Sunday 20th April, Easter Day ~~ We will not die but live

John 20.1-18

We will not die but live

The sun shone on the lake as the risen Lord met his disciples in the bright morning of eternal life. A righteous ruler, a ruler in the fear of God, like the light of morning at sunrise, a morning cloudless; like brightness after rain, bringing greenness from the earth.

Jesus rose from death. Nature defied it; reason denied it. But, contrary to every expectation, he rose. Yet this was what the prophets foretold: I have killed and I will make live, said the Eternal to Moses. After the suffering of his soul he will see the light of life, sang Isaiah. Indeed, Jesus said so himself: After three days I will rise again. How slow we were to believe!

We should not doubt his bodily resurrection. There are many proofs which show it to be true. But the best reason is an inner truth: If he was not raised, then there is no hope for us or our troubled world. In that case, our inner instinct to hope is a delusion. But since he rose, our inner instinct is a God-given truth, and hope is boundless. This world and its momentary troubles are but a test and a preparation for the eternal life we will receive. We will not die but live, and proclaim what Yehovah has done.

David Mitchell

Saturday 19th April, Holy Saturday (Easter Eve) ~~ Love covers a multitude of sins

1 Peter 4.1-8

Love covers a multitude of sins

“Love covers a multitude of sins": this phrase leaps from the page, being such a well known saying.

You might even consider it a cliché or a throw-away line.

And yet, it holds the key to surviving everyday life in most families presumably, not just ours.As parents we are constantly battling with not only our children's misdemeanours but, worse still, our own myriad failings, a lack of patience to name but one.

Thankfully, however, hope is at hand. You might not be expecting a cheesy quotation from Andrew Lloyd Weber, but it's true - "Love changes everything".

It's God's love that miraculously allows us to start afresh with each
other and ourselves as often as necessary. However many times a day.

In simple terms isn't that exactly what we'll be celebrating tomorrow on
Easter day?

Sally and Richard Steel 

Friday 18th April, Good Friday ~~ Persecution

Psalm69 / Psalmen 69

Persecution

In a time when Christians are increasingly finding themselves being persecuted, I pray that like the author of this psalm, we also will be willing to undergo such disdain from those around us for the sake of our Lord. As Christ hangs on the cross for us, may we be willing to withstand the insults of our brothers and sisters. Through it all, finishing our prayer with praise for God and worshipping Him with thanksgiving.

Ich werde für den Namen Gottes zu leiden.

Naomi Brown

Thursday 17th April, Maundy Thursday

1 Corinthians 11.23-26

Sharing meals with friends is one of life's great pleasures. In our bibles we find many stories about shared meals, starting with Abraham's lavish hospitality offered in the heat of the day to the three visitors under the great trees at Mamre (Genesis 18).

This passage from Paul's letter to the Corinthians recalls the meal that Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his death. At the Last Supper Jesus tells his disciples to eat the bread and to drink the cup; Jesus' own body and blood.

And this is what Christians have done ever since. We recall Jesus' offering of himself. We receive his broken body and his poured-out blood, for the forgiveness of our sins. We hold out our hands and receive what God has done for us in Jesus. And we pray that we may become what we receive.

'Lord, unite us in this sign.'

Chris Martin

Wednesday 16th April, Wednesday in Holy Week ~~ Brokenness

John 13.21-32/ Johannes 13.21-32

Brokenness

I have always found this passage somewhat frightening. I imagine that Judas loved Jesus; he believed in him, followed him. And then we read this.

How about us? Do we know what we believe in? It may seem to make life easier to have strong convictions. They can guide us safely through life. Strong convictions can also function as a firewall, to hide our uncertainties, our feelings of not being capable, and our deepest fears.

 

The betrayal makes me think about my brokenness. I cannot know in which way my faith could be challenged in the future. Do we have the courage to be real, to talk about what really keeps us busy? Do we share our fears with our loved ones? Being honest and real might help us to seek help from God and others, when we need it.

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Judas geloofde in Jezus en koos later voor iets anders. We vragen ons af of het ons ook kan overkomen. Durven we met anderen te praten over onze dagdagelijkse angst en twijfels?

