WELCOME
My name is Les Hewitt. I am a retired Minister and a Member of the Keiraview Uniting Church.
It is my privilege to present this service of worship today for Sunday, 19th April, 2020.
I wish to thank Khairul Hamdan and Danny Ivanovski for making this broadcast possible.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
“By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrectionof Jesus Christ from the dead.” – 1 Peter 1:3
PRAYER
Let us pray that Jesus will give us a share of his glory:
God our Father, may we look forward with hope to our resurrection, for you have made us your sons and daughters, and restored afresh the joy of our salvation.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
HYMN: THE HEAD THAT ONCE WAS CROWNED WITH THORNS
1 The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty Victor’s brow.
2 The highest place that heav’n affords
is his, is his by right,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
and heav’n’s eternal Light:
3 The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom he manifests his love,
and grants his name to know.
4 To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is giv’n;
their name an everlasting name,
their joy the joy of heav’n.
5 They suffer with the Lord below,
they reign with him above;
their profit and their joy to know
the myst’ry of his love.
6 The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
their everlasting theme.
MEDITATION: “JESUS” FROM "AUSTRALIAN PALMS" BY BRUCE PREWER
Jesus, Son of Man, Jesus, Son of God, radiance of the Father, first-born of many brothers: to you belongs our sole allegiance and our everlasting gratitude!
When our world was ripe for despair or faith, you came to us. With our feeble hopes lying fruitless around us, you shared our dust and planted a true vine which shall always be fruitful.
While proud and cultured men chased philosophical fashions, or created scribal absurdities, You told unforgettable parables about farmers, servants, and wedding parties, seeding the furrows of history with a potent Word bearing a harvest too vast for all the silos of this world.
In the terrible time of your dereliction, when man attained his worst hour, you hung on that awful Cross bearing on tortured shoulders the sins of the whole world, till in the gathering darkness you knew the task was done and the reconciliation begun.
In the light of Easter dawn, while disciples in whispers passed their despair one to another, You rose at the call of the Father,
bringing light and immortality to light,warming hearts with inextinguishable joy, and rehabilitating doubters and deniers with a love that overpowers the gates of hell.
Jesus, the Word made flesh, Jesus, friend of sinners, Reconciler of the whole universe, the resurrection and the life: Heaven and earth are full of your glory! Our allegiance and gratitude are yours for ever!
NEW TESTAMENT: JOHN 20:19-31
Jesus Appears to his Disciples
19 It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then stretch out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!”
The Purpose of this Book
30 In his disciples’ presence Jesus performed many other miracles which are not written down in this book. 31 But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life.
This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God
A WORD FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE… AND THE "YOUNG AT HEART"
Have you ever become distracted?
That is… you start out to do something…
and somehow you attention is drawn away from it…
and you don’t get to do…
what you meant to do in the first place.
For instance… suppose your favourite TV programme
is coming on at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
And you say to your mother:
“I’d really like to watch that 4 o’clock programme on the television”.
She might say:
“Well that will give you just an hour to tidy up your bedroom”.
And you say : “OK”
Then when you go into your bedroom you pick up a special toy…
and instead of placing it on the shelf – you start to play with it.
One of my favourite toys is this Mickey Mouse.
But if I spend too much time playing with this Mickey Mouse
– I won’t get to tell you the rest of the story.
If you go to your bedroom to tidy it up
– and you start to play with your toys…
then you will never get the job finished.
But also – you might so busy playing with this and that toy…
that you forget to come out and watch
the 4 o’clock TV programme that you so much wanted to see.
The time went by… and you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
So you missed out on something important.
Thomas was one of Jesus’ Disciples…
but on Easter Sunday he wasn’t where he was supposed to be.
He was meant to be in the Upper Room with the other disciples…
but for some reason he just didn’t turn up at the right time.
It was Easter Sunday
– the day of Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead.
Jesus made a special appearance to the disciples in the Upper Room.
He was supposed to be dead –
in fact… after being on the Cross on Good Friday –
he was dead… and buried in the Tomb.
