Love and Loyalty in Following Jesus

We'll begin our time of worship, returning praise to Psalm 119.

That's in the Sing Psalms version on page 166 of the praise book, Psalm 119.

The beginning of that Psalm at verse 145, page 166 of the blue book.

I call with all my heart, Lord answer me, and then all your decrees I will obey.

I cry aloud to you, Lord save my life, and I will keep your statutes every day.

I rise before the dawn and cry for help, for I have set my hope upon your word.

I stay awake throughout the hours of the night, reflecting on your promises, O Lord.

Lord, in your loving kindness hear my voice, and in your justice save and keep my life.

For those who disregard your holy law approach with schemes of wickedness and strife.

Yet you are near to those who seek you, Lord.

All your commands are true and ever sure.

Yes, from your statutes long ago I learned that you have made them always to endure.

The psalmist there with his whole heart, expressing the love of the Lord and his faithfulness to him and his promises.

Let us stand together and sing these words to God's praise.

I call with all my heart, Lord answer me.

I call with all my heart, Lord answer me.

And may all you be peace I will obey.

I cry aloud to you, Lord save my life.

And I will keep your statutes every day.

I rise before the dawn and cry for help.

For I have set my hope upon your word.

I stay awake throughout the hours of night,

Lord, in your loving kindness hear my voice.

And in your justice save and keep my life.

For those who did regard your holy law.

I approach with schemes of wickedness and strife.

Yet you are near to those who seek you, Lord.

All your call that are true and never sure.

Yes, from your statutes long ago I learned.

And you have made them always to endure.

We'll now turn to God in prayer.

Let us pray.

Our Heavenly Father, as we sung there,

that you will be near to all those who seek you.

And so we pray that you would prepare our hearts this evening,

as we come to seek you, to seek your presence,

and to seek to know you being with us.

Lord, make us mindful of what we do when we gather in your name.

If we gather to worship the Lord God Almighty,

the creator of heaven and earth,

the sustainer of each and every one of us.

He holds everything in his hands.

And Lord, you are the one that hears us when we pray.

You know us in a greater sense than we know ourselves.

As we come to you this evening,

we know fine well in ourselves

that we do not deserve you to hear us.

We do not deserve you to listen to our complaints,

our anxieties,

the sorrows of our souls.

But Lord, you do,

because you love us.

And that great expression of your love

was seen in your Son, Jesus Christ,

that he died willingly on the cross for us.

And that we did not choose him,

but that he chose us

and loved us with an everlasting love.

So how else can we come

and gather and worship you

for that love that has been extended to us

with thankfulness and praise in our hearts

to the God that has made everlasting and eternal promises to us

who will not fail us

when we fail him.

Lord,

our salvation does not rest in ourselves,

but in the works of Jesus Christ.

And we pray that Jesus would be a reality to us tonight

as we gather,

that Jesus would come into this building

and speak with us

and to show us who we are before God,

to show us that we are sinful,

to show us that we are guilty.

Lord,

open our eyes

and block our ears

to see ourselves,

but to see the wonderful promises of the gospel,

the wonderful and eternal promises of salvation

for those who believe in Jesus Christ

and who do not trust in themselves.

To whom else can we go?

Nothing in this world offers us anything in comparison.

It is to you that we come.

It is to you that we come with our prayers and our worries.

And Lord,

we ask that you would answer the prayers of your people,

whatever they may be this evening,

in your providence and according to your will.

Hear the cries of those who mourn.

Hear the cries of those who are anxious about their health.

Hear the cries of those who have a concern for their own soul.

Hear the cries of those who have a concern for the souls of those in their families

who do not yet believe in you.

Lord,

by the power of your spirit,

would you work

a mighty work

in the hearts and souls

of the people of this island

and this town.

That people may see

their need of salvation,

see their

eternity in hell

without you.

without a saviour.

That they may come

and run

to you.

Run to the gospel.

Run to Jesus.

Fall at his knees

and have that burden

as Christian had

severed from his back

that would weigh him down

and condemn him

in Bunyan's

Pilgrim's Progress.

Lord,

we pray

that you would take

the burden

of condemnation

away from those

who are feeling it.

Those who feel like

they are not worthy

to have it set free from them.

Those who feel like

Jesus would never

come to me.

Come to them.

In your great compassion

and love,

Lord,

come to those

who even we do not

expect you to come to.

Set them free

so that they can say

there is now therefore

no condemnation

for those that are

in Christ Jesus.

that they may go out

and testify to others

of what Jesus

has done for their soul.

And in this man,

I have a hope

like nothing

in this world

can offer me.

Lord,

we pray

the gospel,

whatever it is preached

today,

would go with that power.

We are particularly

mindful

of those

that have heard,

have joined together

in the Christian

conference this weekend.

