Yield Not

This past week as I have somewhat followed the court case of Caleb Flynn I have felt a range of emotions from disbelief through to disgust and even almost-fear. For those who don't know (and DH is one of them because he avoids social media), Ashley Flynn went to sleep in the marital bed on the night of February 16, 2026 and never woke up. Her husband supposedly discovered her with two gunshot wounds to the head and claimed it was the work of an intruder. Three days later he was arrested for the murder of his wife and it quickly came to light that he was having an affair with worship leader Alleigha Botner from his church and who was almost half his age. Police have recovered over 107,000 text messages that they sent each other over a twelve to eighteen month period, which amounts to something like 300 messages a day. 

Church. Worship. Adultery. Lies. Secrets. Murder. 

If this has overtones of David and Bathsheba that's because there are some similarities. But there are also some critical differences. I want to examine them briefly perhaps as a means of being able to make sense of all of this.

Firstly, King David lusted after a woman who was off limits, just as it appears Flynn did. Flynn was a married man and despite any attraction he may have felt for Botner she was, and should have always remained so, out of his reach.

Secondly, King David wasn't where he was meant to be or doing what he should have been doing. He was at home at a time when kings usually went to war. He saw Bathsheba bathing and sent for her. There were any number of moments he could have prevented falling into sin. Turned from the temptation. Not acted on those thoughts or feelings. Flynn was a married man who apparently sent text messages to a single woman to whom he was attracted. At any point he could have stopped - either one of them could have. Botner could have ignored the messages. She could have gone to her pastor if Flynn refused to take no for an answer and while there may have been recriminations for one or both of them, surely that would have been better than the situation they find themselves in now?

Thirdly, King David tried to cover up his sin. According to court reports, Flynn and Botner were careful to keep their affair concealed. When Ashley reportedly saw messages on her husband's phone and asked Botner to meet with her, Botner was "too busy". Was "busy" a euphemism for guilty, I wonder?

Lastly, King David had Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, killed. While Flynn has not yet been found guilty of his wife's murder, he is standing trial for it.

However, there is one critical difference. When the prophet Nathan confronted King David with his sin, he repented. He still had to suffer the consequences of that sin (the loss of the son born as a result of their sin) but he repented and turned back to God. Only God knows the hearts of those involved in this court case and whether they have repented but to date Flynn is still maintaining his innocence. And that's something for the courts to decide.

Meanwhile, a woman is dead, her children motherless, and a family is hurting. Day after day her parents and sister and brother-in-law have to sit and listen to evidence that must continually open their wounds.

But as disturbing as all this has been to read, there's another question that haunts me: why are we seeing more and more news stories of a similar nature? Pastors, singers, authors, apologists, leaders, teachers who all claim the name of Jesus acting in such a way that even the world points a finger at us.

It seems that we've dropped our guard. Perhaps it's a natural outgrowth of having it too easy. Of always being able to satisfy our desires. In the western world at least, we lack for nothing. Freedom, food, entertainment, pleasures are all there for the asking. Our grandparents may have had a want-not-waste-not mentality, they may have chosen to save for something, but in our day of instant credit, purchasing at the click of a button, we've become used to having what we want when we want it. And I can't help but wonder if that's rolled over into our moral arena as well. We've never been deprived of even the smallest thing, that we have not learnt to say no.

There are multiple reminders in Scripture that Satan wishes to destroy and the necessity for us to be on our guard. In the Lord's Prayer where Jesus famously taught His disciples how to pray, He says, "And lead us not into temptation". He knew temptation would come and that we would need to resist it, and yet we seem to have forgotten that.

We fail to put boundaries up to keep ourselves and our marriages safe.

We walk into situations where we are tempted rather than turn aside.

We think we can handle it only to discover that we keep getting deeper and deeper into sin.

We rely on our own power rather than on the Spirit's power.

We turn our noses up at the idea of being set apart because we want to be accepted.

We dabble with sin and are so blind that we fail to recognise the chains that bind us.

As Christians, as the Church, as the Bride of Christ, we need to do better.

Open our Bibles. 

Rely on the Spirit. 

Recognise our weakness. 

And our enemy.

And never ever think we are above sin.

In 1868 H. R. Palmer penned the following hymn ...

1. Yield not to temptation,

for yielding is sin.

Each vict'ry will help you

some other to win.

Fight valiantly onward;

dark passions subdue.

Look ever to Jesus;

He'll carry you through.

Refrain: Ask the Saviour to help you,

comfort, strengthen, and keep you.

