This New Life

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning the 26th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, also streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our YouTube streaming channel is:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

This coronavirus has imposed an entirely new life on most of us.  Businesses and schools have been closed.  Mass events have been canceled, and since we don’t know what tomorrow may bring, most of these have not been rescheduled.  We’re staying in our homes more than ever before, avoiding physical contact and maintaining social distancing.  And it’s all part of this new life we find ourselves in.

But if we pause long enough to really think about it all, this is not the new life that truly has the greatest impact on us.  This is simply a new twist on the life we already have on earth.  The new life that matters most is the one which began when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Master, believing in Him as the Son of God, following Him and obeying His voice!  By this, we know that one blessed day we will be raised to new and eternal life with our Lord in heaven.

Last week we talked about how we have already been raised to new life, here on earth, by our faith.  Now we’ll look at what the Apostle Peter tells us as to how to live this new life.  Please listen and follow along to what Peter wrote in his 1st letter to those Christians who had dispersed around the known world, in chapter 1 verses 3 through 25, and I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible this morning…

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance — an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold — though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

8 You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls.

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when He told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and His great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, Spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days He has been revealed for your sake.

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great glory.

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. 24 As the Scriptures say,

“People are like grass;
their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.
25     But the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.

--1 Peter 1:3-25 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for making sure that Your word would be available and accessible to us through our Holy Bible.  Thank You for the consistency of Your word, that it never changes just as You never change.  We can always rely on You and Your word, even in the most difficult and trying of times.  Thank You, Father, for the new life in Jesus You give us while we still walk through this world.  Thank You for cleansing us of our sins.  Please help us live righteously in Your eyes.  Help us to remain strong in our faith no matter what tomorrow might bring.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit and thoroughly understand the message we so need in this age.  Speak to us of our new life through Christ Jesus and how we should live it.  And speak to us of our eternal life to come.  This we pray under the blood and in the name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.


Comedian Flip Wilson once said:  “If I had my whole life to live over again, I don't think I'd have the strength.”  I can certainly relate to that.  Life is tough and it takes a lot of effort just to get through it, even without the addition of a pandemic.  But I think columnist Erma Bombeck left us with a thought more appropriate for these times we find ourselves in.  She wrote:  “Seize the moment.  Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.”

Seize the moment, and make the most of it.  That can certainly apply to today, when many people think we are on a viral version of the Titanic, heading straight for an iceberg of health and economic impact.

There are a couple of ways to consider “seizing the moment”.  I believe the world view would be to do whatever makes you feel good, take advantage of any situation to your best benefit.  Then there’s God’s view.  We should seize the moment to do what would please God before the opportunity passes.


I think that the Apostle Peter speaks to the times quite well, and how we can seize the moment.  He tells us that by God’s mercy, we have been born again, given a new life, one filled with great expectation and a priceless inheritance.  And God is protecting us by His power until our new eternal life begins.

But he also notes that we will still have to endure many trials, even in this new life, even under God’s protection.  We still may fall prey to this virus sweeping the land.  Or if we manage to avoid the virus itself, the economic restraints, the social distancing, just being stuck in our homes can lead to anxiety and depression.  We have to look at all these as purifying experiences, just as gold is put through the fires to become more pure, more precious.  The trials of our times will make our faith stronger, and that is far more precious than gold.


Of course, this new life also comes with responsibilities.  Peter tells us to prepare our minds for action, yet exercise self-control.  Be ready to seize the moment, but be careful in how we choose to act.  Live as obedient children of our Father God, and don’t slip back into our old ways, doing things just to satisfy our own selfish desires.  That’s the world’s view.  Instead, we must remember that we will be judged or rewarded according to what we do during this new life we have been given, this new opportunity for living righteously.

This life, even though born again to new life in Christ, is still just temporary.  That’s why Peter calls us temporary residents – this world is not our home.  Out true home awaits us in heaven, when our eternal life begins.


So much of our scripture reading from Peter’s letter speaks to our trusting God, our faith in Him.  By His mercy we are born again, and He promises we will be born yet again, this time to our eternal life.  Through Christ we trust in God, who cleansed us of our sins, and we place our faith in Him because He raised Jesus from the dead.

The Apostle Paul concurs with Peter, especially the parts about trusting God and going through trials.  Listen to what he wrote in chapter 8 of his letter to the Romans, verses 15 through 19…

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.

--Romans 8:15-19 (NLT)

We have been adopted by the Creator of all there is, the Almighty God, the most powerful entity there can ever be.  When we accepted Jesus, we became God’s children and received His own Holy Spirit to dwell within us.  This is not a spirit of fear, but of power and empowerment!

We should be careful, yes, and exercise self-control like Peter says.  We should do what we can to protect our health and the health of others.  But we should not be fearful.  Instead we should take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to serve our Lord in whatever fashion we can.  We should not be fearful because any suffering we incur now, even in this new life, will seem trivial and be completely forgotten when we enter our everlasting life in heaven.


Let’s take strength from our faith, strength to get through the trials and sufferings of this life.  We have been born again to a new life in Christ Jesus, but there are so many people who don’t know Him.  Let’s do what we can to help them receive new life also, now and the forever that is coming.

Blessed be Jesus our Christ, the one true Son of God!  In the glorious name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for raising Jesus from the dead.  Thank You for giving us new life, too.  We believe in Your promise to raise us from the dead to eternal life, because we believe in Your Son and obey His voice.  Please help us stay strong in our faith.  Help us stay focused on You and Your promise, not allowing ourselves to fall victim to fear.  Help us understand that any trials we face will help us grow stronger, become more pure, if we keep the right attitude and remain faithful.  Help us be more righteous in our actions and words.  Help us in our service to You and to Jesus.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You straight from our hearts, promising to repent of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You shed Your own precious blood so that we could be washed clean of our sin.  By our belief in You and our obedience, God has adopted us as His and given us His Holy Spirit.  Thank You, Jesus, for loving us this much.  Please help us be more worthy of Your love and sacrifice.  Help us make the most of this new life God has given us by better serving You.  And help us through the trials we face each day, so that we may grow more righteous in God’s eye.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

Raised to Life

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning the 19th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, also streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our YouTube streaming channel is:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

Today is the first Sunday after Easter and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  Jesus was raised to life once again by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.  And not just to ordinary life, but to a new life, divine life, for He would soon return to heaven to be with His Father God forever.  God has promised to raise us to this new life also, if we only believe in Jesus as His Son and accept Him as our Lord, doing as He commands.  That is the new, eternal life that will follow this one, once our time on earth is finished.

