The Benefits of Going on Retreat

In August Beata, myself and the boys will be visiting the Taize Community in France. Taize is where Beata and I met as 19 year olds. Returning to Taize is always a very special time for us as a family. It is a wonderful to be able to spend time in prayer and Bible study, living simply, and meeting people from all corners of the world. For me the opportunity to go on retreat to places like Taize, helps draw me closer to God, and what matters most in life. Pope John Paul II once described Taize as "that little springtime!" I understand what he means, because I always come away from Taize feeling spiritually refreshed and renewed.

More and more people are discovering the benefits of going on Christian retreats. A retreat gives a chance to step aside from life for a while, to rest and just 'be' in a welcoming, peaceful place. Retreats offer the opportunity to find space, reflect, pray, and reconnect with God and yourself. Of course you don't need to go all the way to France to go on retreat, there are plenty of places closer to home. There are a wide variety of retreats to choose from, depending on what you are interested in, and what you are looking for. Most retreats vary in length from anything between two to seven days, although there are some that last up to thirty days.

If you are wishing for some quiet time, wanting a weekend to develop your interest, longing to know more about prayer, need some time for reflection away from work and family, or wanting to deepen your spiritual life, then a retreat could be for you.

If you are not been on a retreat before, and not sure what to expect, then I would encourage you to take the opportunity to go on day retreat, Lichfield Diocese regularly runs quiet days, and there are places locally where you can go for a quiet day or mini retreat.

If you would like more information about Christian retreats I recommend the Retreat Association website www.retreats.org.uk. Finally, if you do fancy spending a week on retreat amongst the vineyards of Burgundy visit the Taize website www.taize.fr

Emmaus Road Luke 24:13-35

Life has often been described as being like a journey, the language we use conjures up images of travelling.  We say things like, “Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, shall we?” or “My life has no direction at the moment,” or “I don’t’ know which way to turn!”, or “I’m at a crosswords in my life.”

Whenever you go on a journey, what makes the journey special are the people who accompany you on it, and the same is true about life.  What makes life special are the people that we meet along the way, the friends we make, the people who touch our lives. 

The story from our reading tonight, is a story of an encounter made on a journey, which was to change forever the lives of those involved. 

THE SETTING

This reading takes place on the evening of Easter Sunday – the day of Jesus’ resurrection.  Two of Jesus’ disciples, of whom only one is mentioned by name – Cleopas, are travelling from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a journey of seven miles.

THE WRONG ROAD

As I read this story, the first question it raises for me is why were these two disciples travelling to Emmaus? Think about it, it’s Easter Sunday, some of the disciples have come back with news that Jesus’ tomb is empty, and that Jesus has been seen alive.  You would think that given the circumstances, Jerusalem would be the place to be, with the other disciples, so why were they instead heading to Emmaus? 

It therefore seems to me that the road they were travelling on, is taking them in the wrong direction, away from the place where they should have been. 

The question that this leaves me with is what road am I travelling down at the moment.  What direction is my life taking, and am I heading in the direction God would want me to take?

As I look back over my life, and particularly as I’ve journey through life with God, I realise that at certain points I’ve taken wrong turnings in life, and have travelled along roads which have spiritually taken me away from where God wanted me to be. 

The reality is it is all too easy to do this.  I can think of Christian’s who’ve made really poor decisions, which has taken them away from where God wanted them to be.  Where they have given in to temptation, or been distracted by the world and as a result have turned away from God. 

There may be some here tonight for whom this is the case.  If so, I want to encourage and reassure you.  Because what we see from this reading, is that although these disciples were heading in the wrong direction, going away from the place they should have been, Jesus was walking alongside them. 

The point is even though we may turn our backs on God, or even abandon God altogether, he will never give up on us.  We might not always follow the right path, but God is with us none the less. 

And this is one of the promises that Jesus gave to us, that he will be with us, to the very end of time. 

