I do want, however, to take this opportunity to thank Reverend Angus McRae for his willingness to come to take the services at this communion time, including this morning, the communion service itself.
I'd like to thank him on your behalf for his ministry, that ministry which we, I'm sure, all enjoyed and benefited from as he led us so ably through John chapter 19.
And I think he'll be finishing that off for us this evening.
So, Angus, thank you very much indeed for your contribution and for coming to this, what was, as you said, yourself, your home congregation one time.
We're pleased to have had you and we trust that God will bless you in your own ministry in Inverness, Free North, yourself and Anne, family and everybody associated with your ministry there.
So, thank you for that.
Thank you very much for these very kind words and it has been a pleasure and refreshing to be with you and to be encouraged indeed by seeing many signs of God's love and favour among you.
And we pray God's blessing on the islands and on all of our nation.
We so need to return to God and to his word.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
And may we all know the love and the goodness and the fear of our Lord.
Thank you for your prayers and for your warm welcome.
Let us worship God as we sing together in the 100th Psalm from the Scottish Psalter.
If you have a psalm book in your hand, Psalm 100, the first version on page 362.
Singing to old 100th, all people that on earth do dwell.
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Let's stand and praise God with the 100th Psalm.
Amen.
All people that on earth do dwell.
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him set with mirthless praise for tell.
Know that the Lord is God in me.
We are his strong King of the sea.
And for his sheep King of the sea.
All entered in his gates with praise.
And looked with joy his poor son too.
charity with honourable voice.
By God with mercy James saw life.
For now Coalition isashillous baby線.
In the 100th Psalmلبw.
At Northside as barcode his sin,
We need to sing that part of the world.
It isersolous baby線.
And for of the 100th Psalm 또고.
For now encuentroôt is known.
Game of theoyape powiedz.
Even though Cage his ruimtes is spent.
Our God is good, His mercy is forever true,
This truth that all times were pleased to,
And shall flourish to each end you.
Amen, what lovely singing.
We turn to God in prayer.
Let us pray.
Know that the Lord is God indeed.
Gracious Father, we draw near in the name that you love to hear,
In the name of your worthy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ask that we may worship you as we should,
Knowing that the Lord is God,
And knowing that the Lord is good,
And worthy of praise and thanksgiving.
We have individual reasons to worship you.
You have been good to each one of us.
And as a church fellowship and family,
Here in this congregation, there are countless reasons to give thanks.
As a community and island, as a nation,
And as a church of Jesus Christ across the globe,
We find ourselves ever in a place where we have been blessed,
Far beyond what we might deserve.
So we come to the gate of God,
To the house of God,
Into the company of God's people,
And we sing with ages past,
O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto.
Give us your Holy Spirit,
Who is the means of joy that overcomes fear,
And anxiety,
And sickness,
And all the works of the enemy of our souls,
And all our own frailty.
Give us supernatural help and supernatural grace,
To grasp in our hearts and minds,
What is the length and the height,
And the breadth and the depth,
Of your great love for us,
In Jesus.
We worship you for the gift of a gospel,
To share with one another,
And with this community,
And with our world.
Help us faithfully to receive,
And then to pass on,
The good news,
The gospel of your Son.
You have sent,
Your messengers out,
And you have sent your church out,
Each one of us,
To be messengers of your grace,
And of your peace.
And you have sent out,
Both your Son who came in the flesh,
And your Spirit,
Who has always been working from the creation,
And will continue working,
Until there is a new creation.
But especially in this age,
Following the death and resurrection of Jesus,
The Spirit is poured out,
To give life,
In a dying world.
