24th April 2022 (Second Sunday of Easter) Title: We are Witnesses (Acts 5:27–32 & John 20:19–31)                                                                                   By Heeyoung Lim Acts 5:27–32 begins with Peter and the apostles brought to court for breaking the orders not to proclaim Jesus Christ risen. What moved the apostles to move forward from the uncertainty of the upper room to the confidence of preaching the risen Christ against the Sanhedrin’s orders? The steady growth through the retelling of the story of Jesus is perhaps a reason for their increased confidence. As confidence builds through its retelling and growing, the apostles trust it more and more, which leads them to stand against the authorities. The most important message that must always be conveyed, which does not change over the years, is still Jesus. But in this changing and unstable world, what other messages do we need to convey along with the words to believe in the Lord? This week’s readings call us to be bold and courageous in speaking of faith and justice. Unfortunately, we still and often hear about war and violence with tragic results. We cannot remain silent in the face of such harm and violence. Tomorrow is ANZAC Day. It is a day designated for remembering and celebrating the sacrifice and loss of the young men and women who protect other people’s freedom. Just as soldiers maintained their faithfulness to that battle, may we maintain faithfulness to our faith in Jesus and the call to that lifestyle he commands us to live. Faithfulness requires discernment, wisdom, and risk.  We are thankful that we can hear this wonderful record of the courage of the early Christians and sacrificial soldiers. May we find where we might find ourselves speaking up and speaking out in accordance with God’s will. I pray that our faith community’s witness is strengthened through worshipping, learning, and serving together. May we proclaim the gospel in words and deeds without concern for the inconvenience or fear our witness might bring. This story is repeated and continued around the world as persecuted believers speak out about their faith. It offers an account of real boldness that also speaks into situations of our time: sensitive and inconvenient issues, abuse, prejudice, discrimination, and injustice. Today’s text is a story of a faith community where the faithful few speak out on the side of truth and faith and justice in Christ. For the faith community today, where does that boldness come from? What gives Peter confidence to speak so boldly? What does the word “witness” mean to us? Christians do not respond with violence when they obey God and work for the Lord. Peter makes no excuses, only testifies as a witness, and offers a message of salvation to even those who killed Jesus. In verses 30-32, there are messages of repentance and forgiveness of sins offered to Israel. There is a free offer of salvation to those who believe. Peter and the apostles are all witnesses, and we are witnesses in the Holy Spirit. May we notice the Spirit comes as God’s gift to those who believe and obey Jesus. How can we believe today? In John 20:19–31, Thomas needs to witness something to witness, and Jesus meets him in that need. Our call as a faith community is to grow in the story and to witness to what we know. In the repeated retelling of the Resurrection, there is a time when the fear moves over, and confidence begins. May we be sent out in that confidence, where we rest on the authority of the faith rather than of the world and become “witnesses to Risen Christ and His presence.” In today’s readings, out of fear, the disciples hide in a locked room. In the first group appearance, Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” He brought peace to his disciples. In John 16, He had promised to relieve the disciples’ grief by replacing it with joy, and now He fulfilled that promise. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He continues to say, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Now he sends his people out to witness. Many theologians believe this reception of the Holy Spirit was temporary for the next fifty days which is the season of Easter before Pentecost. Jesus gave them peace, mission as witnesses, and the Holy Spirit. The disciples had their learning and growing times with resurrected Jesus between the resurrection and the ascension. As a temporary filling of the Spirit was given by Risen Christ to them for their spiritual needs prior to Pentecost, Our Lord gives us what we need when we do the work he has entrusted. Eugene Peterson has written about the “Resurrection Quartet”. He insisted each narrative is distinct with its own character, but they develop rich melodies, harmonies, and counterpoint when the four accounts are absorbed into the imagination. The four voices from four gospels become a resurrection quartet. Especially John’s gospel provides convincing evidence for dealing with doubting and questions about resurrection. John 20:31 tells us,” These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.”  When the disciples huddle in fear on the evening of the resurrection. Jesus appears to them. He reassures them of his resurrection reality by showing them the crucifixion marks in his hands and side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. When they are again together with Thomas who had not believed the report that the others gave. Jesus makes another appearance, offering himself in tangible form. In verse 27, He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands, and put out your hand, and place it in my side.” Jesus did not scold him or condemn his hesitation. He provided him with the