FAILURE TO RECOGNISE JESUS

As these two disciples travel along the road to Emmaus, they discuss all that had happened over the last few days, trying to make sense of everything they had seen and heard.  They have seen their friend Jesus killed in a most horrific fashion, and now three days later strange reports were circulating that Jesus’ tomb was empty, and that Jesus was alive.  

You would think that with the news circulating that Jesus has risen from the dead, they would have been full of excitement and wonderment, but in fact it is the total opposite.  They are full of confusion, doubt, questions, worry and anxiety. 

All of a sudden, Jesus appears alongside them on the road. 

It is a feature of the resurrection accounts that people don’t at first appear to recognise Jesus.  For example, Mary at the tomb mistakes Jesus for the gardener, before he calls her by name.  And these two disciples, also don’t recognise Jesus.  Why not?

To be honest, we can’t easily answer that question.  Maybe there was something different about Jesus’ appearance following his resurrection.  We know that he had a physical body, which people could touch and which bore the wounds of his crucifixion.  But he was also different, because it was a resurrected body, and Jesus could appear at will in locked rooms.  So may be his appearance had changed.

Or maybe the reason they couldn’t recognise Jesus was because they simply weren’t expecting to see him, and therefore weren’t looking for him. 

Maybe the reason we fail to recognise God’s presence with us, is that we not looking for him, or we’re not expecting to find him.  That doesn’t mean he isn’t there, but that we close our eyes to his presence, close our ears to his voice, or close our hearts to his love.

In 1 Kings 19 – after the prophet Elijah has had his run in with the prophets of Baal, he runs away and ends up in a cave.  As Elijah waits for God, we’re told that a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks, but God wasn’t in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but God was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Maybe that gentle whisper had been there all along, but Elijah had to learn to be still, to listen to that still small voice.  It was only when he stilled himself, and when he looked for God, that he actually recognised God’s presence with him, and heard God’s voice. 

The same is true for ourselves, if we want to recognise God’s presence with us, we actually need to still ourselves, and search for him.

Another reason why the two disciples may have failed to recognise Jesus was because they were so caught up in their own problems and fears.  Sometimes our worries and fears prevent us from seeing God at work in our lives, because our focus is on our worries rather than on God.  But even though there may be times in our lives when we don’t feel the presence of God, it doesn’t mean that he is not there.  Just as on a cloudy day, when we cannot see the sun, it doesn’t mean that the sun is not there, it is just hidden from our view.  So God is always with us, walking along side us, even if we are unaware of his presence.  God doesn’t abandon us, even when the path we are following becomes difficult, he is right with us until the end. 

JESUS LISTENS

As Jesus walks with the two disciples to Emmaus, he asks them a question.  “What are you discussing as you walk along?”

I love the fact that Jesus takes time to find out what the disciples are talking about, and listens to them, which shows his love and compassion at work.  Jesus is concerned about what these two people have to say, and wants to find out from them what is on their hearts.

We have a lot to learn from the example of Jesus, especially when it comes to sharing our faith with others. 

There is Peanuts cartoon where Linus is holding up a banner that reads ‘Christ is the answer’, but underneath it Snoopy holds up a sign which says ‘What was the question?’ 

One of the things I hate the most is when someone asks me a question, but as I answer, I become aware that they are not listening to me, because they are not actually bothered in what I have to say, or because they are looking for an opportunity to cut into the conversation, to get over their point of view, rather hear me out. 

Sadly I’ve met some Christians who are like this when it comes to sharing their faith.  They are not really interested in listening to what the other person has to say, instead they are only interested in what they want to say.

But think what it is like, when someone takes the time to really listen to you.  You feel affirmed, respected, loved, and it helps build peoples sense of self esteem.  I’m involved with both Street Ministry & Street Pastors in Walsall, and see how positively people respond when you make the effort to really listening to them.  And when you take the time to listen to people, I find they are much more prepared to listen to you in return.

HONEST WITH GOD

So Jesus, before he does anything else, listens to what they disciples have to say.  And Cleopas responds “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

As the disciples tell this stranger walking with them everything that has happened.  They share with Jesus everything that is on their hearts, their pain, their confusion, their anger, their doubts and disappointments as well as their fear, and as they talk, Jesus listens. 