Good news,
Of eternal life,
Help us then,
To come into your kingdom of love,
And if we have not come in before,
Grant grace to us,
To come into that kingdom today,
And to know the Lord,
And that he is good,
And to know Jesus,
And that he has given himself for us,
Lord,
In our need,
Show us the face of your Son,
And may brightness and radiance shine,
From him,
Into our souls,
As we read your word,
And sing your praise,
Speak to each one of us,
And may none of us go home,
Without having the experience,
Of God being real to us,
And give to us,
Faith,
And trust,
And love,
And repentance,
That we may leave our sorrows,
And our sins,
And go to Jesus,
And find in him,
Rest,
And hope,
For children,
And young people,
In this gathering,
Perhaps listening at home,
For all who are part of this church,
And for all who are in our prayers,
Do us good,
And grant to add to your church,
In these days,
Through conversion,
Through new life,
Spiritually,
Many,
Young and old,
Men and women,
Whatever our past,
And whatever we face today,
Or in the future,
May we lean on you,
Lord,
If we have questions,
Grant your spirit,
That we may find answers,
If we have troubles,
May we give them over to you,
Remember the pastor,
We give thanks,
For the ministry,
That you have given,
To James McKeever,
Among the people here,
Over these last eight years,
And we ask,
That you would give strength,
And joy,
For the days that are ahead,
To James,
And to Donna,
Adding healing,
And strength to them,
And encouragement,
And joy,
And we give thanks,
For the ministry,
Alongside him,
Of Calum Murdo,
And of the elders,
And of all whom they love,
And we bless you,
And thank you,
For faithful,
Pastors and teachers,
And for those,
Who show through,
Hospitality,
And through the diligence,
Of being shepherds,
Of your sheep,
A care,
For all the flock,
For every member,
Of the flock,
Help us,
As your people,
To care for one another,
And to notice,
Those who are straying,
Or in difficulties,
Or lonely,
Or in need of a blessing,
Or an encouragement,
Help us,
Lord,
To follow the good shepherd,
And his voice,
And to listen,
To teaching,
From those who shepherd,
In his name,
And to be led,
In the way of righteousness,
And in the way of peace,
The fear of the Lord,
Truly is,
The beginning of knowledge,
And wisdom,
So grant us,
Love and fear,
We pray these things,
Through Jesus Christ,
To whom be honor,
And glory,
Amen,
We're going to praise the Lord,
With a psalm,
We maybe don't sing quite so often,
Psalm 111,
This one from the Scottish Psalter,
Psalm 111,
The opening four verses,
To the Tunargeal,
Psalm 111,
Praise ye the Lord,
With my whole heart,
I will God's praise declare,
Where the assemblies of the just,
And congregations are,
It's on page 391,
Psalm 111,
To God's praise,
I will God's praise,
Please be the Lord,
With my whole heart,
I will God's praise declare,
Where the assemblies of the just,
And humph considemess,
The full works of the Lord,
Our God,
Our great honour,
Thank you.
John 19.
Verse 38.
John tells us in chapter 18 about the arrest and the trial of Jesus.
And the outcome of that in chapter 19 is a very unjust verdict.
Jesus is led to be crucified.
He is nailed to the tree and he dies.
And what comes next?
And what does it all mean?
So we turn for the last time in this communion weekend to think about the man on the cross.
Behold the man.
And tonight reading about his burial and resurrection.
Behold the gardener and his tomb.
John 19.
Verse 38.
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews,
asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.
And Pilate gave him permission.
So he came and took away his body.
Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight.
So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden.
And in the garden, a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid.
So because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
And in chapter 20, verse 1, I'll actually read verse 1 and 2.
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved,
and said to them, they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.
And at verse 11, after these facts had been checked, the men visited the grave and left.
But in verse 11, but Mary stood weeping outside the tomb.
And as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white,
sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
They said to her, Woman, why are you weeping?
She said to them, they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.
Having said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you seeking?
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him,
Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.
And so on.
This is God's truth, his inspired and holy word.
May he bless it to each one of us.
Well, before we consider something of these verses, we're going to sing from Sing Psalms,
and from Psalm 9 in Sing Psalms, the version A of Psalm 9, and that is on page 9, I believe.
Psalm 9A on page 9 of the Psalm book, singing the verses 15 to 20 of the Psalm.
The tune is Paisley.
Verse 15, the nations all have fallen down into the pit they made.
Their feet are tangled in the net, which they themselves have laid.
And on to the verse marked 20 from verse 15.
The nations all have fallen down into the pit they made.
Their feet are tangled in the net, which they themselves have laid.
The Lord is known by righteous heart, His justice always stands.
The wicked are then still in drought, the work of their own hands.
The wicked will return to pay, the dead have laid on hold.