We pray for your

blessing over that

and the words

that have been spoken

there and the people

that have joined

together.

We pray your blessing

to pour down

in your spirit

upon them.

They may know

the great privileges

of being your people

and praising you

together.

Lord,

we just pray

for the ministers

of your gospel

that you would

uphold them

and strengthen them.

And even at this

evening hour

when they feel

that they're weakest,

we pray

that in their weakness

they would be strong

and that the power

of the gospel

would work

not through

their strength

but by

your spirit

and your word

faithfully

preached

and taught

week after week.

Lord,

we give thanks

for faithful ministry

in our congregation.

The ministry of

James McKeever

here

and his retirement,

we pray that you

would be with

himself and Donna.

We give thanks

for that faithfulness

to the congregation

and the years

that he gave

in service

to the Lord.

We pray that you

would bless them

in their retirement

and we pray

for Calum

to take up

that extra burden

and responsibility.

We pray for him

and his loss

of his friend.

We pray that you

would be near

to him

and strengthen him.

We give thanks

for Colin

as our inter-moderator.

We pray also

that you would

direct him

and direct us

as a congregation

to a man

of your choosing,

a man set apart

to gather

with your people

here

and to lead us

as an under-shepherd.

Lord,

we pray

as we pray

for someone

to come and lead us

that we would be

prayerful for each other

and mindful

of each other

and helpful

of each other

encouraging one another

every step

of the way.

for we know

that different

afflictions

affect each of us

differently.

One may fall,

one may just trip

on the same affliction

and so help us

to be mindful

and considerate

of each other.

Lord,

help us

to be forgiving

of each other.

Help us

to love

one another.

Help us

to join together

in worshiping you.

Lord,

bind us together

with that love

that we have

in common

with Christ,

that love

of Christ.

May that

bond

and fellowship

go out

into this world

and nation

and we pray

for those

who have

left homes

and families

and followed

the call

of Jesus

to go

to different

nations

to proclaim

the riches

which are

immeasurable

in Jesus Christ.

We remember

Muriel in Cambodia.

We pray for her.

We pray for the girls

that she is with.

We pray for her

in her teaching.

We pray that

she would be a light

there to the people.

We give thank you

for her.

We are mindful

of others

who have done

likewise.

We pray

that you would

uphold them

and give them

strength.

That

they would not

see persecution

but that they

would see

the fruits

of your word

being received

in the hearts

and lives

of believers.

Lord,

we

pray

for our nation

at this time

of election.

We pray

that you would

give wisdom

to the people.

Pray that you would

give us leaders

who hold

to your word.

Revive us

again

as a nation

to come

to remember

Jesus

and to love him

and to acknowledge

God.

For many do not.

Many choose

to forget.

Many

choose

to stamp

it out.

Lord,

in your

great

compassion

and mercy

extend

your

loving

arms

towards

those

that do

so

that they

may turn

to you

and know

you

and believe

in you

and have

eternal life

in you.

Watch over us

in our time

of worship.

Guard us

from the

evil one

and distractions

of the devil.

We ask all

these things

in the name

of Jesus

Christ,

your Son

and our

Saviour.

Amen.

We'll continue

in our praise

by singing

in Psalm 9b

in the

Sing Psalms

version.

You'll find that

on page 10

of the

Blue Praise

Book.

from the

beginning

from verse

9

that

Psalm

9b

page 10

at verse

9

The Lord

is a

stronghold

in times

of distress

a refuge

for those

whom the

wicked

oppress

for your

people

know you

and will

trust in

your grace

you've

never

forsaken

those

seeking

your face.

We'll sing

down to

verse

Mark 20

Arise

O my

God

let not

man

win the

day

let nations

be judged

in your

presence

I pray

O Lord

strike the

nations

put fear

in their

breast

to teach

them

that they

are but

human

at best.

We'll stand

and sing

these words

to God's

praise

the Lord

is a

stronghold

in times

of distress.

The Lord

is a

stronghold

in times

of distress

a refuge

for those

who

the

wicked

oppress

your people

who know

you

will trust

in your

grace

you've

never

forsaken

those

seeking

your

faith.

