John 20:1-22 - "Alleluia – He is Risen”

Milford BC (e-service) – 12th April, 2020.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.A very Happy Easter to you all. It’s such a shame that we couldn’t be together this morning for our sunrise service but here is a picture of Heaven’s Gate that Lorraine took last year with one of our lovely banners…

As is our MBC Easter tradition, we will start with a medley of worship songs as we celebrate our risen Lord. We know and love the fact that different members of our fellowship enjoy different styles of worship, so here are a collection of songs to choose from! Let’s start together with “See What a Morning” but then feel free to choose the songs from the list that will enable you to worship and celebrate this morning.

Opening songs:

Together: See what a morning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LgE_E7yaz4

Feel free to choose some or all from the following:

Jesus Christ is Risen Today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1brSOs0lMc

Up From the Grave He Arose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN77HjfAc8k

He has risen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PiG6GjK7Is

The Greatest Day in History (Happy day) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlWPGWfIvwU

Because He Lives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPW9xYEyijQ

An Easter song choice from Evie Sargrove: Rend Collective Resurrection Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdUqzNv-x_E&feature=youtu.be

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Blessed are you, Creator God, your light dispels the darkness of sin and death. Christ is risen from the dead and all creation rejoices in the victory of redeeming love. The sorrows and wounds of the cross have been consumed by the glory of the empty tomb. Out of the darkness of sin you have called us into resurrection light. Through the deep waters of death you have brought us to eternal life. May Christ the First and Last fill our hearts with praise and bring us to the joy of the new creation. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God forever. Amen

Confession Prayer:Gracious Father, you sent your son to die and rise to new life in order that death might be brought to an end and that we might live a new life in Him. Yet we confess that we too often have chosen to remain captive to doubt and fear and ways that lead to death. By our thoughts, words, and actions, we have scorned your love, diminished the lives of others, and defaced your image in us. Father, forgive us for Jesus’ sake, and enable us by His resurrection power to live no longer for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again for us. Amen.

Words of Assurance:Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification.– Romans 4:25

And as we reflect on that glorious forgiveness, let’s sing again:Jesus Christ I think upon your sacrifice (once again)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebFji3n0cCA

Reading (NIV version): John 20:1-22: The Empty Tomb20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from

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Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

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Easter message from Simon Bodington:This week you have a choice to either watch Simon deliver his Easter message via this YouTube link https://youtu.be/Xz zYUkQsNnU or to read on in this document. If you choose to watch him on YouTube then once he has finished, please scroll down to the bottom of page 8 for the rest of the e-service.

Introduction (#1) Good morning and welcome to Easter Sunday!

> “The LORD has risen!” ….(and you please respond) “He is risen indeed”!

Be ready we are going to say that together a few times over the next 10-12 minutes … just to keep you on your toes J This is Easter Sunday, the greatest day of the Christian calendar. This is the day when something happened that changed everything. Out of the weeping and grief of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus a new day dawned , like an explosion of light as what God the Father had willed in Christ Jesus was brought about through the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:26  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

> “The LORD has risen!” …. (and you respond)  “He is risen indeed”! .. (well I did warn you!)

This is the greatest day in history, the light from which illuminates the past, the present and the future of all of creation. Everything has changed. Christ has risen and in doing so He has opened the gates of glory to all who would respond in repentance and faith and follow Him as both LORD and Saviour.

The darkness of death has been swept aside for: 1Cor 15: 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55  "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

And that is so important to remember always but particularly as we journey together through these difficult times; might we keep our present troubles in a right perspective.

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

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So look up people! Look up this Easter morning and see the risen Lord … your Lord, your God and your Redeemer. Might the light of Jesus’ resurrection shine on us this morning, for it is a light that shines in the darkness, one which the darkness can never overcome. Remember:

1 Thessalonians 5:5  You are all children of the light and children of the day. You do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

So though this has been a week full of more difficult news and the Covid-19 crisis is starting to get very personal for many, it is my prayer that the resurrection light of that Easter morning might shine on us, in us and through us this day – that it might shine brightly, as it originally shone upon those first disciples moving them from grief and fear to awe and joy.

> “The LORD has risen!” …. (and you respond)  “He is risen indeed”!

Now in the limited time we have I want to take our scripture  this morning and break it into three sections, hopefully drawing from each one some aspects we can fruitfully reflect upon:

1. vv 1-9 – Mary(s), Peter and John visit the tomb 2. vv 10-18 – Jesus appearance to Mary in the garden 3. vv 19-22 – Jesus appearance to the disciples in the locked room

The visits to the tomb by Mary, Peter and John (vv1-9) (#2) 

Early in the morning of the first day of the Jewish week Mary Magdelene, the “other” Mary and maybe some other women too, weeping and laden with their grief, go down to the grave in order to offer a final expression of their love for Jesus in preparing his bloodied body for its final rest. They knew what had happened, they had seen it all, their beloved Jesus was dead, crucified. No doubt they were still living with the trauma of what they had personally witnessed only three day earlier when it was the women who had faithfully remained with Jesus through those long dark hours. Though unable to save him they nevertheless remained faithfully with him.

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And now horror of horrors, they find the tomb has been opened and his body stolen! The only thing they thought they still could do as a final expression of their love has been cruelly taken from them.

2  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!"

Then to add insult to injury Luke records that 24:11  … the disciples did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

But Peter and John rush to the tomb to see for themselves and finding it empty go back to their homes wondering what had happened. They must have been followed once more by Mary who I imagine was even more distraught Mary.  .

