Welcome.
Yeah, there we are.
My name's Dave.
Welcome if you're visiting this morning.
There goes my notes.
Could I get someone to turn that fan off?
That'd be great.
Well, back in 2017, my wife Emma and I had the privilege of going to see for ourselves parts of Europe.
And what I thought would be the best thing when we were setting off didn't turn out to be my favourite thing.
We'll come to this one later.
I thought my favourite thing was going to be Liverpool.
I bought tickets and it was the highlight of our itinerary.
We got to see firsthand Mo Salah.
I'm going to use my right foot.
He's left footed.
I'm sure this really matters for the sermon.
But he half volleyed into the back of the net just before my eyes.
And I just wanted to jump.
I wanted to cheer.
But I feared for my life because I was in the opponent's seating area.
But it was amazing.
We didn't know where we were staying that night.
We had somewhere booked.
But we're going to be really late into our hotel room.
And Emma was worried about whether we get in or not.
I didn't care.
We got to see Liverpool.
Like, why are you worrying about that, Emma?
Like, we saw Liverpool.
Anyway, I thought that was going to be the highlight.
It wasn't.
As you can tell, it was up there.
But we saw some amazing things.
Like, we saw the classics like Eiffel Tower.
We saw Venice.
Saw Michelangelo's statue of David.
We saw, what else did we see?
Saw the Colosseum.
Saw all these amazing things.
None of them were my highlight.
None of them came even close to my highlight and my favourite thing.
I was watching Grand Designs the other night.
If you come to this church, I've used Grand Designs as an illustration,
so you know what I've been watching lately.
But this episode was about a guy called Brahm and his wife.
And they, on the Isle of Wight, they built this massive, massive modern home for their family.
They spared no expense.
They set a record for Grand Designs for money spent, which is saying something like three million pounds.
I don't know what that is in our currency.
They spared no expense.
Like, for his young family, he wanted huge rooms for his two children,
along with the games room and everything else that you could imagine.
Now, what motivated them was that a few years earlier, Brahm had a brain hemorrhage
and he spent 11 days in a coma.
And then months and months, you could imagine recovering.
And so he just wanted to seize life after that.
He wanted the perfect family home for peace, overlooking the ocean for his family.
He can understand that.
And they said it multiple times when they were talking through that there might not be a tomorrow.
He might not be here tomorrow.
You can understand that motivation, can't you?
The sad thing by the end of the episode was that Brahm, he couldn't enjoy the house
because he took out 11 different loans to pay for this thing.
Like, one of them was 540,000 high interest loan, as well as other bank loans, loans from his friends,
from his family.
And he even got a loan from a supermarket chain.
I don't even know how you go about doing that.
But he couldn't enjoy it.
Like, the host asked them, was it all worth it, how much you spent?
The wife was just like, yes.
I'm not sure I believed her.
But his face, he's just loaded with debt.
He couldn't even enjoy it.
I think we're all a bit like Brahm.
I think we are going all in on something.
Brahm put his faith in this house, this perfect family home, to give him life and peace.
But it didn't deliver in the end.
But I think we're all like that.
It may not be a house that you go all in on.
But I think we all go all in.
We put our faith in something or someone to give us that peace and life.
I don't know why you're here today.
If you've come to church for the first time in a long time,
I'm guessing that whatever you're putting faith in,
whatever you're going all in on, isn't going so well.
We're going to hear a bit of the Bible now from John's Gospel.
And I just want you to imagine and hear a different kind of house,
a different kind of family home that Jesus offers.
John 14, 1 to 7.
Let not your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God.
Believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms.
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you myself.
That where I am, you may be also.
And you know the way to where I'm going.
Thomas said to him,
Lord, we don't know where you're going.
How can we know?
The way.
Jesus said to him,
I am the way,
the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you had known me,
you would have known my Father also.
From now on,
you do know him
and have seen him.
Jesus' promises,
they're unique.
Like all other religious leaders,
they point and they say,
here's the way to God.
Here it is.
That's the way.
Here's what you need to do to get there.
But here's a guy who's saying,
I'm the way.