But family, when we accept Jesus, the same powerful Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead takes up residence within us.  And according to the Apostle Paul, God’s Spirit raises us to a new life right then and there, a new life in Christ!  Please listen and follow along to what Paul wrote to the Colossians in chapter 3 verses 1 through 17 of that letter, reading from the Contemporary English Version of our Holy Bible…

1 You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your heart on what is in heaven, where Christ rules at God’s right side. 2 Think about what is up there, not about what is here on earth. 3 You died, which means that your life is hidden with Christ, who sits beside God. 4 Christ gives meaning to your life, and when He appears, you will also appear with Him in glory.

5 Don’t be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don’t be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don’t be greedy, which is the same as worshiping idols. 6 God is angry with people who disobey Him by doing these things. 7 And that is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. 8 But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. 9 And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.

10 Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand Him better. 11 It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.

12 God loves you and has chosen you as His own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.

15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. 16 Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him.

--Colossians 3:1-17 (CEV)

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You for raising our Lord Jesus from the dead and promising to also raise us to new, eternal life once this life on earth is over.  But we also thank You, Father, for the new life in Jesus You give us while we still walk through this world.  Please help us live righteously in Your eyes.  And help us keep our focus on You and Jesus, on pleasing You, on what You have in store for us, rather than on what this world might provide.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit and thoroughly understand the message we so need in this age.  Speak to us of how we now have new life through Christ Jesus and what we should do with this new life.  This we pray under the blood and in the name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.


In a 1978 radio address, Ronald Reagan said this about Jesus:

"Meaning no disrespect to the religious convictions of others, I still can't help wondering how we can explain away what to me is the greatest miracle of all, and which is recorded in history.  No one denies there was such a man, that He lived and was put to death by crucifixion.
Where then, you may ask, is the miracle I spoke of?  Well, consider this and let your imagination translate the story into our own time - possibly to your own home town.  A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father's shop.  One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's shop.  He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside, walking from place to place preaching all the while, even though he is not an ordained minister.  He never gets farther than an area perhaps 100 miles wide at the most.
He does this for three years.  Then he is arrested, tried and convicted.  There is no court of appeal so he is executed at the age of 33 along with two common thieves.  Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing - the only possessions he has.  His family cannot afford a burial place, so he is interred in a borrowed tomb.
End of story?  No - this uneducated, propertyless young man who preached on street corners for only three years and who left no written word has, for 2000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings and emperors; all the conquerors, generals and admirals; all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who ever lived - all of them put together.
How do we explain that - unless He really was who He said he was?"

Scientists often use what is known as Occam’s Razor in problem solving.  Basically it states that when no direct answer presents itself, the one with the simplest solution, with the fewest assumptions, is the best solution.  Interestingly enough, this principle was coined by an English Franciscan friar named William of Ockham who employed a preference for simplicity to defend the idea of divine miracles.

I believe Mr. Reagan applied Occam’s Razor here.  How can we explain all that we know about Jesus unless He truly is who He said He is?  The simplest answer, with the least assumptions, is the best answer.


Paul opens what we call chapter 3 of his letter to the Colossians by saying, “You have been raised to life with Christ.”  Not “you will be raised”, but “you have been raised”.  We will be raised to a new life in heaven when that time comes, but Paul asserts that through our belief we already have been raised to new life in Christ Jesus.  You’ve heard me describe immersive baptism before, that when we go under the water it symbolizes our being buried with Christ, and then when we come back up it is our being raised back to life with Him.

Paul says we are a new person because of our belief in Jesus and our acceptance of Him as our Master.  And as that new person, we are becoming more and more like Him, like Jesus.  Now, granted, some of us have a longer ways to go than others, but that doesn’t matter.  All that matters is Christ, and He lives in all of us.


Jesus is all that matters.  And He set the example for us as to how we should live the rest of our lives here on earth.

The same day that Jesus rose from the dead, a number of His disciples had gathered together to talk about the empty tomb and how the Master had been seen alive again by some, including the women who went to the tomb that morning and two disciples who were walking along the road to Emmaus.  Suddenly Jesus appeared before them, alive and in the flesh.  The Apostle Luke recorded this for us in chapter 24 of his Gospel account, verses 36 through 40…

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

--Luke 24:36-40 (NKJV)

“Peace to you.”  Jesus gives us His peace.  So why should we be troubled?  Why should doubts arise in our hearts?  Paul tells us that we should let the peace that comes from Christ control our thoughts – not the news media, not the politicians, not anyone who rejects Jesus as Lord, but only Christ.  We should not be controlled by our bodies and any immoral, indecent, and evil thoughts that arise from living in them.  We must quit being angry and hateful, saying insulting or cruel things about others.

Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have become new persons and our focus should also be new, looking to heaven and how to please God.  God loves us and has chosen us to be part of His family, so we should be kind and gentle, humble and meek, patient and forgiving.  For we are loved, and we have been forgiven.


By the righteous act of Jesus and the example of His resurrection to new life, we too are promised to be raised from the dead and given new life everlasting.  But family, we already have new life.  We have already been resurrected.  For we were dead in our sin and now, thanks to our belief in Christ Jesus, we have been raised to new life in Him who gave His all for us!  Now Jesus is all that matters.  Focus on Him, and on pleasing Him.

Blessed be Jesus our Christ, the one true Son of God!  In the glorious name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Father God, You raised Jesus from the grave and promised to raise us to new life, too, an everlasting life once this life is finished.  And then You sent Your own Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, to live within those who believe in Your Son and accept Him as Lord.  So You have already raised us to new life by this, for now we are new persons in Christ.  Thank You, Father, for giving us new life now, and then again once this life is over.  Please help us be worthy of Your love.  Help us focus more on You and Your kingdom and less on what this world might offer.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You straight from our hearts, promising to repent of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You are all that matters.  You gave us the example of how we should live and love by how You lived and loved.  By Your resurrection back to life God promised to raise us to life again, too.  And because You asked Your Father to send His Spirit to live within us, we have been raised to new life now, here on earth.  Thank You, Jesus, for loving us so much that You wanted to assure our being reunited with God.  Please help us to follow Your example in how to live, in how to love others unconditionally.  Help us to truly be new persons, and never to return to our old ways.  And help us to enjoy Your peace, and not worry so much about what might happen to us in this life.  Help us to remember that You are all that matters.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

The Assurance of Our Hope

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Easter Sunday morning the 12th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, also streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  This service included an observance of Holy Communion.  Our YouTube streaming channel is http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

Today we find ourselves with sickness and death all around us, our TVs filled with nothing but grim and foreboding news.  We’re restricted to our homes, not even allowed to be with those we usually seek comfort and support from.  Nobody seems to have any answers for how best to fight this disease, or when will the worst finally be over, when can we return to a normal life.