Where all the heathen nations hold, have tough forgotten God.
The needy will not be ignored, or gotten all their days.
The wolves and longings of the bird will not be crushed away.
Our minds forwardening
March like and down.
It's our prayer that God will give us all
a hearing ear
to hear his voice
in the word of God tonight.
And it may be that someone is praying for you
that you will hear his voice
in a new and special way.
And it may be that you have been prayed
for all your life
and yet you have not heard
the voice of the Lord.
May tonight be the night
when God speaks
and we hear.
Gracious Lord, we need wisdom.
Salvation.
Truth.
Jesus.
Draw near, we pray in his name.
Amen.
The end of chapter 19 of John's Gospel
and the beginning of chapter 20
of John's Gospel.
The story of the gardener and his tomb.
Behold, the gardener
and his tomb.
I've lived through some parts of my life
that went by in a blink.
Lots going on
and busy, busy, busy
and it just goes by in a moment.
And I guess, like you,
I've also lived through days
that felt like months.
Waiting for a phone to ring.
Waiting for news.
Uncertain.
Unable to sit.
Unable to walk.
Unable to think.
Unable to pray.
Unable to do anything.
Unable to pray.
And the minutes tick by
so slowly.
What kind of day
do you think
the high
Sabbath
was
at that
Passover
in Jerusalem?
The preparation
day
is the way
the Jews
would talk about
getting ready
for the weekly
Sabbath.
And this
was a preparation
day
for an unusually
special
and significant
Sabbath
because the
great feast
of the Passover
was being celebrated.
And the Passover
coincided
with
the Sabbath.
So
everything
had to be done
and done well
and done properly
and there were
certain things
that you couldn't
leave undone.
So the preparation
day was very
busy for a lot
of people
in Jerusalem.
It was also
the day
Jesus was nailed
to the tree.
The day
he said
I thirst.
The day
he said
it is
finished.
And
he died
for sinners.
It's the day
he was taken
down
from the cross
and buried.
and then
the sun
set
and the
Sabbath
began
that Friday
night.
And the
Sabbath
went through
Friday night
through the
whole night
through Saturday
morning
through the
whole of the
daylight hours
of Saturday
and Sabbath
didn't end
until the
sun set
on Saturday.
and then
the woman
got their
spices
together
so that
early in the
morning when
it was safe
and it was
light
as soon as
they could
visit
their Lord's
grave
and say
goodbye.
that's
where we
are.
What a
long
slow
Sabbath
that must
have been.
What did
they talk
about?
The
friends of
Jesus.
How did
they feel?
They were
in shock.
They were
sad.
They were
confused.
I would
like us
to see
two things
in this
story
tonight.
And the
first is
to see
a dead
body
two
friends
and a
garden
tomb.
That's the
first thing
that the
text draws
our eye
to.
Joseph
of Arimathea
who has
not been
mentioned
before.
He's
new.
And another
character
Nicodemus
who has
been
mentioned
before
back in
chapter 3
of this
gospel.
And what
these two
men have
in common
is that
they are
senior
members
of the
Jewish
people,
of the
council
of the
71 elders,
the Sanhedrin.
They are
respectable
and respected
men.
Nicodemus
came to
Jesus by
night to
talk to
him about
spiritual
things.
He was
lost.
He was
spiritually
in the
dark.
He probably
didn't
know it.
And Jesus
says to
him in
chapter 3,
you must
be born
again.
You must
have new
life from
God.
If you
are to
be in
the
kingdom
of God
and have
eternal
life,
you must
start afresh
in a way
that only
God can
achieve.
life.
It
seems
Nicodemus
has become
a follower
of Jesus
but
secretly.
And it
seems that
this other
wealthy man,
Joseph from
Arimathea,
who has the
money to
provide a
tomb at
short notice
for Jesus,
he must have
become a
secret follower,
a secret
disciple of
Jesus as
well.
So here's
comfort.
There's no
doubt Jesus
is dead.
There is a
body.
But at
least he has
some friends
and two of
them are
named in
the text.
And they
go and ask
the Roman
governor,
Pilate,
for his
body.