His claims are unique.
His promises are unique.
He says he can guarantee our tomorrow.
He's saying,
and the day after,
and the day after that,
into forever.
He's saying that we can have a place
in God's family,
in God's family home.
Huge promises.
He's unique.
And he's saying that there's no back door.
He says,
I am the only way.
So Thomas at this point,
he knows that Jesus has to go somewhere
and prepare a place for him
in God's family home.
But he wasn't ready for what Jesus meant.
He wasn't expecting it.
He wasn't ready for it.
It caused Thomas severe doubt
because that very night
after speaking these words
and the next day,
he's betrayed by a close friend.
He's arrested.
He goes to a courtroom
where it is totally rigged
and they sentence him to death.
He's beaten
and he's just weak
and mocked
and publicly ridiculed
and then
he's nailed to a cross
until he suffocates.
We're just going to read
the end of
Jesus' death
just to get a feel
for
why Thomas
doubted
Jesus.
John 19,
31 to 35.
Since it was a day
of preparation
and
so that bodies
would not remain
on the cross
on the Sabbath
for that Sabbath
was a high day,
the Jews asked Pilate
that their legs
might be broken
and that they might
be taken away.
So the soldiers
came
and broke
the legs
of the first
and of the other
who had been crucified
with him.
But
when they came
to Jesus
and saw
that he was
already dead,
they did not
break his legs.
But one of the soldiers
pierced his side
with a spear
and at once
there came out
blood and water.
He who saw it
has borne witness.
His testimony
is true
and he knows
he is telling
the truth
that you also
may believe.
Well,
Jesus was
cold,
pale,
lifeless,
dead
and his promises
with him.
The words
that he spoke,
I am the way,
the truth
and the life,
they just seem
empty.
There's a solid line
we all understand,
isn't there?
It's universally
understood that
the death of the body
is the end.
That's it.
Game over.
Thomas had gone
all in
on Jesus.
Like,
Bram had gone
all in
on that house,
Thomas had gone
all in
on Jesus
and it just
seems
that darkness,
evil,
death
had won
again.
Now,
they spent
three dark
days
in that space
but then
Thomas hears
amazing news
and he finds
it unbelievable.
He can't
believe it
so let's
hear that now.
John 20,
1 to 25.
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've taken
the Lord out
of the tomb
and we do not
know where
they've laid him.
So Peter
went out
with the other
disciple
and they were
going toward
the tomb.
Both of them
were running
together
but the other
disciple
outran Peter
and reached
the tomb
first
and stooping
to look in
he saw the
linen cloths
lying there
but he didn't
go in
and Simon Peter
came following
him
and went
into the tomb.
He saw the
linen cloths
lying there
and the face
cloth
which had
been on
Jesus'
head
not lying
with the
linen cloths
but folded
up in a
place by
itself.
Then the
other disciple
who had
reached the
tomb first
also went
in
and he
saw
and believed
for as yet
they didn't
understand the
scripture
that he must
rise from
the dead.
Then the
disciples
went back
to their
homes
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've
taken away
my lord
and I
don't
know
where
they've
laid
him.
Having
said this
she turned
around
and saw
Jesus
standing
but she
didn't
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've
carried
him away
tell me
where you
have laid
him and
I will
take him
away.
Jesus
said to
her
Mary
she
turned
and said
to him
in
Aramaic
which means
teacher.