In times like these, it is easy to lose hope.  It’s easy to put our trust and faith into those we consider experts and professionals.  It’s easy to forget about the promise God made for us, sealed by the blood of Jesus.

Please listen and follow along to what the Apostle Paul wrote about promises and trust, in his 1st letter to the church in Corinth, in chapter 15 verses 1 through 8 and verses 12 through 26, reading from the Contemporary English Version of our Holy Bible…

1 My friends, I want you to remember the message that I preached and that you believed and trusted. 2 You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don’t, your faith was all for nothing.

3 I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is:

Christ died for our sins,
as the Scriptures say.
4 He was buried,
and three days later
He was raised to life,
as the Scriptures say.
5 Christ appeared to Peter,
then to the twelve.
6 After this, He appeared
to more than five hundred
other followers.
Most of them are still alive,
but some have died.
7 He also appeared to James,
and then to all
of the apostles.

8 Finally, He appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time.

12 If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life? 13 If they won’t be raised to life, Christ Himself wasn’t raised to life. 14 And if Christ wasn’t raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. 15 If the dead won’t be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying that He raised Christ to life, when He really did not.

16 So if the dead won’t be raised to life, Christ wasn’t raised to life. 17 Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. 18 And those people who died after putting their faith in Him are completely lost. 19 If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.

20 But Christ has been raised to life! And He makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. 21 Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. 22 Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. 23 But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and His people will be raised to life when He returns. 24 Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father.

25 Christ will rule until He puts all his enemies under His power, 26 and the last enemy He destroys will be death.

--1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-26 (CEV)

Let us pray…  Father God, we who believe know full well that You raised Your Son Jesus from the grave, bodily raised Him back to life.  Jesus conquered death and by His resurrection we are promised that we too will share in that victory.  We will have everlasting life with You in heaven.  Thank You, Father, for forgiving our sin.  Thank You for raising Jesus back to life.  Thank You for allowing us to share in that victory.  Thank You for giving us the faith to believe.  Father, please help us to always be true and faithful to our Lord Jesus, no matter what may befall us in this world.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit and thoroughly understand Your message of comfort and assurance we so desperately need in this age.  Speak to us of Your promise for our future with You, equal heirs with Your Son.  This we pray under the blood and in the name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.


Preacher, theologian, author H. A. "Harry" Ironside once related a conversation he had with an elderly gentleman who said, "I will not go on unless I know I'm saved, or else know it's hopeless to seek to be sure of it. I want a definite witness, something I can't be mistaken about!"  Ironside replied, "Suppose you had a vision of an angel who told you your sins were forgiven.  Would that be enough to rest on?"  "Yes, I think it would.  An angel should be right."  Ironside continued, "But suppose on your deathbed Satan came and said, 'I was that angel, transformed to deceive you.'  What would you say?"  The man was speechless.  Ironside then told the man that God has given us something more dependable than the voice of an angel.  He has given His Son, who died for our sins, and He has testified in His own Word that if we trust Him all our sins are gone.  Ironside then read 1 John 5:13, "You may know that you have eternal life."  Then he said, "Is that not enough to rest on?  It is a letter from heaven expressly to you."


We all long for some proof, for something we can be completely sure of, whether it’s evidence that God exists, or assurance of our own salvation.  We seem too often to be filled with doubts, especially in times like these when our life has been turned upside down.

Ironside quoted part of what the Apostle John wrote in his 1st letter to the early church.  Hear the rest of that assurance God gives, from chapter 5, verses 9 through 13…

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

--1 John 5:9-13 (NKJV)

This is our letter from heaven, from God to us.


Doubts creep in.  In the absence of proof, doubts take hold.  Right now we’re getting opinions and instruction from so many experts and professionals, including some that seem to contradict others.  We’re told all the things we need to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, yet the reported case numbers keep going up.  We wonder about our health and the health of our loved ones.  And with death so prevalent in all our communities, some may be having doubts about their salvation, like the elderly man Ironside spoke with.

But family, if there is one thing a believer should not doubt, it is that we are saved!  We are save, not by any deed or word on our part, but by the precious blood of Jesus Chris shed on our behalf!  This is the testimony of God, the assurance from God, that He loves us so very much, He sent His own Son into this world that all might be saved.

Jesus died on the cross to wash us clean of our sin.  And then He was bodily resurrected by God, defeating death, to show us we too will be given new life.  We who believe in the name of Jesus, the Son of God, know that we have eternal life.  Our salvation is assured, and God told us so.


Jesus knew we would have doubts.  He came to earth as one of us so He could relate to us, and us to Him.  There were a couple of times when even He briefly expressed something kind of like a doubt.  For instance, right before His arrest when He prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me.”  Or on the cross, when He cried out, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

So naturally He expected us, and even His twelve chosen disciples to have doubts, to not fully understand what He had been trying to teach them.  After all, He told us what to expect and they had trouble with that.  Listen to what Jesus said, as recorded by the Apostle Luke in his Gospel account, chapter 18, verses 31 through 33…

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

--Luke 18:31-33 (NKJV)

But in our Sunrise Service scripture this morning, we read that after Peter and John witnessed the empty grave, they still didn’t completely understand what He told them here.  They had doubts.  And if they weren’t sure that He would rise again from the grave, do you think they’d see how His resurrection would also apply to them?

The problem is that they, and we, forget what God has told us.  We read the letters from heaven without paying attention to what we’ve read.  We hear the words of the prophets spoken in our scripture, but we don’t listen.  One such promise from God was spoken through Hosea, in the 6th chapter of his book of prophecy verses 1 and 2…

1 Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bandage us.
2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.