It's at
that point
Pilate is
quite surprised
actually that
Jesus has
died already
and suddenly
there is an
urgency for
the bodies
to be removed
from the
crosses near
Jerusalem
because it
is a high
Sabbath,
it is the
Passover,
and it
says in
the law of
the Lord
that the
land is
defiled
if a
body is
left
hanging
on a
tree
through the
night.
Let me
read to
you God's
word.
Deuteronomy
21 verse
22 says,
if a man
has committed
a crime
punishable
by death
and he
is put
to death
and you
hang him
on a
tree,
his body
shall not
remain all
night on
the tree,
but you
shall bury
him the
same day,
for a
hanged
man is
cursed
by
God.
You
shall not
defile your
land that
the Lord
your God
is giving
you for
an
inheritance.
That was
God's law
and it
was going
to be
followed.
The land
could not
afford to
be polluted,
the high
Sabbath could
not afford
to be
polluted,
and the
man who
was under
the curse
of God,
Jesus
from
Nazareth,
he must
be cut
down from
his cross.
Now he
was already
dead,
and that
meant they
didn't break
his legs,
they didn't
break a
bone of
his body,
he was
the perfect
blemish-free
Passover
sacrifice
that God
had planned
for over
a thousand
years.
Romans
were not
squeamish
about executing
their enemies,
they were
pretty brutal
horrible,
cruel people.
If they
were left
to their
own devices,
they would
happily leave
the bodies
of condemned
criminals
to die
slowly for
days,
and then
to rot
until the
birds were
finished with
them.
But the
Jews,
especially
near their
temple and
their holy
city,
insisted
it.
The bodies
must come
down.
This is the
day of
preparation.
They must
be taken
and buried.
And what
would normally
happen is
that an
executed
criminal was
too contaminated,
too dirty,
too unholy to
go into a
decent grave
with decent
people.
And so,
the plan
was to
dispose of
these bodies,
probably in a
common grave
for convicted
felons,
definitely outside
the city,
out of sight,
out of mind,
take out the
trash.
Well,
the dead
body of
Jesus had
friends,
and they
begged the
governor for
his body.
No, they
weren't going
to defile
anybody else's
remains buried
somewhere by
putting him
into a tomb
that had
already been
used.
He was going
to be put
into a new
grave.
And remarkably,
almost as if
it was
planned,
there are
friends,
and near
the cross
there is a
garden,
and in the
garden there
is a new
tomb where
no body
has ever
been laid.
And the
governor
says,
yes,
you can have
his body.
This is
state property,
but if you
want it,
you can
have it.
Do with
it what
you want.
And these
two secret
disciples are
not secret
disciples anymore.
They are on
the side of
their master,
even though
he's dead.
And they
have procured,
or they
already had,
this grave
in a
garden near
the cross.
And so,
with love,
and with as
much care as
they can
manage,
and with
their spices,
and with
their linen
cloths,
they give us
decent a
burial as
they can
to Jesus.
In the
Apostles'
Creed,
which probably
dates back
to probably
the second
century in
one form
or another,
a very
ancient form
of words
of Christian
belief,
it highlights
not just
that Jesus
was God
and man,
and that
he died,
and that
he was
raised.
The fact
that Jesus
had a body
that needed
to be
buried
is in
the Creed.
you maybe
know the
words.
I believe
in Jesus
Christ,
his only
son,
our Lord,
who was
conceived
by the
Holy Spirit,
born of
the Virgin
Mary,
suffered
under
Pontius
Pilate,
was
crucified,
died,
and was
buried.
He
descended
to the
dead,
and so
on.
and so
on.
There was
a day
in Scotland
when if
you wanted
to be
baptized,
or if
you wanted
to baptize
your children,
the minister
would say
to you,
do you
understand
the Christian
faith?
And if
you knew
the truths
of the
Apostles'
Creed,
you had
demonstrated
that you
understood
the basics
of the
Christian
faith.
And if
you were
making a
profession
of faith,
there was
content to
it,
there was
truth to
it.
Can you
say the
belief?
Part of
what the
church has
believed
for centuries
is that
Jesus died,
was
buried.
He was
in the
same place
of death
and weakness
as everyone
else who
has ever
died.
