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We're back in Isaiah 53, which looks forward describing the Servant of the Lord. Today's section describes the ministry he will carry out. Surely he took up our painand bore our suffering,yet we considered him punished by God,stricken by him, and afflicted.But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed of our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed.We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to our

Yesterday we seen that Messiah was not as expected. Jesus was an average looking hero. Today, we see he is the source of true power, which transforms our lives. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18 Where is the source of true power? In the message of the cross. Of Messiah, Jesus, despised, rejected, crucified, dead, buried and raised again! It seems so unlikely, the

Today the activity of the church looks very different from it did just one month ago. In the middle of a lockdown due to COVID-19 churches are no longer able to gather together for worship, prayer and activities. As a result we have had to rethink what we do, with alot of activity moving online. The change has been sudden, and has caused us to ask - what is church? There is a lot of good that has come from the changes, new opportunities have opened up. Despite it's challe

When you hear about a hero, what picture comes to your mind? Films have shaped our image, from Superman and Ironman to James Bond and Sherlock Holmes, we expect our heroes to look and act in a certain way. The hero the Jewish people were waiting for - Messiah - was different. Who has believed our messageand to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?He grew up before him like a tender shoot,and like a root out of dry ground.He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

In todays reading, Paul reminds us what is really important. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen as

There is so much to take from this next resurrection encounter. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."Those said to him, "My Lord and my God!"Then Thomas told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed;

What are peace and joy? Where are they to be found? Words? An experience? A hope? They are so much more - and they are found in a person. When you know him, you experience true peace and lasting joy. On the evening of the 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!" After he said this he showed the his hands and side. The disciples were overj

We are bombarded with news, facts, images. We scroll past them quickly. We flick until something grabs our attention. We consume and move on. But there are some things which demand that we stop, gaze and wonder. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their

I am not one for making big sweeping statements. I don't think I am able to speak for a nation. I find it difficult where an event stands in the scale of big events in history. That being said, with this story - I am on safe ground. Without a doubt, this was the biggest surprise, ever. And the one event which had the greatest impact on the whole world. 'After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.Ther

Throughout the gospel story, and down through the subsequent history of the church, there are many 'minor characters'. They appear in one or two scenes, and then fade into the background again. Sometimes we don't even know their names. Yet their loving service is a shining example to us all. None less than the one in todays story - Joseph of Arimathea. 'As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?').When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down

Often today a person can be acquitted of a crime in a court of law, but condemned by the court of public opinion. A judge has ruled, but the public hold the power. There is nothing new under the sun. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent

It's true - you can't improve on perfection. Jesus death was perfect. It is complete. That's the truth that the next question in the catechism picks up on, as it also explains to us what we benefit from in the Lord's supper. Q47. Does the Lord's supper add anything to Christ's atoning work?A. No, Christ died once for all. The Lord's supper is a covenant meal celebrating Christ's atoning work; as it is also a means of strengthening our faith as we look to him, and a foret

The religious leaders had long wanted to get rid of Jesus, but they just couldn't figure out how to get at him. The time never seemed right. Then, one of his closest followers said, 'I'll get him for you.' Today we see that betrayal unfold. While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The on

In the darkness of night, Jesus feels the shadow of the cross. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with trouble to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."Going a little further, he fell with his face to the ground and prayer

Knowing your death is approaching focuses the mind. You 'get your affairs in order' and leave meaningful gifts to people, eitehr in person or in your will. That is exactly what we find Jesus doing today. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it all or you. This is my blood

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, King Jesus enters his city. "The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They broughtthe donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,'Hosanna to the Son of David!''Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord' 'Hosanna in

Our reading today is a massive declaration: The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." Revelation 11:15 This is the day we are all waiting for. The climax that all history is moving towards. The time when the war will be over and King Jesus unending reign of peace shall begin. There is much in this declaration which

When Jesus gave the sacraments to his church, he gave us pictures to go with the message of his life, death and resurrection along with all that means for us. As we come to think on the sacrament of communion, the catechism teaches us it has at least 4 dimensions! Q46. What is the Lord's supper?A. Christ commanded all Christians to eat bread and to drink from the cup in thankful remembrance of him and his death. The Lord's supper is a celebration of the presence of God in ou

Have you ever say and looked at the sea? Sometimes you see massive waves, others teh wates look calm. Yet the tide is always moving,the waves keep coming. Todays reading has that sense of wave, upon wave. It's one to read, ponder and delight in! "John,To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the fir