--Hosea 6:1-2 (NKJV)

Right there is our promise, our assurance.  Jesus was torn and stricken, but He heals us and bandages all our spiritual wounds.  He was revived and raised up and we will be too, so that we may live forever in His sight!


We need have no doubts about our salvation.  As Paul noted in our opening scripture, “Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say.  He was buried, and three days later He was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.”

The risen Jesus was witnessed by over 500 people and no one has ever refuted their testimony!  To say that Christ was not raised back to life would make a liar out of God, and God does not lie.  Christ Jesus has been raised to life and He makes certain that others will also be raised.  Just as we will die to this life because of the sin of Adam, we will be raised to life eternal because of the righteous act of Jesus.


We who believe have no reason to doubt.  We’ve been sent letters from heaven.  But what of those who do not believe?

Sadly, their fate is also certain.  Their disbelief, their refusal to accept Jesus as Lord even after hearing and reading God’s word, will be their own condemnation.  God doesn’t condemn us – we condemn ourselves.

If you have not fully accepted Jesus as Your personal Lord and Savior, then please do so now.  If you still have doubts, maybe it’s time to recommit yourself to Jesus, now, before we take Communion together.  Follow along with me and repeat this simple prayer, either out loud or silently, in your heart…  Dear Lord Jesus, I need You.  I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness.  I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead.  I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life.   I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.  Make me the kind of person You want me to be.  In Your dear name Jesus I pray. Amen.


Believe in Jesus, the one true Son of God, follow His voice, and be saved.  In the glorious name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Father God, there should be no doubt that You love us.  You even sent Your own Son to us, knowing how badly He would be treated, watching as He suffered and died.  But all this because You love us and this was the only way we could be cleansed of our sin, by the blood sacrifice of the one true Spotless Lamb.  Thank You, Father, for showing us this kind of love.  Thank You for assuring us of our salvation through Jesus through Your words and Your letters from heaven.  Please help us, dear Father, as we struggle with our doubts.  Please forgive us our little lapses that occur because of the stresses of the times we are in.  Help us understand and see the fullness of Your love.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You straight from our hearts, promising to repent of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, even though You knew what had to be done, and why, and even though You completed the task given You, there were a few times You wondered if it really had to be done that way, times when You may have entertained small doubts.  So You know, Lord, that we are too often filled with doubts, doubts about many things.  But the one thing we should never doubt is our salvation through Your sacrifice.  Thank You, Jesus, assuring us by Your own death and resurrection that we too will be raised again from the dead to life eternal with You and our Father God in heaven!  Thank You for defeating death and for allowing us to share in that great victory if we would only believe in You and follow Your voice.  Please help us stay strong in our faith and service, even in these very challenging times.  Help us reach out to a hurting, fearful world with the calming assurance of our eternal life with You in heaven.  Help us remain calm and faithful during the turmoil, ever trusting in You and our Father God.  And help us find ways to share the Good News You brought to the world.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.


Now let us seek God’s forgiveness by confessing our sin…

Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak, when we have failed to serve as Jesus served; Father, forgive us.

When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us; Father, forgive us.

When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied Him by our actions; Father, forgive us.

Merciful God, empower us by Your Spirit to be steady and true to You in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Jesus said: "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world", and having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them even to the end.  The good news therefore is this:  In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

In the Garden

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at sunrise on Easter morning, the 12th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, also streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our YouTube streaming channel is http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

Hear the words of the beloved Apostle John, from the 20th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 18, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…

1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

--John 20:1-18 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, this morning we can rejoice, for You have resurrected our Lord Jesus!  You raised Him bodily from the grave so that He could defeat death.  And You and Jesus did it all just for us!  Your Son suffered, and You had to stand by and watch, just so we might enjoy everlasting life in paradise with You both… if we only believe in Him and follow His voice.  We believe, Lord Jesus.  We believe that You are the one true Son of God, and we believe that You rose bodily from the grave.  This morning we celebrate that glorious day.  Bless us Lord, and help us to better serve You and to never falter in our belief and faith.  In Your sweet name, Christ Jesus we pray.  Amen.


As near as we can tell, the only things Jesus owned were the robe on His back and the sandals on His feet.  To say He was poor, of course, would only be in reference to worldly, physical measures of wealth.  But it does mean He owned no plot of earth, no tomb in which to be buried.

A rich man by the name of Joseph, who hailed from Arimathea, had recently ordered a new tomb be dug for him, in a garden just outside the city walls of Jerusalem.  For you see, Jewish tradition forbade any burials within the walls of a city.  Joseph, a believer, allowed the body of Jesus to be placed there.  A huge stone sealed the entrance.


Early the next morning, before the sun began to lighten the sky, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb.  The first thing she saw was that the stone no longer blocked the entry.  Not knowing what else to do, she went to tell Peter and John what she had seen.

They all ran back to the tomb.  John arrived first, peeked inside and saw the burial cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in.  Peter came next and went inside and also spotted the face cloth lying separately, neatly folded.  John followed him in and saw the same thing, but at this point neither one fully grasped the meaning of what Jesus had told them, of what the prophets of old had foretold, that the Messiah must rise again from the dead.

Peter and John returned home, but Mary stayed there in the garden, alone, weeping.  And as she wept, she saw two angels inside the tomb.  After a brief exchange, she turned to see a figure standing before her that she thought was the gardener.  But as we know, it was really Jesus, risen again from the dead, just as He had said.  Mary had come to the garden seeking the body of Jesus, but instead found Him, risen and alive.


Mary came to the garden alone, in the early hours while the dew was still on the roses.  Back around 1913, a gospel songwriter by the name of C. Austin Miles, sat down to read his Bible.  It fell open to John 20 and the passage of our reading this morning.  As he sat there immersed in the scripture, the room darkened and faded out of view.

Mr. Miles found himself standing there in the garden, watching Mary weep.  He saw Jesus approach her, listened to their spoken words.  In his vision, he heard the sweet voice of Jesus calling…  Then the world returned and he sat down and wrote a poem which he later added music to, giving us the beautiful hymn, “In the Garden”.

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

We are standing in the garden right now.  It might not seem like it, what with everyone sheltering in our homes and COVID-19 running rampant still.  But we are living in this beautiful garden called Earth that God gave us.