But of Easter Sunday… Jesus had risen from the Tomb –
and in the evening he came and met with the Disciples –
And he said: “Peace be with you”….
then he showed them the nail prints in his hands…
and the wound in his side…
to prove to them that it was he himself.
But Thomas wasn’t with them. We don’t know why.
Perhaps on his way to the meeting place…
he was distracted when someone said something to him.
Perhaps they asked Thomas: “How do you feel now that your friend
Jesus has been put to death on a cross like a criminal?”
Thomas would have paused to speak to that person of how
Jesus was the best friend that he had ever had.
Jesus had healed the sick…
He told wonderful stories; stories with meaning.
So when Thomas arrived late at the Upper Room
where the Disciples were meeting… the Disciples excitedly told him
that Jesus was Risen from the dead…
and that he had appeared to them.
But Thomas said:
“Unless I can see him for myself…
and put my finger in the nail prints…
and place my hand in his side…
I will not believe.”
Well… it was the following Sunday… one week after Easter…
that the Disciples met together again….
and this time, Thomas was with them.
And Jesus came and stood amongst them again,
and he said:
“Thomas, put you finger
in the nail marks in my hands…
and place you hand in the wound in my side…
Stop your doubting… and believe!”
And suddenly…
Thomas believed in his Risen Lord,
and he said: “My Lord, and my God”.
Thomas believed!
And he went on to serve Jesus Christ
as his Lord and Saviour… for the rest of his life.
And that’s what we are called to do…
to serve the Living Lord Jesus… and be a true follower.
SONG: "10, 9, 8 GOD IS GREAT"
10, 9, 8 – God is great!
7, 6, 5 – God’s alive!
4, 3, 2, 1 – He’s the king of everyone
God’s the mighty, mighty Lord of all!
You go 10! (10!)
9! (9!)
8! (8!)
7! (7!)
6, 5, 4, 3! (6! 5! 4! 3!)
2, 1, 0! (2! 1! 0!)
BLAST OFF!
10, 9, 8 – God is great!
7, 6, 5 – God’s alive!
4, 3, 2, 1 – He’s the king of everyone
God’s the mighty, mighty Lord of all!
You go 10! (10!)
9! (9!)
8! (8!)
7! (7!)
6, 5, 4, 3! (6! 5! 4! 3!)
2, 1, 0! (2! 1! 0!)
BLAST OFF!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against You, and against our neighbours near and far, in thought, word and action.
In the evil we have done, and in the good that we have not done.
Through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry, and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born for us, who lived for us, who suffered and died for us, and who rose for us,
O God, forgive us for all that is past; for all the wrongs that have been part of our life. And grant that we may serve You in newness of life to the glory of Your Holy Name.
Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT: ACTS 2:14a; 22-24; 29-32
Peter’s Message
14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd:
22 “Listen to these words, fellow-Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you. 23 In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him. 24 But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner
29 “My fellow-Israelites, I must speak to you plainly about our famous ancestor King David. He died and was buried, and his grave is here with us to this very day. 30 He was a prophet, and he knew what God had promised him: God had made a vow that he would make one of David’s descendants a king, just as David was. 31 David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said:
‘He was not abandoned in the world of the dead;
his body did not rot in the grave.’
32 God has raised this very Jesus from death, and we are all witnesses to this fact.
This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God
SONG: CHORUS 390 "OPEN OUR EYES, LORD"
Open our eyes, Lord
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him
Open our ears, Lord,
and help us to listen
Open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus
SERMON: HE SHOWED THEM HIS SCARS
So jesus came and stood amongst the disciples and said: ‘peace be with you, then he showed them his hands and his side.
Well, here we are, one sunday after easter, one sunday after that great day, celebrating, the resurrection of Jesus.
Easter says that God’s good purpose could not be defeated, that, in the resurrection of Jesus, God triumphed!
In today’s gospel, the risen christ slips through the closed doors of the upper room, and he appears to his downhearted disciples, on Easter sunday evening. He spoke to them as he had spoken so often before, saying “peace be with you”.
Then says John “he showed them his hands and his side.” (Jn 20: 20).
