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Well Jesus Christ has made our world, not just
that he is God as Christians believe who has

created us

but he is the God who's shaped our values,
certainly here in the West in terms of

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freedom, tolerance

progress all of those things

and Christians believe that's because
he is the God who speaks true to us and

given us good things to believe and to live out.

Jesus Christ is one of the most
influential figures in human history

revered as the central figure of Christianity.

Born around four to six BCE in Bethlehem

His life and teachings have profoundly shaped
the moral, cultural and spiritual fabric

of civilizations

for over two millennia.

Jesus whose name in Hebrew is Yeshua

meaning God saves

is believed by Christians to be the son of God

and the promised Messiah
prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures.

Raised in Nazareth

Jesus lived a humble life as a carpenter

before beginning his public
ministry around the age of thirty.

His teachings focused on love,

forgiveness,

compassion,

humility

and justice.

Through parables and sermons such
as the renowned sermon on the mount

Jesus emphasize the importance
of loving God whole heartedly

and loving one's neighbor as oneself.

His messages often challenged societal norms

extending dignity to the marginalized

including the poor,

sinners and outcasts.

Jesus also performed miracles
including healing the sick,

raising the dead and feeding thousands

which many believed affirmed his divine nature.

These acts coupled with his teachings

attracted both followers and
opposition from religious authorities

who viewed his claims of divinity as blasphemous.

Christians believe

that Jesus's crucifixion was not the end

but a pivotal act of redemption.

According to the new testament
three days after his death

Jesus rose from the dead

a cornerstone of Christian faith

known as

the resurrection.

This event is celebrated as proof
of his victory over sin and death

offering eternal life to all who believe in him.

Beyond religion

Jesus's impact transcends spiritual boundaries

influencing art,

literature, ethics and philosophy.

His teachings on love and peace

resonate across cultures

and continue to inspire movements
for social justice and human rights.

For billions of believers worldwide

Jesus is more than a historical figure.

He is a source of hope,

salvation

and a personal relationship with God.

His life and message invite
people of all backgrounds

to explore the transformative power of faith,

grace

and unconditional love.

I guess we all love stories

and all of us have a story of some kind.

It usually helps us to work out what
we believe, what we think about life

and many stories are just kind
of formed by our experiences

or our philosophy, or

different belief systems.

I would reckon when you look at Christianity and you

look at Jesus Christ he is the best story.

It begins in the Bible in Genesis

where there's a garden of Eden

and then the whole

thing is that

sin enters the world and the

world becomes a corrupt kind of place

and then

salvation actually moves on

right in the Bible to revelation

where there's a new heaven
and a new Earth, the promise of

the kingdom of God

being revealed

and coming

to fulfillment

at the end times

and that's the

salvation story but actually who is

crucial to that,

the crucial thing is right there at the

middle of it

is Jesus.

He is the kind of crucial thing for this story.

What do I mean by that, well there's a little
verse in the Bible again John chapter three verse

sixteen, which many people
know very well where it says

God so loved the world

that he sent his only son that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have

eternal life

and that is a kind of crucial
part. God loved the world so much

that he sent Jesus.

Again if you look at the Jesus story,

what's the most important part about it I guess?

The most important part it hinges on the death

and resurrection.

Mark's gospel for example,

most of it is two thirds about his death.

The whole process of going
up to his death on the cross

and his resurrection

and why is the death and resurrection of Jesus

important?

The death of Jesus is important because

the picture is of Jesus taking
the sin, the wrong things

of the world on himself and dying so we
may have forgiveness and reconciliation.

He's called in the old testament, is in
Isaiah's prophecy the prince of peace, he came

so that we could have peace between

ourselves

and with God through forgiveness.

We could have reconciliation

and so when Jesus died on the
cross, he took all the sins of the world,

your sin, my sin

and when we trust him

we can have

forgiveness,

a new life

and then three days we read that
Jesus rose again from the dead.

Some people doubt this, can a man

who has died rise from the dead, can dead people rise

and become alive.

There's lots of evidence, many people have
looked at the evidence and said there's a

you know if you are in a court of law

I guess people would say yes Jesus

rose from the dead it's true

but I guess the other thing we have to make

in our own minds is something like this, that if Jesus

really rose from the dead,

that is the most stupendous thing in the whole
of the cosmos, how ever you want to kind of

describe it.

It's absolutely

amazing

somebody has come to life.

If that's true

then we can't ignore it, we've got to kind of

consider it,

trust it

and follow that kind of philosophy.

So I would reckon

we all have stories

and I would always ask people

the question what's your story.

I think the very best story is the Christian story.

It began

in Genesis

things went wrong,

it ends in revelation of the last book of the Bible

where there's a new heaven, a
new Earth, things are restored.

The crucial part of it is Jesus

and that's why

he came into the world.

The birth of Jesus Christ is one of
the most significant events in history

celebrated world wide as the
foundation of the Christian faith.

This momentous occasion known as the nativity

marks the incarnation of God as man

fulfilling ancient prophecies
and ushering in a new era of hope

and redemption for humanity.

According to the gospels of Matthew and Luke

Jesus was born in Bethlehem,

a small town in Judea

during the reign of King Herod The Great

around four to six BCE.

The story begins with Mary,
a young virgin from Nazareth

who was betrothed

Joseph, a carpenter.

The gospel of Luke recounts that
Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel

who announced that she had been chosen by God

to conceive a child through the holy spirit.

This child Gabriel declared

would be the son of God and
would reign over an eternal kingdom.

Joseph initially troubled by Mary's pregnancy

was reassured in a dream by an angel who
revealed the divine nature of the child.

Obedient to God's will

Joseph took Mary as his wife and cared for
her throughout the journey that lay ahead.

At that time

Caesar Augustus issued a decree

for a Census to be taken across the Roman empire.

As part of this mandate

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem

the ancestral town of Joseph's lineage

to register for the census.

Upon arriving

they found no room in the inn
due to the influx of travelers.

Consequently

Mary gave birth to Jesus

in humble surroundings laying him in a manger

a feeding trough for animals

symbolizing humility and simplicity.

The birth of Jesus was
heralded by extraordinary signs.

According to the gospel of Luke, an angel
appeared to shepherds in nearby fields

announcing the birth of a savior

the Messiah.

The angel declared

glory to God in the highest

and on Earth, piece to those on whom his favor rests.

The shepherds filed with ore

went to Bethlehem and found the infant Jesus with

Mary and Joseph.

They shared the angel's message

and all who heard it were amazed.

The gospel of Matthew describes
another remarkable event,

the visitation of the Magi

or wise men

from the East.

Guided by a bright star

the Magi traveled to Bethlehem to
honor the newborn king of the Jews.

They presented gifts of gold,

frankincense and myrrh
symbolizing Jesus's kingship, divinity

and eventual suffering.

The birth of Christ

was not without peril.

King Herod

fearing a threat to his throne

ordered the massacre of male infants in Bethlehem.

Warned in a dream

Joseph fled with Mary and Jesus to Egypt

ensuring the child's safety until Herod's death.

The nativity signifies
more than a historical event

it embodies the profound
truth of God's love for humanity.

Through Jesus's humble beginnings

Christians see the message of hope,

peace and salvation.

The world

is a messy place

and there's all kinds of

problems in the world and that is exactly
what happened when Jesus was born, the world

was a messy place.

You've got Mary you've got Joseph

and this is how Matthew talks about it, he says

that his mother Mary, Jesus's mother
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph

but before they came together,
she was found to pregnant

through the holy spirit. That's messy isn't it.

Joseph is planning to get married

to Mary

and as they make plans, as they send out
invitations as they make all the bookings and

the arrangements,

shock horror

Mary is pregnant.

What is Joseph going to do.
That's a massive mess isn't it.

Well this is what it says here

because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law

and yet didn't want to expose
her to public disgrace, didn't want to

make a scene and didn't want to embarrass her

he had in mind to divorce her quietly
which is kind of saying to break it off

just quietly

but this is what God had planned.

He sends an angel

to Joseph in a dream

and says this, Joseph son of David do not
be afraid to take Mary home as your wife

because what is conceived in her

is from the holy spirit. She

will give birth to a son and
you to give him the name Jesus

because he will save his people

from their sins.

So this is the scene,

Joseph asleep at night

wondering what to do, planning the
next day to break it off quietly with Mary.

He has this dream

and an angel says

don't do that

don't break it off

because Mary has not been unfaithful, she's
not having an affair, she's not betraying

your trust behind your back,

no get married to Mary

in fact look after her because the baby

inside her

is actually from God.

Now would you believe that

I mean that sounds a bit farfetched doesn't it.

How could this happen, it just doesn't happen does it.

What is Joseph supposed to
say, if he says that to his mates

down at the local to taverna

in Nazareth. what are they going to say

come on Joseph pull the other one.

Well Joseph takes

this message

at his words

because there is a big message here

that Jesus

is going to be born

and will save people from their sins.

Sins is a churchy

word isn't it

but sins literally means

our rebelling against our creator.

The God who has loved us and
made us given us lots of good things,

the God who

is far better than the God we would

perhaps invent for ourselves

and yet we have given him the finger so
to speak, we've rejected him, ignored him,

ignored his will in our lives

and it's shown in the way we hurt others, think

evil of others

and say things we, we later regret.

That is the nature of sin, we hurt other people

and it's a rejection of God and yet Jesus has promised

here

to come and save us from the
mess we make, not just the mess

in Joseph and Mary's

world going on at the time,

not in the mess in the, just the mess
in the huge wide world but our personal

messes as well, our sins and that is what
Jesus means, the name Jesus literally means

the Lord God saves

and it saves

us from our

sins.

