Thursday 8th May

Introduction

Pray first ...

We are in the Easter season … celebrating what Jesus has done for us …

Easy to rush on to the next thing - but good to stay in this place of thankfulness

Readings help us think about that this morning

Psalm 30 is a song of praise … for the dedication of the temple … and I’m reminded that Jesus said about the temple: ‘destroy it, and I will raise it up again in 3 days’

The leaders didn’t understand - 46 years to be built - Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection

This Psalm is about our God who rescues - our God who saves

God did not leave us - we were dead in our sins and transgressions - we had no hope

But God lifted us out of the depths

We called out to help and he healed us

For some that will mean physical healing - we might be able to share stories and testimonies of where God has healed us

But for all of us - we can all say that God has healed us spiritually - we were broken - we were lost in our sins until Jesus came into our lives

I don’t know if you know of that painting by Holman Hunt called The Light of the World - evening, Jesus carrying a lantern, he’s knocking on the door, and the door handle is on the inside

Brought me up from the realm of the dead / spared me from going into a pit

This salvation is what the Psalmist describes as bringing me up from the realm of the dead - when Paul says in Ephesians …

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Jesus was put to death for us - he went to the grave - he was buried in the pit - and he went down into the realm of the dead - but God raised him up - he was resurrected - not resuscitated, given a new lease of life - but he died and was resurrected and now he has life on the other side of the grave

If you think about the direction of travel that Paul and the Psalmist are talking about for a moment - we are spared from going down, but that doesn’t just mean that we’re brought up to the normal level, but we are raised up with Christ - we are seated with him in the heavenly realms.

Jesus went down for us, he took on our transgressions and sins and went down because of them … so that he could then be raised up for us

We now no longer need to go down because of our transgressions and sins because he has dealt with them

Anger lasts a moment / favour lasts a lifetime

God’s anger against sin weighed on Jesus - he turned his face away from his son when he was made sin for us - and now we have been

Weeping may stay for the night / rejoicing comes in the morning

I will never be shaken

Lord, be my help

Wailing / dancing

Sackcloth / clothed me with joy

Heart sing praises and not be silent - I will praise you forever