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A handful of witnesses

Sunday,12th April, 2009

This is based on Luke 24; The 'children' made finger puppets which you can find at :
To find out how to make them go to:

1.     Jesus                            Alive! He is the chief witness to the resurrection. It is his death and resurrection that makes all the difference. As we have a living Lord, we view life as walking with Jesus rather than following a dead prophet or hero.

2.     Mary +                         Change of expectation! They were in the wrong place at the wrong time! They were looking for a dead man when we was alive, to add spices to a body in a sealed tomb. They were seeking to pay their last respects, to preserve his memory, and so on. But because of their love they were in the right place at the right time, it just took time to get their heads round the fact he was alive.

3.     The guards                            Change the story. That is what history has been full of, people who want to set the record to fir their own ideas of what could or should happen. The soldiers were the first, but they have been many more. The challenge this morning is the same as ever, check the facts out, listen to the evidence.

4.     Peter & John                 The impossible made possible. That’s what Peter and John did. They went to see for themselves. That did not lead to an immediate appearance of Jesus but it got them thinking. After all, Jesus had said he would rise again on the third day.. but it was so out of the ordinary it took time to accept. The impossible had become possible but was it really true?

5.     Two on road to Emmaus        don’t give up. They had given up and gone home. Disillusioned and disappointed they were heading back to a pointless existence, except that Jesus joined them on the way. Jesus is like that. He is interested in the confused and lost. He seeks them out, reveals himself. What a difference he made. They went straight back to Jerusalem!

6.     Disciples                        Get excited There the disciples were excited because they had Peter had seen Jesus. And then they see him themselves! They were so excited! Perhaps it was not surprising that Thomas didn’t believe them. They were probably over the top!

7.     Thomas                         living with doubts. But Thomas id there to tell us that doubts are OK. But believing without seeing is even better. The evidence is convincing. But if you have doubts, we shave heard the witnesses today tell of a Jesus who is alive today. It is a tall order to ask you to believe that Jesus rose from the dead but it has happened. And you can meet him by faith today. You simply have to invite him to be your Saviour and Lord. It means turning from the wrong things and the doubts and placing them in his hands and saying I am sorry for the wrong things I have done, I am sorry I have not believed you are alive before. I now believe, help my unbelief. Send your Holy Spirit to be with me so that I can know that you are alive today.