So that's what happens

Joseph wakes up

and it says here he did what the angel
commands, he takes Mary home as his wife

and

when Jesus is born,

well that's the name

Jesus but there's a second name also

that is

referred to in this story and that is the name

Emmanuel

and Matthew writing this account of Jesus's

birth, says that all this happened
predicted seven hundred years before

by the prophet Isaiah,

saying that there is going to be a virgin who will

conceive and give birth to a son

and the name here is Emmanuel.
Emmanuel literally means

God with

us.

I dunno if you feel isolated sometimes in
life, I think we all do, we all feel like no

one really knows us.

We all kind of feel a bit
individualized and kind of cut off.

If only somebody would
understand us and want to be with us

and I think sometimes I kind of
think, if people really knew the real me

would they really be want to be with me
that's why sometimes we put on a mask and

try and impress other people
because we want them to be with us

and yet we know if they knew what we were really like

would they want to.

Well God know exactly what we're like

and in the person of Jesus he wants to be

with us.

He wants to be with you

and with me, that's fantastic isn't it, so Christmas

is about Jesus coming into the world to save
us from our sins. It's a messy world, it

was a messy situation back then

for Mary and Joseph

and it's messy in our lives today

but Jesus wants to come

to be God

with us. Even though

we've messed up

that is wonderful good news

and that's the good news of the Christian faith.

It's God's way of connecting us back to himself that

God, who's the God of love

wanted

that relationship restored between ourselves

made by him

and him the creator,

the father and so he sent his son

into the world and that is who Jesus is really.

Came in a helpless vulnerable way

not, not in a way that would be
all sort of frightening and awesome

and became one of us

which is why it's so important to
understand that Jesus is both God,

son of God

and

and human

just

like us

and it says in the Bible he
knocks on the door of our hearts

and we can come

and enjoy

a relationship with him and that's what I did.

I realize that Jesus was

was more than just

a great figure of history

and as I said yes to him,

he he

brought me

into a new place,

a new beginning, a new creation really

of life with him.

The baptism of Jesus recorded in all four gospels

Matthew chapter three verses thirteen to

seventeen,

Mark chapter one

verses nine to eleven,

Luke chapter three verses twenty one to twenty two

and John chapter one

verses twenty nine to thirty four

marks the beginning of his public ministry

and is a profound moment of divine affirmation.

This event is rich in theological
and symbolic significance

underscoring Jesus's identity as the

son of God

and his role as the savior.

Jesus came to the

Jordan river to be baptized by
John the baptist, his forerunner

who was calling people to repentance

in preparation for the coming Messiah.

Initially John hesitated recognizing
Jesus's sinlessness and saying

I need to be baptized by you

and do you come to me.

Matthew chapter three verse

Fourteen.

However Jesus insisted explaining
that his baptism was necessary to

fulfill all righteousness. Matthew
chapter three verse fifteen.

Jesus's baptism

was not for repentance as he was sinless

but it served several purposes.

It identified him with humanities sin
and need for redemption foreshadowing his

sacrificial death.

It also symbolized

his submission to the father's will

and inaugurated his mission to bring salvation.

As Jesus came out of the water

extraordinary events occurred.

The heavens opened, the holy spirit
descended on him in the form of a dove

and a voice from heaven proclaimed

this is my beloved son

in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew three seventeen.

This divine affirmation revealed Jesus's
unique relationship with the father and his

divine authority.

The baptism of Jesus is a powerful moment
that highlights the unity of the Trinity.

The father's voice,

the son's obedience

and the spirit's presence.

It calls believers to reflect on their own baptism,

a sign of repentance,

faith in union with Christ and to follow his example

of humble submission to God's will.

So when we look at the story of Jesus, it
begins with the virgin birth Jesus is born as a

baby, we celebrate that

at Christmas and sing the

traditional carols and

have a wonderful time

celebrating the birth birth of Jesus.

Between the birth of Jesus and then his ministry

which he began

I guess when he's about thirty, there's

not a lot of detail.

There's a story of

him being in the

in the temple in Jerusalem
when they went over to celebrate

the passover

and

it talks about Jesus being

growing in favour with God and with

humankind,

so obviously he was a good kid I guess,

but there's not a lot of detail about it

and then he begins his ministry and
he begins his ministry by being baptized.

He was baptized by John the baptist
who is known as the forerunner of Jesus.

What does that mean? It's
somebody who prepared the way.

What was happening, John
the baptist who was a relative of

Jesus,

he was preaching on the banks of
the Jordan, there was great revival

in the land because there was a

kind of sniff,

is the Messiah coming, is there some new king coming.

We been,

the Romans were in charge and so

there's a whole

feeling that something new is
happening, the Messiah is coming

and so John the baptist who was preaching and

baptizing people in the river Jordan and

I think people probably thought
he was the Messiah at the time

but he wasn't he made it very clear that he

was not the Messiah he was preparing the way.

He made preparation

for

the ministry of Jesus.

I guess if you can imagine that

there is a

revival on the banks of Jordan

by John the baptist

and

perhaps he could've took star place but he didn't

he prepared the way for Jesus. It does say that

there's one coming

that was Jesus.

He shall increase and John said I shall

decrease that was the humility

of John the baptist

and then we have this great baptism of Jesus.

John saying

I'm not worthy to baptize you but Jesus says

you are worthy.

You baptize me

and we read the picture of

a kind of a dove descending upon Jesus and a

a voice from heaven saying.

This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased

and so what the baptists,

baptism of Jesus saying is this,

one he is identifying with us.

He is baptized

he is one of us

but also he is

God's

Messiah

God's son.

Here is my beloved son

in who I am well pleased

therefore

take notice of him

and that baptism spurs Jesus on.

It's a

kind of exciting time.

Ministry he's going to go and
proclaim the kingdom of God.

Mark

chapter one verses twelve to thirteen

and Luke chapter four verses one to thirteen

is a significant event that
reveals his sinlessness,

his reliance on God's word

and his victory over Satan's schemes.

This episode occurs immediately after Jesus's

baptism and marks the
beginning of his public ministry.

It demonstrates Jesus's

faithfulness to God

and serves as a model for
believers facing spiritual challenges.

After his baptism

Jesus was led by the holy spirit into the wilderness

where he fasted for forty days or nights.

This period of fasting echoes significant
biblical events such as Moses time on

Mount Sinai and Israel's forty years in the desert.

During this time Jesus

was physically weak from hunger

making him vulnerable to temptation.

Satan seeking to exploit this vulnerability

approached Jesus with three specific temptations

each targeting a different aspect
of human desire and ambition.

The three temptations,

turning stones

into bread.

Satan's first temptation was aimed
at Jesus's physical need for food.

He said if you are the son of God
command these stones to become bread.

Matthew chapter four verse three.

Jesus though hungry refused to
misuse his divine power for personal gain

instead he quoted scripture saying

man shall not live by bread alone

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Matthew chapter four verse four

Deuteronomy chapter eight verse three.

This response

affirmed that obedience to
God and reliance on his word

are more important than satisfying physical needs.

In the second temptation

Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple

and urged him to throw himself down,

quoting psalm ninety one verses

eleven to twelve,

to suggest that God's angels would protect him.

This temptation

challenged Jesus to prove his divine
identity through a dramatic display.

Jesus however

refused to test God responding,

you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.

Matthew four

verse seven,

Deuteronomy six verse sixteen.

His reply underscored the importance
of trusting God without demanding signs.

The final temptation involved

power

and authority.

Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of
the world and promised to give them to him

if Jesus would bow down and worship him.

This was an attempt to entice Jesus

to achieve his mission

through compromise

avoiding the path of suffering

and the cross.

Jesus rebuked Satan saying,

you shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.

Matthew four verse ten
Deuteronomy six verse thirteen.

After Jesus resisted all three temptations

Satan departed

and angels

came to minister to him.

This moment affirmed Jesus's victory over sin

and his unwavering commitment to God's will.

The temptation in the wilderness demonstrates

Jesus's identity as the sinless son of God

and serves as a profound example

of how to resist temptation.

Through prayer, reliance on
scripture and faithfulness to God

Jesus overcame the devil

providing believers with a model to
follow in their own spiritual battles.

This event

foreshadows his ultimate victory
over sin and death through the cross and

resurrection.

One of the things about

Jesus, he'd been sent to proclaim

the kingdom of God,

a new kingdom.

God's values in the world I guess

and

part of the story that the Bible

speaks about is that it's a kind of
warfare between God and the devil.

So if you can imagine, here is
the Messiah about to begin his

ministry

who wants to stop him,

the devil himself.

We read in the gospels of Jesus
being driven into the wilderness

where he was tempted by the devil,

the devil wanted to bring him down to stop him

in his,

in his tracks and stop in his ministry.

And so for forty days he was tempted,

he was hungry.

The devil tried to say to him

make these stones you see
there into bread and feed yourself.

It was the temptation to kind of

use his miraculous powers for self satisfaction.

That wasn't God's way.

Jesus did quote the Bible and say man shall
not live by bread alone but by everywhere that

proceeds

from the mouth of God.

The devil took Jesus to a high place
and said all this can be yours if you

worship me

and just bare allegiance to me

and

Jesus said,

you just worship one God

you shall worship the Lord your God.

So there was Jesus

being tempted

seeing if he can be prevented but
then right at the end of the story,

we read that

yeah he was hungry, yes angels ministered to him

but

he hadn't given in

to the temptation.

So he then could continue

his ministry. He defeated
the devil and the temptation

and therefore was still without sin.

The wedding at Cana in Galilee is a
significant event in the ministry of Jesus

marking his first public miracle.

Recorded in John chapter two

verses one to eleven,

this moment

reveals Jesus's divine power

and serves

as a foreshadowing of his redemptive work.

It also highlights his compassion and
willingness to meet human needs in the context

of daily life.

The event took place at a wedding

a celebration deeply rooted
in Jewish culture and tradition.

