Yet cast your mind back to the gifts brought by the Wise men to that house in Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph and their young son were living (Matthew 2:11) – what gifts did they bring? Gold – a present for a king; Frankincense- a present for a priest; and myrrh used to anoint a body prior to a burial. This was no ordinary child and no ordinary man. We are born to live, yet He was born to die.Have you ever stopped to think what different this made to His priorities?
1. An extraordinary gift an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume (John 14:7). It was almost certainly the most expensive thing she possessed –the nearest equivalent to Life Insurance of that day. She was giving away her sense of security by presenting this gift to Jesus.In this story, though,there were some contrasting judgements being made. The disciples of Jesus: they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. 9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’(Matthew 26:8b-9) Their primary focus was on the monetary cost of the gift, but Jesus said:Shehas done a beautiful thing to Me(Matthew 26:10b).
He saw the heart of the giver and recognised the love and sincerity so clearly in evidence. Do we endeavour to bless others with dedicated attention as He gave to this unnamed follower?
2. An extraordinary purposeWhen she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.(John 14:12) The cross is central in Christianity. The death and subsequent bodily resurrection of Jesus and then His ascension back to heaven are events with which many of us are so familiar. The Holy Spirit prompted this unnamed follower of Jesus to carry out this prophetic act. She did what God had prompted her to do for Jesus. Will we today follow her example of dedication to the One who gave His life for us? Remember that actions speak louder than words!
Praise: God is sovereign Acts 4:24: When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘You made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. In the Early Church and today –God is in control – let us acknowledge it today. What good things have happened in the last week for which you can give thanks? Take time to list them and give thanks to God for them.
Praise for the many people in our church and the wider community coming together to help others during this crisis in so many different ways. Praise too for the successful launch of the Broughty Ferry Food Bank, for the many volunteers who came forward to help; for the generous financial donations that enabled food purchases to be possible and for the ability to provide some assistance to the growing number of people facing unexpectedly tough times. Praise too for the excellent working relationship with other Food Banks and food service providers in the city as we together with Dundee City Council seek to provide essential supplies for our communities.
Prayer for our Governments in Edinburgh & London: I Timothy 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Pray especially for our Prime Minister Boris Johnston in intensive care in hospital in London, but also for all our politicians with their additional responsibilities at this time.
Prayfor those working to care for the sick or to provide other vital services in our communities at this time, in some cases at great risk to themselves. Remember particularly those know to us by name. Pray also for the families of those who gave their lives serving others during this crisis in our health and social care services.
Pray for those currently unwell with this virus, or other medical conditions; pray too for the increasing number of people needing assistance from Food Banks and for those who have growing difficulties as they seek to pay their bills or who are undergoing other hardships. Pray too for those separated from their close family members to avoid potential risks of infection over the coming weeks or months and for those struggling with their emotional or mental health.
Pray for our sister churches Ephesians 1:15-16: For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.We pray for our Baptist family of churches in Scotland, but also for other churches in Broughty Ferry; then in more general terms for the Christian Church around the world as its members along with people of other faiths or of none serve their communities in this time of need;
Pray for one another I Thessalonians 1:2-3: We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Take time to pray by name each week for other people both in the church and outside it whom God places on our hearts for prayer.
Closing Praise Romans 11:33-36: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable His judgments,and His paths beyond tracing out!34 ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been His counsellor?’35 ‘Who has ever given to God,that God should repay them?’36 For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.To Him be the glory for ever! Amen.Thank Him for hearing and answering our prayers.
‘Don’t worry’, we say to an anxious friend as we try to assure them that things will be okay in tough times. Yet our words so often are an aspiration. We have at best very limited ability to influence the outcome of events over which we have little or no control.
The current health crisis is beyond anything any of us have experienced before or could reasonably be expected to face in the future. Writing these words tonight when our Prime Minister has been admitted to the intensive care facilities of St Thomas’ Hospital in London is the most sobering reminder that none of us can guarantee we will evade contracting this illness. We sincerely hope and pray that things will improve soon, not least due to the incredible efforts of so many dedicated professionals in our Health service. However, it is impossible to predict with certainty what developments will take place over the next few months.
In times like these some words of Jesus from John 14 are very apt for us. Jesus’ disciples had finally got the message that He was going to die on the cross and would very soon leave them to carry on His work without His reassuring physical presence. Their sense of panic and being overwhelmed by their ‘what ifs’ was unspoken, but Jesus knew what they were thinking and spoke these words to them:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.’
(John 14:1-3)
Jesus alone could genuinely say these words: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled… with the certain knowledge that with God’s help these overwhelmed individuals would receive the strength and power to accomplish greater things than they had ever thought was possible. Some of us may from a future perspective look back on 2020 and be so grateful for people who worked together to accomplish some amazing things, at times against the odds. What did Jesus emphasize here?
Jesus alone knows what heaven is like and came from that place to tell us something of what God has provided in advance for those who have put their faith in Him. Therefore, He speaks with authority and His utterances about it are the most important of all. What did He say?
1. A wonderful assurance (John 14:1) Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me… We need not fear the future when we are walking with Jesus. Have you put your faith and trust in Him?
2. A wonderful destination (John 14:2) In My Father’s house are many dwelling-places. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. God has a wonderful future prepared for those who love Him. It is all taken care of. Our responsibility is not even to pack a suitcase! It is simply to trust Him so that we are ready when our time comes. Are you ready if Jesus called you home today?