Jesus
said to
her
do not
cling
to
me
or I
have
not
yet
ascended
to
the
father
but
go to
my
brothers
and
say
to
them
I'm
ascending
to
my
father
and
your
father
to
my
God
and
your
God
Mary
Magdalene
went
and
announced
to
the
disciples
I
have
seen
the
Lord
and
that
he
said
these
things
to
her
on
the
evening
of
that
day
the
first
day
of
the
week
the
doors
being
locked
where
the
disciples
were
for fear
of the
Jews
Jesus
came
and
stood
among
them
and
said
to
them
peace
be
with
you
when
he
had
said
this
he
showed
them
his
hands
and
his
side
then
the
disciples
were
glad
when
they
saw
the
Lord
Jesus
said
to
them
again
peace
be
with
you
as
the
father
has
sent
me
even
so
am
I
sending
you
and
when
he
had
said
this
he
breathed
on
them
and
said
to
them
receive
the
Holy
Spirit
if
you
forgive
the
sins
of
any
they
are
forgiven
them
if
you
withhold
forgiveness
from
any
it
is
withheld
now
Thomas
one
of
the
twelve
called
the
twin
was
not
with
them
when
Jesus
came
so
the
other
disciples
told
him
we
have
seen
the
Lord
but
he
said
to
them
unless
I
see
in
his
hands
the
mark
of
the
nails
and
place
my
finger
into
the
mark
of
the
nails
and
place
my
hand
into
his
side
I
will
never
believe
well
Thomas
I
think
we've
been
a bit
unfair
to
Thomas
he's
been
given
the
nickname
doubting
Thomas
I
think
we
should
give
him
the
nickname
rational
and
reasonable
Thomas
he's
heard
Mary
and
Peter
and
John
say
that
they've
gone
to
the
tomb
and
it's
empty
that
his
grave
clothes
are
just
lying
there
in
a
neat
pile
he's
heard
Mary
say
I
have
seen
the
Lord
he's
heard
his
ten
friends
who
he
would
trust
say
we
have
seen
the
Lord
none
of
these
people
were
expecting
this
and
Thomas
who's
even
inclined
to
believe
it's
too
unbelievable
so
he
speaks
I
think
he
speaks
for
all
of
us
in
our
skepticism
it's
just
too
unbelievable
but I
think
that
puts
us
in
a
dilemma
because
if
Jesus
is
unique
if
what
he
promises
you
is
unique
if
what
he
came
to
do
was
unique
then
you'd
want
him
to
do
something
that
you've
never
heard
of
in
the
history
of
the
world
and
it's
never
happened
so
if
I can
put it
this
way
unless
Jesus
does
something
unbelievable
he
wouldn't
be
worth
listening
to
because
what
he's
offering
and
who
he
claims
to
be
is
so
unique
so
we're
going
to have
one
final
reading
and
here's
what
Thomas
saw
for
himself
now
John
20
26
to
31
eight
days
later
his
disciples
were
inside
again
and
Thomas
was
with
them
although
the
doors
were
locked
Jesus
came
and
stood
among
them
and
said
peace
be
with
you
then
he
said
to
Thomas
put
your
finger
here
see
my
hands
and
put
out
your
hand
and
place
it
in
my
side
do
not
disbelieve
but
believe
Thomas
answered
him
my
Lord
and
my
God
Jesus
said
to
him
have
you
believed
because
you
have
seen
me
blessed
are
those
who
have
not
seen
and
yet
have
believed
now
Jesus
did
many
other
signs
in the
presence
of the
disciples
which
are
not
written
in
this
book
but
these
are
written
so
that
you
may
believe
that
Jesus
is
the
Christ
the
son
of
God
and
that
by
believing
you
may
have
life
in
his
name
imagine
let's
go back
to
Brahm
imagine
if
Brahm's
beautiful
expensive
house
with
his
ridiculously
expensive
front
door
someone
knocks
on the
front
door
one
day
and
he's
invited
in
and
they
sit
down
at
the
dining
room
table
he
opens
his
laptop
and
this
guy
just
starts
transferring
money
540
grand
paid
all
his
11
ridiculous
lines
just
to
his
friends
paid
to
his
family
paid
just
all
of
them
this
guy
just
and
he's
not
using
it
to
blackmail
him
it
is
just
pure
gift
and
how
would
you
feel
if
you
were
Brahm
like
who
are
you
why
are
you
doing
this
when
Thomas
saw
Jesus
for
himself
I'm
guessing
it must
have
just
been
a
very