Weddings were joyous occasions

often lasting several days

where the host's ability to provide for guests

was seen as a matter of honor.

Jesus

along with his mother Mary and his
disciples was invited to the gathering.

During the celebration

a problem arose,

the wine ran out.

This would have been a source of
great embarrassment to the host

reflecting poorly on their hospitality.

Mary, aware of the situation
turned to Jesus for help saying,

they have no more wine.

John chapter two verse three.

Her request reflects her trust in
Jesus's ability to address the issue,

even though he had not yet
performed any public miracles.

Jesus initially responded woman

why do you involve me

my hour has not yet come,

John two four.

This statement suggests that his ultimate

purpose was not to perform miracles for display

but to fulfill God's redemptive plan.

However

he honored Mary's request

and instructed the servants to
fill six large stone jars with water.

These jars used for ceremonial washing

held a significant amount of water.

When the servants drew some out and
presented it to the master of the banquet,

the water had been transformed into wine.

The master,

unaware of the miracle

remarked

that the wine was of exceptional quality

better than what had been served earlier.

This miracle revealed Jesus's
divine authority over creation

and his ability to bring abundance out of lack.

It also symbolized the
transformative power of his ministry

foreshadowing the new covenant he would
establish through his death and resurrection.

The use of ceremonial jars

emphasizes the transition
from the old ways of purification

to the new life found in Christ.

John concludes by noting that
this was the first of Jesus's signs

revealing his glory and prompting
his disciples to believe in him.

John two eleven.

The wedding at Cana illustrates Jesus's
care for human needs and his power

to transform both circumstances and lives

inviting faith and trust in his divine mission.

When John's gospel John's telling of

Jesus's life, the first miracle
that happens is that Jesus

turns water into wine,

this was a wedding

in Cana. We do refer to it certainly in our
church, in the wedding service, the marriage

service.

John is the only

gospel writer who records it and John being

very very close to Jesus

I guess he felt it was important to record it and he,

actually he, John only records about seven
or so, what he calls signs. He doesn't call

them miracles he calls them signs, because signs

point to something don't they.

I don't know if you take a sign to get

to drive around the country or to find your
way around the airport or where ever it might

be, you follow the signs don't you because
the take you to a destination. Well the signs

in John's gospel, the miracles are like signposts

pointing to who Jesus is and why he came.

This is the way it's recorded,

Jesus's

disciples they are invited to a wedding
in Galilee, that's in the North of the

part of the world of Israel at the time

and the wine

runs out,

which was

a very embarrassing thing back then because
culturally if you providing a wedding you

would make sure there was plenty of wine

for all your guests and the groom whose

job it was, well this is a big embarrassment for them

and Jesus's

mother says, they've got no more wine

and Jesus says well look,

my time has not yet come, my hour is not yet
come. You see Jesus is going to use this miracle

turning water into wine

to show something of his glory, his power

but also what he has come to do

which is to

die on the cross, to give us
forgiveness, to give us access

to God. He says, my time has not yet come

and his mother says,

look

servants do whatever Jesus says and there's these
stone water jars, they're used for ceremonial

washing, they've got
special religious significance.

They can hold a lot of water
eighty to one hundred and twenty

liters, that's like a a wheelie bins worth

of

Water.

That's quite a big jar isn't it.

Jesus says, fill them with water, so they fill
them to the brim and then he says draw the

water

take it out, take it to the master of
the banquet and this is what they do

and the master of the banquet tasted the water

and he didn't realize where it come from,

though the servants knew and he
calls the bride groom to him and says this

everyone brings out the best wine first

and then the cheaper wine after
the guests have had too much to drink.

Well that makes sense doesn't it.

After you've had lots of this really nice wine

let's get the cheap stuff out because

you're not going to notice to
much, after you've had a few.

But then he says this,

you saved the best wine

till now.

See what Jesus has done here,

Jesus has rescued this

wedding, he's rescued the groom's blushes

and he's provided not just some wine

but provided even

better wine. I think this is pointing to the
fact that Jesus can provide something far better

than you and I can provide. He provides
the best wine but also you got to remember

that in the Bible, the whole idea of a wedding

is a picture of God's love for
his people, so the Bible begins

effectively with a wedding

described as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, so

effectively it's a wedding, Genesis two.

It describes this,

the joining together of Adam and Eve,

as the prototype sort of marriage relationship,

that

all marriages afterwards copy

but Bible doesn't just begin with a wedding,

it ends with a wedding.

So in revelation the last book of
the Bible which John also wrote,

he describes

Heaven coming out,

Heaven coming down to Earth

and describes it as God being
with his people like a wedding

and Jesus is the real groom

and Jesus's people are the bride and it's God
and his people being united together forever

in perfect love, in fact that's what all human
weddings in the Christian faith point to.

All human weddings are

a man and woman coming together

appointed to that

ultimate relation between God and people,

God pursuing his people who don't
really want him but he's still loving them,

still forgiving them, wanting to be with them

and here Jesus, as he turns water to wine
he shows that actually he is the true groom,

he's the true provider of the wine

the wine that is better.

The best

till last being saved.

He uses the ceremonial, he's pointing to

some sort of cleansing in this wine, which

is pointing to his cleansing death on the cross

and it is revealing his glory.
This is what John writes,

Jesus what he did here in Cana of Galilee
was the first of his signs pointing to his

glory

and he reveals his glory to
his disciples and they believed

in

Him. That's the thing about signs,

we're not just meant to look at what Jesus does and say

oh isn't he amazing,

he could do these nice tricks.

No we're supposed to put our faith, our trust in him

and trust in him that he wants to be with us

and to save us and to restore us to be with him

forever. This is what this sign is about

and that's what Jesus did,

when he turned the water

into wine.

Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman

at the well,

recorded in

John chapter four verses one to forty two

is a powerful story of grace,

inclusivity

and transformation.

This meeting occurred as Jesus
traveled from Judea to Galilee

passing through Samaria,

a region Jews typically avoided

due to deep seated animosity
between Jews and Samaritans.

At Jacob's well in the town of Sika,

Jesus weary from his journey rested
while his disciples went to buy food.

A Samaritan woman came to draw water and

Jesus initiated

a conversation by asking her for a drink.

The woman was surprised saying

you are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.

How can you ask me for

a drink?

This moment broke cultural and social norms

as Jews did not associate with Samaritans

and men typically did not publicly address women.

Jesus responded

if you knew the gift of God

and who it is that asks you for a drink

you would have asked him

and he would have given you living water.

Intrigued but confused

the woman questioned how
Jesus could offer such water.

He explained that the water
he gives leads to eternal life

unlike physical water that temporarily satisfies.

As their conversation deepened

Jesus revealed his knowledge of her life

including her multiple relationships

demonstrating his divine insight.

This revelation led her to
recognize him as a prophet

and sparked a discussion about worship.

Jesus declared that true worshipers
will worship the father in spirit and truth

transcending geographical
and cultural boundaries.

When the woman expressed hope in the coming Messiah

Jesus revealed

I who speak to you am he.

Overwhelmed

she left her water jar

and shared her experience with the townspeople

who came to see Jesus and believed in him.

This encounter underscores Jesus's
mission to offer salvation to all

regardless of social or cultural barriers

inviting everyone to receive
the living water of eternal life.

So here in John chapter four,

this is where Jesus

is

Walking through

Samaria.

Now

the Jews didn't walk through Samaria,

they would have

left

Judea,

Samaria sits above Judea

and instead of walking a

straight path, they would have
gone across the river Jordan

up around the area of Samaria in order to reach

Galillee

but here's Jesus

in Samaria.

He's took his disciples

via that route.

There's

a moment of destiny awaiting,

which Jesus needs to

keep that appointment as it were

and in this instance it's with a

a woman.

We know her as the

the woman at the well

and Jesus

arrives at the well, he sits down

and she comes out

with her jar

in order to collect some water

but it's the wrong time of day

the heat is out.

The other women from the village

would have got their water much earlier

but she's not like the other women

in the village.

She's something of an outcast.

She's had a number of husbands

and the person that she's living
with at the moment isn't her husband

and Jesus

reveals this to her

in the course of asking for a drink

and she's wondering well who are you

and as he begins to reveal who he is to her

she talks in terms of well
we are waiting for the Messiah

and he' saying

but if you knew

who I am

that's in front of you

you would be asking me for living water.

See there comes a decision

time in each one of our lives

when we are confronted with something
which we can't necessarily understand

but we have to make a decision about.

It's probably in signing

you know

paper documents

for a will

or

Whether I get double glazing in my
house or whatever it is, a car contract

and you're looking at this and
you're trying to make sense of it and

there comes a time when you just need to
sign on the bottom, on the dotted line if you

want this thing to happen

and you try your best to understand it

but we're not all of great legal minds and

often these things come to us in legal speak.

Yet here is this man speaking plainly

into something which she has some insight into.

She's awaiting for the Messiah

the people are waiting for the Messiah

and yet here he is

standing in front of her,

revealing himself to her

as the Messiah

and that

the time will come

when

those who follow after

will worship in spirit and in truth.

Not just in the temple in Jerusalem

but can you see how this is

then transported out across the world.

Not necessarily to be in a temple or a church

but in a place

where we can make a connection with God.

Whether that's washing the dishes, washing the car

bathing the kids, taking them to school

or in the care home or wherever it is in life

we have that

available to us.

Prayer

talking

to God

worshiping him

in spirit and in truth.

Of course

this is

revelation to her

and she

needs to tell someone so

she tells

the community around her.

Those whom she's been outcast from

and they come to see

who this man is, this

this person that's revealed these things to her

and what do they say,

we don't believe on account of you

woman

but we believe on account of what we have seen

and heard for ourselves.

Did she remain an outcast, we're not told.