17th April 2022 (Easter Sunday) Title: Christ is Risen! (John 20:1–18 & Acts 10:34–43)                                                                                   By Heeyoung Lim Christ is risen! There are stories of people who died being restored to life in the Bible. In each case, the one who died lived again, but still faced death. The Resurrection we celebrate at Easter is testimony to Jesus the Christ who died, was raised, and will not die again. Acts 10:34–43 tells us about Peter’s witness to the God revealed in Christ. The gospel is universal, and God does not show favouritism. He invites people from every nation to trust in Jesus Christ for eternal salvation. The gospel makes salvation in Jesus available to anyone who believes in Him. Five times in Acts the apostles speak of witnessing the resurrection. People killed Jesus, but God raised him and showed his risen Son in public to certain chosen witnesses. This risen Lord sent Peter and disciples to testify that Jesus is God’s appointed judge of the living and the dead. Peter proclaimed that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name. This gospel of salvation was not a one-time event; rather God declared that whosoever may come and that will be the very essence of the gospel. In three other gospels, Mary Magdalene is accompanied by other women to the tomb. In John’s gospel 20, one woman alone comes to the tomb where the body of Jesus is. Mary comes while it is still “dark.” The time of Mary’s arrival may also be seen to mirror both the darkness of her despair and the depth of confusion. “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him”. (13) She grieves and weeps due to the disappearance of his body. We can feel the hurt and longing in a woman who loved a lost beloved.  Mary Magdalene goes alone to the tomb. In the first 11 verses, “tomb” occurs nine times. The scene is a place of death. From verse 12 on, the tomb is not mentioned. An empty tomb is replaced with the Risen Jesus. Peter and the disciple “whom Jesus loved” go to the tomb after hearing Mary’s witness. The minute the beloved disciple hears Mary’s news, he jumps up to see what has happened, arriving at the tomb before Peter. His actions seem perfectly understandable as he always represents the most appropriate way to respond to Jesus and stayed with Jesus all the way to the bitter end.  Peter’s reaction to Mary’s news about an open tomb was instant running to the tomb. We may make some guesses for this. Perhaps guilt motivates Peter to run out the door so that he can say he is sorry for denying Jesus after boasting about his loyalty, for not being present at the cross, for running away from the suffering moment. Or maybe Peter felt a hopeful curiosity. The empty tomb found by the disciples is a place with potential meaning not yet understood but Risen Christ will transform the disciples who run to it. Two disciples have raced to the tomb with curiosity or hope, but Mary has come to pay grief and homage to one she loved. The disciples see nothing within but empty wrappings and the leaves of one who left, but she sees not only the emptiness but the angels who give a message of Jesus’ presence when she looks in. Peter and John believed Mary’s word that someone had taken Jesus, but they returned home without staying outside the tomb unlike Mary. They found strips of linen and reacted with hesitation and uncertainty. Belief in resurrection does not come from an empty tomb itself, it comes in a restored relationship. When it comes to spiritual truth, may we be prepared to believe what we have not seen. I hope that we can know the difference between noticing something in God’s Word and perceiving it.  Mary remains at the tomb, outside. When she looks inside the tomb, grave clothes do not grab her attention. The tomb is no longer empty! There are “two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet”. When they ask her why she is crying, she persists in her assumption that a heist has occurred. Mary backs out of the tomb, turns around, and encounters a human figure. She thinks it is the “gardener”, but He is Risen Christ. Her assumption was wrong, but she went to the tomb, turned around from where she was, and finally encountered Risen Christ. In Christ, going, turning around, and encountering are necessary in our lives.  Jesus calls her by name: “Mary!” Now she is face to face with Jesus. We remember that when Jesus was teaching in Jerusalem before his death, he said, “I am the good shepherd,” who “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (10:11). They follow him because they “know his voice” (10:4). Jesus called Mary by name for her to recognize Him. Jesus asks Mary, “Whom are you looking for?” Mary meets Risen Christ with great joy, and Jesus tells her to go to the others with a message. (17) Mary spreads the gospel, “I have seen the Lord!” Mary is the first witness to the Resurrection and an apostle as “one sent forth”. Mary was sent by the Risen Christ. The surprise of resurrection prepares disciples for surprising witnesses. Our story and experience in faith cannot be anchored in the past. Risen Christ calls her by name to announce to the disciples and by extension to all who would believe a new creation, resurrection, and an unimaginable future. The good news that she reports

