Keep me Safe Till the Storm PASSES BY

CONTENTS
Message One
Keep me Safe till the Storm Passes By
Message Two
A Model for Self-Isolating
Message Three
Hospital – A Place of Healing
Message Four
The Fragility of Life
Message Five
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Message Six
The Exit Strategy

A note from John . . .
This booklet contains a series of six messages which the Lord inspired
me to prepare during the Covid-19 pandemic as an encouragement to
friends all over the world. It has been humbling for me to receive
feedback that the Word of God has indeed been used to be a comfort
and blessing during these difficult days.
I trust that they will be an encouragement to you as you read them and
share them with others.
The title was inspired by a beautiful song written by Thomas Mosie
Lister, “Keep me Safe till the Storm Passes By”.
Any donations received in relation to this booklet will be used for the
National Workers’ Fund which has been established to help support
national missionaries in Africa, India and other European countries
where there is great need.
I have greatly appreciated the assistance of Jan Goodall, my PA, in the
production of this little booklet.
May the Lord keep you safe till the storm passes by.
Every blessing,
John Speirs June 2020
Contact Details:
John Speirs, 10 Murray Terrace, Motherwell ML1 3PZ, Scotland
Email: jspeirs.cmctindia@gmail.com Tel. 01698 251916

MESSAGE ONE
Keep me Safe till the Storm Passes By
*In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe till the storm passes by
At the moment, there is a tsunami wave crashing over the whole world;
nations are gripped by fear, panic and the threat of death.
Leaders of nations are powerless to bring this Coronavirus crisis under
control. Despite the wealth available, and regardless of the scientific
resources at their disposal, man is seemingly unable to solve this
catastrophe.
Fear, panic and the threat of death is nothing new in the history of
man’s experience. One day on the Lake of Galilee a group of men who
in the future would be the foundation of the worldwide church, beat
their breasts in fear and in panic and thought their end had come.
Let me share three lessons from this incident found in Mark’s Gospel
4:35-41
Jesus Calms the Storm
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let
us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the
multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other
little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose,
and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him
and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are
perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the
sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great
calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is
it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said
to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea
obey Him!”
1 The Cry of Fear (verse 38)
“. . . do you not care that we are perishing?”
2 The Composure of their Friend (verse 39)
“Peace. Be still!”
3 The Challenge of their Faith (verse 40)
“How is it you have no faith?”
The Cry of Fear (verse 38)
One of the most debilitating features in life is FEAR and some of the
most quoted phrases in the Bible are “fear not” or “be not afraid”.
From our childhood we are confronted with fear – fear of the dark, fear
of being left alone, etc.
The disciples’ hearts were gripped by fear and the cry that escaped
from their lips reflected the panic in their hearts because of the storm.

All over the world this deadly virus has gripped people with fear. There
is no vaccine to resist it and there is no known cure. People who
succumb to this disease are crying out, “will I die?” The fear of death is
a weapon in the hands of the devil and he robs people of the peace and
joy of feeling safe.
Hebrews 2:14, 15
“Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh
and blood – the Son also became flesh and blood. For only
as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he
break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their
lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”
The storm on the lake that day was no ordinary storm. The disciples
thought they were at the point of being totally swamped and a watery
grave was in prospect. May our cry reach the ear of God and wait for
His response to the situation we face at this present time.
The Composure of their Friend (verse 39)
Out of the exhaustion of His service Jesus was fast asleep in the stern of
the boat. He had set out with the intent of crossing over to the other
side and His word should have been sufficient for the disciples, “Let us
cross over to the other side”.
When their cry awoke Him, He is unperturbed and composed. He
stands up in the boat, despite the effects of the wind and the waves,
and with perfect control He says, “Peace, be still!”
There is no panic, there is no hysteria in Christ. He is perfectly
composed. Creation and the power of the sea are under His control.
A quote: “The waves might be over your head but they are under His
feet.”

The leaders of the nations across the world need to recognise what
Nebuchadnezzar discovered in Daniel Chapter 4:32, “The Most High
rules in the Kingdoms of the world . . .”
It may be that God has allowed the Coronavirus to sweep across the
world so that man may realise that God is still in control of this world.
The Challenge of their Faith (verse 40)
Jesus asks the disciples two questions:
1. “Why are you so fearful?”
2. “Where is your faith?”
In any crisis questions are raised and require to be answered.
Challenges that we face in life are designed by God to strengthen our
faith and to enable our faith to grow.
If we trust we do not fear. If we fear we do not trust.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in
Him.” Romans 15:13
The challenge for us today is to face the question, “how will the church
survive without meeting together?” Will we be able to reflect our faith
in God during these days of uncertainty and will we give hope to a
world that is in despair?
*Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by
* Songwriter: Thomas Mosie Lister

MESSAGE 2
A Model for Self-Isolating
As the Coronavirus crisis deepens all across the world, the leaders of the
nations are instructing everyone to “stay at home”, to isolate
themselves, to be out of contact from everyone. The adjustments in all
our lives because of this instruction are very significant.
In the Bible, in 1 Kings 17, there is a crisis in the nation of Israel. King
Ahab has rejected Jehovah as God and is worshipping the god Baal. The
consequences of his actions are that God is withholding rain for three
years and this will create a serious economic/health crisis. Israel’s
economy was based on agriculture and very dependent on rainfall.
God’s spokesman was Elijah and he delivered the news to King Ahab
that there would be no rain or dew for the next few years. God
understood what the reaction of King Ahab would be. Ahab would seek
to destroy Elijah and so, for Elijah’s protection, God instructs him to
self-isolate: “Go to the east and hide by the Brook Cherith” (a wild glen
in the Transjordan Valley).
Let us consider the verses in 1 Kings 17:1–7 under the following
headings:
1. Elijah’s Removal from Society
2. Elijah’s Reliance on the Ravens
3. Elijah’s Risk in Trusting God