Was she someone who is
embraced back into the community

as being the first person

to

To see this Jesus, this this this Messiah,

to have himself reveal in this way,

we're not told.

I would like to think that that's the case

but human nature is such

that perhaps she still remained

outside

of that community

but the significance is

what change took place within her.

One of the first people

to see and to understand

Jesus

as the Messiah.

One of the most pivotal moments
in the new testament occurs

when Jesus publicly announces
his identity as the Messiah.

This event is recorded

in the gospel of Luke chapter
four verses sixteen to twenty one

and offers profound theological
and historical significance.

In this moment Jesus reads from the scroll
of the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue of

Nazareth, his home town

and declares that the prophecy
has been fulfilled in him.

Jesus had recently begun his ministry

performing miracles

and teaching in synagogues throughout Galilee.

His reputation as a teacher

and healer was spreading

and when he returned to Nazareth

the people were eager to hear him.

As was customary for Jewish men

Jesus attended the synagogue on the sabbath.

Synagogues were centers of worship and
study were scripture was read and discussed.

Luke describes Jesus standing
to read from the scroll of Isaiah

which was handed to him.

The choice of passage was not random

Jesus intentionally unrolled
the scroll to a specific prophecy

Isaiah chapter sixty one verses one

to two.

The congregation likely anticipated a familiar

and traditional interpretation of the text

but

what they received was a revelation
that would challenge their expectations.

The passage Jesus read proclaimed

the spirit of the Lord is upon me

because he has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the

captives and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Luke

eighteenth and nineteen.

This text outlines the mission of the Messiah

to bring liberation, healing and
restoration to a broken world.

It reflects the heart of God's redemptive
plan emphasizing justice, mercy and hope.

By selecting this passage
Jesus highlighted his purpose

and the transformative nature of his ministry.

After reading Jesus rolled up the scroll

handed it back to the attendant

and sat down.

A typical posture for teaching in Jewish tradition.

The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue were fixed on him

anticipating his interpretation.

Jesus then made a startling declaration,

today this scripture has
been fulfilled in your hearing.

Luke four twenty one.

This statement

was revolutionary.

By declaring that the prophecy was fulfilled

Jesus claimed to be the anointed one,

the Messiah foretold by Isaiah.

His words were both

a declaration of his identity

and an invitation to recognize the kingdom
of God breaking into history through him.

Initially the crowd marveled at his gracious words

however

their amazement soon turned to outrage.

They questioned how a carpenter's son

someone they had known since childhood

could make such a claim.

Their skepticism revealed

their inability to reconcile Jesus's
humble origins with the grandeur of his

messianic mission.

This event encapsulates the
paradox of Jesus's ministry.

He came to fulfill divine promises,

yet his message and identity
challenge societal expectations.

His proclamation in the synagogue
not only affirmed his role as the Messiah

but also set the tone for a ministry

would confront both religious and social norms.

Jesus's reading of Isaiah and his declaration
serve as a powerful reminder of his

mission to bring hope,

healing and salvation to all people.

This moment stands as a
cornerstone of Christian faith

pointing to the fulfillment of prophecy
and the inauguration of God's kingdom on

Earth.

You have an amazing moment in Jesus's home town

where he's invited

in the synagogues that he

is accustomed to go to week-by-week,
he'd gone to the synagogue

worshipped, read the scriptures.

He comes to

the synagogue in his hometown

and reads out

from the scroll,

the passage in Isaiah that describes

in prophetic terms

who the Messiah to come might
be, what the Messiah might look like,

what the Messiah's mission might be like
and it's all described in terms of healing

miracles and

a wonderful

release from

from sin and poverty

and

Jesus reads this out

and then says,

today

these words have been fulfilled

and what he means is, he's fulfilled them,

he is

there as the fulfillment

of these

he is the Messiah

and

it causes a huge stir, well

I don't know what you think but

you know it says, that Jesus actually
says that a profit is not honored in his

hometown.

You know when people

saw you grow up,

when they've

changed your diapers, your nappies as it were.

When they've seen you

playing football

and then you turn round and

and say and I am

the Messiah.

It gets a reaction

and not one

where people say oh yes you
know that you are the Messiah.

Familiarity

breeds contempt so

I do

I do find it quite interesting

that God sets Jesus up

to go to his home town

and face

the music

and declare himself

and get the reaction

that he got. I mean they were going to kill him

but because it wasn't his time,

he walks through

and

nobody, nobody touches him

as they are about to throw him off the cliff

on the outskirts of Nazareth.

God intervenes in some way

that we really don't understand but he walks through

that

that crowd that

was so upset

that

their,

their Jesus

from Nazareth

was saying such

preposterous things as

I am

the fulfillment of old testament prophecies

that I've just read out

in this amazing scroll.

When Jesus first goes about his
public preaching ministry, different

gospel writers record it in different ways

they're focusing on different
things. In Mark chapter one

Mark records Jesus bursting on the scene

and saying the kingdom of God is

near

repent and believe the good news
and that was a summary message

turn to God's King the kingdom of God is near

because Jesus is on the scene he is the king of

of God's kingdom

but in Luke chapter four, Jesus
stands up in Nazareth in a synagogue

and unrolls a scroll from the prophet Isaiah.
I guess maybe you could say that was their

old testament Bible reading

of the day

and he quotes from Isaiah sixty one saying
the spirit of the Lord is on me because

he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor

he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free

to reclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and then Jesus rolls up the scroll,
gives it back to the attendant, sits down

and everyone's looking at him and he says this,

today this scripture is fulfilled

in your hearing.

Jesus is saying there that this is about me.

I am the one that the spirit of the Lord
is upon. He's anointed me to proclaim

good news to the poor and
in fact that actually correlates

with what we've said from Mark
chapter one, repent and believe the good

news. Jesus is saying he's good news

and we are saying good news, he's not just saying

oh good news yeah, there's

a special deal on at McDonald's
or something like that so

no this is

good news as in war is over,

peace will last.

It's the good news of having a diagnosis that

cancer is gone and it'll never
come back, it is that good

good news, it is the news that

forgiveness is possible that

life beyond death

is available.

Jesus is that kind of good
news. Jesus says it like this

to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.

Now he's not just talking
about setting bad people free,

terrorists, murderers, those kind of people no

he's referring to what was referred
to in Isaiah's time. He's quoting Isaiah

and in Isaiah's time, Isaiah was talking about
a time when God's people would be conquered

by

A big bad land

Babylon would take them away and imprison them,

imprisoning God's people

and that is the kind of release
that Jesus is talking about

quoting from Isaiah, it's spiritual release.
They'd taken God's people away from God

into a different place

and they couldn't be set
free to worship God and Isaiah

there is talking about that kind of freedom

and Jesus is saying I've come to bring that freedom,

to set people free from slavery, a slavery

that stops people from loving God as they ought to.

A slavery that means that you actually

keep doing the things and being stuck in a habit of

a cycle of bad or addictive behaviors
that are negative in some way.

I've come to set you free from sin
in other words, that kind of prison.

It's a recovery of sight for the
blind. We try and woe for this life

kind of thinking what should I
do, how should I live, what is true,

is there a way through, can I make sense of it all.

That is blindness and yet Jesus says

he's going to give sight

to the blind, he's going to set the oppressed

free to proclaim the year of
the Lord's favour. God looks at us

and says I love you, I know what you've done.

I know you've ignored me and yet I'm going to show you

my favour and that is proclaimed through Jesus
coming into the world, to die on the cross,

so that we are forgiven

and will focus on that

I'm sure another time.

So Jesus says this is about him,
this is what he has come to do

and the response is a positive one.

It says here,

all spoke well of him and were

amazed

at the gracious words that came from his lips. Jesus's

words are gracious

and yeah they are also surprised,
isn't this Joseph's son they asked

and Jesus says look,

you might think you know me but you don't.

He refers to the fact that in the
old testament, prophets like Elijah

and Elisha

were not accepted in their home town

and that actually, it was the people who didn't know

them that the best such as Naaman
a Syrian, not a, not a Jewish person,

they were,

they were the people who received

God's profits of old and so it is today.

The people were furious of him, they
tried to throw him off a cliff but Jesus

manages to evade them because

the time for his death wasn't then.

The point is this,

we think we can

sometimes you

can you think you know someone really really well

and you might think you know Jesus really well but

the thing is we shouldn't,

we should be careful not to assume

we know Jesus a swell as we think we do.

Perhaps you've experienced

that with a friend

or even a family member, you think you know them,

I grew up with them,

I know what they're like

I know all kinds of things

but actually maybe we don't know them
as well as we think we do and sometimes we

expect people to fit our
kind of mold, our expectations

what they'll say, what they'll do

and we can make that mistake with Jesus.

Well rather than having the Jesus in our
heads, as the Jesus who we want to believe in

and who we want to exist,

we need to be careful that we're
actually letting Jesus be the real Jesus

and paying attention to him,

listen to him

because Jesus does surprise people.
He surprised me many many times

and we need to let him surprise us.

He's come

to bring good news

and the question is

will be willing to really really listened
to what he has to say about that

because many people have found

it is indeed the best news ever,

that Jesus has come

to set us free.

The feeding of the five thousand is one
of the most well known miracles of Jesus

recorded in all four gospels

Matthew,

Mark,

Luke

and John.

It is a profound demonstration of
Jesus's compassion, divine power

and ability to meet both
physical and spiritual needs.

This miracle is significant not only for its

scale

but also for its symbolic meaning

pointing to Jesus as the bread of life.

The miracle took place during a time when Jesus's

ministry was drawing large crowds.

His teaching and healing

had garnered widespread attention

and people followed him wherever he went.

According to the gospel accounts

Jesus had withdrawn with his disciples
to a remote area likely seeking rest after

an intense period of ministry.