Just as Jesus asked these disciples, what is it you’re discussing, so he also invites us to share with him all that is going on in our lives, the good things as well as the more difficult things. 

The great thing is that God really is interested in what we have to say, and we don’t have to pretend with God, we can be totally open and honest with him.  God is interested in everything that is going on in our lives, even those things that we may consider mundane, or seemingly unimportant or trivial.  Jesus is intimately concerned about every aspect of our lives.

JESUS SPEAKS

It is only after the disciples have finished speaking, that Jesus responds.  And because he’s taken the time to listen, he’s able to respond directly to the things they have shared with him. 

And how does Jesus reassure and help them?  He points them to what God says in the Bible. Luke tells us, "Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets".  Now that is one Bible study, I would have loved to have been part of!

These disciples, with their natural understanding of things, could only see the suffering of Christ as a defeat. They couldn’t have been further from the truth…for God had triumphed through the sufferings of Christ! 

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, maybe we sometimes fail to understand how and why God acts the way he does, but like the disciples we need to be open to allow God to speak into our lives.  As the two disciples listened to Jesus, something began to change within them.  They could feel the despondency and sorrow they felt in their hearts change into understanding and hope as the "stranger" explained that Jesus' death was a part of God's great plan of salvation. 

The challenge for us is to learn to listen to what God may be saying to us, and this requires us to keep open the channels of communication with God, praying, reading our Bibles, listening to the advice and guidance of Christian friends, and listening to the nudges & prompts that God gives us.  If we do this, we can discover renewed hope and purpose, and direction for our journey.  

JESUS IS INVITED TO STAY

As the two disciples reach their destination, Jesus acts as if he is going further, but the two disciples invite him to stay and eat with them.  That decision to invite Jesus to stay with them was to lead to a life changing encounter, what would have happened if they hadn’t invited Jesus to stay?  The implication from the passage is that Jesus would have kept on going.  Consider what the consequences are for us if we miss out on encounters with the living Christ because we quench the “nudge” that inspires us to invite the living Christ into our lives and our circumstances. 

Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  We have to make that invitation to Jesus, Jesus won’t force himself on us, we need to open the door to him. 

DISCIPLES EYES ARE OPENED

In the home of these two disciples, Jesus took the bread, blessed it and then proceeded to break it and share it. Suddenly the disciples’ eyes are opened and they recognize that this stranger, is in fact the risen Jesus. 

Why is Jesus recognized at this particular time?  Perhaps they see the nail marks in his hands as he grasps the bread to break it…or maybe it’s in the way that he intimately talks to his Father as he blessed the meal…or maybe it’s simply a matter of God’s timing.

The amazing thing to note here is that Jesus was recognized in the commonplace routine of everyday life. The breaking of bread was an everyday occurrence, yet it is in this ordinary mundane moment that the fullness of Jesus’ presence is most realized and recognized. 

The disciples were transformed by their encounter with the risen Jesus.  At the beginning of the talk I suggested that by going to Emmaus they were heading in the wrong direction.  But as soon as they recognised Jesus they were so overjoyed that they ran all the way back to Jerusalem to share this wonderful news with the other disciples.  If we are open to God I believe that we too can experience that same change, discovering renewed purpose, hope and joy in our lives, knowing that Jesus who has conquered death, shares our journey, bringing us new hope and faith. 

The early Christians were called the people of ‘The Way’, because they followed Jesus who is The Way, The Truth and The Life.  It’s a reminder that as we journey through life, we are called to walk with Jesus.  The road to Emmaus is a symbol of the Christian life. It enables us to see that the risen Lord gives hope and joy, and that we are not alone, unseen "stranger", the risen Jesus is walking with us.  As we walk with Jesus, our road will become a great highway of companionship, conversation, belief and hope.