15th April 2022 (Good Friday Service) Title: Jesus Dying on the Cross (Scripture Readings: John 19:17-30)                                                                                   By Heeyoung Lim Many of us have experienced a dying family, friend or relative. Many in our congregation are acquainted with grief. Today’s text brings our congregation together as we stand at the foot of the cross, suffer with our Saviour and friend Jesus, and see him draw his last breath. It is an opportunity to share the experience and to get strength from one another.  None of us would have done what Judas did. Betrayed Jesus? We can say “No”. Have we ever pushed someone in a similar way because of our own impatience and greed? Is there anything of Judas in us? None of us would have done what Peter did. He promised to follow Jesus to the grave and then denied him because a servant girl asked a question. Who knows what we would really do under the circumstances? Have you ever imagined Peter who sat in that chilly courtyard denying Jesus? Is there anything of Peter in us? None of us would have done what Caiaphas did. Have we never weighed a difficult situation and then chosen the lesser of two evils?  None of us would have done what Pilate did. He shuttled back and forth between Jesus and his accusers, hoping for an easy answer, and escaping responsibilities. How many times have we listened to the wrong voice when we knew what to do, just because the right thing was neither the easy thing nor the popular thing? None of us would have done what the chief priests did. They shouted out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Then again, have we never been part of an angry crowd?  None of us would have done what the soldiers did. They mocked Jesus, dressed him in purple, and put a crown of thorns on his head. None of us would have nailed him to a cross, or gambled for his clothes, or pierced his side. Then again, good soldiers do what they are told to do. They are commended for it. Sometimes innocent people die because of that kind of wrongdoing.  None of us would have done what Mary did, would we? Stood there at the foot of the cross and watched a son’s life drain away? Or risked our lives like the disciple Jesus loved, by standing there with her? Some of us have watched as loved ones drew their last breath, painful as it was. Some of us have stayed by the bedside in that last hour. It is not hard to imagine the one who is dying saying to other family members, “Take good care of Mom.” Eventually we can say our good-byes. Jesus also needed to say goodbye to his mother on the cross. The real meaning of this story is that Jesus was caring for his mother and thus fulfilling the Old Testament commandment to “honour your father and your mother”. (Exod. 20:12) Though this is the first of the “seven last words” recorded by John, it is in fact a third in the recognized seven words. 1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34) 2. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) 3. “Dear woman, here is your son” . . . “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27) 4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) 5. “I am thirsty” (John 19:28) 6. “It is finished” (John 19:30) 7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46) “Dear woman, here is your son” & “Here is your mother” (26-27) Looking down Jesus said, “Woman, here is your son.” It means, “I am no longer your son. But then he said to the beloved disciple, “Here is your mother.” “Mother, I’m giving you a new son. Son, I’m giving you a new mother.” Jesus was forming a new family on the cross. Jesus said to His disciples before He completed His mission on earth. “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you,”  Jesus tells us on the cross at His moment of deepest grief, Jesus is calling us to live as if strangers are our brothers and sisters. Church is where we are gathered with first time strangers in Jesus’ name and called to look after brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus was telling His disciples about a new family on the cross and He wanted us to love and look after each other as a whole new church family.  Our families are a wonderful source of love and grace for us, but sometimes tragic stuff happens in our families. Mary suffered from the most painful moment watching her son of the cross. We may also see our suffering family members in our lives. May our suffering family and neighbours be recovered in the love of God. I hope we can remember that we have a new family in Christ looking after each other. Today is Good Friday. Are we standing at the foot of the cross? Maybe this is where we need to stand. We are not betraying Jesus, not denying him, not judging him, not condemning him, not rejecting him, not mocking him, not cursing him, and not killing him, but we are standing at the foot of the cross with others who love Jesus. May we put our arms around each other for comfort and strength. There are three last words of Jesus in John’s Gospel: “Woman, here is your son.” “[Son], here is your mother” (26); “I am thirsty” (28); and “It is finished” (30). John’s is the only Gospel that has