Praise God

who in

Zion

has

founded

his

throne

proclaim

to the

nations

the needs

he has

done

the cry

of afflicted

what springs

in his

ear

their

blood

he avenges

their

plea

he will

hear

Lord

see what

I

suffer

from

malice

and hate

have

pity

and lift

me

away

from

his

gate

that

I

in

Jerusalem

gave

his

gate

we

proclaim

your

mercy

and sing

to

the

praise

of

your

name

the

nations

are

sung

in

the

pit

they

prepare

their

feet

in

the

net

which

they

had

are

in

fear

the

Lord

by his

justice

has

made

himself

known

and

by

their

own

works

are

the

wicked

cast

down

the

wicked

return

to

the

graves

dark

of

all

nations

and

those

who

are

heedless

of

God

but

God

will

remember

the

cause

of

the

weak

he

will

not

let

perish

the

hope

of

the

me

arise

oh

my

God

let

not

man

win

the

day

let

nations

be

judged

in

your

presence

I

pray

oh

lord

strive

the

nations

who

feel

in

their

breath

to

teach

them

how

they

are

but

human

at

rest

I

will

turn

now

to

read

from

the

word

of

God

we

will

have

two

readings

read

from

the

gospel

of

Mark

first

chapter

15

from

verse

40

then

we will

turn

to

the

gospel

of

John

after

gospel

of

Mark

Mark 15 · chapter mention

chapter

15

reading

from

verse

40

the

crucifixion

of

Jesus

and

particularly

thinking

mindful

of

Mary

Magdalene

here

as we

read

these

two

passages

they

were

also

women

looking

on

from

a

distance

among

whom

were

Mary

Magdalene

and

Mary

the

mother

of

James

the

younger

and

of

Joseph

and

Salome

when

he

was

in

Galilee

they

followed

him

and

ministered

to

him

and

there

were

also

many

other

women

who

came

up

with

him

to

Jerusalem

and

when

evening

had

come

since

it

was

a

day

of

preparation

that

is

the

day

before

the

Sabbath

Joseph

of

Armathia

a

respected

member

of

the

council

who

was

also

himself

looking

for

the

kingdom

of

God

took

courage

and

went

to

Pilate

and

asked

for

the

body

of

Jesus

Pilate

was

surprised

to hear

that he

should

have

already

died

and

summoning

the

centurion

he asked

him

whether

he was

already

dead

and

when

he

learned

from

the

centurion

that

he

was

dead

he

granted

he

granted

he

handed

he

handed

him

in

the

linen

shroud

and

laid

him

in

a

tomb

that

had

been

cut

out

of

the

rock

and

he

rolled

a

stone

against

the

entrance

of

the

tomb

Mary

Magdalene

and

Mary

the

mother

of

Joseph

saw

where

he

was

laid

also

we'll

turn

to

the

gospel

of

John

John 20 · chapter mention

chapter

20

reading

from

the

beginning

of

that

chapter

John

20

reading

down

to

verse

18

let

us

hear

God's

word

now

on

the

first

day

of

the

week

Mary

Magdalene

came

to

the

tomb

early

while

it

was

still

dark

and

saw

that

the

stone

had

been

taken

away

from

the

tomb

so

she

ran

and

went

to

Simon

Peter

and

the

other

disciple

the

one

whom

Jesus

loved

and

said

to

them

they

have

taken

the

Lord

out

of

the

tomb

and

we

do

not

know

where

they

have

laid

him

so

Peter

went

out

with

the

other

disciple

and

they

were

going

towards

the

tomb

both

of

them

were

running

together

but

the

other

disciple

out

ran

Peter

going

to

look

in

he

saw

the

linen

cloths

lying

there

but

he

did

not

go

in

then

Simon

Peter

came

following

him

and

went

into

the

tomb

he

saw

the

linen

cloths

lying

there

and

the

face

cloth

which

had

been

on

Jesus

head

not

lying

with

the

linen

cloths

but

folded

up

in

a

place

by

itself

then

the

other

disciple

who

had

reached

the

tomb

first

also

went

in

and

believed

for

as

yet

they

did

not

understand

the

scripture

that

he

must

rise

from

the

dead

then

the

disciples

went

back

to

their

homes

but

Mary

stood

weeping

outside

the

tomb

and

as

she

wept

she

stooped

to

look

into

the

tomb

and

she

saw

two

angels

in

white

sitting

where

the

body

of

Jesus

had

lain

one

at

the

head

and

one

at

the

feet

they

said

to

her

woman

why

are

you

weeping

she

said

to

them

they

have

taken

away

my

Lord

and

I

do

not

know

where

they

have

laid

him

having

said

this

she

turned

around

and

saw

Jesus

standing

but

she

did

not

know

that

it

was

Jesus

said

said

to

her

woman

why

are

you

weeping

whom

are

you

seeking

supposing

him

to be

the

gardener

she

said

to

him

sir

if

you

have

carried

him

away

tell

me

where

you

have

laid

him

and

I

will

take

him

away

Jesus

said

to

her

Mary

she

turned

and

said

to

him

in

Aramaic

Rabboni

which

means

teacher

Jesus

said

to

her

do

not

cling

to

me

for

I

have

not

yet

ascended

to

the

father

but

go

to

my

brothers

and

say

to

them

that

I

am