‘Doubting Thomas’ John 20:19–31

"Doubting Thomas." If you look up this phrase in the dictionary, you'll find something like: "one who habitually or instinctively doubts or questions." A "doubting Thomas" is somebody who always lags behind in matters of faith. A "doubting Thomas" always needs more proof, more time. A "doubting Thomas" has a hard time trusting others.

For years I've felt bad for Thomas, also known as Didymus.  I mean, how'd you like it if your name went down in history attached to "doubting"? How would it feel to know that every time someone uses your name it had a negative connotation?

Of course Thomas isn't the only person in history whose name is married to some depressing connotation. It's synonymous with making a really bad, obvious mistake. You know, whatever else comes of my life, I really hope that by the end of it my name isn't synonymous with something bad.

Part of my point in today's sermon is to come to the defence of "doubting Thomas." I'd like to suggest a new phrase for this disciple, not "doubting Thomas," but "honest Thomas."  -  it almost rhymes! But, more importantly, I think it accurately portrays the character of the one who was willing to be honest even when it wasn't pretty, and even when others were not quite so truthful.

More importantly still, when we really understand what's going on with Thomas, we'll find new freedom to be honest about our own faith, or, as is sometimes the case, lack of it. Believe it or not, I'm going to suggest in this sermon today that you and I need to be more like Thomas, not by doubting more, but by being more honest with God and with each other.

Before we examine the story of Thomas in detail, we need to remember the context. The historical setting was Jesus's mission of proclaiming and enacting the kingdom of God. He assembled around him a group of close followers who came to believe that he was the Messiah who would save Israel. Through Jesus, they thought, Israel would finally be set free from the heavy hand of Rome and God would once again rule over his free people.

But all of these hopes came crashing down when Jesus was arrested, tried before a kangaroo court, and sentenced by the Roman governor to death by crucifixion. For the disciples of Jesus, his death wasn't merely a horrific execution of a dear friend. It was the end of their vision, the passion in which they had invested years of life. The death of Jesus must have felt like a giant betrayal, not only by Jesus, but even by God himself. Why, after all, did the Lord back up Jesus's ministry with such mighty miracles if, in the end, it was all for nothing? For Thomas and his friends, the death of Jesus must have seemed like a cruel trick.

But then, on Easter morning, some women claimed that the tomb where Jesus had been buried was empty, and that they had even seen him alive. "Nonsense," Thomas must have figured. "Nothing but delirium. Wishful thinking!"

Yet that evening, while Thomas was away from the group, Jesus appeared to the other disciples. When he returned, they excitedly reported to him: "We've seen the Lord." But Thomas didn't share their joy or confidence. He said to his fellow disciples, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side." (v 25) There you have it: doubting Thomas.

But do you blame him? Remember, he had been burned before, big time. He had gone out on a limb for God, and the limb broke off. What had that got him?  Discouragement.  Defeat. Devastation! Thomas wasn't going to fall into that trap all over again. No way! Can you relate to Thomas at all? I know some of you can. You went out on a limb. You trusted God. You tried to live as a good Christian, to do the right things, when all of a sudden your life fell apart: your marriage disintegrated, or you got cancer, or you lost your job, or your teenager got involved with the wrong crowd. No matter how you try to rationalize what happened, the truth is that you have felt let down by God. And no matter how much others try to encourage you, you're just not sure you're ready to trust him again. There are some of you here right now who know exactly what I mean. So you can relate to Thomas.

Or maybe you connect with Thomas because, like him, you don't believe in Jesus. You've heard your friends and family members tell you how great it is to be a Christian.

You hear people like myself talk about God's love in Christ, but you're still not sure. So you can relate to Thomas as one who stands on the outside of faith, peering in.

To be honest, if I had been in Thomas's shoes, I'm not sure I would have been able to accept the testimony of the other disciples. You see, some people are sceptics. Some think a lot, maybe too much. Some don't find it easy to put their faith in anything. So putting ourselves in Thomas's place I wonder: Wouldn't it have made just as much sense to suppose that the disciples had had too much to drink, or that they'd seen some sort of ghost, or that their grief had overwhelmed their reason?

