Category Archives: Easter

Mark 10:45 – ‘A ransom for many’ – sermon notes

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The 2nd of a pair of sermons on Mark 10:45  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If everything that God had ever done was published in newspaper form, what would the main headline be?  If it were possible to compile a list of God’s ten greatest achievements, what would be at the top of the list?  Surely, it is the work that God has done for us in Christ, in securing our salvation.…

Resurrection appearances of Christ

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1.  To Mary Magdalene, as Consoler, Jn 20:14ff

2.  To other women, as Object of Worship, Mt 28:8ff

3.  To Peter, as the Friend who never forsakes, Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5

4.  To the Emmaus disciples, as the Sympathetic Instructor, Lk 24:13ff

5.  To The Ten, as the Restorer of Joy, Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19

6.  To Thomas (with the disciples), as Confirmer of Faith, Jn 20:26

7.  To the seven on the seashore, as the Compassionate One, Jn 21:1ff

8. …

The centrality of the Cross

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Martin Luther said, ‘There is not a word in the Bible which is extra crucem, which can be understood without reference to the cross.’

And J.I. Packer has written, ‘It cannot be over-emphasised that we have not seen the full meaning of the cross till we have seen it…as the centre of the gospel, flanked on the one hand by total inability and unconditional election and on the other by irresistible grace and final preservation.’

In the New Testament, the cross is:-

  1. the subject of the eternal counsel of God, Acts 2:23.
…

The relevance of the resurrection

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The claim that Jesus rose from the dead seems incredible.  People have tried both to deny and to defy death, but only Christ has claimed to conquer it, Jn 11:25f.  The very first Christians were confident of this, Acts 2:23f; 3:13-15; 4:2; 5:30-32.  See also 1 Cor 15:3-8.  John Stott has written about the relevance of the resurrection in the following terms:-

1.  What does the resurrection mean?

The semantic question of what the resurrection means was brought into prominence in the 1980s by David Jenkins. …

1 Cor 15 – The doctrine of the resurrection – sermon notes

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1.  WHAT? – The Fact of the Resurrection

Vv1-11, esp. v4 – ‘He was raised on the third day.’

Think back over the events surrounding the execution of Jesus.  Pilate released a common criminal, and had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.  The soldiers swarmed around him, stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.  Then they made a crown out of thorns and put it on his head.  They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and laughed at him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” …

Lk 24:13-35 – The road to Emmaus – sermon notes

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The problem we have with the resurrection is the  mirror-image of that experienced by the first disciples.  It was a problem to them because it was all so new.  It can be a problem to us because it is all so familiar.

Let’s try to see it from their point of view.  Let’s imagine it is you and I trudging down that road that leads from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

As we walk, we reflect on the tragic events of the past few days. …

The Calvary Miracles

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Miracles attended the birth, life, and death of our Lord.  The significance of these miracles: they are signs.  Consider those recorded in Matthew 27:-

1.  The Supernatural Darkness – a sign of the Divine Passion, Mt 27:45.

This signifies

(a) Jesus’ conflict.  See Lk 22:53; Jn 12:31
(b) Jesus’ comfortlessness, Mt 27:46

Remember this, when the dark clouds of despair case a gloom over your soul.  Remember that the wrath of God was poured out on Christ – for you. …

Lk 23:46  – ‘Father, into your hands’ – a meditation

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‘Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.’ (NIV)

This is the last of Christ’s seven sayings from the cross.  These are the final words of Jesus before he died.  They were uttered as he completed his life’s work and stood on the very border between this world and the next.  Ponder them with me for a few moments.

These are words of calm restfulness. …