He showed them his scars, and then only then they saw and they rejoiced.
However, one of the disciples, Thomas, showed up a little later.
For one reason or another he wasn’t with the other disciples for the easter appearance of the Jesus. So the other disciples excitedly told Thomas about their experience with the risen Lord but Thomas said:
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger where the nails have been and place my hand in his side I will not believe.” (Jn 20:25).
A week later, the risen Lord Jesus again visited the disciples.
Thomas is there and the artist Bernardo Strozzi portrays the moment for us.
It is the moment, when Jesus says to Thomas:
“Put your finger here and touch my wounds place your hand in my side, do not doubt but believe.”
A link is being made here between belief in the risen Lord
and the scars of Jesus our risen Lord has scars! Being raised from the dead did not erase the scars of Jesus. The christ of Easter bears the scars of the wounds made on good friday!
Thomas and the other disciples of Jesus recognised Jesus as being risen because they saw his scars. The resurrection at Easter the stunning triumph of god the great victory over death and defeat does not erase the scars.
Sometimes people assume that to be a christian you must always feel joy and peace in your heart and mind. Easter would remind us that sometimes christians experience great hurt, sadness and disappointment.
Christians are not strangers to sorrow our christian faithcan bring us much joy but we can still bear the scarsof the hard experiences in life as did the risen christ himself!
On Easter morning Jesus had just movedfrom death to life but when he came triumphantly from the tomb his friends and disciples did not recognise him. It was only when Jesus showed them his scars that they truly knew him.
So we mustn’t be too hard on Thomas because he said:
“I wont believe that it is Jesus unless i can poke my fingers into those nail prints in his hands and touch the wound in his side.”
Thomas isn’t just setting out to be difficult.
Thomas may simply be saying:
“Look! I won’t believe that you have seen Jesus until I touch his scars because my Jesus has wounds.”
The disciples knew that the Jesuswhom they knew and loved did not hover abovethe heartache of the world Jesus embraced the pain he touched the cares and the sorrows of people he lived where they lived he suffered human pain he died just as we must die.
The divinely risen christ bore human scars only a wounded Jesus can save.
The first letter of peter goes on to say:
“By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet 2:24).
Let’s face it to be human is to have scar tissue on both the inside and the outside we all have scars they are part of our human journey. I have a scar just above my left eyebrow that I earned at the age of five I was running up the school playground to get my free bottle of milk when I fell and cut my eye-brow.
The wound was sewn together my mother had to hold me down on the table while the doctor put the stitches in! The wound has healed but the scar is still visible if you know where to look!
Touch my left collar-bone and you can feel the bumps from where it was shattered in a crash on a tandem in 1988 as I was riding down a hill at waterfall with a blind friend there were other wounds on that occasion such as a few broken ribs and a punctured lung.
I’ll spare you the ordeal of my relating the stories about the tomahawk in the ankle from “bob-a-job week 1956 and the rusty nail in the knee together with other cuts and bruises for no doubt your tender bodies also bear the marks of various encounters.
However let us remember that the risen christ had scars because he was wounded for our transgressions.
The risen christ still bore the nail prints in his hands. That’s how the disciples knew that this mysterious person who stood before them was none other than Jesus christ himself.
Thomas was invited to touch those scars the christian faith does not deny the pain the reality of the wounds the existence of the scars.
Our faith in the living Lord Jesus enables us to continue on
in the name of christ in spite of our wounds and to risk gaining even more scars the risen Lord Jesus christ was known by the scars of his wounds.
There is an old hymn would remind us that the “kind but searching glance of Jesus can scan the very wounds which shame would hide.”
Jesus is himself a wounded healer!
For almost 2,000 years Jesus the risen Lord has been the wounded healer who has helped others as they faced their trials and tribulations and he has been with many faithful people as they have encountered their own personal moment of death.
The only real way that any of us will actually be healed is through Jesus Christ the wounded healer for we can be helped by someone who has been there and who carries the scars.
We have all got our scars some are visible some invisible but the one who has called you to be here and now this day Jesus our saviour and risen Lord also has scars, scars that prove his love for you.
