Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 22 May 2022
Real Resurrection
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Luke 24:1-12
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CloseOn the one hand, Jesus’ resurrection is the crux (and no pun intended) of the Gospel. If Jesus is not raised from the dead, His claims are mocked, His life is no different to our life, and the forgiveness of sins is a myth. If Jesus is not raised from the dead, then we are to be pitied! But the resurrection of Jesus is real – it is just as God planned, just as Jesus shared, and witnessed to by more than 500 people (many of whom could be contacted when 1 Corinthians was written!) So, on the other hand, Jesus is raised from the dead – and this means the offer of the Gospel is true, that the future is assured through Jesus, and that physical life matters – now and then.
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Luke 24:1-12
Related Topics: Jesus | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Stephen Bailey
Esther 3:1-15, Esther 4:1-17, Esther 5:1-14
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
We love a turning point. Whether it is a story or a football game. Hope dawning at the darkest time. Where is the great turning point in Esther? It could be our memory verse, when Esther is persuaded by Mordecai to act to save her people. It could be when the king looks with favour upon Esther and holds out the golden scepter to her. It could be when Haman is forced to lead Mordecai through the city mounted on the king’s horse and proclaims that he is the man the king delights to honour. They are major events in the story of Esther. They are turning points of a sort. But the writer of Esther points us to another event. That looks so trivial.
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