That's
part of
our faith.
Is it
gospel?
Is it
good news?
I think
it is.
And I
think it
should be
comforting
and helpful
to you
and me
and to
the people
we share
our hope
with.
Because no
other religion,
no other
philosophy
says we
follow someone
who has
tasted
death and
whose body
has been
cold in
the grave
and he
has an
answer
for death.
He has
defeated
tears
and sorrow.
When John
writes his
gospel,
it is
always so
that people
would believe.
That's the
purpose for
it all.
And he
gives you
facts
so that
you will
believe
that Jesus
is good
news
for a
dying
world.
Fact
number
one
that we
can
believe.
Your
Lord
had a
funeral.
He
tasted
death.
And if
you think
you'll ever
go to
another
funeral,
you need
a Lord
who
understands
funerals.
And if
you think
that one
day you
will have
a funeral
for yourself,
then you
need a
Lord who
knows the
last enemy
and who
is greater
and stronger
than death,
the last
enemy.
Part of
the gospel,
part of
the good
news is
that our
Lord Jesus
had a
funeral.
Fact
number
two,
your
Lord's
grave
was
pristine,
unoccupied,
on Friday
morning,
unused,
and it
was unoccupied
again on
Sunday
morning.
The Lord
only needed
his tomb
for a
little part
of three
days,
a little
part of
Friday,
and then
the Saturday
Sabbath
into
Sunday
morning.
that's
all.
He'll
never need
it again.
He'll
never be
buried
again.
Death
cannot
challenge
him or
humiliate
him,
and nothing
can.
We get
weak,
we get
sick,
not him.
His
grave was
unoccupied
when he went
into it.
he was
not a
dead
body,
lost
among a
heap of
dead
bodies,
misfiled
and forgotten
in Jerusalem.
He died,
and on
the third
day he
was raised,
and many
saw him.
That is
fact.
Number
two,
your Lord
had a
funeral,
your Lord's
grave was
unoccupied
on Friday
morning,
and unoccupied
again on
Sunday
morning.
Fact
number
three,
and this
is important
to John,
your Lord's
grave was
located in
a garden.
People
sometimes call
the gospel
of John
the gospel
of the
signs.
There are
many signs.
At the
end of
the gospel,
the writer
says that
Jesus did
many other
things that
are not
written in
this book.
These are
written that
you might
believe,
and he
specifically
mentions the
signs.
Jesus did
many signs.
He did
many things,
but what's
recorded is
recorded to
invite us
and to
compel us
to believe
and trust
in Jesus.
Jesus.
So why
does it
matter
that John
tells us
near the
cross was
a garden
and in
the garden
was a
tomb?
No
sign
in this
gospel
is without
significance.
the signs
all point
to
something.
What does
the garden
tomb
point to?
Well, I
think that's
something we
can try and
unpack tonight,
but it's
important.
The garden
is mentioned
twice in
verse 41.
There was a
garden, and
in the garden
a new tomb.
And in
chapter 20
at verse 15,
when Mary
of Magdala
is upset
because the
grave is
empty, and
she doesn't
know what's
happened to
the body
of her
Lord, she
sees a
man, it
is Jesus,
raised from
the dead, but
she doesn't
immediately
recognize him,
and the
text says
she supposed
he was
the gardener,
because gardens
have gardeners.
well, it
turns out,
although she
didn't recognize
Jesus fully,
she was
bang on,
she was
correct.
He was
the gardener
in his
guard.
I hope I
can explain
that in a
way that
will make
sense.
Well, our
first thought
tonight has
been to
just look at
the end of
chapter 19,
a dead
body,
true
friends,
and a
garden
tomb.
Now, thinking
about that
gardener and
his resurrection,
my second
thought for
you tonight
is this.
Secondly, we
have no
dead body,
just a
gardener,
no dead
body anymore.
more.
He's not
dead,
but alive.
The secret
disciples,
Joseph of
Arimathea,
Nicodemus,
they love
Jesus,
but their
faith is not
fully formed.
they want
to follow
Jesus.
They'll no
doubt pay
a high
price for
asking for
his body
and giving
him this
honorable
burial,
when many
in Jerusalem
just want
to dishonor
Jesus and
forget him,
but they
don't yet
believe he
is risen
from the
dead.