The sky is brightening, the birds are singing, and right now the dew is still on the roses.  And if we listen quietly, we can hear the voice of Jesus calling us.  Because we believe, we can always walk with Him and talk with Him.  And Oh what a joy we can share, just tarrying for a while with our Lord and Savior.

Jesus is calling us, calling His church.  He is calling us to service and to faith, especially in these very trying times.  He is reminding us that mercy will be extended to us in the same measure as the mercy we show others, that all that we do be done in love.  He is telling us that we are His.  We are His.


So family, rejoice!  Our Lord and Savior lives!  Jesus has conquered death and risen from the grave, and we who believe can share in His great victory!  Death no longer holds us hostage.  We have everlasting life in store for us.  And it’s all because of Jesus and the sacrifice He made, to wash us clean of our sin with His own precious blood.

Jesus lives, our Savior lives!  Spend some time with Him in the garden today.  In the blessed, beautiful name of Jesus.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer, Master…  You came as our Messiah, our Savior.  But You died on the cross, and for a moment the world lost hope.  Then You rose from the grave, just as You said You would, once again alive and full of life!  You conquered death and promised we would share in that victory if we would only believe in You and accept You as Lord.  As the sun rises on us this morning, just as it did on You so long ago, that promise remains our expected and anticipated hope.

Dear Lord, may our faith remain strong and not waiver during the tremendous trials of this present age.  May we tarry for a moment longer here with You in this beautiful garden, just listening to Your voice.  May we fully grasp what You told us before, and what You are whispering now in our hearts.  May we serve You, with all that is in us.  This we pray, in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Master and Savior.


And now, Father God, hear us as we pray to You as Your Son Jesus taught us…  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.


And let’s celebrate with the words of another beautiful hymn, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!”.

Christ the Lord is risen today!
Sons of men and angels say,
Raise your joys and triumphs high!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply,
Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King!
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, He all doth save!
Where thy victory, O grave?
Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done,
Fought the fight, the battle won,
Death in vain forbids Him rise,
Christ has opened paradise!
Alleluia!  Amen!

The Veil Has Been Torn

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered at noon on Good Friday, the 10th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, also streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our YouTube streaming channel is http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

Last night, after sharing the Passover meal with His dearest friends and closest disciples, one of those seated at His table betrayed Jesus to the authorities.  He was arrested and hauled away to stand before Caiaphas the high priest, who had assembled all the scribes and the elders together with him.  During the night, Judas, the betrayer, hanged himself, and three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus.

Our church reading earlier, from our hymnal, is adapted from Mark 15, as sort of a summary.  I’d like to read the full story of this event to you, the trial and execution of Jesus.  Listen to the Gospel account of the Apostle Mark, from chapter 15 verses 1 through 39, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible...

1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. 2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. 4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!” 5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. 12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”

13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”

14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. 22 And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. 23 Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. 24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.

25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above:

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” 36 Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

--Mark 15:1-39 (NKJV)

Let us pray… Father God, this afternoon we remember the darkest day in all of Your creation – the day we tortured and executed Your Son, nailing Him to a cruel cross.  Jesus came to offer us salvation, but the world refused Him.  We drove nails into the hands He stretched out to save us.  We cursed Him, spat on Him, beat Him, killed Him.  But You knew all this had to happen.  You knew that only the blood of the one true Spotless Lamb could wash us clean and atone for our sin.  Thank You, Father, for Your great love and mercy.  Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice.  Imprint this day on our hearts so that we might understand just how important this is to us and to others, how critical it is for our eternal life.  This we pray in the name of the Lamb, Your Son Jesus.  Amen.


That is a very long passage and there is much of importance in it.  All four of the canonical Gospel writers recorded this event, from their own perspectives.  Most likely John left a little early, having been given charge of Jesus’ mother, Mary, who could not have endured watching her son slain so cruelly.  Nonetheless, we know by this repetition just how critical it is that we grasp all that what Jesus went through this day.  For those who love Jesus, this is the saddest day in our Christian calendar by far.


The day started with relentless questioning, followed by taunting and ridicule, pretty much continuing the treatment of the night before.  The Jews had already condemned Jesus for saying He was the Messiah, which of course, He was, but they did not have the authority to put Him to death.  So they tied Him up again and sent Him off to Pilate, the Roman governor of the region.

Pilate couldn’t find any guilt or evil in the man standing before him, this man who refused to defend Himself against all the charges being leveled against Him by the Jews.  But Pilate was charged with keeping the peace in the land, and the Jews were nearing the point of riot, so he gave in and ordered that Jesus be beaten and then crucified.

The beating, the scourging, would be bad enough, leaving Jesus weak and suffering great pain and loss of blood.  But crucifixion is a long, horrible death.  Add to that the greater indignation our Lord suffered at the hands of the Roman soldiers, none of whom even believed in the one true God, let alone Jesus as God’s Son.  This was our Lord, enduring all this pain and torment, just for us.


And then the third hour came and Jesus was crucified.  By Jewish reckoning, the day started at what we would consider 6 AM.  So at 9 AM, the Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross there on the hill of Golgotha.  He was crucified there along with two thieves, which fulfilled the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah, who foretold that He would be numbered with the transgressors, the sinners.  And the ridicule and taunting continued, even as He hung there in physical agony.


Then came the sixth hour, noon, and darkness fell over the land for the next three hours.  This was also in fulfillment of prophecy, as spoken by the prophet Amos in chapter 8 verse 9…

9 “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God,
“That I will make the sun go down at noon,
And I will darken the earth in broad daylight."

--Amos 8:9 (NKJV)

If you’ve ever witnessed a full solar eclipse, you have an idea of what the people would have experienced that day.  Darkness over all the land.  This is not normal, by any means.  Many would have suddenly become fearful, wondering what was happening.  I’m sure some hastily left the scene, others may have lit torches.


And at the ninth hour, 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  Now, Jesus is God, one person of the Holy Trinity.  So how could He be forsaken, abandoned, by God?  How could Jesus ever be separated from God?  By the same way we are separated from God: by our sin.

Jesus, who was without sin, the Spotless Lamb, was taking on all the sin of the world.  Your sin, my sin, the sin of everyone who has ever or will ever walk the face of this earth, was falling on His shoulders.  This was the greatest torment, this caused the greatest suffering for our Lord.  Our sin, taken on by Jesus, separated Him from God for the first time.  For the first time, God the Father turned His back on Jesus His Son.