He is willing to aid you;

He will carry you through.

2. Shun evil companions;

bad language disdain.

God's name hold in rev'rence,

nor take it in vain.

Be thoughtful and earnest,

kind-hearted and true.

Look ever to Jesus;

He'll carry you through.

3. To him that o'ercometh

God giveth a crown.

Through faith we will conquer,

though often cast down.

He who is our Saviour

our strength will renew.

Look ever to Jesus,

He'll carry you through. 

Forsaken

 

 "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" Psalm 22:1

We here behold the Saviour in the depth of His sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which His cry rends the air - "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which He had to pass; and to make His grief culminate with emphasis, He suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of His Father's presence.

This was the black midnight of His horror; then it was that He descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" There are seasons when the brightness of our Father's smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ's case it was a real forsaking. ... the real turning away of God's face from His Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused Him?

In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in His case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from Hin for a season. ... remember that He has not really forsaken thee ... but since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when He exclaimed, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" 

(Taken from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon, April 15th.)

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Lasts

When our children are growing, we often don't recognise or realise the significance of lasts.

The last time we tuck them into bed at night. 

The last time they climb into our lap for a story or a cuddle.

The last time we wait for them to get home at night.

The last time we have to remind them to do their chores.

The last time we have to help them with something before they learn the skills themselves.

These lasts often go unnoticed. And it's not until sometime later that we realise their importance.

The same is true for when we lose someone. 

I've been thinking a lot about these lasts in the recent loss of my mother-in-law.

The last time I took her shopping or to a doctor's appointment.

The last time I heard her tell a particular story.

The last time I walked up to the nursing home to visit.

The last time we celebrated her birthday.

Whatever the last, had we known it was the last time would we have shown more patience? Or interest? Or been more present and engaged? Would we have held onto the moment more tightly? Or would we have continued to be unaware, letting the significance of the lasts elude us?

I'm reminded that the disciples also experienced some lasts ... and, like us, perhaps didn't realise the significance until later.

The last Passover with Jesus. He even warned them that He would not be with them for much longer, but they failed to listen or fully comprehend.

The last time praying with Him in the garden. Had they realised, would they have made more of an effort to stay awake?

The last time hearing His words. Not until later would they fully understand.

The last time.

How many of them would have done things differently, had they only known it was the last time? It's human nature to look back with regret and wonder what we could have done differently. However, everything, from Peter's denial, to His disciples abandoning Him when He was in greatest need, was all foretold.

And only later would they understand.

Photo by Pawan Sharma on Unsplash

Who Are You This Christmas?

 

I've recently taken a break from my usual read-through-the-Bible programme to read through the Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments that talk about Jesus' birth. In the busyness of this time of year it's lovely to be able to take some time to read over and reflect on the well-known passages once again. However, this time around, one of the things that has really struck me has been the response of each of the human characters scattered throughout the story. 

Mary, who bowed to God's plan for her life despite all that it would mean. 

Joseph, who did the honourable thing.

Elizabeth and Zechariah, whose son would go before to prepare the way.

Anna, who recognised the Baby as the Redeemer of Israel and wasn't afraid to tell of Him to everyone she met.

Simeon, who had been looking forward to Christ's coming and rejoiced to see it.

The shepherds, who immediately left their work to go find Him.

The wise men, who spent time and effort to find the Babe so that they could worship.

King Herod, who was not so much interested as he was terrified about how this birth could threaten his existence.

And the townspeople. Those who made room for Him and who came to pay homage. Wait, that didn't happen at all. No, most, if not all, continued on with their life as if nothing earth-shattering, life-changing, history-making, far-reaching, not to mention supernatural and never-before-known, had just occurred.

How many of these characters are like those we come across today? How many really care that the Son of God came down into a broken world to redeem us to Himself and then was practically ignored?

How many are like Herod who wanted to completely annihilate the existence of Christ because He threatened all that they hold dear?

How many are like the townspeople, the neighbours, perhaps even some were relatives, who just didn't care? Let them go about their own business and you go about yours but don't bother them with talk about Jesus?

How many are an Anna or Simeon who actually cared and understood?

Or shepherds, perhaps not fully understanding, yet had no choice but to worship regardless?

Or wise men, whose search for wisdom brought them to bow down at the feet of Jesus?

More importantly, this Christmas, which character in the story are you?

(Nativity scene crafted by my older granddaughters. Youngest grandchild - to date - in the manger.)