They're
procuring a
grave for
Jesus.
They're
preparing a
body that
is going
to decay.
They need
more good
news,
more growth,
more maturity.
They need
someone to
disciple them
with the
Easter gospel.
They'll get
that.
The most
loyal friends
of Jesus
include
many women
who followed
him.
and it's
not a
surprise
that one
of them
is first
to the
tomb.
When the
Jewish
Sabbath is
over,
now on
the first
day of
the week,
what we
call Sunday,
what becomes
our Lord's
Day,
becomes our
Christian
Sabbath,
on the
first day
of the
week,
Mary Magdalene
came to
the tomb
early,
while it
was still
dark.
God.
I don't
know this
for certain,
but looking
at the
other
gospels
and comparing
them all,
the impression
I get is
that there
were a
group of
women,
female
disciples of
Jesus,
who were
ready to
wash his
body,
anoint his
body,
and do
maybe a
better job
than Joseph
and Nicodemus
would have
done,
as the
Friday sun
was setting.
And you
would expect
them to go
together to
the tomb,
but somehow
Mary from
Magdala is
detached from
the other
woman,
and she
gets there
first,
and it's
still dark.
It's early,
early,
early on
Sunday morning,
and in
John's
Gospel,
when people
come and
go in
the dark,
we are
supposed,
I think,
to understand
that spiritually
they're in
the dark.
Nicodemus
came in
chapter 3
at night.
People go
out into
the night
in this
Gospel
when they're
confused.
It's still
dark,
and there's
no Jesus,
and the
grave has
been disturbed,
the stone
is rolled
away.
Where's
his body?
She's not
seeing clearly
yet.
Now that's
good news
for you and
me,
because we
don't always
understand
everything right
away,
and we don't
always understand
everything in
our teens or
in our
twenties.
Sometimes
faith is
a slow
growing thing,
and sometimes
there are
seasons
where
our fears
and our
doubts
and the
busyness of
life,
they're like
a cloud
that comes
between us
and the
sun.
if you
have lost
touch
with the
fear of
the Lord
that is the
beginning of
knowledge and
wisdom,
that cloud
needs to be
blown away,
and it is
the truth
of the
death and
resurrection
and the
grace and
mercy and
love of God
in Christ
that will
be that
strong wind
that will
clear those
clouds of
confusion
away.
Later,
Mary of
Magdala
would be
joined by
Joanna,
wife of
Chusa,
and Salome,
mother of
James and
John,
and Mary,
mother of
James and
Joseph,
and some
other woman.
What a group
of remarkable
godly women
they were,
but they
are not
yet maybe
fully formed
in their
faith.
They need
the good
news
of the
gardener.
They need
to meet
the one
who calls
himself in
this gospel
in another
place,
the resurrection
and the
life.
He's already
told them
again and
again,
that he's
going to
die and
on the
third day
he's going
to be
raised.
And it
doesn't
seem to
have been
understood
or accepted
or penetrate
or to
believe.
It's
afterwards
that this
light begins
to dawn.
No,
there is no
dead body
in the tomb.
There is no
dead Jesus
in Jerusalem.
There's just
weeping,
confused
disciples.
Mary runs
to find
Peter
and John
whom Jesus
loved
and they
run
and they
run
and they
run to
the tomb
and Simon
Peter
can't run
quite as
fast
as John
but John
hesitates
at the
tomb.
Both of
them were
running
together.
The other
disciple
outran
Peter.
Peter
got there
first.
John
waits.
John
got there
first.
Peter
is the
first to
go in
so and
to look.
But John
outruns
Peter
in
dawning
faith,
dawning
realization.
yes,
my Lord
is not
dead.
He's not
here.
But they
still need
to grow.
They still
need further
understanding.
Verse 9
tells us
as yet
they did
not
understand
the
scripture
that he
must rise
from the
dead.
What did
they think?
Did they
think God
had maybe
taken his
body
a bit
like he
took
Elijah
to glory
that God
had taken
his son
to glory?