  10th April 2022 (Palm/Passion Sunday) Title: Jesus Rules by Serving (Scripture Readings: Luke 19:28–40 & Philippians 2:5–11) By Heeyoung Lim Lent has been a long journey. Now the long shadow of the cross and the footsteps of Jesus find us waiting at the gates of Jerusalem. Today is Palm Sunday, and the Passion Week will begin. Our journey is still not complete, and there is a deeper journey still to make. The greatest story is still to be told. Come let us gather at the gates of the triumphal entry praising Jesus. Today’s gospel reading recalls a triumphal entry into Jerusalem followed by suffering and death. But Jesus is not a passive victim. He acts with trust and obedience. Jesus speaks truth to those who wield violence and death and extends grace to sinners. He reveals self-sacrificial love even on the cross. Jesus has told them, “His identity and salvation will be revealed as the form of betrayal, death, and resurrection.” (Luke 9). He enters Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey as in Zechariah 9:9; “Your king comes to you…humble and riding on a donkey” It was the messianic promise from the Old Testament. In Luke 19, the king sent two of his disciples on a mission: “Find a donkey that has never been ridden before and bring it to me. If you face questions, just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So, the disciples brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their robes on it as a saddle, and set Jesus on it. In Korea, a Christian musician has described the donkey that carried Jesus on Palm Sunday in one of his songs. The lyrics go as follows; “Lord, I want to be that happy donkey. Untie me, O Lord, who is bound to worldly greed, to many sins and to my own self. Untie me, O Lord, and let me serve You. Let me live carrying You on my back, so that the world sees You rather than me. Lord, I want to be that happy donkey.” Do you want to be a happy donkey serving the Lord? The gospel tells us that people spread their cloaks on the road and crowds of disciples shout triumphantly because of the deeds of power they have witnessed along their journey with Jesus. The disciples also spread their robes on the street, signifying a royal procession. The crowd of disciples, indicating a group beyond the Twelve, joined the procession, praising God for all the miraculous signs Jesus had given. Those who followed Jesus into Jerusalem were living under the destructive power of the Roman empire. They praised Jesus with joy despite of all its risks and uncertainty because their hope is not in the temporary power of Rome, but rather in the endless, eternal power of God revealed in the life of Jesus. They praised Jesus as king, citing Psalm 118:26. Finally, Jesus’ glory was openly recognized. He came as God’s chosen king and showed that the hopes of Israel are being fulfilled. However, the crowds and the disciples were not ready for Jesus’ cross. Luke 19:38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Jesus is the eternal king, the promised Messiah, who comes in the name of the Lord. They praised Jesus, but the religious leaders came to crucify Jesus, not to praise Him. They asked Jesus to silence the disciples. Jesus quoted Habakkuk 2:11 and replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” If human voices were silent, nature would shout its praise. This is the moment for Jesus to receive praise. The king has come to save us. May we praise the Lord together in our daily life rather than just Sundays. In accordance with today’s text, Jesus is the expected messianic king who came to bring peace. God has sent the messianic king to bring peace that only heaven can establish and that cannot be denied on earth. The multitude’s praise and joy suddenly turn to great sorrow when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, because even though the multitude sings of peace and glory in heaven, it fails to recognize the price of true peace. Jesus is their peace and the peace of the world, not any peace, but the peace that only He can give, and that peace cannot be found apart from the journey of cross. May we confess Jesus as king of our life and of the universe. God’s holiness and justice made the cross an absolute necessity. Events at the crucifixion happened as they did so “the scripture might be fulfilled” (v. 24). No fewer than twenty Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled within twenty-four hours at the time of our Lord’s death. Jesus fulfills what the prophets have said, and His acts and the events in his life fulfill what he has said. Kings serve by ruling, but Jesus rules by serving, even to the point of suffering and death. In Mark 10:45, speaking of Christ, declares: “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.” The example of Jesus’ humility and service is well expressed in Philippians 2. Jesus is the supreme example of humility, love, and selflessness. When believers are united with Christ, they can have the same attitude of humility as Christ. Paul expresses the same thought in Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Today’s text invites us to share this humble, selfless mindset of Christ in our lives. Jesus was willing to leave his high position in heaven temporarily and to give himself over to serving our needs. Although he set aside the rights and privileges of being God to save people, he remained God. (6) Jesus made himself nothing or emptied himself. (7) Jesus chose not to use some of his divine attributes during the