Whether Thomas should have believed or not, at any rate he was bluntly honest about where he was. He didn't pretend.  He told the truth. Was he "doubting Thomas"? Well, perhaps. But even more clearly he was "honest Thomas."

Thomas in fact turned out to be more honest than some of the other disciples. As far as we know, none of them admitted to having any doubts about Jesus at this time. They were happy to go along for the Resurrection ride. But if you turn over to Matthew 28, you read something quite startling. The disciples have followed Jesus's orders to go to Galilee, their home ground, and meet him there. This is what it says beginning with verse 16: "Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him - but some of them still doubted!" Did you catch that? "But some of them still doubted."

As far as we know, these disciples had been willing to play along as if they truly believed, but in fact their doubts persisted. Unlike Thomas, however, they weren't honest. They pretended to have unhesitant faith when all along they weren't quite sure.

If you're struggling with doubt today, don't pretend. And don't judge yourself. Doubt is a natural part of the faith journey of many, many Christians. If you doubt, be an "honest Thomas." First, tell the Lord about it. Don't hold back in your prayers. God can handle your doubt. God wants you to be completely honest in prayer. Second, if you're struggling with doubt, you can be an "honest Thomas" by sharing it with others whom you can trust. Get them to pray with you, support you, and walk with you through the dark valley of doubt. They'll help you get through.

Let's take another look at John 20 to see how Jesus responds to Thomas. It says, "Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them." For eight days Thomas was left in his doubt. For eight days he stood around watching the celebration of his colleagues while he was stuck in indecision. Don't you think Thomas began to wonder if Jesus had forgotten him? Maybe he began to fear that he would never get to see the risen Jesus, that he would live in doubt forever.

The fact is that Jesus chose to let Thomas wait. He didn't show up right away to relieve Thomas's fears. We don't know why. We don't know what needed to happen in Thomas before Jesus appeared to him. All we know is that Jesus made him wait.

There will be times when you're struggling with faith and doubt, and God will make you wait. It won't seem fair at the time. In fact, it might seem mean. But God knows what he's doing.

The Psalmists often speak of how for days they cried out to God for help. And for days God was silent. For days they begged to see God. And for days the eyes of their hearts were blind. They would feel desperate, terrified, and empty. And God would have seemed to have abandoned them during that time, their "eight days" of waiting, if you will.

I don't know what God was doing with Thomas during his eight days, but sometimes during our times of doubt, he can break our pride and set us free from our self-reliance. He will show us the limits of our reason. He will teach us that we can’t do things alone or in our own strength. And he will prepare us to receive his grace, not as something we think we have earned, but as a free gift.

When, after eight days, Jesus finally appeared to the disciples in Thomas's presence, he addressed the "doubter" directly: "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" (v. 27).

Do you know what's missing here? The rebuke! The guilt! The lecture on not doubting! It's not here. Jesus doesn't reprimand Thomas for his unbelief. Rather, he gently and mercifully offers Thomas exactly what he had wanted. Jesus met Thomas right where he was. And he offered himself to Thomas: "Here, touch me, and believe."

In his time and in his way, Jesus comes to us and makes himself known to us. Sometimes he does it in the way we have wanted. Sometimes he doesn't. But he always gives us exactly what we really need. And it comes, not because we've earned it, but by grace.

Many of us struggle with doubt that can seem to choke the very life out of us. We can fall into a pit of despair and not know how to climb out. We can use books, logic, and evidence that demands a verdict. We can be stuck in unbelief, helpless before God.

We may cry out to God, again and again and again. We may have sleepless nights and eventually pour our hearts to God, and often when we do, you may feel a calming presence surrounding and embracing you. The desperate doubts may drain out of your tormented souls, replaced by the deepest peace you’ve ever known. Your tears of sorrow may become tears of joy. It’s as if Jesus himself is saying to us, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"

Returning to John 20, notice how Thomas responded to Jesus. It's curious, isn't it, that we're never told whether or not Thomas actually touched Jesus's wounds. The silence of the text suggests he didn't. Confronted by the gracious presence and offer of Jesus, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" He didn't need to touch Jesus after all because the presence of his Lord had touched his heart.