However when he saw the crowd that had followed him

he was moved with compassion.

Jesus began teaching and healing the people

addressing their spiritual needs.

As the day wore on the disciples
became concerned about the practical issue

of feeding the large crowd.

They suggested sending the people
away to nearby villages to buy food.

Instead of sending the crowd
away Jesus challenged the disciples.

You give them something to eat,

Luke nine

thirteen.

The disciples were bewildered

noting the impossibility of feeding such
a vast crowd with their limited resources.

They had only five loaves of bread and two
fish, a small boys offering according to

John's account.

Jesus took the loaves

and fish gave thanks

and began breaking them.

As he distributed the food through the disciples

it miraculously multiplied.

Everyone ate until they were satisfied

and afterward the disciples
collected twelve baskets of leftovers

emphasizing the abundance of the provision.

This miracle

is rich in meaning.

Firstly

it showcases Jesus's divine power

demonstrating that he is Lord over creation

and able to provide abundantly

for humans needs.

The transformation of such meager
resources into a feast for thousands

highlights his ability to bring life and
blessing from seemingly insufficient means.

Secondly

the event underscores Jesus's compassion.

Despite his own need for rest he prioritized
the needs of the crowd ministering to

both their spiritual hunger through teaching

and their physical hunger

by providing food.

This act

reveals the heart of God as a
provider who cares deeply for his people.

Thirdly

the miracle carries profound
symbolic significance.

The bread broken and shared among the crowd

foreshadows Jesus's own body

which would be broken for the salvation of humanity.

In John's gospel

the feeding of the five thousand
is followed by Jesus's declaration,

I am the bread of life

John six thirty five

emphasizing

that he is the ultimate sustainer

of both physical

and spiritual life.

The feeding of the five thousand

reminds believers of God's power to
meet needs no matter how overwhelming the

circumstances may seem.

It also calls followers of Christ to trust
him with their resources however small

knowing he can use them to accomplish great things.

Finally

it invites reflection on Jesus

as the bread of life

the one who satisfies the
deepest hunger of the human sole.

of course there's lots of miracles in the

Bible. One of the most significant miracles,

miracles is the one that's in

every gospel, Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John, it's the feeding

of the five thousand

so it must be significant I guess.

You may know the story.

Jesus

was

speaking to the crowds, with his
teaching, the crowds were following him

and

it got late in the day and they were
hungry, so he had compassion upon them and

said to the disciples

have you got any food and they said no we
haven't, but there was a young lad there with

five barley loafs and a couple of fishes

and if we know the story, he blessed them

and then he fed,

he fed the five thousand.

It was

five thousand

men, so there must have been women and
children to, so it's more than five thousand

and what does it teach us?

Well it teaches us,

one thing would be that

just five loaves and two fishes, what is small

can be used by God

in a great way to feed

folk.

So what little we have, we may think we have little

but if we give it to God, he blesses it

and he uses it.

I guess the other thing is that when Jesus said

just around that time I'm the bread of life

he was really saying

he is the one who feeds us

we feed off Jesus

and so what it teaches us, is that if Jesus
is the bread of life, here's the one who

he gives satisfaction,

he gives us fullness, he feeds us

and so if we want the very best
life, we we trust in Jesus that's what

part of the teaching

of the feeding of the five thousand. He is the perfect

satisfaction in a world where people
look for satisfaction all sorts of ways.

True satisfaction

is found in Jesus Christ.

The story of Jesus walking on water is one
of the most remarkable miracles recorded

in the gospels, appearing in Matthew chapter
fourteen verses twenty two to thirty three,

Mark chapter six verses forty five to fifty two

and John chapter six verses sixteen to twenty one.

It demonstrates Jesus's

divine authority over nature,

his care for his disciples in times of trouble

and his invitation to trust him fully

even in the midst of life's storms.

This event occurred shortly after
the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus had sent his disciples ahead
in a boat to cross the sea of Galilee

while he stayed behind to prey on a mountainside.

The disciples found themselves

struggling against strong winds
and waves in the middle of the night.

It was during the fourth watch of the night

approximately three to six AM

that Jesus came to them

walking on the water.

As Jesus approached

the disciples

were terrified

mistaking him for a ghost.

Their fear highlights the
overwhelming nature of the storm

and their inability to comprehend
the miracle unfolding before them.

Jesus immediately reassured
them saying take courage it is I

don't be afraid, Matthew fourteen twenty seven.

In Matthew's account Peter responded boldly

asking Jesus to command him
to come to him on the water.

Jesus invited Peter to step out of the boat.

Initially Peter walked on the water toward Jesus

but when he noticed the wind
and waves he became afraid

and began to sink

crying out Lord save me.

Peter was immediately rescued by Jesus

who extended his hand and lifted him up saying,

you of little faith why did you doubt?

When Jesus and Peter returned to the boat

the wind ceased and the disciples worshipped

him declaring truly you are the son of God,

Matthew fourteen thirty three.

The miracle of Jesus walking on
water demonstrates his authority

as the son of God.

By defying the laws of nature

he showed that he is Lord over creation

echoing God's control over
the waters in the old testament,

like in psalm seventy seven

verse nineteen.

The calming of the storm upon his
arrival further emphasized his power

and care for his disciples.

Peter's experience highlights
the importance of faith and focus.

While Peter was able to walk on
water by keeping his eyes on Jesus,

his fear and doubt caused him to sink.

This serves as a powerful lesson for believers

trust in Jesus enables us to overcome life's storms

but losing sight of him
leads to fear and uncertainty.

This story encourages Christians to
trust Jesus in challenging circumstances.

Just as he came to his disciples in
their time of need, he is present with his

followers during life's struggles

offering reassurance and strength.

The episode also underscores
the importance of worship

and recognition of Jesus's divine identity.

The story of Jesus walking
on water is a vivid reminder

that faith in him allows
believers to rise above fear

and experience his peace

even in the most tumultuous situations.

Another miracle that has really

impacted me, the story, is when Peter walks

on water, well when

Jesus walks on water and then

and then Peter

also walks

and it's just after the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus

wants, I think, to get away, to have
a bit of time just talking to his father

and

so he tells the disciples to get in the boat and

go across to the other side

and then

they

do that and then suddenly a storm breaks out

and they're

finding it quite difficult

and then they see

they see someone walking

towards them

and they're really scared.

They think it's a ghost

they don't realize it's Jesus at first

and he's walking on the water

and

then they realise, then they, when they know it he says

don't be afraid it's me you know

and when they realize it's him,

Peter

is always the

sort of

out there ready to go kind of person,

says Lord if it's you

just call me and

let me come, come out

and walk on the water as well, let me come to you

and so Jesus says come

come on

and

he gets out of the boat, that's the amazing thing.

You know

I'm someone who doesn't
actually swim, so this will be really

something you know,

that Jesus

says come

and Peter actually

gets out

of the boat.

The other disciples I don't know maybe were in shock

and starts to walk to Jesus

and

I just

wonder how he felt at that moment actually

he was actually doing the same thing
as Jesus and I think he was looking

at Jesus as he walked out and
then suddenly he became aware

of the wind and

the waves

and

thought oh my goodness what am I doing

and

then it was at that point,

because of fear came in again,

it was at that point that,

that he

he's

he says Lord help me because he starts
to drown, he starts to fall in the water

and Jesus says, just

puts out his hand.

There's some wonderful paintings
of that, Jesus putting out his hand

and Peter grabs it and he

and then they they both

get

into the boat

and I don't know how Peter

felt because I was always
think well it was amazing that he,

he walked on water

and so

even if he might have been feeling like quite

weak at that point that he'd

shown his fear

and fear

is a big thing

that I've had to struggle with in my life so this story

has really spoken to me.

But he did

actually walk on water

with Jesus

and I think sometimes

that's a good,

a good thing to remember when we're afraid

that if we do something when we are afraid,

there is a great deal of success

just in the doing

even if

the fear

we've had to,

maybe is still there a bit
inside and that we still struggle

in that area

so

That's why I kind of like

that miracle

because it gives me hope

that Jesus can help me in scary situations.

The raising of Lazarus recorded
in John chapter eleven verses

one to forty four

is one of the most profound
miracles performed by Jesus.

It reveals his divine authority over life and death,

his compassion for humanity and his role

as the son of God who brings eternal life.

This event which occurred
shortly before Jesus's crucifixion

serves as both a sign of his power

and a foreshadowing

of his own resurrection.

Lazarus along with his sisters Mary and Martha

were close friends of Jesus

and lived in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem.

When Lazarus fell gravely ill Mary and
Martha sent word to Jesus saying, Lord

the one you love is sick.

Jesus's response was unusual.

Instead of immediately going to heal Lazarus

he stayed where he was for two more days.

He explained to his disciples that Lazarus's
illness would ultimately glorify God

and serve as a means for others to believe in him.

By the time Jesus arrived in Bethany

Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days.

Jewish tradition held that the sole
lingered near the body for three days,

so the fourth day

signified that death was final

and irreversible.

When Jesus arrived

he was met by Martha

who expressed both her grief and her faith.

If you had been here

my brother would not have died

but I know that even now

God will give you whatever you ask.

Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise
again declaring I am the resurrection and

the life, the one who believes in me will
live even though they die, John eleven twenty

five to twenty six.

Mary also came to Jesus weeping.

Moved by the sorrow of the sisters and the mourners

Jesus himself wept,

a poignant demonstration

of his humanity and compassion.

This moment shows that Jesus
deeply shares in human suffering

even as he holds divine power.

Standing before Lazarus's tomb

Jesus commanded the stone to be removed

despite Martha's objection that
there would be a strong odor.

After praying to God

Jesus called out in a loud voice

Lazarus

come out.

To the amazement of the crowd

Lazarus emerged still wrapped in his burial cloths.