I don't
know what
they believed
but they
weren't
fully on
the page
yet
with a
mature
understanding
to take
the Apostles
Creed
the woman
and the
male
disciples.
I don't
think they
could say
the belief
quite
yet.
I don't
think they
could quite
say I
believe in
God the
Father
Almighty
and I
believe in
Jesus
Christ the
Son
and I
believe in
his death
and I
believe in
his burial
and I
believe in
his resurrection
and I
believe in
his church
his Holy
Spirit
his second
coming.
They're
moving towards
it but I
don't think
they're quite
there yet.
so what
will get
them
where they
need to
be?
The
gardener
standing
in his
garden.
Sometimes
there is
a theme
that runs
through the
Bible
and it
pops up
in a few
places and
it is
helpful to
make a
connection.
And I
think this
is one of
those places
where we
have the
text of
scripture
repeatedly
drawing our
eye to the
fact that
the place
where Jesus
was buried
was in
a garden
and that
one of
those women
who loved
him and
followed him
thought he
was the
gardener.
She knew
him as
her Lord
when he
spoke her
name
Mary
and she
calls him
her
rabbi,
her
master.
It's
very
lovely
but use
your imagination,
use your
knowledge of
the scripture.
where does
the scripture
tell us
about
gardens
and
gardeners?
Well the
most obvious
place
is at the
beginning of
the scripture
in the
story of
creation and
fall
where the
first
Adam
Adam and
Eve,
our parents,
on behalf of
the whole
human race,
are in
a garden
where they
meet with
God.
They are to
tend that
garden,
they are to
work that
garden.
Adam is
a gardener
and he is
on friendly
terms
with his
creator.
And the
garden is
wonderful and
God makes
provision and
the garden is
spoiled by
sin and
corrupted and
the world is
corrupted and
death gets
in and the
death penalty
comes on
Adam and
Eve and
the children
of Adam
and Eve
because in
that first
garden,
the first
gardener is
a spiritual
failure.
John in
his gospel
is showing
us another
Adam,
a second
and last
Adam because
we'll never
need a third
Adam because
the second
and last
Adam is
not going
to fail
the spiritual
tests that
he undergoes.
He is going
to obey
and drink
the cup
the father
gives to
him.
In the
Genesis
garden and
gardener
there is
the tragedy
of sin
and death.
Where are
the other
gardens in
the Bible?
Well how
about the
garden of
Gethsemane
where Jesus
was arrested
and where
Jesus wept
and sweat
so much
that he
sweat blood.
The
gospels are
very interested
in that
garden.
And the
gardener in
that garden
of tears
is sowing
prayers
and sowing
in his
agony
the
determination
not to
do his
own will
but the
father's
will so
that the
church would
be saved
and the
failure of
the first
Adam would
be undone.
and now
this garden
a garden
with a
tomb in
it
and a
man
maybe
supposes
to be
the
gardener.
He's in
a resurrection
body
but his
people are
still weeping
he wants
them
to have
joy
and hope.
the time
for tears
is passing.
They are
confused
and he
wants to
instruct
them
so that
their
confusion
will be
replaced
with
comfort
joy
and
confidence
to go
to the
ends of
the earth
with the
gospel.