Now I want you to notice something absolutely crucial here. Thomas said, "My Lord and my God!" This makes him the first person in the gospels, perhaps even the first person in all of history, to confess Jesus not only as Lord, but also as God. Doubting Thomas, or better yet, honest Thomas became faithful Thomas, bold Thomas, believing Thomas.

This is where honesty with God leads. This is the outcome of an open confession of doubt. This is not pretend faith. This is not the sort of Christianity we wear as a costume to impress others. It's a 100% genuine faith that issues from the deepest corners of our soul. It's a faith that transforms our lives. It's the sort of faith that I want. And I expect you do too.

Notice how Jesus finishes his encounter with Thomas: "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway." This is a word of encouragement for you and me, because we don't get to see Jesus. One day we'll see him face to face. But that day is still a long way off for most of us. In the meanwhile, you and I are those who have to believe without seeing.

And in this we are blessed. Being blessed doesn't mean we're great, or worthy, or morally superior. Being blessed means that God has chosen to pour out his goodness upon us, to be gracious to us, to reveal his Son to us. Indeed, all who believe without seeing are truly blessed.

Have you been blessed in this way? Do you believe in Jesus, even though you haven't seen him? If so, then praise God! You've been granted a marvellous gift. So use it and enjoy it and share it with others. Let your faith in Christ be the centre of your life.

I'm sure there are some of you here this morning who came not fully believing in Jesus. You just haven't been ready to put your trust in him. But maybe during this service you've sensed the presence of Jesus through his Spirit. Maybe you've heard his invitation to believe, even as he once gave it to Thomas. If this describes your experience, then I would invite you to say "yes" to Jesus today. Put your trust in the one who died for you, bearing your sin, and who was raised from the dead three days later so that you might have the fullness of life forever.

I expect that there are some of you here today who still feel like Thomas before he saw Jesus. You've heard the good news of salvation in Christ. You've heard that Christ is risen. You've heard the invitation to find true life in him. But you're still not sure. If this is how you're feeling right now, then let me encourage you to be like honest Thomas. Be real. Don't pretend. Tell God exactly where you are and ask for his help. And, if I could add one more thing, keep on hanging out with God's people. If you live around here, come back and join us for worship. Or sign up for a forthcoming Alpha course. Or talk with a Simon, Phill or myself. Let us walk with you on your journey to faith.

No matter where we are in our relationship with Jesus today, the good news is that he meets us in that place. In his time and his way, he graciously draws us near to his heart so we might know his love and grace. The one who gave his life for you so that you might be forgiven, the one who was raised so that you might live forever, seeks a genuine, honest relationship with you. He wants, not just a religious performance, but an intimate friendship. So no matter where you are on the road of faith, let the risen Jesus walk with you today, tomorrow, and every day from here on. Amen!

Easter: Death Defeated, Sins Forgiven, New Life & New Hope

This is Jonah.  As you can see from the picture, he is a cheeky twenty month old boy, full of life.

But exactly five weeks ago, on Sunday March 20^th, Jonah suffered a tragic accident.  In his back garden there is an old pond that had been drained, but overnight the pond had become filled with rain water, and Jonah fell into the pond – he was found floating face down in the water.  It is every parents’ worst nightmare.

It just happened that that day, Jonah’s mum Paula had invited a friend for lunch who was a paediatric nurse, she was the one who battled to safe Jonah’s life, and eventually after an agonising few minutes managed to resuscitate him.  Jonah was then rushed into hospital where doctors battled for 7 hours to stabilise him before he was transferred onto the Intensive Care Unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital.  

Jonah was in a coma for 50 hours, and his parents were told he was brain damaged.  

  

For Jonah’s parents, who are Christians, those 50 hours he was in a coma felt like a lifetime.  However, despite all the odds, Jonah eventually came out of the coma.  His parents were told that his expected stay on the neurology ward would be anything from 3 months to a year depending on the severity of his brain injury.