3rd April 2022 (Lent 5) Title: Gracious Ministries for the Lord (Scripture Readings: John 12:1–8 & Philippians 3:4–14)                                                                                   By Heeyoung Lim All four gospels tell a story of a woman anointing Jesus, but only John names this woman. Along with Mark and Matthew, John sets the scene in Bethany. The place is the site of the conspiracy of Jesus’ death, the place where Mary prepared for the Lord’s death through expensive perfume and devotion, and the place where the Lord was later ascended into heaven. When Jesus arrived at Bethany, a banquet was held for Jesus. It was a feast prepared by Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Lazarus died a while ago and was in a state of rotting, but now he is alive and having a lively feast. This scene shows that there is no need to despair over death. On the other hand, Jesus does not away from such a feast as He is approaching His Passion. His power to overcome death and be resurrected makes us not despair. John began with the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. He tells us we have come to the last week of the Lord’s life before the cross. John has spent nearly half of his Gospel narrative on events of that crisis-filled week. Through the John’s gospel we will see our Lord facing several crises such as crises of values, confrontation, timing, and faith.  In Luke 10:38–42, Jesus contrasts Mary’s doing of the “needful thing” with Martha’s distraction over her tasks. Along with Luke, John associates the woman’s action with an extravagant act of hospitality. However, Mary anointed Jesus while Martha served. The Greek verb translated as “served” means ministering. Service and ministry for the Lord have been done by both Mary and Martha here. Jesus is graciously ministered to by the actions of both women.  Mary was pointed out by Martha in Luke’s gospel and by Judas in John’s gospel. Pouring that expensive perfume on Jesus would have been difficult for others to empathize with. Judas immediately criticized sharply, but Jesus recognized Mary’s heart.  In John, as Mary generously anoints him, Jesus tells her critics, “Leave her alone.” & “You will not always have me.” Here is Jesus’ clear defence of this woman, and she was no longer attacked by others. Deuteronomy 15:11 commands care for the poor. Justice is a critical tradition Jesus inherits from his Jewish culture. John 12:8 does not reject that tradition, rather a central theme in John’s gospel is what “time” it is. It can be expressed as an approaching hour. Verse 8 contains Jesus’ assertion that Mary’s action was timely since His time draws short. The inevitable hour had come. John makes clear the market value of the nard of 300 denarii, and it is roughly equivalent to the yearly wage for a day labourer. But there are other values than the market. The opportune moment to minister to Jesus leads Mary to move outside of still-valued traditions and censure. It aims to engage in this highly relational and devotional act. What Mary does in ministering to Jesus is a gracious act and ministry beyond all else services and a path to prepare for Jesus’ cross. Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet did needful things for herself listening to the word of the Lord, but now, Mary, at the feet of Jesus, anoints for the Lord. And at the feet of Jesus, and at the table where He eats, Mary and Martha both minister to Jesus. God has had grace and given his Son Jesus on the cross for our sin, raised Jesus, declared us righteous and justified, adopted us as His children, and promised us resurrection and eternal life. The human part in all this, in faith, is to accept what God has done. There is abundance wherever He is present. Who are the recipients and providers of gracious ministries? We expect God’s new and gracious actions in our lives. We continue to hope and pray for God’s restorative grace. Paul personalizes the priority given to a relationship with Christ that empowers ministry. As for Paul, the things of the world are viewed as rubbish in comparison to gaining Christ. His eyes were on Christ. All that matters is his relationship with Christ. What had formerly been Paul’s sources of pride gives way to Paul’s source of hope. Everything now hinges on an ever-deepening relationship with the risen Christ. The Damascus Road experience transformed him. This changed Paul’s aim in life. He wanted to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. To know Christ meant much more relational and depth than just knowing about Him in his mind. To know Christ in this way meant he was ready to share in Christ’s sufferings, even if that meant sharing his death. His goal is to win the prize for which God had called him in Christ Jesus. This is the driving force that moves him forward through his gracious ministries in Christ. Paul’s longing to share with Christ comes through strongly in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” We have not attained completion as a Christian but press on toward maturity in Christ. He had not “arrived.” Not yet mature, he was still very much in the race of the Christian life. He had to deal with his sinful body and was aware of the need for further spiritual growth. He is willing to press on as he had not attained the intense knowledge of Christ that he desired and had not become all that Christ wanted him to be. A fact of the Christian life is that the more we mature the more we realize