Jesus then instructed them to free him.

The raising of Lazarus was a powerful
demonstration of Jesus's authority over death

affirming his divine identity.

It also prefigured his own resurrection

showing that he is the source of eternal life.

This miracle led many to believe in Jesus

but it also intensified
opposition from religious leaders

ultimately leading to his crucifixion.

The raising of Lazarus is a vivid reminder

of Jesus's promise to bring life and hope

even in the face of death and despair.

It underscores his mission as
the savior who conquers death

and offers eternal life to all who believe in him.

Jesus was a very popular figure when he
was around, people followed him, crowds

followed him.

Why did they follow him,

well many people followed
him because of his miracles, his

healings,

compassion he had on people.

One particular miracle

which

we could think about is the raising of Lazarus.

The story is that here is Martha and Mary and Lazarus

were a family group

who were very friendly

with Jesus, they were his friends

and

Jesus was heading towards their home, just

kind of visiting I guess

and as he was

journeying, he heard this sad news that Lazarus,

the brother

had died

and so Martha and Mary wanted Jesus to just

simply come to them I guess to offer some help

in their bereavement.

Jesus tired a little bit, he didn't
go quickly but eventually he went

and he went to the tomb and
there was Lazarus in the tomb

and

he just said Lazarus come out

and Lazarus came out with his grave clothes

and he was alive.

It was fantastic.

Martha, Mary Lazarus were reunited.

Jesus had raised somebody

from the dead.

I guess the question is

what is Jesus doing

and

every miracle, every

story

has a kind of meaning.

Just as he was journeying

towards the house when

Lazarus was still in the grave

he

Said to people, I am the resurrection

and the life and do you believe this?

And so what he was doing, was just not simply
raising Lazarus from the dead important as

that was

but he was teaching this great truth.

He was

the resurrection

and the life.

That actually if you trust him

you can be raised from the dead

you can have new life

you can have eternal life

in,

in the last days.

So he was teaching this great truth

Jesus is the one

who can conquer death.

He is the resurrection

and he is the life.

The arrest and trial of Jesus are
among the most profound moments

in the Christian narrative

marking the path toward his crucifixion
and ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

These events

recorded in all four gospels

reveal the depths of human betrayal,

the corruption of earthly justice

and the steadfastness of Jesus
in fulfilling his divine mission.

After celebrating the last
supper with his disciples

Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane

on the Mount of Olives.

Here

he prayed fervently

expressing the anguish of what lay ahead.

He asked the father my father if it is possible

may this cup be taken from me

yet not as I will but as you will,

Matthew twenty six thirty nine.

This moment underscores his humanity and
his submission to God's plan of redemption.

While Jesus prayed

his disciples

whom he had asked to stay awake and keep watch

fell asleep.

Their inability to support
him during this critical time

highlights his isolation

and the human tendency toward weakness.

Suddenly Judas Iscariot one of Jesus's

twelve disciples

arrived with a mob armed with swords and clubs

sent by the chief priests and elders.

Judas identified Jesus with a kiss,

the prearranged signal for the authorities.

Jesus fully aware of what was happening

confronted the crowd saying

am I leading a rebellion that you have come
out with swords and clubs to capture me.

Matthew twenty six fifty five.

Despite the betrayal and hostility,

Jesus displayed composure
and acceptance of his fate.

One of Jesus's

disciples

identified as Peter in John's gospel

attempted to defend him by
striking the high priest's servant

cutting off his ear.

Jesus rebuked Peter saying,
put your sword back in its place,

for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Matthew twenty six fifty two.

He healed the servant's ear

further demonstrating his
compassion even in the face of violence.

Jesus was arrested and led away

while his disciples fled in fear

fulfilling the prophecy

that the shepherd

would be struck

and the sheeps scattered.

Zechariah thirteen seven.

Jesus was taken to the high priest Caiaphas

and the Sanhedrin,

the Jewish ruling council.

The trial was conducted hastily and in secret

violating Jewish legal procedures.

The religious leaders sought
to condemn Jesus to death

but struggled to find
consistent testimony against him.

Finally Caiaphas directly asked Jesus
if he was the Messiah, the son of God.

Jesus responded you have said so

but I say to all of you

from now on

you will see the son of man sitting at the
right hand of the mighty one and coming on

the clouds of heaven.

Matthew twenty six sixty four.

His declaration of divinity led the
council to accuse him of blasphemy

a charge punishable by death under Jewish law.

The council however lacked the
authority to carry out a death sentence

so they brought Jesus to the
Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

Before pilot

the Jewish leaders reframed their accusations

claiming that Jesus posed a threat

to Roman authority

by declaring himself king.

Pilot questioned Jesus asking,
are you the king of the Jews?

Jesus replied,

you have said so.

Mark fifteen two.

Pilot found no basis for a charge against him

recognizing that the
accusations were driven by envy.

Pilot attempted to release Jesus offering the

crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabbas

a notorious criminal.

Influenced by the chief priests

the crowd demanded Barabbas's

release

and called for Jesus to be crucified.

Pilot

hesitant but fearing unrest

ordered Jesus to be flogged
and handed him over for execution.

Symbolically washing his hands

he declared himself innocent of Jesus's

blood,

though he ultimately authorized the sentence.

Before his crucifixion Jesus was
mocked and beaten by Roman soldiers.

They dressed him in a purple robe,

placed a crown of thorns on his head

and mocked him saying,

hail

King of the Jews.

Mark fifteen eighteen.

They spat on him, struck him, and knelt before him in

mock worship.

Despite the humiliation and suffering

Jesus remained silent

fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy
of the suffering servant

who did not open his mouth.

Isaiah fifty three seven.

The arrest and trial of Jesus
highlight the depths of human sin.

Every detail of the arrest and trial
fulfilled old testament prophecies

affirming Jesus as the promised Messiah.

From his betrayal by a close friend,

psalm forty one nine, to his
silence before his accusers,

Isaiah fifty three seven,

the scriptures were fulfilled

revealing the divine
orchestration of these events.

The disciples failure to support Jesus
and they're fleeing during his arrest

highlight the frailty of human faith.

Yet

Jesus's

forgiveness and restoration of his
followers after his resurrection demonstrate

the depth of his grace.

The arrest and trial of Jesus

are pivotal moments in the story of redemption.

They reveal the stark contrast
between human sinfulness

and divine grace,

the corruption

of earthly power

and the obedience of Jesus to the father's will.

These events invite believers to
reflect on the cost of their salvation

and the profound love of Christ

who endured betrayal humiliation
and injustice for the sake of humanity.

In the face of suffering

Jesus remain steadfast

providing a model of faith, courage
and unwavering trust in God's plan.

We come to the climax of

all of the gospels really which is to understand

the mission

of Jesus

to bring us back to

his father God was going to have

to

Result in his laying down his life

a sacrifice

of himself on

the cross.

I mean that really is

an act of faith to believe that

what Jesus

believed he was up to

as

The son of his father God

was going to make this wonderful difference

and bring peace

between

ourselves

and God.

So we have

a climatic end to the gospels.

Jesus

knows what's going to happen

his disciples don't really

quite believe it but

you do feel

in the final week

before

what we know is now going to happen, the cross,

a building up of tension.

It's like Jesus has put himself in the center

of the viper's den, you know

he's walked into

the mess of it

willingly

and intentionally

knowing

that

the reaction is going to be

a bit like how people react to marmite, you know,

you're either gonna

hate,

hate him or love him

and both of those kind of reactions are coming up

from,

from people. The crowds love him.

The religious leaders have a lot to lose.

They don't want anyone

upsetting

a very delicate political
religious balance going off that

affects them,

affects their pockets,

affects their status in society.

This is an occupied

nation. The Romans

have occupied

Jerusalem in Israel

and

they you know one step out of line, one

step into disorder

and they're going to have to explain

what's going,

what's going wrong here.

So they're bothered

and they really want to get rid of Jesus

but they've got to do it in a very underhand

way, they can't just walk in

to some public arena where he's teaching

day by day through that final week

and arrest him.

They'll be

just complete riotous chaos

people

everywhere.

They've got to do it more
sneakily if you like, get the, get him

at a more

secluded moment

and they have

Judas as their

key way in

to identify where Jesus might be

for them

to grab him

and that's what happens.

He has his final

meal with his disciples, goes out

into the dark to

a favoured spot

and Judas knowing where Jesus would be

comes

with the arresting party

to take him away

and for them to put him on trial and it's all done very

secretively.

Councils are called in the middle of the night.

None of the normal rules of

fair trials is,

is taking place at all

and in fact

they,

they end up basically

stringing together a bunch of

false witnesses

that don't even agree with one another

about what Jesus is supposed to have done

but

the high priest

cuts through all of that

in the end and asked Jesus

a point blank question

and

Jesus just answers him

and says,

this is who I am

and even if you like underlines it by saying, quoting

a bit of

one of the prophets, the prophet
Daniel in the old testament

who had a vision

of a son of man

riding on the clouds coming out of heaven which

was seen as a

a prophecy

about

the Messiah that was to come

at which point clearly the high priest
understands it that way, the others

understand it that way

don't believe for a moment that this could possibly

be the Messiah.

They start ripping their clothes
as an act of sort of outward

devotional horror

that this man standing in front of them should dare

to declare himself

to be

a Messiah figure.

They really just can't accept it.

He just doesn't

add up for them.

So

The trial

is a show trial, it's a kangaroo court, it's a

an attempt

to

Trap Jesus

and Jesus walks in

if you like as a meat lamb for the slaughter.

He then gets passed around

the

official authorities

that have, that would be put
out, if they didn't have a say.

Herod

rules over

Galilee where Jesus is if you like a

citizen of, so

he's got to have his

little say

and Herod has

questions to ask Jesus, he's kind of hoping
Jesus might do some kind of miracle because

he's heard a lot about him but Jesus

doesn't give him if you like

the pleasure of that.