Harm de Jonge

Tuesday 15th April, Tuesday in Holy Week ~~ Life in God’s Waiting Room

Psalm 27

Life in God’s Waiting Room

In the Psalms we find frequent repetition of similar themes: lament and worries about suffering; yearning for God and for assurance from God; and a decision to praise God regardless of the circumstances – because of faith in his constant goodness. Perhaps this provides a short summary of life for us: it isn’t easy, God doesn’t always feel near, BUT he is good and we should wait for him anyways – and praise him while we’re waiting. Psalm 27 provides an inspiring example for us, as the Psalmist demonstrates his perseverance in seeking God, talks of his strong desire just to be with God and gaze on his beauty, and his confidence in who God is, and that he himself will indeed see the goodness of God. The Psalmist ends with advice for us: Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Take heart. And wait.

Kendrah Jespersen

Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Take heart. And wait.

Monday 14th April, Monday in Holy Week ~~ New events

Isaiah 42.1-9

New events

"The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur." Today is a day of turning. Holy Week is beginning; Lent is coming to a close. We look forward through this Week, this Week of Weeks in the Christian calendar -- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and finally Easter. But today is just Monday, just the beginning, the day we turn towards it. We must remind ourselves of the who and the why of this week, especially at the beginning. Read the passage and contemplate those two questions: Who? Who is this servant? What are his characteristics? And why? Why is he coming? What will he change? What does this have to do with me and with the whole story of God? The past events have indeed taken place, but new ones are on the horizon.

Jeremy Heuslein

Sunday 13th April, Palm Sunday

Philippians 2.5-11/ Philippiens 2.5-11

Palm Sunday – a day full of vivid images and sounds. Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, further evidence of his humility. The crowds wave palm branches and shout ‘Hosanna’ yet a few days later those same tongues will cry ‘Crucify him’ and a tree will be put to a different use.  And so we begin the journey of Holy Week.  Our Palm Crosses remind us what the crowds did not yet understand, that Jesus became ‘obedient to death -even death on a cross’. Today let us bow our knees in humble adoration and use our tongues to ‘acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’.

Le dimanche des Rameaux – une journée pleine d’images et sons vifs.  Jésus entre  Jérusalem assis sur un âne, encore une preuve de son humilité.   Les foules prennent des branches de palmier et crient «Hosanna» mais quelques jours plus tard, ces mêmes langues crieront "Crucifiez-le" et un arbre sera utilisé autrement.  Nous commençons le chemin de la Semaine Sainte.  Nos croix de palmier nous rappellent ce que les foules n'ont pas encore compris  que Jésus est devenu «obéissant jusqu'à la mort, même la mort sur la croix.».   Aujourd'hui plions le genou pour l’adorer humblement et utilisons nos  langues pour «reconnaître que Jésus-Christ est le Seigneur, à la gloire de Dieu  le Père».

Susie Wilkinson

Saturday 12^th April

John 12.36b–end

Our mission

 “Jesus did not come to judge the world, but to save the world”. How wonderful that is. This is the heart of the message of Easter; Jesus, dying on the cross for you, for me. This is a message that everyone loves to hear.

But the following verse reminds us that this is inseparable from the Father’s judgement: “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words”. This too is part of the Easter message. Jesus died on the cross to save us. Yes. To save us from the coming judgement. Yes. But for those who reject Christ and do not accept his words, then this judgement will still “condemn them at the last day”. 

It is right that at Easter we celebrate joyously the unmerited gift of Jesus as Saviour. He is risen, hallelujah! But let us also do all we can to bring people to Jesus, come into the world as a light, that believing in Him they would not stay in darkness.

Hugh Prior 

Friday 11th April ~~ Believing and Trusting

Psalm 31

Believing and Trusting 

 Like David, we must pray in faith. We need to pray in confidence and believe that when we cry out to God, He hears us. We need to take hold of His promises. Promises that He will direct us, give us wisdom, forgive us, set us free....in the different situations we face every day.

David is a man who is in distress and in a lot of trouble but he does not neglect his soul. In fact, he cares deeply about it. Rather than giving in to unbelief in the trials he faces, he chooses to praise God for his love, goodness and faithfulness, firmly believing that his whole life is in His hands.

So as we put our hope and trust in our all knowing, and loving God, may He empower us to be strong in Him and to never give up.

Priscilla Stairs

Thursday 10th April ~~Thirst assuaged

Psalm 42/Psaumes 42/Psalmen 42

Thirst assuaged

Many times in my life I have desperately thirsted for the living God just as this Psalm describes. I thirst for something real, something alive and active, something that is so much more than the daily monotony all of us find ourselves in. The words of C.S. Lewis come to my mind as I try to describe this search. He says, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world”. 

