Second Chapter of Acts “Hear the bells ringing” https://youtu.be/-6S3dp6elpw?feature=shared
Goodness is stronger than evil
Love is stronger than hate
Light is stronger than darkness
Life is stronger than death.
Song “See what a morning” https://youtu.be/18_PDY22Sck?feature=shared
When we are despairing and see no way ahead
Roll back the stone!
When we are frightened and fear for our life
Roll back the stone!
When we are hungry, thirsty and need shelter
Roll back the stone!
When we need a miracle to change our lives
Roll back the stone!
We say the Lords Prayer in our own language
Reading John 20v1-10
Song “Oh Lord my God” https://youtu.be/6yv1vJnfKAE?feature=shared
Reflection -Resurrection!
The text
The scene in John's gospel is set when it was still dark, just before dawn. John focuses on Mary. Early in the morning would mean between 3 and 6 am and it would still be dark. Mary having gone to the tomb to anoint the body, finds the body gone and runs to Peter to tell him “they have taken the body and we don't know where they have buried him”. The tomb was built into the ground with a low door so that they had to bend down, and then look down into it. Peter sees lying there, strips of linen, shroud-like sheets, the linen grave-cloths. The burial cloth - is a small towel used to wipe the face, and it was not lying with the sheets but was folded up beside the linen. (we note the details)
John saw it all and believed.
The 3 facts
1. Jesus lived
We know that Jesus lived because Josephus the Roman historian writes about him in his histories, Antiquities of the Jews, written around 93–94 AD. He writes about 'Jesus' in Book 20, Chapter 9: and describes him as "Jesus, who was called Christ"
2. Jesus died
We know that Jesus died and was crucified because the Roman historian Tacitus, in his Annals (written ca. AD 116), book 15, chapter 44. refers to 'Christus' and his execution by Pontius Pilate.
3. Nobody has ever found his body. Despite so many people knowing what happened, the Roman guards, the disciples, the Jewish leaders, his followers nobody ever found a body or even remains like bones or a grave. Bodies don’t just disappear.
Everyone was surprised that Jesus was resurrected! Death is final?! The women, the disciples and the Emmaus travelers there is no hint that they understood what he was talking about, that resurrection was on the cards, anticipated.
At the beginning of Luke’s gospel, Luke the doctor, promised Theophilus that he was writing an eye witness account of what happened (Luke 1:1-4). The women did not go to the tomb expecting resurrection, because they took spices to anoint his decaying body.
At first the disciples regard the women as hysterical, telling an idle tale “leros”, a delirious story told by the very sick.
The disciples head to Jerusalem with hearts filled with joy, gratitude and worship. The disciples' response is to await the blessing. They journey to Jerusalem, obeying the Lord's command to wait for the Spirit there. The resurrection has strengthened these disciples' relationship with God. Their sense of privilege at being involved in God's plan did not waver even years later, when persecution and rejection of their message became strong.
Now it is the story of what God can do through his people. That message is not one of words alone but of life, love and light. The message is both proclaimed and lived out in a world going in the wrong direction.
"Why do you look for the living among the dead?
In some way that we may not be able to fully understand what happened and why. Jesus knew that he had to die to save us, each one of us. I trained as a life saver. Jesus is the supreme life saver. If you are in trouble turn to him. Always. Many of us don’t know what it is like to be close to death and to be saved. But some people do!
Jesus is the supreme life saver. Whether we have relationship troubles, we are sick, we have financial troubles, we are homeless or are stateless, Jesus is the person to turn to. Don’t trust me, trust the one who was raised from the dead, and trust his God. The women were met with an empty tomb. So are we!
Roll back the stone!
Hymn “Behold the Lamb” https://youtu.be/ACHPwx7EGQA?feature=shared
May the God who shakes heaven and earth
Whom death could not contain
Who lives to disturb and heal us
Bless us with power to go forth
And proclaim the gospel
Through it all-Hillsong https://youtu.be/4GthZbt1lPo?feature=shared