A Lone Voice

 

Other Christians have said it better and I don't have influence over a huge blog following, but perhaps that's the whole point. Sometimes a lone voice has to speak up. And where in the months and months of planning and thrashing out details, was the lone voice? Why was not one voice heard to ask, "Is this really how we want to present ourselves to the rest of the world?"

I'm talking about the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. 

According to headlines, Christians worldwide have been offended and outraged. I can understand the backlash, but I'm not sure that I feel outraged. More just sad. Perhaps a little frightened because it shows how dark our world as become. But more sad than anything.

Sad for the depravity of mankind.

And sad for the French people.

I don't know a lot about France and its citizens. I studied French at school and learnt a little about the culture and history and language of that country. My teachers often emphasised its cuisine and beauty, its fashion and classical arts, its architecture and lifestyle. And yet, in recent days, those chosen to represent France to the rest of the world, rather than celebrating the good, it was as if they deliberately highlighted and celebrated their shame. Actually delighted in it.

Why any of us have been surprised by what has happened, I don't know. Perhaps because it appeared so blatant and even out of place. As a child, along with countless other families at the time, we gathered as a family around the TV and watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. It was entertainment. It was fascinating. It often highlighted the national pride citizens had in their country. It set the tone for the rest of the Games. Yet this was not something I would have wanted any young child to witness in 2024.

Despite their protestations that they didn't intend to offend anyone, as Christians we have to remember that the world will hate us. Jesus said that just as He was hated, we would be too. But we also need to remember that as Jesus was dying on the cross, He was mocked by the very people He came to save. Those crucified alongside Him. The soldiers. Even the religious leaders. It should not be any surprise then that the world mocks Him now. 

Yet, just as on the cross, He offered forgiveness to the thief that repented, He extends the same offer of salvation to the very ones who mock Him now. The same offer of love and grace and mercy towards the very ones who mock Him ... towards those condemned and caught in their own sin and shame ... towards those who have no idea of the danger of their eternal souls as they flaunt their sin and laugh at everything that is holy.

Jesus came to save them. The sinner. The depraved. The mocker. He loves them just as He loved us and called us while we were still sinners. 

And perhaps more than outrage or offense, or any other response, we need to focus on this: that our God is able to save even the most hardened sinner. 

[Photos courtesy of cyril mzn on Unsplash]

Rejoice This Day

 Reposting from several years ago ...

Streaks of pink and mauve in the sky slowly fading ... the sound of birdsong and a donkey braying in the distance ... the air fresh and clean. They'd been waiting for the dawn for ages, their grief preventing restful sleep. Now, as the women made their way to the tomb, there was no need for words. Their grief bound them together. They'd already talked over the events - again and again over previous days - and still no comfort. All they could do was this last act of love for their beloved Teacher and Friend - anoint His body which had been hastily buried before the Sabbath.

They had seen where they had laid His body. They knew about the stone. They hadn't thought through how they would remove the stone, driven as they were by their grief and desire to do one last service to Him Whom they loved.

And then the confusion. The stone had already been rolled away. Who had been here before them? What had happened to His body? Why would someone steal His body?

The revelation. The wonderful, incredible, mind-boggling revelation. Their eyes opened to the truth. Their minds opened.

He is alive! He is risen! Just as He had said would happen.

It all makes sense now. The rush to tell others: to share the Good News and to turn their tears to joy.

Jesus lives! Oh happy Resurrection Sunday.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the eath, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ 

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24:1-9, NKJV

He is not here, but is risen! Hallelujah!

(All images from Free Bible Images contributed by LUMO Project.)

Priesthood

 Some thoughts this Easter from Faith's Checkbook by Spurgeon, devotional for March 28:

"If we obey the Lord, He will compel our adversaries to see that His blessing rests upon us. ... 

"It is for saints to lead the way among men by holy influence: they are not to be the tail, to be dragged hither and thither by others. We must not yield to the spirit of the age, but compel the age to do homage to Christ. If the Lord be with us, we shall not crave tolerance for religion, but we shall seek to seat it on the throne of society. Has not the Lord made His people priests? Surely they are to teach and must not be learners from the philosophies of unbelievers. Are we not in Christ made kings to reign upon the earth? How, then can we be the servants of custom, the slaves of human opinion?

"... Should we allow the name of the Lord Jesus to be kept in the background? Should our religion drag along as a tail? Should it not rather lead the way and be the ruling force with ourselves and others?"

Today we remember that two thousand years ago the Pharisees and Romans thought they had silenced Jesus. He was crucified and laid in a tomb. Dead. They had removed this troubler from society.

Or so they thought.