As Thomas and the other disciples gathered in the upper room together Jesus came and stood with them likewise as we meet today in our homes with our family or in isolation Jesus himself comes to be with us and he says:
“Peace be with you”
And we know that the scars he bears were for us each and everyone of us. If you don’t know Jesus, just as Thomas failed to recognise Jesus at first, if you are unsure of what you believe Jesus will graciously reveal to you his scars as John says at the end of his gospel:
“This is written so that you might believe that Jesus is the messiah the son of God and that through believing you may have life in his name” (Jn 20:31).
So Jesus showed them his scars and Thomas could only utter:
“My Lord and my God.”
HYMN: BECAUSE HE LIVES
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain day, because He lives
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
And then one day, I’ll cross the river
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He reigns
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
PRAYER FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING
Lord Jesus,
receive the offerings we have already given
to the life, work and mission of this Congregation.
Bless and multiply our gifts that they may reach
into places of need in this city and much further a-field.
And bless and multiply the personal and spritual gifts of your servants.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, wounded and risen,
we bring our prayers before you
for this broken world.
We pray for people, the whole world over,
as we are all affected by the Coronavirus
that has swept through most countries.
We pray for all who have died
because of COVID-19;
We remember their families and friends
in the loss of these loved ones;
We pray for those who are now hospitalised
because of this virus,
and for all
who are in various forms of isolation.
We uphold before you
those on the front-line of care.
Those tending to the needs of the suffering
right around the world,
including our communities
scattered across Australia.
The doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel,
the police and members of the army,
researchers,
and all who meet the needs of people
who are experiencing a time of isolation.
We pray for the Leaders of all countries
as they endeavour to deal with COVID-19,
and bring their respective nations
through this terrible world-wide pandemic.
As Australians
we also pray for our Prime Minister;
the National Cabinet
made up of the Premiers of States;
those who Administer the Territories;
and their colleagues; public servants;
and Medical Experts; as they endeavour to guide us through this present pandemic,
to a time of full physical, financial
and spiritual recovery.
We also pray for all those
across the world who are still
in places of war and unrest;
in places of natural disaster and famine.
Wounded Saviour,
draw near to all people and nations
in this time of need.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, we pray for your Church
in this unusual situation.
As we all endeavour to present,
and to proclaim the Gospel
indifferent, difficult and trying circumstances,
unite the different factions
within your church
that we may all learn
to prioritise the Gospel
amid our differences of opinion.
We would uphold in prayer
Robyn Johnson and Owen Hodgson
as they work amongst the children
at the Agape Home for HIV/AIDS children
in Chiang Mai in Thailand.
Guide and uphold them in this special ministry
and may they know that our thoughts and
prayers are with them.
As we have remembered your Crucifixion,
and celebrated your Resurrection,
Wounded Healer,
Raise us all to new levels
of witness and service.
We bring our prayers today
for all who are feeling hurt
in their present situation.
We pray for all those whose bodies are in pain,
or whose minds are confused.
We especially pray for Pat and Keith Waller,
in the sudden and unexpected of loss
of Pat and Keith’s son, Ross.
Loving Father, please surround Pat, Keith,
Mel, Amelia and all family members
with your love an compassion;
and assure them of our love and support.
We would also continue to pray
for Reverend Annette Hawkin as she
commences a new round of treatment.
We pray that she may receive
healing and wholeness.
and that she may be strengthened
and supported in the midst of her family.
We pray for Annette’s husband Nigel,
and for their sons,
Nat, Sam, Andrew and Tim,
and also for Annette’s mother
in this difficult time.
May Annette and her family be assured
of our continuing prayers,
love and support.
Lord Jesus,
we give thanks today
for your disciple Thomas
and for all your followers
who have known you as their Risen Lord.
Today, may we also recognise
your presence in our midst,
that with all your saints and martyrs,
we may experience the fullness of joy
as we encounter your presence with us.
Jesus, our wounded and risen Lord,
be with us now as we say together
the prayer that your followers to pray:
Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen
HYMN: IN CHRIST ALONE
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.