He doesn't say anything.

This is the amazing thing he doesn't

do anything outside of that declaration

in answer to the high priest.

The rest of the time

he stays very quiet.

He then gets passed on to

the Roman authorities, the governor,

the Roman governor Pontius Pilot

who

again can see that

the politics of it all

and really

would rather not bother.

Wouldn't like to be involved at
all but while Jesus is with him

he gets a message from his wife.

His wife has had a dream

in which she,

she has a bad dream

in which

she

feels that

her husband should

have nothing to do with Jesus,
that this will be a big disaster

if

He harms Jesus

and

she says don't have anything to do with him

but

he overrides that. Now why does he override
that. He really doesn't care that badly

whether Jesus lived or not

but he gets trapped

by

The clever

set up of arguments from

the Jewish leaders, the experts
of the law because they say

that

this man

claims that he's a king.

Jesus himself

says to Pilot well yes

I am a King but not of this world

so I am no threat

to worldly kings

and Pontius kind of understands
where Jesus is coming from

but taking those words that

he was a king

the

Jewish leaders

trap Pontius into feeling that all he has,
the only thing he has to do is get rid of

Jesus because

they say well

hang on a minute,

the only king that we acknowledge

is your Roman ruler Caesar, the emperor king

we, you know that's the king we
should all be loyal to isn't it Pontius

and he gets the feeling that
if he lets Jesus off the hook

even though it was completely insincere
of the religious leaders to talk this way

he's going to have some

back channel noises coming along

from Rome itself, from the
emperor from Caesar himself saying,

I heard that you

let somebody off who claimed to be a king

and I'm the only king around here mate

and so

he succumbs to this pressure

to

Have Jesus crucified.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ
stands at the heart of the Christian faith

representing the ultimate
sacrifice for humanity’s

sins

and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

This event recounted in all four gospels

is both a moment of profound suffering

and a declaration of divine love.

Through his death on the cross
Jesus provided a way for humanity to be

reconciled with God.

After being condemned by Pontius Pilate

Jesus was handed over to
Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Prior to the crucifixion

he endured severe flogging,

a brutal punishment that left him weakened

and in immense pain.

The soldiers mocked him

dressing him in a purple robe and
placing of crown of thorns on his head,

hailing him sarcastically as King of the Jews.

Mark fifteen eighteen to twenty.

Jesus was then forced to carry his
cross to Golgotha also known as Calvary,

the place of his execution.

Weakened by the flogging he
struggled under the weight of the cross

and Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry it for him.

Luke twenty three twenty six.

At Golgotha

Jesus was nailed to the cross with his
hands and feet pierced by iron spikes.

He was crucified alongside two criminals,

one on his right and the other on his left

fulfilling the prophecy
in Isaiah fifty three twelve

that the Messiah would be
numbered with the transgressors.

Above his head

a sign was placed reading,

Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews,

written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek

as he hung on the cross Jesus endured
physical agony and public humiliation

passers by mocked him

challenging him to save himself
if he truly was the son of God.

The religious leaders joined in

ridiculing him for his claims to be the Messiah.

Despite the scorn

Jesus displayed remarkable compassion.

He prayed for his executioners

saying

father forgive them

for they do not know what they are doing.

Luke twenty three thirty four.

This prayer exemplifies his divine love and
willingness to offer forgiveness even to

those who persecuted him.

One of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus

recognized his innocence and asked Jesus,

remember me when you come into your kingdom.

Jesus replied truly I tell you,

today you will be with me in paradise
Luke twenty three forty two to forty three

demonstrating his authority to grant salvation

even in his final moments.

From noon until three in the
afternoon darkness fell over the land

symbolizing the gravity of the moment.

At about three PM

Jesus cried out in a loud voice my
God my God why have you forsaken me.

Matthew twenty seven forty six

quoting psalm twenty two.

This cry reflected the spiritual anguish
of bearing the weight of humanity’s sin

and experiencing separation from the father.

Shortly after

Jesus declared it is finished.

John nineteen thirty.

Signifying the completion of his redemptive work.

He then surrendered his spirit saying father

into your hands I commit my spirit.

Luke twenty three forty six.

At that moment

the curtain of the temple was
torn in two from top to bottom

symbolizing the removal of the
barrier between God and humanity.

An earthquake shook the land

and tombs broke open

with some dead being raised to life.

The centurion and those
guarding Jesus were struck with ore

exclaiming

surely he was the son of God.

Matthew twenty seven fifty four.

After Jesus's death

his body was taken down from the cross

by Joseph of Arimathea,

a wealthy follower of Jesus
who had secretly believed in him.

Joseph placed Jesus's body in a new tomb

sealing it with a large stone.

This burial fulfilled the
prophecy in Isaiah fifty three nine

which foretold that the Messiah
would be buried with the rich.

Jesus's crucifixion

was the ultimate act of atonement.

Through his death

he bore the punishment for humanity’s sins

satisfying the justice of God

and opening the way

for reconciliation.

As Paul wrote,

God made him

who had no sin to be sin for us

so that in him we might become the righteousness

of God. Two Corinthians five twenty one.

The crucifixion fulfilled
numerous old testament prophecies

affirming Jesus as the promised Messiah.

From the piercing of his hands and feet,

psalm twenty two sixteen,

to his prayer for his persecutors

Isaiah fifty three twelve,

every detail testified to God's sovereign plan.

The cross is the ultimate
expression of God's love for humanity.

John three sixteen declares for God so
loved the world that he gave his one and

only son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life.

Jesus's willingness

to endure the cross reveals the depth of his love

and his desire to save humanity.

While the crucifixion appeared
to be a moment of defeat,

it was actually a moment of victory.

Through his death

Jesus conquered sin and its consequences

offering eternal life to all who believe in him.

His resurrection three days later

would confirm this victory

and provide hope for all who trust in him.

The crucifixion of Jesus is a moment
of unparalleled significance in history.

It reveals the depths of human
sin and the heights of divine love.

Through his suffering and death

Jesus secured salvation for humanity

fulfilling God's redemptive plan.

For Christians

the cross is a symbol of hope

forgiveness and eternal life

inviting all to accept the gift of
grace offered by Christ's sacrifice.

If you've ever read a biography of someone's life

you'll find all kinds of interesting things
about perhaps their childhood and their

education and then maybe

they're working life and possibly

the bit about their retirement in later life but

you'd get very little written about their

death.

It might just be a sentence, might just be a paragraph

there might be something about the funeral

but their death

would be a very small

sliver

within the whole book of their biography.

Not so

with Jesus. Jesus's death takes up about a
third of the accounts of his life, in Matthew

Mark, Luke

and John. It's as if

there's some sort of special weight to his death

and after all that is

the symbol of the Christian faith isn't
it for Christians, it's the cross, Jesus's

death. We could have used a manger or scroll

or some sort of symbol of Jesus's
healing but we haven't, we've got a symbol

of the cross to remember Jesus's

death. That's really weird isn't it.
Some people have crosses as earrings or

a chain around their neck, tattoos even

off a cross but you wouldn't have

earrings of an executioners chair or a
hangman's noose hanging around your neck or

at tattoo of

a lethal injection syringe

and yet people do this with the cross. Why,

why the cross why is the cross so important?

Well the cross is important

because it shows us the full extent

of God's love

for us.

I'm just going to read from

Mark's account

of the cross

and pull

a few things out of it.

It says here,

noon,

noon and darkness came over the
whole land until three in the afternoon

and at three in the afternoon, Jesus hanging
on the cross cries out in a loud voice

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani

which means my God my God

why have you forsaken me

when some of those standing near heard
this, they said listen he's calling Elijah.

Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar

put it on a staff and offered it to Jesus to drink.

Now leave him alone,

let's see if Elijah

comes to him

to take him down, he said.

With a loud cry Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom

and when the centurion who stood there
in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said

surely

this man

was the son of God.

There are three strange things that happen

in this telling of Jesus dying on
the cross. The first of all is it's dark

for three hours, it says from noon until three

in the afternoon.

That's a long time isn't it, three hours of darkness.

A total solar eclipse

might last three or so minutes

but this is dark for three

hours.

It's a supernatural darkness.

It's passover time in Jerusalem,

a time when they would remember

the time when

Moses and the Israelites in Egypt

some fifteen hundred years earlier,

were set free as a result of
several plagues that God had sent

upon Egypt and one of those
plagues was darkness for three days

and the darkness in the Bible represents God's

anger.

God's anger at all that is
wrong in the world. God's anger

at somebody being abused.

May be a woman or a child.

God's anger

at people being trafficked across the world.

God's anger at terrorists
blowing up innocent people.

Those injustices that rightly

anger us.

A sense of justice.

That is God's anger and yet
here God's anger with the darkness

is on

Jesus.

Jesus is innocence and perfect.

You see the reason God's anger is on
display here in this darkness is because

Jesus was dying for you and for my sin,

our rebellion against him and

the justice that we deserve

for the way we have treated other people,
the way we've treated God our maker,

the good God who loves us.

Jesus suffered God's anger

on that cross because he's dying
on, in that place. That is the darkness,

God's anger and Jesus.

Secondly,

the thing we see

is the

curtain.

The curtain is torn in two. It says the curtain
in the temple was torn from top to bottom. This

curtain

was hanging up

in the temple in Jerusalem and
it was like a big no entry sign,

a bit like a, if you go to

a big castle,

whether it's a national trust or English
heritage, those kind of stately homes

and you can get to go around but there is
certain places, that you can't go. There is

a no entry sign, private,

do not pass, do not go through this door

and that's what the curtain in the temple was
a bit like, it was like a no entry sign like

God's special room that no one could enter

because God is pure and holy.