But Jesus could not be removed. The Father's plan was far greater than that and men, in their ignorance and evil intent, were assisting that plan.

As Christians we have a risen Saviour. We know, as Job did, that our Redeemer lives. So why, oh why do we remain silent? Why do we try to accommodate the philosophies of this world? Why do we tolerate false gods and false ideologies? Not just in our schools and governments, but sadly, even in our churches?

The world says one thing and we scramble to fit it into what the Bible says, twisting the Word to accommodate sin, instead of starting with the Bible and seeing the world's lies for what they truly are.

As we remember the greatest sacrifice this Easter weekend are we also able to be a holy influence in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our churches, and our communities and stand up for Truth?

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, KJV).

A Fixed Heart And A Promise

This year I began reading a devotional that had belonged to my maternal grandmother and which had come to me along with several of her books (including at least one that had survived a devastating flood). The devotional is Daily Light on the Daily Path printed by the family firm of Samuel Bagster.

It has a fascinating history. According to a descendant of Samuel Bagster, this book was a family project, prepared entirely by the family. For those who are not familiar with the devotional, each day has a selection of Scriptures on a given theme. No notes: just verses from the Bible that speak for themselves.

Apparently, each day family members would suggest verses for that day and over the course of days or weeks this would be reviewed until the final draft was arrived at. They did this for not 365 days, but twice that as the devotional contains readings for morning and night for every day of the year.

Not so long ago I found this devotional available on YouDevotion app, along with Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook which I also enjoy daily. Reading it on my phone is far easier than reading it on the yellowed pages of a book in small print (and is easier for me to revisit during the day).

One of the things I love about these older devotionals (and there are more on the app which I plan to look at next year) is that they seem to be more about what the Word of God says than about a feel-good thought for the day. I find myself challenged, comforted, corrected, reproved, and instructed, in accordance with 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Both readings this morning were too good not to share. The first is the morning reading from Daily Light and the second is from Faith's Checkbook.

O God, my heart is fixed. Ps 108:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee, - He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. - In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Ps 27:1, Isa 26:3, Ps 112:7-8, Ps 56:3, Ps 27:5-6, 1 Pet 5:10-11.

Plead His Own Promise

Thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. 2 Sam 7:29

This is a promise pleaded, and so it yields double instruction to us. Anything which the Lord God has spoken we should receive as surely true and then plead it at the throne.

Oh, how sweet to quote what our own God has spoken! How precious to use a "therefore." which the promise suggests, as David does in this verse!

We do not pray because we doubt but because we believe. To pray unbelievingly is unbecoming in the Lord's children. No, Lord, we cannot doubt Thee: we are persuaded that every word of Thine is a sure foundation for the boldest expectation. We come to Thee and say, "Do as Thou hast said." Bless Thy servant's house. Heal our sick; save our hesitating ones; restore those who wander; confirm those who live in Thy fear. Lord, give us food and raiment according to Thy Word. Prosper our undertakings; especially succeed our endeavours to make known Thy gospel in our neighbourhood. Make our  servants Thy servants, our children Thy children. Let the blessing flow on to future generations, and as long as any of our race remains on earth may they remain true to Thee. O Lord God, "Let the house of thy servant be blessed."

(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)

Telephones and A Devotion

At Christmas time last year The Most Charming Grandson#1 and I happened to chance by a telephone booth while we were out and about. He willingly posed so that I could take a photo, but he had no concept of what it was or why it would even be necessary. At only three years of age, telephones to him were small devices that slip into a back pocket, or, when you visit Nana and Grandpa, strange handsets on a shelf in the hallway. Phone booths were and are totally foreign to his world.

When Charles Spurgeon wrote the words of the following devotion for August 13 in Faith's Checkbook, telephones were still new contraptions. However, he obviously grasped their significance in the world of communication. Telephones have changed dramatically in ways Spurgeon could never have imagined since these words were penned, but his devotion on prayer is still very much applicable to our day and age.

Before and During the Call

"It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).

Quick work this! The LORD hears us before we call and often answers us in the same speedy manner. Foreseeing our needs and our prayers, He so arranges providence that before the need actually arises He has supplied it, before the trial assails us He has armed us against it. This is the promptitude of omniscience, and we have often seen it exercised. Before we dreamed of the affliction which was coming, the strong consolation which was to sustain us under it had arrived. What a prayer-answering God we have!

