Notes of on-line Meeting held on Easter Day at 10.30am 12th April 2020

1. There were a total of 24 participants in the meeting. It was good to welcome Martien VanZanten on-line from Canada (at 5.30am his time!)

2. Sue opened the meeting with prayer.

3. We sung “Thine be the glory” as our opening song.

4. Matt read John ch.20 v 1 – 9 – the account of Jesus’ resurrection.

5. Talk (1) 

Brian revisited the story as told by John – how he and Peter had met up with a distraught Mary Magdalene at the tomb. She had gone there to anoint the body of Jesus – but he wasn’t there. The stone had been rolled away – not so Jesus could get out, but so others could get in to affirm the resurrection. John had a peep inside, then typically Peter went right in, and found the burial wraps neatly set out. John went inside too, and both then believed - Jesus had really risen just as He had said he would. But where was he now? See part 2 later.

6. We sung the Easter hymn “Alleluia! Alleluia! hearts to heaven and voices raise;”

7. We watched the video “The Comeback” which challenged us when hope is apparently lost (cf. Good Friday events) to focus on  Jesus – the comeback King, which we are celebrating today.

8. Dawn read John ch. 20 v 11 - 18

9. Talk (2)

9.1 With Peter and John beating a hasty retreat to Jerusalem, Mary Magdalene is left on her own beside the tomb, still weeping bitterly.

9.2 Thinking of great women of the Bible, where would you put Mary Magdalene? Having had seven demons cast out from her by Jesus, she had gone on to use her wealth and abilities in the service of Jesus and his disciples as they travelled around Galilee. She had witnessed the crucifixion at Calvary. And now she was to have the greatest experience of her life. She was to be the first person to meet the risen Jesus.

9.3 Having seen the empty tomb, and convinced herself that Jesus’ body had been taken away, she sees someone next to her, who asks her why she is crying, and who is she looking for?

9.4 Without time to respond, she hears her name “Mary”, and knew immediately it was the Lord’s voice; her response was “Rabboni” “Teacher”

9.5 Yes, Jesus called her by name, as he calls us today, with words of encouragement, of warning, of instruction, sometimes just a nudge to do something.

9.6 Jesus had chosen Mary to get the message around, firstly to his disciples and friends, and then no doubt to the wider community also.

9.7 Jesus had risen, just as he said he would, and she, Mary, was the first to see the risen Christ.

9.8 Jesus went on to reveal himself to his 11 disciples on a number of occasions, and to a large number of other people too. The disciples’ task was to make the wonder of Jesus resurrection known, initially there in Jerusalem, but later to the whole world.

9.9 They were to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out this work.

9.10 What does the resurrection mean to you today? Is it just something to be debated? Or is it for you the most life-changing event in the history of the world? John 3:16 reminds us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. What a gift for you and I – what a price paid by Jesus – what a wonderful eternity God has planned for all who believe in His Name.

10. Sue closed the meeting with prayer. BEML – 6/13/2020