And then Jesus cried out and breathed His last.


With this last breath, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  Matthew adds that the earth shook and rocks split in two, graves opened and the bodies of many saints were raised.  But the reference to the veil splitting is something we need to understand.

The Jewish temple in Jerusalem was built and destroyed a couple of times.  Each iteration was a little different, but each had an inner court, the Holy of Holies.  This was the place where the Arc of the Covenant was kept, and where God Himself would come and sit, where only the high priest could enter.  The inner court was separated from the more common areas by a veil, hung from ceiling to floor.  The veil, in effect, separated the common people from their God, since they were not allowed to enter the Holy of Holies.

But now, with the sacrifice of the Spotless Lamb, the veil had been torn.  Jesus died, and carried all our sin to the grave.  Now, nothing separates us from God - not our sin, not even the symbolic veil!  The Christ allowed Himself to be sacrificed so that all people – priests and commoners – might be reunited with His Father God!  Jesus gave of His life so that we might live forever!


Of course, there is a catch.  The Roman centurion who stood there near the cross understood it.  He said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”  He recognized Jesus for who He truly is.  And so must we.

To enjoy that everlasting life in paradise, we must believe in Jesus, recognizing Him as the one true Son of God.  We must know Him as our personal Lord and Savior.  And if we truly believe, we will love Him.  And if we love Him, we will do what He tells us to do.  We will love others, unconditionally, just as He loves.  We will forgive wrongs done against us, just as we are forgiven.  And we will spread the Good News of salvation through Him, testifying of all He has done for us, witnessing to how good He is.

The veil has been torn.  Now nothing can separate us from God.  In the blessed name of Him who died so that we might live, the name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Lord Jesus, You came offering the living water that leads to eternal life.  You came to us when we were lost in our sin, holding out Your hand to us.  You came to break the chains of sin that hold us captive to this world.  You came to save us from ourselves.  And how did we react to all this mercy and grace?  We refused to accept You.  We tortured You and nailed You to a cruel cross.  You asked Your Father God to forgive those who tormented and beat You, because they just didn’t understand.  Yet still, to this very day, even we who are called by Your name, we still drive nails in Your hands.  We believe in You and Your goodness, but the world has too strong a grasp on us, and we are afraid to let it go.  We judge others based on their looks or their background or the color of their skin, without taking the time to see what is in their hearts.  Forgive us, Lord, because sometimes we still don’t know what we are doing.

But You knew, Lord.  Every step of the way, You knew what was coming.  You knew how the events of every single day would play out, including Your last day lived as a mortal man.  You knew exactly how God’s plan would be accomplished.  You knew why it was necessary for You to be slaughtered, the Spotless Lamb, for the atonement of our sin.  Help us, please Lord, to fully grasp the importance of Your sacrifices to our eternal soul.  Help us realize that Your greatest suffering came not from any physical pain, but from having to take all our sin upon Yourself.  Forgive us when we fail You.  Forgive us when we won’t listen to Your voice, when we don’t live as You would have us live, when we hesitate to speak out in Your defense, when we deny You by our actions and our inactions.  Forgive us when we fail to love sacrificially, unconditionally, as You love us.  Help us be worthy of Your great sacrifice.  Help us better serve You.  In Your precious name, Lord Jesus, we pray.  Amen.


Let us seek God’s forgiveness by confessing our sin:

Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak, when we have failed to serve as Jesus served; Father, forgive us.  When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us; Father, forgive us.  When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied Him by our actions; Father, forgive us.

Merciful God, empower us by Your Spirit to be steady and true to You in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Jesus said: "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world", and having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them even to the end.  The good news therefore is this:  In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God!

Denial

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Maundy Thursday evening, the 9th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, recorded and streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  This service also included the observance of Holy Communion.  Our YouTube streaming channel is:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

The time is shortly before Jesus is betrayed and handed over first to the Jewish religious leadership and then to the Romans.  Jesus is seated at the table with His twelve closest friends, in an upper room of a house they are being allowed to use as they observe the Passover feast.  He knows what is coming, and that one of the men seated there with Him would soon betray Him.  And He also knows that denial will soon follow.

Listen and follow along as I read from the Gospel account of the Apostle Matthew, chapter 26, verses 31 through 35, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…

31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And so said all the disciples.

--Matthew 26:31-35 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, tonight we step back in time to a night so long ago that may have lost some of its meaning for many.  Some may not see themselves in this passage.  Speak to us, Father, speak into our hearts, that we might relive that night and understand its meaning and impact on our very lives.  Speak to us that we might know the truth of our ways.  Convict us of our sin and forgive us for our continuing disobedience.  This we pray in the name of Your Son Jesus.  Amen


Tonight is Maundy Thursday.  The word, “Maundy”, comes from the Latin word meaning command or commandment.  On the night of His last supper with His disciples, Jesus gave us a commandment to “Do this in remembrance of Me”.

In just a few minutes we will share the elements of His body and blood.  We will renew the covenant God made with us, sealed by the precious blood of Jesus.  But first, I want to take a closer look at what Jesus said as they finished their meal.


Think back for a moment on those large family meals we all enjoy.  Dinner is all eaten, the dishes are in the dishwasher, the TV is on in the living room, someone is already napping in the easy chair.  It’s that warm, cozy time after the meal.

This is how I picture that upper room, after Jesus and His closest friends, His disciples, had finished their Passover meal.  They were luxuriating in the glow as the food and the wine relaxed their bodies and minds.  And then Jesus turns everything upside down by saying that they would all be tripped up that night, and all because of Him.

Of course, Peter always has to argue with Jesus.  So he proclaims that he won’t stumble, even if everyone else does!  He’ll stay true to Jesus no matter what!  I can almost hear Jesus, talking to Peter as if to a child, saying not only will you stumble, but you’ll even deny knowing Me, not once, but three times before this night is over.  Which, Peter immediately denies, too, along with all the others.  But family, the denial continues - we still stumble, even to this day.


What does that word mean, denial?  According to the dictionary, a denial is an assertion that something said, believed, or alleged is false.  This definition is adhered to by so many people in the world today, who hold that any belief in Jesus as God is false.