 

But incredibly 9 days later he was back home.  His parents write “Today we rejoice that Jonah is 100% the cheeky and mischievous little lad that he was when he woke up on that Sunday morning. His restoration to health has baffled medics and for this we give all the glory to God.”

It’s an amazing and deeply moving story, and there are some obvious parallels with the story of Easter, which we celebrate today. 

Because on Easter Sunday, an even greater miracle happened, because Jesus who had suffered a long and agonising death on the cross, and who had been in the tomb for three days, rose from the grave.

It is clear reading the accounts of the resurrection, that although Jesus had talked about being raised from the dead, no one had expected it.  Because the response of those that found the empty grave was one of amazement and shock, and their initial response was that someone must have stolen Jesus’ body, but in fact he had risen from the dead!

Of all the events in history ever to have happened, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the greatest event of them all, it was a day that changed the world for ever. 

So what does Jesus’ resurrection mean for us today?

DEATH DEFEATED

Jesus’ resurrection proves that once and for all death has been defeated.  Whilst we know one day we will die, we know also that there is life beyond death.  And this gives us a living hope for the future.  This is why Paul in 1 Corinthians writes “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55-57)  

For those who place their faith in Jesus, death should no longer holder the fear it once did.  This is why the Apostle Peter writes “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

The living hope that Peter talks about is a real, certain hope, based on the victory Jesus has won for us on the cross. 

SINS FORGIVEN

Because of Jesus’ resurrection there is the promise of sins forgiven. 

On the cross Jesus paid in full the penalty of our sin, which is why Peter writes   "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18)

Through his death and resurrection Jesus has dealt with the sins that mar our relationship with God and with one another. 

Not long before she died in 1988, Marghanita Laski, a well known secular humanist and novelist, said, "What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me." 

Because of Jesus’ resurrection we can have the promise of forgiveness, and fresh start with God.  This promise of a new beginning is so important, because which one of us hasn’t made mistakes in the past.  Which one of us has not thought at some point in our lives ‘I wish I could start over again’.  And with God, that new beginning is possible, what the resurrection proves is that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love, and this brings with it new life and new hope. 

NEW LIFE & NEW HOPE

Jesus offers all those who come to him new life, life as only God can give – life with meaning and purpose, because Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.” 

This is why Paul writes, ‘The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing… None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love.’ (Romans 8:35-37) 

Jesus has done all this for us, and what he wants from us, is to let him live at the centre of our lives so that we can experience purpose and meaning, hope and healing, peace, and joy that only he can give. He wants to be the risen Lord of your life! 

CALLED TO BE EASTER PEOPLE

As Christians we are called to be Easter people.  To follow the example of Jesus, and to proclaim the resurrection.

The trouble is that sometimes I have to recognise that I often deny the resurrection.  Every time I do not serve my neighbour, every time I do not serve the poor, every time I participate in an unjust system, every time I am dishonest, every time I lie, every time I am greedy, I deny the resurrection.

And I affirm the resurrection – when I stand up for those who are on their knees, when I weep for those who have no more tears to shed, when I extend the hand of friendship to someone in need, when I show compassion and mercy, when I reach out to someone in the love of God, I affirm the resurrection.

This is what it means to be an Easter people, this is what it means to follow the example of Jesus, and to proclaim the resurrection. This is why the resurrection matters – because through it God changes lives, starting with us. 

Have you allowed Him to change your life?  

Jonah

This is Jonah.  As you can see from the picture, he is a cheeky twenty month old boy, full of life.

But exactly five weeks ago, on Sunday March 20^th, Jonah suffered a tragic accident.  In his back garden there is an old pond that had been drained, but overnight the pond had become filled with rain water, and Jonah fell into the pond – he was found floating face down in the water.  It is every parents’ worst nightmare.