The second clause suggests the telephone. Though God be in heaven and we upon earth, yet He makes our word, like His own word, to travel very swiftly. When we pray aright we speak into the ear of God. Our gracious Mediator presents our petitions at once, and the great Father hears them and smiles upon them. Grand praying this! Who would not be much in prayer when he knows that he has the ear of the King of kings? This day I will pray in faith, not only believing that I shall be heard, but that I am heard; not only that I shall be answered, but that I have the answer already. Holy Spirit, help me in this!

Faith's Checkbook can be found online for free here or, as I've recently discovered, is available on the YouDevotion app. (I especially love the app because I can have Faith's Checkbook and Daily Light on the Daily Path all in the one place and in a font size I can read.)

Bleary Eyed

 

Although a little bleary eyed this morning we managed to make it to church on time. Last night we stayed up to watch the Coronation of King Charles III and his wife, Camilla. I'm still trying to process the event and my reactions.

It was unlike any previous royal ceremony that has been televised during my lifetime. As a child, not fully understanding what was happening or its significance, I watched the wedding of Princess Anne to Captain Mark Phillips. As a teen and early twenty-something, there was the fairy-tale wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer, followed a number of years later by the wedding of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson. More recently we have been afforded the opportunity to watch the next generation of weddings: Prince William to Catherine Middleton, and Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, to name a few.

There have also been some less joyous occasions: Princess Diana's funeral (who will ever forget the sight of those two young boys courageously walking behind their mother's coffin), Prince Philip's funeral (and the sad sight of Queen Elizabeth II sitting alone in an almost empty sanctuary due to COVID and lockdown restrictions), and, only last year, the funeral of the beloved Queen Elizabeth II with all its pageantry and symbolism.

These two elements - pageantry and symbolism - were present in the Coronation Service, and yet, for me, there was something about it that felt off. I have my own opinions as to whether King Charles III will be a good king. Certainly, Great Britain, and the Commonwealth, have known their share of good and bad monarchs, just as any country that has, or has had, a royal family (and just as Israel and Judah did in the Bible). There have certainly been some notable rulers, and some unworthy ones. In my view, the late Queen was one of the former. Her example is going to be a hard one to follow.

The Coronation Service drew on a lot of traditions from the Church of England. Hymns, choral pieces, Bible readings, all had particular significance, and even though the service is different to what I'm accustomed to (probably having more in common with the nonconformists), I could appreciate some of these elements. Despite Britain (and the majority of Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand) no longer considered Christian, it was, to all intents and purposes, a deeply religious service that reflected the beliefs and practices and drew on the traditions (including prayer and the reading of the Word of God) of Christianity. 

And therein lies my disquiet. Not with the differences in worship but in the marrying of these elements and what they stand for with other faiths. King Charles III, as the reigning monarch, pledged to be "committed to the true profession of the Gospel" during his reign and in the countries and territories over which he reigns. He did so, while at the same time, pledging to "foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely" and praying that God would grant that he "may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Refer Order of Service.]

I felt troubled when I first heard these words. Now as I read them, I am even more troubled. I am reminded of how Jesus threw the moneychangers out of the synagogue because they were making a House of Prayer into a den of thieves. I believe that there were those present at the Coronation service, and many more who were watching, who have been deceived. Deliberately or otherwise.

The Bible tells us that there is only one way to God, and that is through Christ Jesus. Not through my faiths or beliefs or convictions, or by living a good life, or through gentleness or being at peace with my neighbour. No, the only way to God is through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us. Who paid the price for our sins on the cross and then rose again. That is the Gospel.

Nor are we all God's children if we are not saved by faith. Regardless of whatever good deeds we may clothe ourselves with, they are as filthy rags before a holy and righteous God if we have not believed on the name of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverent Justin Welby, may believe that there was "nothing that offends against Christian worship" in the inclusion of peoples of different faiths, or in the pledge or prayer that King Charles made or were made on his behalf, but I have to respectfully disagree.

As Christians we should be offended when a false gospel is preached. As Christians, we should be offended when other religions are presented as an equal way to God. As Christians, we should be offended when all we know to be true is watered down to please the non-believer or make them feel comfortable.

Yes, we all desire peace, and should pray to that end. But peace shouldn't come at the cost of someone's soul. Letting people believe that there are many ways to God, is not showing love. The truth may offend but should not be sacrificed on the altar of niceness or not wanting to upset the apple cart.

King Charles III may feel "bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals", and we acknowledge that people have a right to choose what they will or will not believe, and whether they will or will not accept Christ, but a deeply religious ceremony, such as the Coronation was, should not reinforce the idea that all faiths lead to God. They don't.