When
Mary wants
to hold
on to
Jesus
physically
he says
to her
in words
that are
a little
puzzling
you can't
hang on
to me
just now
I have
to ascend
to my
father
and to
your
father
because
Jesus
the
gardener
of the
resurrection
is going
to tend
his
church
his
vine
his
branches
from
the
father's
right
hand
in glory
I am
the vine
you are
the
branches
my
father
is the
gardener
Jesus
is a
gardener
but so
is the
father
and the
father
wants
Jesus
at his
side
and the
spirit
representing
God
here on
the earth
tending
the vine
that is
growing and
spreading
which is
the life
giving
church
the fruit
bearing
church
are you
part of
it
and do
you want
to be
part of
it
there is
one other
place in
the bible
where you
find a
gardener
and a
gardener
and that
is surely
in the last
two chapters
of the bible
where the
imagery and
the language
echoes
the story
of eden
and creation
and there
is no
more death
and satan
is defeated
and he is
no more
and where
there is
no more
sighing
and sorrow
where there
is a
garden
city
with a
tree of
life
growing in
it
and with
all manner
of trees
with fruit
for the
healing
of the
nations
with the
precious
things
that were
in eden
the precious
metals
and precious
stones
and the
precious
people
of God
not needing
a temple
because the
Lord God
and the
Lamb are
there
they are
the gardener
in the
garden city
New Jerusalem
banqueting
feasting
in the
presence
of God
serving
achieving
working
in the
presence
of God
God
who did
Mary see
she saw
her Lord
her
gardener
her hope
for you
and for
me
we have
not a
dead
saviour
not a
dead
memory
but a
gardener
who has
been dead
but who
now tends
his church
and wishes
it to be
fruitful
in John
12 24
Jesus
says
truly truly
I say
to you
unless a
grain of
wheat
falls into
the earth
and dies
it remains
alone
he's talking
about himself
on his
cross
but if it
dies
it bears
much
fruit
well I'm
finished
and our
communion
again
is finished
one
question
do you
have
hope
do you
have hope
in your
life
is the
future
and is
your
eternity
good
I'm a
chaplain
in a
high school
in Inverness
and we
don't get
many
opportunities
to share
very much
of God's
truth
there
it's quite
limited
but some
of the
chaplains
go in
every week
on a
Thursday
at the
lunch hour
and put
on a
hot chocolate
club
and at
least we
can chat
and if
people are
there and
if they
want to
talk
then we
can talk
and on
Thursday
just passed
a couple
of days
ago
three of
us
three of
the
chaplains
were in
lots of
hot chocolate
was consumed
and everyone
was invited
to answer
a question
where do you
find hope
one person
said in
music
I quite
like that
answer
if you
listen to
good music
maybe it
will give
you hope
a few
people said
in my
family
and my
friends
they give
me hope
one
honest
person
said
what most
people in
this
generation
seem to
believe
I find
hope
in
myself
but it's
a bad
answer
because I
will let
you down
and I
will let
myself
down
and you
will let
yourself
down
and this
generation
that tells
us to look
within for
our hope
and our
answers
is telling
us a
lie
do you
know what
the most
popular
answer was
among the
pupils of
Milburn
Academy
who came
on Thursday
where they
find hope
in a
pet
in a
dog
I've
got
nothing
against
pets
nothing
against
dogs
but if
that's the
source of
hope and
comfort
it will
die
the
gardener
will never
die
do you
have hope
because you
know the
voice of
Jesus
and you
follow his
voice
that's
the source
of hope
that even
overcomes
death
in my
father's
house
are many
mansions
if it
were not
so
would I
not have
told you
I go
to prepare
a place
for you
and if
I go
I will
come
again
that you
may be
there
with me
Lord
Jesus
you are
the one
who went
to the
garden
tomb for
us
and stood
in the
garden
as the
resurrection
tend
our souls
and make
us fruitful
and give
us faith
give us
joy
love
give us
salvation
give us
hope
for we
ask it
in your
name
amen
we're going
to conclude
with words
from a
resurrection
psalm
psalm 16
in sing
psalm
psalm 16
in sing
psalm
17
of the
book
the verses
7 to
11
of sing
psalm
16
to Selma
the land
allotted
me
is in
a pleasant
sight
and surely
my inheritance
to me
is a delight
we'll stand
and sing
I hope you can
stay for the
fellowship
and may the
Lord bless you
in the days
to come
I praise
the Lord
my God
whose
counsel
guides
my
choice
and
me
live
in the
night
my
heart
because
my
world
The Lord alone, because He is at my right hand, and not He overthrew.
Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue with joy will sing,
my body to the rest of the earth in hope and way of being.
For you will not allow my soul in depth to stay,
nor will He be, dear Holy One, to see that tomb's decay.
It hath been known to me the path of my divine.
Let us pray.
Remember us with tender love.
Bless those gathering for the fellowship later,
and bless the good things, the food, and so on,
that we share in there and our fellowship in Jesus Christ.
And we commit and commend one another to God's grace and keeping
for this day and for all of our days.
May the grace of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
be with us and with all whom we love evermore.
Amen.
Do I get out of here?
Yes, thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Amen.
Thank you.