Denial is also defined as the refusal to recognize or acknowledge something, or someone.  This is how Peter denied Jesus, by refusing to recognize Him and acknowledge his relationship to Him when pressured by the people.  Even after proudly proclaiming that he would never deny Jesus, he did just that.  Why?  Because he stumbled, he tripped, he gave in to the pressures of the world.


Now, we would never deny Jesus, would we?  If someone asked if we know Jesus, if we follow Him, if we believe in Him, we would gladly say yes, yes, yes.  We are His followers, we are known by His name: Christians.  But family, there are more ways to deny Jesus than these I’ve mentioned.  Another dictionary definition of denial is the refusal to satisfy a claim or request or command.

When we hesitate or fail to do as Jesus asks or commands us to do, we are denying Him.  When we judge someone, we are denying Jesus.  When we fail to love unconditionally, we are denying Jesus.  When we only give our Lord lip service, not following our words with our actions.  When we don’t give food to the hungry, provide drink for the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, we are denying Jesus.  When we are too fearful or ashamed to go out into the world testifying and witnessing as to just how good Jesus is and what He means to us, we are denying Him just like Peter did.

This last is especially important to us.  In chapter 10 of his Gospel account, verses 27 and 28 and 32 and 33, Matthew also recorded Jesus giving us this warning…

27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

--Matthew 10:27-28, 32-33 (NKJV)

So we can see that denial carries a steep cost: our eternal soul.

If we try to witness for Jesus to others, some person may scoff and ridicule us, make us feel uncomfortable.  So what?!  They may even want to kill us, if the coronavirus doesn’t get us first.  Big deal!  To live is Christ, to die is gain.  Our life on this earth means nothing if we don’t live it for Jesus!  It will all have been wasted if we deny Him!

So let’s do what we can to speak in the light, for all to see and hear!  Let’s preach it on the housetops, without fear or hesitation or shame!  Let’s be sure not to deny Jesus, but to confess Him before others so that He will confess us before God!

Get right with God.  Stay true to Jesus and stop denying Him.  In the blessed name of our Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Father God, on this night we reflect back on a time when mankind saddened You yet again.  For on that night long ago we betrayed Your Son, Your only Son, whom You sent to offer us salvation.  Instead of receiving Him, we rejected Him.  And even today, instead of testifying for Him, we deny Him.  Forgive us, Father, for we do not know what we are doing.

But now, Father, we pray that we do know and understand the impact of our actions and words.  Thank You for saving all this for us in our Holy Bible so that we might know the error of our ways and not keep on making the same mistakes over and over again.  Help us understand the how the things we do and say put us in a position of denial of Your Son.

Lord Jesus, You gave so much of Yourself on our behalf.  You took our punishment, You bore our stripes, You died so we could avoid the final and permanent death just by believing in You and accepting You as Lord.  But even greater suffering You bear comes from our denial of You, just as Peter denied You so long ago.

Forgive us, Lord, our times of doubt and confusion.  Forgive us when we refuse to believe, when we reject Your authority.  Forgive us when we could stand up for You against the doubters and disbelievers, but we are just too timid, too afraid, to do so.  Forgive us when we can’t let go of the world, refusing to put all our faith and trust in You and our Father God.  Help us, please Jesus, to not be so concerned with what others may think about us.  Give us the strength of our convictions, the fullness of our faith, so that we will no longer deny You.

This we pray in Your sweet name, Lord Jesus, the one true Son of God.  Amen.


Now let us seek God’s forgiveness by confessing our sin…

Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak, when we have failed to serve as Jesus served; Father, forgive us.

When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us; Father, forgive us.

When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied Him by our actions; Father, forgive us.

Merciful God, empower us by Your Spirit to be steady and true to You in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Jesus said: "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world", and having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them even to the end.  The good news therefore is this:  In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

What Defines a Triumph?

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning the 5th of April, 2020 at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This was an abbreviated service, also streamed live, due to constraints put in place from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our YouTube streaming channel is http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDIz4WuP8igQstkEOq1AMTg.  Look for the video of our recorded services on our Vimeo channel:  http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]

Today is Palm Sunday on our Christian calendar, the day for waving palm branches and singing joyous, triumphal songs.  For this is the day we celebrate the Sunday that Jesus rode into Jerusalem surrounded by hundreds, maybe thousands, of His followers.  This was the day that many would hail Him as the long awaited Messiah, sent by God to free them from tyranny’s stranglehold.

Please listen and follow along to what the Apostle Matthew recorded about that day so long ago, in chapter 21 of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 11, reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…

1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

5 “Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”

10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”

11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

--Matthew 21:1-11 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Father God, back when man first fell captive to sin, there in the Garden of Eden, You admonished the serpent.  At that point You promised that You would send Your Messiah to save us.  Your people waited for such a long time for their Savior to come.  Yet when Your Son, the Christ, came to us, so few recognized and accepted Him.  Thank You, Father, for sending our Savior, and for choosing us to believe in Him and to follow His voice.  Father, please help us remain true to Jesus so that we can share in His great victory over death.  And help us share the good news of His coming and His offer of salvation to others.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit and thoroughly understand the message we so need in this age.  Speak to us of how we can triumph even in the face of what the world sees as defeat.  This we pray under the blood and in the name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.


Colin Chapman, in The Case for Christianity, quotes Ugandan bishop Festo Kivengere's account of the 1973 execution by firing squad of three men from his diocese:

February 10 began as a sad day for us in Kabale. People were commanded to come to the stadium and witness the execution. Death permeated the atmosphere. A silent crowd of about three thousand was there to watch. I had permission from the authorities to speak to the men before they died, and two of my fellow ministers were with me. They brought the men in a truck and unloaded them. They were handcuffed and their feet were chained. The firing squad stood at attention.  

As we walked into the center of the stadium, I was wondering what to say. How do you give the gospel to doomed men who are probably seething with rage? We approached them from behind, and as they turned to look at us, what a sight! Their faces were all alight with an unmistakable glow and radiance.  

Before we could say anything, one of them burst out: "Bishop, thank you for coming! I wanted to tell you. The day I was arrested, in my prison cell, I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. He came in and forgave me all my sins! Heaven is now open, and there is nothing between me and my God! Please tell my wife and children that I am going to be with Jesus. Ask them to accept him into their lives as I did."
The other two men told similar stories, excitedly raising their hands, which rattled their handcuffs. I felt that what I needed to do was to talk to the soldiers, not to the condemned. So I translated what the men had said into a language the soldiers understood. The military men were standing there with guns cocked and bewilderment on their faces. They were so dumbfounded that they forgot to put the hoods over the men's faces! 