ascending

to

my

father

and

your

father

to

my

God

and

your

God

Mary

Magdalene

went

and

announced

to

the

disciples

I

have

seen

the

Lord

and

that

he

had

said

these

things

to

her

amen

may

the

reading

of

God's

word

be a

blessing

to

all

who

have

heard

it

we'll

continue

in our

praise

by

singing

in

Psalm

63

of

the

Scottish

Psalter

version

you'll

find that

on

page

295

of the

blue

book

Psalm

63

from

the

beginning

of

that

Psalm

Lord

thee

my

God

I

early

seek

my

soul

does

thirst

for

thee

my

flesh

lungs

in a

dry

parched

land

wherein

no

waters

be

that

I

thy

power

may

behold

and

brightness

of

thy

face

as

I

have

seen

thee

heretofore

within

thy

holy

place

singing

down

to

verse

marked

8

and

shadow

off

thy

wings

I

will

joy

for

thou

my

help

has

been

my

soul

thee

follows

hard

and

me

thy

right

hand

doth

sustain

we'll

sing

these

verses

1 to

8

to

God's

praise

Lord

thee

my

God

I'll

early

seek

Lord

thee

my

God

I'll

early

seek

my

soul

the

thirst

for

thee

my

flesh

chomps

in

that

dry

heart

stand

where

there

no

waters

be

that

I

thy

power

made

thee

hold

and

bright

bless

of

thy

face

as

I

have

seen

thee

here

to

pour

within

thy

holy

face

since

beg

to

is

thy

love

and

life

my

lips

thee

grace

shall

give

I

in

thy

name

will

lift

thy

arms

and

bless

thee

why

thy

name

hello

if

might

them

on

me

j

is

unto thee

when

I to

thee upon

my bed

remember

with

delight

and

when

only

I

medited

in watches

of the

night

in shadow

of

thy wings

shall

join

for thou

my

help

hast

been

my

soul

thee

follow

star

and

me

thy

right

hand

does

the

same

turn

back to the

passage that

we read in

gospel of

john

the text

tonight will be

the words in

verse 15

woman

why are you

weeping

whom

are you

seeking

the resurrection

accounts

form the

foundation of

our

christianity

all the

gospel

writers

recorded

and I

believe

there are

ten

differing

accounts

of

jesus

in his

resurrection

state

appearing

to his

followers

of course

in the

period of

40 days

before he

ascended

to glory

in the

gospel of

in the

book of

acts

and this

account that

we have

read of

here

is the

first of

the

resurrection

appearances

and

over the

next few

times that

I

preach

it won't

be

consecutive

weeks

it'll be

elsewhere

but

the next

few times

that I'm

with you

I hope

to

draw

attention

to the

resurrection

appearances

that are

recorded here

in the

gospel of

john

a gospel

that has

been written

with a

purpose

a gospel

that has

been written

with a

purpose

that you

can see

in this

chapter

at verse

30

where john

says that

he has

written these

things so

that you

may believe

that jesus

is the

son of

god

john

wrote all

these things

so that they

would not be

forgotten

john

wrote all

these things

because they

made such

an impression

upon him

john

wrote all

these things

because he

believed in a

risen saviour

and he has

written it

for each

and every

one of us

so that we

may believe

that jesus

is the

son of

god

and that by

believing in

him

each and

every one

of us

may have

life

john in

his gospel

records

four of

the resurrection

appearances

the first

one here

is what

we'll

consider

at the

tomb

secondly

we'll

move into

the locked

room with

the disciples

thirdly

we'll

witness a

personal

conversation

that the

resurrected

lord had

with

thomas

and the

last of

the appearances

is when

jesus

appears on

the shore

and has a

meal with

the disciples

in the

closing

chapter

four

differing

moments

that

radically

influenced

and changed

those whom

he appeared

to

these

resurrection

appearances

they were

key

motivators

for the

early church

of course

they were

who

comes back

from the

dead

who

comes back

from the

grave

to walk

with

and talk

with

to sit

with

and eat

with

those who

had

followed

him

this is

big news

this is

the greatest

news

that these

followers

went on

to tell

everyone

about

and though

this man

died

he's

risen

again

he's

come back

to life

surely

he must

be the

son

of god

and their

testimony

was just

like

Mary's

here in

this chapter

where she

said

I have

seen

the lord

they too

saw

the lord

they knew

there was

no other

news like

this that

everyone had

to hear

about

but when

they went

to the

world with

it

they didn't

really receive

it

with gladness

they hated

it

they didn't

want it

and those

followers

those

apostles

had seen

the resurrected

lord who

sat with

him and

spoke with

him and

ate a

meal with

him

they faithfully

went on

no matter

what

telling this

news to

people that

would not

accept it

faithfully

preaching the

word

even if it

meant that

the majority

of them

would be

brutally

killed

that in