3. A wonderful guide (John 14:3) I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am there you may be also. Jesus is coming soon! The question is this – will you be ready? We might get the home call first, but either way we must accept the wonderful gift of salvation from our guide and follow Him both now and into eternity. Are you following this guide? If not, why not?
Jesus said: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me -let us take Him at His word and entrust our lives and our futures into His hands.
At this time of year in the gardens around our land, evidence is present in abundance of who are the real gardeners in our midst; and who simply keeps a piece of ground relatively tidy! Some of us generously give our plants and shrubs much freedom to feed themselves, fight against the bugs and pests and produce their fruit or flowers with as little direct intervention as possible!
However, the devoted gardener prepares the ground, feeds the soil and their plants and prunes and tends the objects of their care with a real passion that often results in a beautiful display that is pleasing to the eye of every beholder. What we all recognise is that we get out of our garden’s generally what we put in.
However, what we may not be sufficiently aware of is that exactly the same truth applies to our spiritual lives. Do I invest in my spiritual welfare by making the time to read and study God’s Word? Do I make a point of praying and seeking God’s guidance for my life?
A child that is never fed nutritious food will never develop physically in the way they should. A Christian who does not take in spiritual food and neglects the blessing of fellowship with other Christians will never realise the full potential God has planned for them. However, it is not just taking in spiritual food, there has to be an overflow or an outlet into service for the Lord in which we put into practice all that we are learning from Him and about Him.
The Dead Sea takes in the same resources as the Sea of Galilee, yet one is full of life and vitality because it also gives out its resources at the other end but the Dead Sea only takes in and never gives out and there is no life supported in its waters- there is only the aroma of death.
Our Bible passage today is John12:20-26:Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
What does this short message from Jesus teach us?
1. God’s plan is on schedule!Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified (John 12:23) We ask, ‘Why did this happen now?’ Or ‘Why has this … not happened yet?’ The questions are good and perfectly reasonable, but we have to accept that we might not find a satisfactory answer. In the current Covid-19 crisis an investigative journalist might be able to plot the historical time line of the virus’s emergence; a scientist might be able to explain to you how this virus came to be transmitted to human beings in the recent past; but this information may be inadequate to answer our ‘Why’ questions. The first followers of Jesus struggled with the fact that Jesus died on a cross. Jesus in the week before He died assured them that God is ultimately in control –even if we cannot see it at the time.
2. A necessary actunless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies… (John 12:24a) Any gardener knows seeds must be sown and bulbs planted for the beautiful show of flowers in spring and summer. Jesus knew that without His sacrifice in our place on the cross the Christian Church could not begin.He died so that we could live. He invested so we could reap the benefits. Your service and mine for others at this difficult time is an investment into other people and into our communities. The harvest that will later come from it is unknown. However, Jesus modelled sacrificial love for us – how willing are we to invest in other people’s lives that may or may not appreciate it?
3. A great reward But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24b) The planted seed never sees the harvest. There are many people whose lives we touch without us knowing. There are people in whom we have invested ourselves, but we might not see the good that results. Jesus assures us our efforts are not wasted. Jesus’ death led to the birth of the Christian Church which continues to grow year after year. Today around 2.3 billion people claim to follow Him that is remarkable growth from a small group of disciples when He died.
What is in store for our church or any other congregation in the future –only God knows. But I recommend we live by the motto of one of the greatest Christian missionaries of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century in India, William Carey, who declared: Expect great things (from God) and Attempt great things (for God). What are you hoping and praying for once this health crisis is over?
The times we are passing through just now provide an opportunity to reflect on what is really important in our lives. There will be some things we saw previously as important, but now we want to give them a lesser place in our priorities.
By contrast, some people and activities may have been neglected and now we are in a place where we want to readjust our schedules to reflect different preferences as to what really matters. In the Gospel of Luke there is a very brief summary account of a time when Jesus spent some precious hours with friends He greatly valued. Notice what took place on that visit in Luke 10:38-42.
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’41 ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things,42 but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’
It is not a complex story. It could easily have happened in many of our homes today. Some of us by temperament prioritise ‘being’ – reflecting and meditating on things. Others, by contrast, see so much that needs to be done and get frustrated at others who don’t see the need to give a hand. The ‘doer’ thinks that if everyone was like the other person who appears to be more chilled about life that nothing would ever get done! There can be truth in such a thought! However, we can use busyness as a means to avoid thinking about issues we ought to address. This choice is not sustainable over the long-run.
In Luke 10:38-42 Jesus is pictured enjoying some precious time off with some of His closest friends in a village near Jerusalem called Bethany. In that home were two sisters Martha and Mary. They both loved Jesus to be in their home, but by temperament they were so different. Martha the activist by nature wanted the home to be presentable and the dinner that day one of the best she could produce. Mary by contrast simply wanted to spend time with Jesus. In this time of crisis some of us may be under intense pressure and working longer hours than we would like. Others, by contrast, unable to do our regular activities have much more time on our hands. We will learn more about ourselves as we experience our new daily routines.
Most of all though, we must remember that Jesus placed ‘being’ ahead of ‘doing’ in our priorities; who we are and the character qualities we are developing is even more important than the things we do. By all means let us do the best we can to make this world a better place, but may we never neglect the priority of time with God. To give out to others requires us to recharge our ‘spiritual batteries’ so as to have something to give. We neglect that at our peril over the longer-term.
A song for reflection by John Greenleaf Whittier Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