overwhelming
experience
I doubt
he could
probably
put it
into
words
what
he
intuitively
knew
straight
away
he
must
have
known
intuitively
darkness
and evil
and death
did not
win
you
were
stronger
you
were
stronger
and if
that's
the
case
you
went
to
the
cross
on
purpose
to
pay
my
debt
and so
his
famous
words
my
Lord
and my
God
I want
to show
you my
favourite
thing
from my
Europe
trip
here it
is
it's
tiny
it's
like
I don't
know
it's
less
than
10
centimetres
and
we
were
running
so
late
trying
to
find
a
park
we
only
got
10
minutes
to
see
this
thing
but
it
was
tiny
we
squeezed
it
into
our
itinerary
but
it's
my
favourite
thing
because
this
is
I
think
it's
still
the
earliest
fragment
of
the
New
Testament
and
it's
dated
so
close
to
the
original
time
it's
called
P52
Papyrus
52
Clay
I
think
this
is
your
slideshow
I
didn't
ask
you
for
permission
I'm
assuming
it's
okay
it's
from
John's
Gospel
what we're
reading
here
now
well
we
haven't
read
the exact
bit
it's
from
when
Pilate
the
Roman
governor
is
sentencing
Jesus
to death
even though
he's
finding
him
innocent
it's
hard
to put
into
words
why
it's
my
favourite
thing
I
think
it's
my
favourite
thing
because
I
can't
touch
Jesus
myself
I
can't
see
him
I
can't
touch
his
scars
but
it
means
what I'm
reading
here
I
can rely
on what
I'm
reading
on what
they
have
recorded
for
us
it means
that
through
them
when
Mary
says
I
saw
the
Lord
I've
seen
the
Lord
when
the
ten
other
disciples
say
we have
seen
the
Lord
when
Thomas
says
my
Lord
and my
God
it means
through
them
I
can
see
the
Lord
myself
through
their
testimony
it
means
that
it
means
for
me
that
the
resurrection
is
is just
solid
ground
it
is
he
is
the
stronghold
of my
life
he
is
my
light
and
my
salvation
it
means
my
debt
for
what
I've
racked
up
towards
my
friends
and
family
and
God
paid
it
means
my
tomorrow
is
sure
like
he
promises
just as
much
as
he
bodily
was
raised
I
will
be
in
a
world
that
is
raised
and
made
new
my
tomorrow
is
sure
it
means
that
whatever
darkness
comes
he
is
stronger
it
means
he's
experienced
any
pain
I go
through
and
way
more
first
hand
because
of
his
scars
he
knows
it
and
he's
my
friend
I
know
he
hears
my
prayers
he
hears
my
cries
he
he's
present
I
know
he's
present
because
he's
alive
and
I
know
that
when
he
promises
that
I've
got
a
place
in
God's
family
home
forever
he's
already
done
everything
to bring
me
into
that
it's
guaranteed
so
that
little
fragment
it
just
helps
me
know
that
when
I
go
all
in
on
Jesus
because
he's
risen
from
the
dead
it's
hard
to put
into
words
it's
everything
so
I
don't
know
whenever
you
doubt
God's
forgiveness
Jesus
is
inviting
you
to
come
and
look
at
his
scars
come
and
see
for
yourself
in
the
words
of
scripture
recorded
for
us
as
we
learn
about
him
together
in
church
come
and
see
for
yourself
whenever
you
doubt
whether
you
have
a
real
place
in
God's
family
in
God's
household
come
and
see
whenever
you
doubt
whether
he's
stronger
than
the
darkness
you're
facing
right
now
come
and
see
come
and
see
for
yourself
so
I don't
know
what's
brought
you
here
today
if you
keep
looking for
life and
peace
in
things you
can see
with your
eyes
like a
physical
house
I don't
know
Brahm
didn't
find it
I
haven't
found
it
I
don't
think
we
can
find
it
but
Jesus
gives
it
to
us
he's
where
life
and
peace
really
is
found
but
don't
take
my
word
for
it
who
cares
if
you
go
to
Europe
or
not
who
cares
if
you
see
the
Eiffel
Tower
so
touristy
anyway
who
cares
what
really
matters
is
whether
you
experience
Jesus
for
yourself
and
John's
Gospel
says
Jesus
is
inviting
come and
see
come and
see
for
yourself
well
happy
Easter
and
may
God
give
you
life
and
peace
thanks
for
listening