It just happened that that day, Jonah’s mum Paula had invited a friend for lunch who was a paediatric nurse, she was the one who battled to safe Jonah’s life, and eventually after an agonising few minutes managed to resuscitate him.  Jonah was then rushed into hospital where doctors battled for 7 hours to stabilise him before he was transferred onto the Intensive Care Unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital.  

Jonah was in a coma for 50 hours, and his parents were told he was brain damaged.  

  

For Jonah’s parents, who are Christians, those 50 hours he was in a coma felt like a lifetime.  However, despite all the odds, Jonah eventually came out of the coma.  His parents were told that his expected stay on the neurology ward would be anything from 3 months to a year depending on the severity of his brain injury.

 

But incredibly 9 days later he was back home.  His parents write “Today we rejoice that Jonah is 100% the cheeky and mischievous little lad that he was when he woke up on that Sunday morning. His restoration to health has baffled medics and for this we give all the glory to God.”

It’s an amazing and deeply moving story, and there are some obvious parallels with the story of Easter, which we celebrate today. 

Because on Easter Sunday, an even greater miracle happened, because Jesus who had suffered a long and agonising death on the cross, and who had been in the tomb for three days, rose from the grave.

It is clear reading the accounts of the resurrection, that although Jesus had talked about being raised from the dead, no one had expected it.  Because the response of those that found the empty grave was one of amazement and shock, and their initial response was that someone must have stolen Jesus’ body, but in fact he had risen from the dead!

Of all the events in history ever to have happened, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the greatest event of them all, it was a day that changed the world for ever. 

So what does Jesus’ resurrection mean for us today?

DEATH DEFEATED

Jesus’ resurrection proves that once and for all death has been defeated.  Whilst we know one day we will die, we know also that there is life beyond death.  And this gives us a living hope for the future.  This is why Paul in 1 Corinthians writes “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55-57)  

For those who place their faith in Jesus, death should no longer holder the fear it once did.  This is why the Apostle Peter writes “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

The living hope that Peter talks about is a real, certain hope, based on the victory Jesus has won for us on the cross. 

SINS FORGIVEN

Because of Jesus’ resurrection there is the promise of sins forgiven. 

On the cross Jesus paid in full the penalty of our sin, which is why Peter writes   "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18)

Through his death and resurrection Jesus has dealt with the sins that mar our relationship with God and with one another. 

Not long before she died in 1988, Marghanita Laski, a well known secular humanist and novelist, said, "What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me." 

Because of Jesus’ resurrection we can have the promise of forgiveness, and fresh start with God.  This promise of a new beginning is so important, because which one of us hasn’t made mistakes in the past.  Which one of us has not thought at some point in our lives ‘I wish I could start over again’.  And with God, that new beginning is possible, what the resurrection proves is that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love, and this brings with it new life and new hope. 

NEW LIFE & NEW HOPE

Jesus offers all those who come to him new life, life as only God can give – life with meaning and purpose, because Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.” 

This is why Paul writes, ‘The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing… None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love.’ (Romans 8:35-37) 

Jesus has done all this for us, and what he wants from us, is to let him live at the centre of our lives so that we can experience purpose and meaning, hope and healing, peace, and joy that only he can give. He wants to be the risen Lord of your life! 

CALLED TO BE EASTER PEOPLE

As Christians we are called to be Easter people.  To follow the example of Jesus, and to proclaim the resurrection.

The trouble is that sometimes I have to recognise that I often deny the resurrection.  Every time I do not serve my neighbour, every time I do not serve the poor, every time I participate in an unjust system, every time I am dishonest, every time I lie, every time I am greedy, I deny the resurrection.

And I affirm the resurrection – when I stand up for those who are on their knees, when I weep for those who have no more tears to shed, when I extend the hand of friendship to someone in need, when I show compassion and mercy, when I reach out to someone in the love of God, I affirm the resurrection.

This is what it means to be an Easter people, this is what it means to follow the example of Jesus, and to proclaim the resurrection. This is why the resurrection matters – because through it God changes lives, starting with us. 

Have you allowed Him to change your life?