Sadly, this has become all too common in Christianity today. Charles III and The Archbishop of Canterbury are not alone in this. Too often churches compromise with the world so that people are not offended. It's become a pandemic in the modern church.

So what can we do?

Pray. God is still God and He still answers prayers. And if there's ever a time when people need to hear the Gospel without apology, it's now.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV.

Resurrection Sunday

Streaks of pink and mauve in the sky slowly fading ... the sound of birdsong and a donkey braying in the distance ... a chill in the air for the sun's rays had not yet warmed the earth. They'd been waiting for the dawn for ages, their grief preventing restful sleep. Now, as the women made their way to the tomb, there was no need for words. Grief bound them together. They'd already talked over the events - again and again over previous days - and still they could make no sense of what had happened. Comfort was elusive. All they could do was this last act of love for their beloved Teacher and Friend: anoint His body which had been hastily buried before the Sabbath.

Their hands cradling the precious spices, they remembered the stone. They had seen where they had laid His body. They knew about the stone that sealed the tomb. But driven as they were by their grief and desire to do one last service to Him Whom they loved, they had not considered how they would remove the stone. 

And then the confusion. The stone had already been rolled away. Who had been here before them? What had happened to His body? Why would someone steal His body?

The revelation. The wonderful, incredible, mind-boggling revelation. Their eyes opened to the truth. Their minds opened.

He is alive! He is risen! Just as He had said would happen.

It all makes sense now. The rush to tell others: to share the Good News and to turn their tears to joy.

Jesus lives! Oh happy Resurrection Sunday.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ 

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24:1-9, NKJV

He is not here, but is risen! Hallelujah!

Christ, the Lord, is risen today,

Alleluia!

Sonds of men and angels say,

Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high,

Alleluia!

Sing ye heavens and earth reply

Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done,

Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, 

Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids His rise,

Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise.,

Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King,

Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting?

Alleluia!

Dying once He now doth save,

Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave?

Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led,

Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head,

Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise,

Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies,

Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven,

Alleluia!

Praise to Thee by both be given,

Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now,

Alleluia!

Hail, the resurrection, thou,

Alleluia!

lyrics by Charles Wesley, 1739

The Day Between

 

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 27:62-66

I am no Bible scholar, but are the chief priests not the same ones who condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath? Are they not the same ones who were critical of the disciples helping themselves to corn on the Sabbath when they were hungry? Are they not the same ones who threatened to put anyone out of the synagogue if they did work on the Sabbath?

How is it then that they are prepared - willing and eager - to go to Pilate and not only ask a favour of him (their enemy since he stood for Rome), but then to carry out the work required on the Sabbath? Would not sealing the tomb involve some form of labour - labour that was not permitted on the Sabbath according to their own rules?

Oh, the hypocrisy of the chief priests, and of us all, when we are faced with our own sin.

Had the chief priests not witnessed the supernatural happenings that occurred at the time of Jesus' death? They were blinded to Who they had crucified, but were they so totally unaware of the veil of the temple being rent in two (after all, the temple was supposedly their province), of the saints that had come out of their graves and into the city and appeared to many (Matthew 27:51-53)? Surely some whisper of these happenings must have reached their ears. Surely their own senses and minds would have told them that this was unusual, not an everyday occurrence, not even a before-in-history occurrence?

Oh, how true is the old adage that there are none so blind as those who refuse to see.

Even the centurion, who had witnessed the events of the previous hours, when he "and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54).

Yet the religious leaders chose to be blind ... to be ignorant of all that had happened ... to refuse to acknowledge what had taken place ... and, instead, broke their own laws to ensure that their power and ambitions and hatred would not be challenged. These leaders were there ... present at the Crucifixion, but unlike the African-American spiritual that suggests we should consider the crucifixion and resurrection with reverence and fear, the chief priests did not tremble. They may have acted in fear, because they could see the little kingdoms they had made themselves in danger of toppling, particularly if the people were to follow and believe this Jesus, but tremble for what they had done they did not do.

The crucifixion happened two thousand years ago. None of us were there. And yet, Christ suffered for our sins as if we were there. This song gives us pause to reflect on not just the events of that first Easter weekend, but the significance of those events for each one of us.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nail'd him to the cross? Were you there when they nail'd him to the cross? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they nail'd him to the cross?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

In recent years, other stanzas have since been added which include:

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when the stone was rolled away? Were you there when the stone was rolled away? O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble! Were you there when the stone was rolled away?

O sometimes it causes me to tremble! tremble! tremble!