The three faced the firing squad standing close together. They looked toward the people and began to wave, handcuffs and all. The people waved back. Then shots were fired, and the three were with Jesus. We stood in front of them, our own hearts throbbing with joy, mingled with tears. It was a day never to be forgotten. Though dead, the men spoke loudly to all of Kigezi District and beyond, so that there was an upsurge of life in Christ, which challenges death and defeats it. The next Sunday, I was preaching to a huge crowd in the home town of one of the executed men. Again, the feel of death was over the congregation. But when I gave them the testimony of their man, and how he died, there erupted a great song of praise to Jesus! Many turned to the Lord there.

I wonder how many of us would consider death by firing squad to be a triumph.  Yet these three men seemed almost overjoyed knowing that very soon they would be with Jesus.  Why?  Because they had come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.  They knew Jesus had conquered death and that they too would share in that victory.  And once the shots rang out, they joined their Lord in paradise.


Jesus always attracted a large crowd wherever He went, but this time was a little different.  This time, the crowd wasn’t necessarily gathered for healing, but for rejoicing and honoring Jesus.

A great multitude walked ahead of Him, and as many behind as they entered the great city of Jerusalem.  They shouted and sang, and soon the people in the city began to come out, too, spreading their cloaks and palm branches along the dirt road so that Jesus’ mount wouldn’t kick up dust as he walked.

And Oh, what a magnificent mount it was, a flashing white stallion prancing as he walked!  What?  You mean Jesus, the Messiah, didn’t ride in on a white charger?  Isn’t that how we picture all conquering heroes?

Let’s rewind just a bit.


The children of Israel had long been promised a Messiah, a Savior, who would free them from tyranny.  At the time of our scripture this morning, the “tyranny” was considered the Roman Empire, who ruled over all of Judea with an iron hand and oppressed the people.  So when news spread that the Messiah was coming, the people were overjoyed, thinking they would soon be set free from Roman rule.

They expected a conquering hero, ready to do battle.  Instead they got a seemingly simple man, riding in on a donkey, the most humblest of creatures.  Is it any wonder their joy soon turned to disappointment, and then to anger?  For in just a few days, they would shout for this man’s death.


If we looked at all this from Jesus’ standpoint, we might not see much to be triumphant about.  Jesus knows what is coming – His mistreatment at the hands of the very people He came to save, the beatings, the cruel, painful death.  He knows that He is not the Savior that the people are expecting.  He chose to ride in on a donkey to fulfill scripture, but maybe also to show the people that what they thought to be significant and important really isn’t.

Jesus indeed came to conquer, but it had nothing to do with the Romans, or any other human dominion.  Jesus came to defeat the tyranny of sin and to conquer death itself.  His entry into Jerusalem led straight to the cross where His blood was shed to atone for our sins!  This was the planned victory, and this is why His entry was triumphant!


The world sees things as important that God sees as less than nothing.  Victory and triumph in the world’s view brings great respect and rewards, maybe even fame and wealth.  Victory in God’s eyes brings a great reward also, but it has nothing to do with fame or respect or money.

Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote about victory, in his 1st letter to the church in Corinth, chapter 9, verses 24 and 25…

24 In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win. 25 To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears.

--1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (TLB)

General Dwight Eisenhower once said, "There are no victories at discount prices."  To win at any contest, we must be willing to work hard and to deny ourselves of anything that might distract us or keep us from winning.

In the world’s view, a person does this to win some physical prize.  And we all know what happens to physical things.  They eventually fade away into nothingness.  But if the finish line of our race is heaven, to live forever with Jesus - a reward that will never disappear - then we too must be willing to deny ourselves of anything that will keep us from that goal.

Paul knew how important this race is, as well as the reward at the end.  Listen to what he wrote in his 2nd letter to his young friend Timothy, from chapter 4 verses 6 through 8…

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

--2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NKJV)

Paul knew his death was near, and that he had given all he had in service to Jesus.  Like those three men standing before the firing squad, Paul faced his final days with joy in his heart, because his reward awaited him in heaven.  He would soon triumph over death because Jesus defeated it!


Right now, we are facing a tyranny of a different sort.  This new coronavirus, COVID-19, is sweeping the globe, terrorizing the peoples of this world and bringing death in its wake.  Medical professionals are working hard to at least slow the destruction if not stop it entirely.  People are scared, sheltered in their homes, avoiding gatherings and social contact.

But do we not see Jesus riding in on a donkey?  He has triumphed over death for us, whether it be by coronavirus or an auto accident or natural causes.  Be careful, sure, but do not be afraid, for our Lord is with us – the Messiah, the Christ, our Savior.


So yes, family, let’s celebrate this wonderful day as Jesus rides into Jerusalem for the last time.  Let’s shout and wave our arms and sing joyous songs of praise.  Because no matter what this world throws at us, our victory is assured.  Jesus triumphed over sin and death, and this is the true and everlasting triumph.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Blessed be Jesus the Christ, the one true Son of God!  In the glorious name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.


Let us pray…  Father God, countless times in Your word, our Bible, You tell us that what the world thinks of as important, You view as worthless.  What matters most to You is that we believe in Jesus as Your Son and follow the purpose to which You have called us.  This may mean that we deny ourselves the treasures of this world, knowing we will receive a far greater, eternal reward in Your heaven.  Thank You, Father, for loving us enough to make us equal heirs with Your Son Jesus.  Please help us stay strong in our faith and service, even in these very challenging times.  Help us reach out to a hurting, fearful world, with the calming reassurance of Your word, and the offer of salvation through Your Son.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You straight from our hearts, promising to repent of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, when You rode into Jerusalem that last time, You knew how it would end.  You knew that the great triumph You would bring was not at all what the people expected, but was exactly what we needed.  Thank You, Jesus, for defeating death itself.  Thank You for allowing us to share in that great victory if we would only believe in You and follow Your voice.  Please help us continue to serve You even in these times of great turmoil and distress.  Help us remain calm and faithful, ever trusting in You and our Father God.  And help us to continue to find new ways to share the Good News You brought to the world.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.