Jesus appearance to Mary – why are you crying? (vv 10-18) (#3) 

10  Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12  and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13  They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don’t know where they have put him." 14  At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus. 15  "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Now what really strikes me in these verses is that question that both the angels and Jesus ask Mary – “why are you crying?”. What a crazy question! It’s pretty obvious isn’t it? But the question is asked, not once but twice – so let’s take a closer look. If we think about it, when we ask a question, we do it from our perspective. So, I suggest instead of putting ourselves in Mary’s shoes as we have done, now is the time to put ourselves in the shoes of the angels and Jesus who asked; “why are you crying”? The angels and Jesus obviously knew that the resurrection had happened and it is from that tremendously different perspective that they can quite reasonably ask the question “why are you crying”?

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Revelation 21:4  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

It is a reasonable question though Mary does not yet realise it. 16  Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!".

Can you imagine how Mary felt? You might have been able to relate to where she was a second before but can you see where she is now? The resurrection light has just shone on her and as I said earlier in that sense; in that light everything looks different. From the dark valley of despair Mary has been lifted up to a brilliant mountaintop dawn of resurrection joy. Mary could join when I say:

> “The LORD has risen!” …. (and you respond)  “He is risen in deed”!

And we, even today as we once again read God’s Word which records this day for us, we too can share in that same joy. The Apostle Peter writes: 1 Peter 1:8  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  

Jesus appearance to the disciples (vv 19-22) (#4) 

 And lastly we come to vv 19-22, which when I read them seemed very relevant for our present times:

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21  Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

When I read this the other day I immediately thought “lockdown”! The disciples huddling in their home, behind locked doors … why? Well because of fear. Despite what they had witnessed just earlier that day they were still at night hiding, frightened when Jesus despite their locked doors, their fears and anxieties comes and stands amongst them.

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And what does he say? Does he berate them? No instead He says: Peace be with you!

And just in case they didn’t get it the first time he says it again: Peace be with you!

He doesn’t criticise them for their lack of faith, their fearful thoughts but instead he comes to them and offers them the peace of God that only He can offer.

And as we cower behind our “locked doors” for fear of Covid-19 - what do you think the Risen Christ says to us? Well, I would suggest the same words: Peace be with you!

The basis for all our peace is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He died for us, He arose from the dead in victory, and now He lives for us. In our fears, we cannot lock Him out! For He comes to us in grace and reassures us through His Word of His enduring love and faithfulness.

21  Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

And with those words of assurance, he then blessed them, commissioned them and sends them out to love and serve the world in His Name, sharing with all they meet the good news of that Easter Day.

(#5) > (so now to close we say for the final time) “The LORD has risen!” …. “He is risen indeed!”

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen!

Response song:In Christ Alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE

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Prayers: This week, in addition to the newsletter prayer points, we also have prayers brought to us by Liz Pollard from our prayer ministry team:

Almighty God and Heavenly Father, on this beautiful Easter morning we give you all the praise – and all the glory for your redemption plan of salvation. Thank you that Jesus was prepared to go through the horror of the cross and the separation from you so that we could come into a relationship with you. We rejoice at the wonder of it all!

We pray for our broken world and know that your heart is for creation and humanity to live harmoniously. Please be with all who are suffering from the virus, especially those fighting for their lives in intensive care units. We thank you for the dedication and compassion of nurses, doctors, support workers and volunteers who are putting their lives at risk for the sake of others. We pray for your calming presence to be with all who have lost family members so suddenly and unexpectedly. Please speak peace into their grief and sense of loss.

Be with all who suffer because they serve you. Give them courage to stand in the face of abuse and persecution. So many experience circumstances that would cause us to despair and yet they daily praise and glorify your name.

Thank you Father for ministries such as Mechanics for Africa, which practically promote kingdom principles. Please continue to bless Harry and Sarah and their children in all that they are facing at the moment. Thank you for pledges of finances to cover the Covid-19 crisis – may they have wisdom as to how to use this funding.

Heavenly Father we ask that the gospel will continue to spread across the world and even more so as people are fearful for their health and their work. May people turn to you and hear about you through technology; through the witness of neighbours and friends. Father, please water every seed sown and bring it to fruition. Make us ready to speak of you wherever and whenever we can.

We pray for your church and ask that you will empower all leaders with your words of truth and the ability to convey the gospel in ways which communicate to all generations. By your Holy Spirit’s power may the seeds of faith be sown into good soil and nurtured to maturity. Thank you for all the young lives that we have connections with and that, despite the postponement of the holiday club, they will continue to trust and follow you.

We lift all who are unwell to you – David and June Falkus, John Withers, Christine North and Cindy Hill. Please restore them to full health and strength. Be with Manon in her loss and Irene Hubner’s family as they also grieve.

Finally, we praise you our God and Father that you have exalted Jesus to your right hand above all principalities and powers. So we pray for those in positions of power, including our Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and ask that they submit to Jesus’ authority; that their decision making may be according to your will; that we may be justly and peaceably governed. Amen

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Closing song:I cast my mind to Calvary (Oh Praise the Name) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1mHJYjFUx4

Weekly blessing:May God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our Easter e-service. Thank you to all who have given us feedback so far. Please keep your suggestions coming to andi@benandi.com

Andi, Lynn, Dave, Brian & Simon

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