Lee Street Church
Notes of Meeting- 4th April 2021 – Easter Day
Worship time led by Brian Legg
Easter means lots of things – two Bank Holidays, eggs, egg hunts, bunnies, Easter bonnets,, hot cross buns, coloured boiled eggs.
But we’re together to celebrate just one thing – the words brought by one angel to a woman outside a tomb: “He’s not here – He has risen, just as He said”.
Song: Come on and celebrate
COME ON AND CELEBRATE
His gift of love, we will celebrate
The Son of God who loved us
And gave us life.
We’ll shout Your praise, O King,
You give us joy nothing else can bring,
We’ll give to You our offering
In celebration praise.
Come on and celebrate,
Celebrate,
Celebrate and sing,
Celebrate and sing to the King.
Come on and celebrate,
Celebrate,
Celebrate and sing,
Celebrate and sing to the King.
READING: Matthew 28: 1 – 10
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1 |
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. |
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2 |
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. |
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3 |
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. |
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4 |
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. |
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5 |
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. |
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6 |
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. |
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7 |
Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ’He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you." |
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8 |
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. |
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9 |
Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. |
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10 |
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." |
SONG: Thine be the glory
THINE BE THE GLORY,
Risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment
Rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes
Where Thy body lay.
Thine be the glory,
Risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won!
Lo, Jesus meets us,
Risen from the tomb!
Lovingly He greets us,
Scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness
Hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth,
Death hath lost its sting.
No more we doubt Thee,
Glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without Thee:
Aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conquerors,
Through Thy deathless love;
Lead us in Thy triumph
To Thy home above.
Contributions by Congregation
Christine Cowell shared some thoughts.
When Ken and I went to Spain on holiday a few years ago I found this in a Church bookshop. What love!
I looked up the meaning of propitiation and found it meant atonement, reconciliation, restoration and returning something to a former owner. So through Jesus we have a return made possible that restores friendly relations with God.
Many hymn and chorus writers had a lot to say about Calvary and Jesus’ love. Here are a few.
Out there among the hills, my Saviour died.
Pierced by those cruel nails was crucified.
Lord Jesus Thou hast done all this for me
Henceforward I would live only for Thee.
On Calvary’s tree He died for me
That I His love might know
To set me free, He died for me
Oh, how I love Him so.
It’s just like Him to take my sins away
To make me glad and free
To keep me day by day.
It’s just like Him to give His life for me
That I might go to Heaven and ever with Him be.
.
No more, no more, God remembers sin no more
Pardoned forever and He will never bring them up against me anymore.
I hear no more of the evil days of yore.
I’m a pardoned offender and God will remember my sin no more.
Love so amazing, so divine........
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive forever more.
Jesus is risen from the dead.
There is no love like the love of Jesus never to fail or fall.
Jesus, my Lord, will love me forever.
He gave me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the spirit of praise for the spirit of heaviness
Thank you Jesus!
Jacqueline Brewell then shared and gave thanks for some of the blessings she has seen and experienced over the past months.
She introduced a thoughtful video – available on YouTube sung by Chris Tomlin entitled At the Cross (Love Ran Red)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts to heav'n and voices raise;
sing to God a hymn of gladness,
sing to God a hymn of praise:
he who on the cross a victim
for the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
now is risen from the dead.
2 Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits
of the holy harvest field,
which will all its full abundance
at his second coming yield:
then the golden ears of harvest
will their heads before him wave,
ripened by his glorious sunshine
from the furrows of the grave.
3 Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory be to God on high;
alleluia to the Savior,
who has won the victory;
alleluia to the Spirit,
fount of love and sanctity.
Alleluia! Alleluia
to the Triune Majesty.
Ken’s Message
The disciples who were changed by the resurrection of Jesus.
John 20 19-23 ….
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19 |
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!" |
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20 |
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. |
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21 |
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." |
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22 |
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. |
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23 |
If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." |
The Resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in Jesus' life. Christmas and
his death mean nothing without the resurrection of Jesus. There is no salvation
without his resurrection and our faith is useless.
But did it really happen? Many would say that unless I see Jesus I won't
believe. That's what Thomas said so Jesus revealed himself to him, but also said
that the only way to know He is alive today is not by sight but by faith. (John 20. 29).
What difference does it make to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? We can see
what it meant to those disciples who met on the that first Easter Sunday
evening. They met together but it wasn't a happy gathering for they had 4 big
problems.
Firstly, they were full of sorrow because their best friend and hero had died three
days before. He didn't die naturally like us but was executed as a criminal, even
though he hadn't done anything wrong. They couldn't understand it and were
shocked because it happened though he had told them. If a member of a family or a
friend dies it bring great sorrow especially if it happens suddenly. That has
happened to many people during the corona virus. The death of Jesus was a big
problem for these disciples.
Secondly, they were full of fear of the Jews.(v19) They were in "lockdown" hiding
from them. The Jews had been largely responsible for the death of Jesus asking
Pilate to crucify him. The disciples were thinking that they would be the next to be
killed. That was a real fear.
Thirdly, their lives were now empty because Jesus wasn't with them. When they
were with him he gave them something to live for and it great serving him. They left
their jobs to follow him but now with him dead there was nothing to live for and life
didn't seem worth living. The disciples' lives didn't seem worth living as they had lost their
purpose.
Fourthly, they were now weak with no courage or power. When Jesus was arrested they
all ran away in fear. with Jesus they were strong but now without him they were seen to be
weak. They couldn't understand how this happened. Many people face similar problems
which they can't overcome. How did these disciples overcome their problems? There was
one simple answer.
Jesus rose from the dead and came to them.(v19) He came through the door without
opening it in his new resurrection body. Then he spoke to them; "Peace be with you" saying
the same words twice. Their fear was gone and he gave them peace. They still had their
problems so how could they have peace? They had peace because Jesus was with them.
Peace in the Bible doesn't mean an absence of trouble and trial but having Jesus with us in
the trial. Jesus is the Prince of peace so if he is with us then we have peace.
Then they had their sadness taken away and had joy. (The disciples were overjoyed when
they saw the Lord.") v20 Again the problems remained but they had joy. Why was this?
"They saw the Lord". If our focus is on Jesus we can joy in the most difficult times. The
source of joy is Jesus himself. We are commanded to "Rejoice in the Lord always". That
means in every circumstance, providing our eyes on Jesus and not the problems around us.
They had the emptiness removed with purpose. They were given a new task to do. ("As the
Father sent me so I am sending you") v21 They were to be witnesses of Jesus to the world.
Through their witness people would believe in Jesus and receive eternal life. What a
wonderful job to be sent by Jesus to be his ambassadors in the world. There was only one
problem, they were too weak to do that task. Jesus had the answer already prepared.
Their weakness was replaced by the power of the Holy Spirit. ("Receive the Holy Spirit") v22
They received the Spirit but later at Pentecost they would be filled with the Holy Spirit so
they could be witnesses for Jesus. We know what happened after as the gospel spread throughout the world.
The resurrection of Jesus isn't just an historical fact but it is a transforming spiritual
experience. The risen Christ takes up residence in us. That is the real miracle of Easter.
Through his life within us our fear is replaced by his peace, our sadness by his joy, our
emptiness by his purpose and our weakness by his power.
" Christ in you, the hope of glory" Colossians 1.27. Hallelujah for Easter!
Closing Song: There is a Redeemer
THERE IS A REDEEMER,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.
Thank You, O my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit—
Till the work on earth is done.
Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
O for sinners slain.
When I stand in glory
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever
In that holy place.
Notices
- There is NO Bible Study on Wednesday this week.
- Next Sunday, we will be sharing in the Breaking of Bread.