I read these words and find comfort. I find comfort in that there is a real and living God and that through his Son’s sacrificial grace offering on the cross 2000 years ago, I will someday be able to find my soul’s deepest longings satisfied. Until that time, I rest knowing that even though my soul may be downcast at times, there is ultimate hope through the power, grace and unconditional love of our Father.

***************************************************************Vaak in mijn leven zocht ik wanhopig naar antwoorden, naar waarheid, naar de levende God; vandaag vind ik hoop en vrede in de kracht, genade en onvoorwaardelijke liefde van onze Vader.

***************************************************************Souvent, dans ma vie, j'ai été désespérée pour trouver des réponses, la vérité, le Dieu vivant, aujourd'hui, je trouve l'espoir et la paix dans la force, la grâce et l'amour inconditionnel de notre Père.

Bailey Bollinger

Wednesday 9th April ~~ “-mon semblable, mon frère!”

Psalm 55

“-mon semblable, mon frère!”

The terrors of death assail me.

Fear and trembling have beset me;

Horror has overwhelmed me.

David is going through a serious bout of depression, which he feels physically.

His heart races in anguish. His body trembles. Horror has totally overwhelmed him.

If an enemy were insulting me,

I could endure it …

But it is you, a man like myself,

My companion, my close friend,

With whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship,

as we walked with the throng at the house of God.

Life is easy if we can divide the world neatly into friend and foe. You know what to expect from “the wicked”. But what if we find cracks in this dividing line?

This experience shatters David’s spirits: he feels betrayed by a companion, by a close friend. He trembles because what he thought was firm ground beneath his feet has been shaken. In his fear of betrayal, a poisonous suspicion seeps into this relationship: although the other’s words may sound more soothing than oil – aren’t they really “drawn swords”.  What is the other one really up to? How will you ever know? Who can you trust?

David feels a weary temptation to throw in the towel: Imagine yourself an innocent dove, fly away from the unreliable, disappointing and unsettling company of fellow men; stay in the desert and find rest and shelter from the destructive forces at work in human society, the unreal, “fourmillante” city: violence, strife, malice, abuse, threats and lies.

In the midst of emotional turmoil and physical discomfort, when his trust in human companions and friends is broken, David answers the question who he can trust:

But I call to God,

and the LORD saves me.

Evening, morning and noon,

I cry out in distress,

and he hears my voice.

Anon.

Tuesday 8th April ~~Fear to gladness

 Psalm 64

Fear to gladness

This is a Psalm of David to the “Director of Music.” David is in torment and is torn between his faith in God and fear of his enemies. He pleads with God to protect him and describes the cunning actions of men who hide, are devious and plot against him. These evil men are convinced that their deeds will not be seen or discovered by anyone. The psalmist is specific in telling us that these evil deeds will be carried out by the use of arrows, but that God is mightier and will shoot back at those enemies whose intent is to cause harm. They will be so afraid that they will flee from God. The psalm begins with fear and apprehension but ends in praise and gladness as God is glorified. This mirrors the fear and apprehension of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, ending in the joy and triumph of Easter Day.

Heather Charlton

Monday 7th April ~~ Jesus wept

John 11.28–44

Jesus wept

My grandfather kept a bible on the music cabinet. In the bible was a list written in his exquisite copperplate of memorable verses. One item on the list was "shortest verse, John 11: 35". Investigating I found just two words simple words "Jesus wept".

Jesus knew the outcome yet he was so at one with the sisters’ emotions that he entered into their grief. Recently I was trying to rationalize this. Perhaps it is slightly like me watching a chick-flick movie or reading a good book. I cry yet I can guess that the end may well be that all live happily ever after. Yet I still cry.

Jesus knows the end of the story but he is there feeling our every hurt. I know this from experience.

Jane Brown

Sunday 6th April, Fifth Sunday in Lent ~ The valley of dry bones

Ezekiel 37.1-14

The valley of dry bones

I find myself at the 59^th minute of the 11^th hour writing a meditation on “The Valley of Dry Bones”. It is one of my very favourite passages in the Old Testament. I suppose the reading chose me!

Even when everything seems lost with God there is hope. God asks “…can these bones live?” The prophet, wisely, lets God answer His own question. And then “….there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone….” (Authorised Version – apologies – I just could not resist).

Ezekiel gives a message of hope to the exiled Israelites. Even when everything seems lost there is hope, and with God nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible.