God he is, God he is perfect, he is not like us and

we can't just stroll into his presence and expect

to

Enter as if nothing's happened. It is God's

perfect Holiness that you and I are not like

and yet that no entry sign here
is torn up from top to bottom,

as if God is saying

you are very welcome,

you can come in,

we can be friends again.

Why because Jesus has died on the cross

so that

we can be access, accessing

God.

And the way that we can access that,

God is because Jesus

was abandoned or forsaken that is the cry.

Jesus calls out my God my God

why have you forsaken

me.

The reason we can be accepted into
God's special place since that behind the

curtain representation there in the temple,

the reason is because Jesus was cut off,

he was abandoned God has forsaken him.

He's actually quoting psalm twenty two, a hundred,

a thousand years earlier, psalm of David,

where David describes being abandoned
by God and it's very clearly that psalm

is describing the cross, it's describing

somebody who's suffering agony

as

Their bones are on display effectively,

as

Lots are cast for their clothing.

Well that is prophesying what Jesus went through

on that cross as he was ashamed, naked

insulted,

tortured.

He wasn't just the physical suffering

and the physical shame

but it is the anger of God that he was suffering

for our sin against him.

Why?

So that God's anger upon him
meant that we could be accepted.

All our sin is paid for.

There is no guilt, there is no shame to bear.

All because Jesus died on the cross, all we need to do

is make Jesus our Lord and God

just as said

the centurion, the Roman centurion says,

he sees how Jesus died and said surely this man

was the son of God.

The question for you and for me, is that a
confession, that we can make about Jesus.

Can we also say about him,

this man

surely

is the son of God.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ
is the cornerstone of Christian faith

symbolizing his victory over sin and death

and confirming his identity as the son of God.

This

miraculous event

recorded in all four gospels

marks the culmination of

his earthly

ministry

and the beginning of the spread of the gospel.

Following his resurrection

Jesus

appeared to his

disciples

providing them with

proof of his victory

and commissioning them for

their mission.

After his crucifixion

Jesus

was buried in a tomb

belonging to Joseph of Arimathea.

The tomb

was sealed and guarded by Roman
soldiers to prevent any tampering.

On the third day after his death

early in the morning

women who were followers of
Jesus including Mary Magdalene

went to the tomb to anoint his body with spices.

To their astonishment

they found the stone rolled away

and the tomb empty.

An angel appeared to the
women proclaiming, he is not here

he has risen, just as he said.

Matthew twenty eight six.

The angel instructed them to go and tell the

disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Overwhelmed with a mix of fear and joy

they ran to deliver the message.

Mary Magdalene encountered
Jesus near the tomb though at first

she did not recognize him.

When he called her by name she realized who he was.

Jesus instructed her not to cling to him

but to go and tell

his disciples of his resurrection.

Later that day

Jesus

appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Initially they did not recognize him

but as he explained how the scriptures
pointed to his death and resurrection

their hearts burned with understanding.

It was only when he broke
bread with them, that they realized

it was Jesus

and he disappeared from their sight.

Filled with ore

they returned to Jerusalem
to tell the other disciples.

That evening

Jesus appeared to his disciples as
they were gathered in a locked room,

fearful of the Jewish authorities.

He greeted them with

peace be with you and showed them his hands

and side,

offering undeniable evidence of his resurrection.

The disciples were overjoyed

at seeing their risen Lord.

Jesus breathed on them and
said receive the holy spirit,

empowering them

for the mission he would soon entrust to them.

One disciple Thomas

was not present during this appearance.

When told of Jesus's resurrection he doubted

declaring he would not believe

unless he saw and touched the wounds himself.

A week later

Jesus appeared again

and this time

Thomas was present.

Jesus invited him to touch his wounds
saying stop doubting and believe.

Overcome with faith Thomas
exclaimed my Lord and my God.

Before his ascension

Jesus appeared to his disciples in Galilee.

On a mountain he gave them the
great commission instructing them

go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them

in the name of the father and
of the son and of the holy spirit

and teaching them to obey
every thing I have commanded you.

He promised to be with them
always, even to the end of the age.

The resurrection affirms Jesus's

divinity and validates his teachings.

It demonstrates his power over sin and death
offering eternal life to all who believe

in him.

By appearing to his disciples

Jesus provided them with
irrefutable proof of his resurrection

transforming them from fearful
followers into bold witnesses.

The resurrection

is the foundation of Christian hope

promising that just as Jesus was raised

his followers will also be raised to eternal life.

For Christians

the resurrection and Jesus's

appearances to his disciples

serve as a reminder of God's
faithfulness, the truth of his promises

and the mission to share the gospel with the world.

One of the things about the resurrection is its

interesting ideas

are drawn from it

and I

look at this and think,

well

A, show me, show me what, what evidence
that you have in order to contradict

the crucifixion.

One of the ideas being that you know,

thunder storm happens,

people runaway

and they take down Jesus.

They heal him or whatever.

These these ideas are bound

or he was taken from his tomb.

You think well, what does this profit anybody.

I quite often say to my folk

in church,

every

word

of the Bible

is contested territory,

even down to where you put

the full stops

and the commas.

Everything is up for grabs.

It's a place of mischief.

It's a place of distraction.

It's a place where if there is a gap somehow or other

we have to fill it

and of course that's always

about

a denial of faith.

Faith in a creator God.

Faith in a God who comes to us.

Who dies for us

and is raised again

for us.

So that we can be a people

of a hope and a future.

So did somebody take Jesus down
off the cross, well of course they did.

He had to be buried.

Would the Romans really of runaway?

No

I very much doubt it.

What purpose would it serve?

They would be answerable.

They would be answerable in terms of, your

a soldier.

You've

a dereliction of duty.

No they oversaw his death.

They cast lots for his clothes.

They put the spear into his side

of course the man's dead.

Crucifixion makes sure that you are really dead.

Your asphyxiated

as part of that dying process.

No

And the time it takes to pull out a nail.

No,

he's dead.

He's taken down

by request

to be buried

in the tomb.

What of his rising then,

because all sorts of stories are abound about this.

Did the Jewish authorities

take him out

and hide him somewhere.

Well all they've done

is to give credence to the story
that he is raised from the dead.

What would that profit them,

absolutely nothing.

Oh,

well they could produce his body at a later date

but they didn't

and they couldn't because they didn't have a body

to produce.

Did the disciples come and take his body out

during the night well the tomb was guarded

and were told that.

There was a big stone put in the tomb

in front of the tomb,

and it was guarded. Well they
could have bribed the guards.

Well that would have been the death penalty for them

and again

what were they then going to produce?

Another dead body.

Say oh we've we've we've got him.

Did they have to hide him somewhere.

But what accounts for people,

many

many

many people,

seeing

the risen

Christ,

not least the women.

Now folks,

if you want to give credibility to a story

you do not send the women.

In first century

Palestine,

first century Judea,

you do not send the women, you send the men

because it's by their testimony

that

people will believe,

not by the testimony

of a woman.

Things have changed and rightly so

but in those days

the testimony of a woman was not worth very much

but the testimony of a man

was.

So sending the women down to say,

make up this story about the body not being there

doesn't really get them very far.

The truth of the matter is

the women went

to embalm

and saw

that the risen

Christ

was present at the

tomb

in one version.

The angel speaking to them

in the other version of the synoptic gospels.

They ask where've you put my master?

When it dawns upon them

that this is their risen Lord

they hot foot it back

to see the disciples,

to tell

an unbelieving

bunch of men

who have to race down to
find out and see for themselves

that he is indeed risen.

You can make up stories, you
can make of as many as you like

but why bother

when we have a documented account

which is credible,

workable,

believable,

and anything else that's been put forward

doesn't meet that criteria.

Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity

whose life,

teachings,

death,

and resurrection have profoundly shaped
history and continue to influence billions of

lives.

His message of love,

grace and redemption transcends
cultural and temporal boundaries

offering hope to humanity across generations.

Born in humble circumstances

Jesus's life exemplified humility,

compassion and obedience to God's will.

His ministry focused on

proclaiming the kingdom of God

calling people to repentance

and demonstrating God's love

through miracles, healings

and acts of mercy.

His teachings such as

the sermon on the mount,

emphasized love for God and neighbor,

forgiveness

and the pursuit of righteousness

establishing moral principles

that have endured for centuries.

Jesus's willingness to
associate with the marginalized

and challenge

the religious and political
authorities of his time

revealed his commitment to truth

and justice.

He was a friend to sinners,

a healer of the broken

and a teacher who spoke
with unparalleled authority.

Yet his path was not without suffering.

Betrayed, abandoned and crucified, Jesus
endured unimaginable pain and humiliation.

His death on the cross was not merely a tragic end

but the fulfillment of God's
plan to atone for humanity’s sins.

Through his sacrifice

he bridged the gap between a holy God

and sinful humanity

offering salvation to all who believe in him.

The resurrection of Jesus is the
cornerstone of the Christian faith

confirming his identity as the son of God

and validating his promises.

By conquering death

Jesus demonstrated his divine power

and opened the way for eternal life.

His post resurrection appearances in the
great commission empowered his disciples

to carry his message to the ends of the Earth.

Jesus's impact extends beyond religion,

influencing art,

literature, philosophy and social movements.

His teachings have inspired
efforts towards justice

compassion and reconciliation.

For Christians Jesus is not
merely a historical figure

but a living savior,

a source of hope,

guidance and transformation.

In conclusion

Jesus's life and mission

reflect the profound love of God

for humanity.

His call to follow him challenges
individuals to live with faith,

love and purpose.

Jesus is the ultimate example of selflessness,

the embodiment of divine truth

and the hope of salvation for all who believe.

Through him the promise of peace with God

and eternal life is made accessible

offering a path of redemption and eternal hope.