Healing in holy week.

Holy week is a remarkable time in the Christian calendar, a time when we reflect on the last week of Jesus’ life on earth and beyond. When you read the gospel narratives with fresh eyes, there is so much to take in, times of excitement, the unexpected, of questioning, betrayal, violence, tragedy, and then possibilities of forgiveness and hope. It is a really incredible story, told with so much detail and emotion.

In this season, you want everyone to read the story for themselves ( eg to read Mark chapter 11-14), or to watch a film- Jesus of Nazareth, or even an old classic like Ben Hur. It helps us to not just think about the story, but to imagine what it must have been like.

We think of Palm Sunday, with Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds cheering and shouting ‘Hosanna to the king’. During the week, Jesus comes into the temple and rebukes the money changers, overturning their tables, saying ‘ my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it into a den of thieves’. ( Mark 11:17)

We reflect on Maundy Thursday and the last supper, the bread and wine shared with Judas, the one who went out into the night. Then there was the arrest in Gethsemane, the questioning and beating, even though the Roman Govenor Pontius Pilate said that Jesus was innocent, and done nothing wrong.

Good Friday, the crown of thorns, Jesus was too weak to carry his cross to Gethsemane, so Simon of Cyrene was made to carry it for him. Jesus on the cross, the agony, the suffering, the 7 sayings including ‘ Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34)

Then Jesus breathing his last breath, the women and John standing near by. The centurion saying ‘ Surely this was the Son of God’. Joseph of Arimathea, taking the body and placing it in a tomb nearby.

Holy Saturday- the day of silence.

Early Sunday morning, the women came to anoint Jesus’ body with oil, but the stone was rolled away, and Jesus was Risen, just as he said. And as a consequence of all this, people who trust Him are given the assurance of everlasting life.

If we ever think that Jesus doesn’t understand human suffering, we need to read the Easter story.

If we ever thing we have to be good to follow Jesus, think of the mistakes of Peter, yet forgiveness and grace was shown to him because of the cross.

If we ever despair of this world, we are reminded that out of the darkest places of pain, the new life can emerge.

If we are hurting and worried, we remenber the verse from Isaiah 53:5 ‘by his wounds we are healed’. Through the mercy shown to us on the cross, love flows out, offering us forgiveness and healing and grace, so we can find our peace.

In Holy week, there is so much to take in, the nature of God, the power of His love, the beauty of His undeserved forgiveness. And so we kneel and marvel…

Gracious God, sometimes we feel far from You, we question, we lament- why is the world as it is? Yet in Holy week Lord Jesus, we are reminded that You understand injustice, suffering, pain and betrayal. When you were accused, You kept silent. You gave up Your life, that we might find forgiveness, grace and hope. We are so undeserving, yet You show us such tender love. Holy spirit, come to us this holy week, bring us a clearer understanding, a deeper experience of your love, and a renewed sense of purpose for the future, to share Your message of love and healing with all. Amen

Easter- personal resurrection!

Easter is such a deeply significant time of year. It is a time of mystery, and brings a message of love, forgiveness and hope- things we so desperately need in the world today.

One of the things that challenges me continually, is how to best understand the connection between the historical event 2,000 years ago, and the Christian faith today? I guess that there are lots of different ways of doing this, and I want to share my experience this year.

I knew that Lent would be tough this year. The 40 days remembering Jesus in the desert, a time of temptation and questioning, is a searching time. This year I had personal and professional challenges all intertwined, and I prayed for God to guide me and give me strength. It was a rollercoaster period of dealing with upset, change and grief.

God saw me in the midst of it all, and the verse that kept coming back to me was was Matthew 12:20 ‘ a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.’.

Sometimes we can feel a bit bashed and bruised by life, a bit fragile. Jesus understands, because in the time before his death on the cross, he was isolated, misunderstood, betrayed and bruised in body, mind and spirit.

The thing that kept me going in Lent, was the coming of Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection. For after the devastation and darkness of Good Friday, came the day of resurrection, a testimony of the power of God to bring Jesus back to life, and that the door to eternity was now open to all who place their trust in Him.

For me, this is not a theoretical idea, that is remote but comforting, but a living reality. After the turmoil of Lent, our Risen Lord comes to us individually, and calls us by name, and gives us the strength and inspiration to go on, with a new joy and peace. He brings us our own personal resurrection! So wonderful and so much needed. As we trust our Saviour, so we see He is doing a new thing in our lives.

If you have been finding life tough recently, and you have struggled, look to Jesus. He is forgiving and merciful, and wants to lift us out of the darkness, onto the Rock, and to give us a new song to sing- a song of hope and joy. May we let go of all that burdens us, and be open to learn the words of this new song of praise and to dance to this new beat!

Gracious God, at times we can feel numb, overwhelmed by sadness and difficulty, feeling bruised and battered by life. Risen Saviour, we thankyou that You understand, for You have walked the path of rejection and pain, and yet on the cross, You spoke a message of forgiveness and love. In your beautiful and mighty Resurrection, we find hope, so we can experience our own personal resurrection. May we find beauty for our ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of heaviness. Holy spirit, heal our soul bruises, and rekindle that spark of life within us, so we can burn brightly for you once more, experiencing the joy of personal resurrection, Amen

Easter- the long awaited coming of dawn

After one of the longest Lents, Easter has finally come. After the darkness and struggle and horror, we are reminded of the beautiful light of dawn that breaks through the darkness. How we need that light…

I think of Mary Magdalene in the garden, recognising Jesus through her tears, and realising, with joy, that he is Risen. I think of the two people on the road to Emmaus, thinking if only things had been different, and then eventually recognising the true identity of their companion on the road.

Sometimes our lives are strewn with ‘ if onlys’. If only that person had responded differently, if only that had worked out otherwise, if only I had realised………. There are so many broken dreams and hopes..

Yet somehow, we believe that even in the midst of hurt and brokenness, Jesus is with his people, with a desire to forgive, to heal and to redeem. For the one willing to suffer mocking, beating, a crown of thorns, and the nails of the cross, the perfect sacrifice to bring forgiveness for all who ask, he understands the injustices and pain of life. And that is not the end, for on the third day he rose again. God revealed his power, the gift of eternal life, and that there is always the possibility of new beginnings.

I don’t know where you are in your life, if things are going smoothly, or if these are painful days. What I hope for all people is that the Easter message reminds us that we are loved, that we are of value, for Jesus died for each one of us to bring that message of forgiveness and grace. And then on Easter morning, we have the message of the angels – do not fear. The Risen Lord goes into the upper room, and says ‘ peace be with you.’ Whatever we are going through, may we receive the forgiveness, peace and hope of God.

Risen Christ, you come to your tearful and despairing people, you call us by name, lift us up and give us new life. We are so grateful for your patience with us, for we are so obstinate and self centred. Forgive us. After the deep darkness of night, thankyou that the sky brightens, and the sun still rises, and that a new day dawns. May your Word bring healing from fear confusion and grief, and remind us of the joy of living in your love. Holy spirit, You have shaped our lives through challenge and heartache, but the butterfly is emerging from the cocoon. May we be attentive to your call, and the fashioning of our souls in your image. Thankyou Lord, Amen.