And it is the same for us. We just need to believe.

David Brown

Saturday 5th April ~~ Taking God at His Word~~Gods woord geloven

Hebrews 11.1–16

Hebreeën 11:1-16

Taking God at His Word/ Gods woord geloven

What I really liked about this passage was the version of “The Word on the street”. It showed me how important it is to take God at His word and follow Him to the ends of the earth. We have to be dead sure about our prospects without evidence or proof just like the men and women of faith in this passage. These people should actually be called heroes as they had faith in God’s promises regarding the future. They then acted upon this despite present difficulties and temptations. However these heroes of faith are more than just examples for us, they are to be examples with us. It’s together we will receive the reward of eternal life in heaven. We need to keep hold of our heavenly visa and make God smile with the works we do here on earth.

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Ik vond deze passage echt leuk in de versie “The Word on the street”. Het toonde mij hoe belangrijk het is om Gods woord te geloven en Hem overal te volgen. We moeten absoluut zeker zijn van onze verwachtingen zonder teken of bewijs juist zoals de mannen en vrouwen van geloof in deze lezing. Deze mensen zouden eigenlijk helden genoemd moeten worden, omdat ze geloofden in Gods beloftes i.v.m. de toekomst. Zij handelden dan ondanks de moeilijkheden en verleidingen van het nu. Desondanks zijn deze geloofshelden meer dan gewone voorbeelden voor ons, ze gaan met ons voorbeelden worden. Samen gaan we de beloning van eeuwig leven in de hemel ontvangen. We moeten onze hemelse visum goed vasthouden en God doen glimlachen met wat wij hier op aarde doen.

Jenny Freeman

Friday 4th April~~Resurrection

John 11.1–16

Resurrection

Martha and Mary were not alone in their grief. They lost a dear brother, young and strong. Their friends thought how unfair it was to lose a brother and friend so young. One special friend called Jesus, with whom they had a good relationship, was not with them at that moment. Actually it was rather difficult to make out who he really was and why he was amongst them. One explanation we find in John 11.14b-15 – ‘…..“Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”’

A very puzzled Thomas said ‘”Let us also go, that we may die with him.”’ (11.16b)

What do you believe: is resurrection a reality or not?

Rie Arthern

Thursday 3rd April~~I'm a sheep?/Je suis un mouton?/Ik ben een schaap?

John 10.22–end

I'm a sheep?/Je suis un mouton?/Ik ben een schaap?

You may not think it is very nice to be compared with a sheep - some sheep don't even smell very nice! But with Jesus as our shepherd, it is an honour to b e called His sheep.  In New Testament times, a shepherd knew all of his sheep intimately, cared for their every need, and even slept next to them to ensure they were protected from dangers. That is how intimately Jesus knows each one of us! A shepherd will also lead his sheep to green pastures - much as Jesus leads us to eternal life. No one can snatch us from our Father's hand with Jesus as our Shepherd.

Next time you face a challenge, picture Jesus as your Shepherd and trust Him to guide and protect you.

Dave Harding

Wednesday 2nd April~~ "I have come to do your will, my God"

Hebrews 10.1–18

"I have come to do your will, my God" Hebrews 10 v 7

What is God's will for my life, for your life, for our church life?  If I know His will how do I go about doing it?  What is it going to cost me? What will I have to sacrifice?  The Hebrews were new Christians, desperately searching for how to be Christians, people of God in a time and place where everything around them was focused on their self will rather than God's will.  Yet throughout scripture we are challenged to seek first the kingdom of God and what that calls us to be and to do. 

Perhaps we could see the period of Lent as a fast from fighting against the demands of our secular societies and gorging ourselves on the will of God and work towards the moment we can stand in front of God, like Christ, and say "Here I am.....I have come to do your will, my God".

Heather Roy  
Tuesday 

Tuesday 1st April ~~ The good shepherd

John 10.1-10

The good shepherd

This discourse seems plainly to be a continuation of the closing verses of the ninth chapter. The figure was familiar to the Jewish ear (from Jeremiah 23:1-40 ; Ezekiel 34:1-31 ; Zechariah 11:1-17, etc.).

"This simple creature [the sheep] has this special note among all animals, that it quickly hears the voice of the shepherd, follows no one else, depends entirely on him, and seeks help from him alone--cannot help itself, but is shut up to another's aid" [LUTHER in STIER].

Taken from “Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible” by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, published in 1871.