As I begin, I would like to acknowledge Bill Thew’s call home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and to acknowledge his valuable input into the life of St Paul’s. Our sincere condolences as you who grieve: to Mary and her family and to all who worshipped with Bill.

With the thoughts of the theme of last week’s service, “Security in Jesus” and the confidence we have in eternal life as God’s children, I quote from a segment of John Donne’s sonnet. Donne was Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London in the early 1600s and also an honoured poet.

Death, Be Not Proud.

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; ….

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Paul, writing to the church in Corinth was challenging a statement that was being made in the local community. They denied the Christian’s belief that after our physical death that was the end. They claimed there was no resurrection. Paul puts forth a very valid argument to the local Christians, and to us, that if there is resurrection, Jesus did not rise from the grave and so Christians have no basis for their belief of eternal life in heaven.

Paul’s counter statement belittles the false belief, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? … thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Donne and Paul have got it right. Our evidence is recorded in the Gospels, Acts and Corinthians. From the Gospels we have recorded, An empty tomb which had been sealed with a large stone and was guarded by Roman soldiers. Mary Magdelene’s experience on Resurrection Morning. She had spoken with Jesus and her announcement to the disciples galvanised Peter and John to go to the tomb and check out her story. The tomb was empty! Luke writing in the Book of Acts wrote, “And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.” I give Paul, who met Jesus on the road to the city of Damascus, the last word on the witnesses of Jesus resurrection, ” he (Jesus) was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive.

We are not alone, according to Wikipedia on those who call themselves Christian. “It is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with over 2.4 billion followers, comprising around 31.2% of the world population. Its adherents, known as Christians, are estimated to make up a majority of the population in 157 countries and territories.

Today’s Sentence and Collect outline what responsibilities we have as a Christian. Towards our fellow believers. The sentence: Relationship. Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. As I have loved you, you should love one another.” The Collect takes it further: “Make us glad we pray you, gentle God, to give each other your loving care; make us happy to receive it. May there daily grow within us a generous, trusting spirit. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.”