1 Kings 17: 1–7 Elijah Fed by Ravens
And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to
Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there
shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Get away from
here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which
flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the
brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went
and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The
ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread
and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook. And it
happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there
had been no rain in the land.
Elijah’s Removal from Society: Self-Isolating
The Bible gives no information about Elijah’s background, whether he
was single or married, etc. His story suddenly appears on the stage of
life with the unexpected news that a crisis is ahead and will have serious
repercussions for everyone in the nation. For his own protection, God’s
instruction is SELF-ISOLATION – “Go hide yourself in the Cherith
Ravine!”
At the end of January, completely unexpectedly, the news flashed
across the world that the Coronavirus had broken on the Wuhan
Province in China. Since then its spread around the world has been
unimaginable. It is so serious and tragically so many people are dying
all over the world.

The instruction that is ringing out around the world from every nation in
order to stem the outbreak is, “stay at home, self-isolate”!
It is staggering that the Prime Minster of India has called on 1.3 billion
people to stay at home!
How did Elijah survive in this remote valley by the Cherith Brook? What
did he do all day? How did he pass his time? How did he cope with
aloneness? What was the mental impact on him?
He had no-one to talk to, only God. What a challenge to our faith when
we have no-one to talk to but God. It seems likely that this period of
self-isolation could be with us for some considerable time and could
provide a great opportunity to deepen our ‘quiet times’ with God and
enrich our personal relationship with God our Father.
On a personal note, 45 years ago, having returned from a GLO team in
Italy, I became seriously ill and was diagnosed as having tuberculosis in
both lungs. I was immediately hospitalised and had to spend the next
three months isolated in a fever hospital 20 miles from home.
I had no contact with my children for fear of infection and I recall it
vividly as being a deeply challenging experience for us as a family. I had
to lay aside all my forward ministry programme and in doing so we
were totally dependent on the Lord to sustain us. Reflecting on this
period of ill health and isolation, Cathie and I can say that it was a
spiritually enriching period in our lives where we proved that our
faithful God doesn’t desert us even in our isolation.
Elijah’s Reliance on the Ravens
In unprecedented circumstances, God is still able to meet our need.
Elijah needed to eat and be refreshed each day and God provided Birds
and a Brook for his daily supply.

I have been served my food in many different countries by many
different waiters but never have I been served by air from the birds!
Elijah relied on the ravens to be on time each day and to drop the food
at the right place. The ravens were under God’s control.
How thankful are we each day and at each meal time that God has
answered our prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”? This virus is
teaching us that our dependence for life and daily living is entirely
reliant on God.
Do Not Worry Luke 12:22-24
“Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not
worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what
you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than
clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap,
which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of
how much more value are you than the birds?
Philippians 4:19
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.”
Elijah’s Risk in Trusting God
Elijah was content to remain in self-isolation until God moved him on.
Each day as time passed he watched the brook run slower and become
shallower until it says, “the brook dried up”. Did he try to project his
mind as he witnessed his water supply dry up and ask himself, “what
will I do when I have no water?” Or, was he content to trust God that
there would be an answer to the dried brook?

There is a degree of risk involved in faith. When we do not know what
lies ahead do we continue to trust God when our brook dries up?
When will this Coronavirus be over? We do not know and we tend to
get anxious about dates and times. We like to have more certainty
about the future.
God’s instruction to Elijah when the brook dried up was to move on to a
village called Zarephath. He said, “I have instructed a widow there to
feed you”. Our lives and our futures are in God’s hands and He is
making provision for our daily needs. Let’s take the risk and trust Him
when reflecting on these words.
Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

MESSAGE THREE
Hospital – A Place of Healing
It is quite intriguing that the UK Government has initiated the building
of new hospitals throughout England to cope with Coronavirus patients,
called the “Nightingale Hospitals”.
Florence Nightingale has an illustrious place in history as the founder of
modern nursing. Her fame reached its peak during the Crimean War
when in 1854 she felt called of God to serve the wounded soldiers. She
was known as “The Lady with the Lamp” as she would visit the
wounded and the dying during the night. It was said that more soldiers
died as a result of infections than from their battle wounds. Florence
Nightingale implemented a strict hand-washing regime and greatly
improved the hygiene within the hospital that saved countless lives.
Today, we recognise the invaluable work of doctors, nurses and health
care workers who have dedicated themselves to save so many lives in
hospitals as well as caring for the dying in hospices. This, of course, is
the order of the day in hospitals throughout the world.
Let me share with you a true story about a ‘hospital’ in the Bible. It
could be called Bethesda General Hospital or even Jerusalem City
Hospital. The details are recorded in John’s Gospel 5:1-9.
I suggest we consider these verses under the following headings:
1. A Hospital with a Difference
2. A Patient with a Difference
3. A Visitor with a Difference

John 5:1-9
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool,
which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these
lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed,
waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at
a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then
whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made
well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there
who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying
there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long
time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into
the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming,
another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And
immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and
walked.
A Hospital with a Difference
The description of Bethesda General Hospital is understood when we
read verse 3. In this ‘hospital’ there lay crowds of sick people – blind,
lame and paralyzed.
The impression given is that this hospital was full to overflowing with
people who had all different kinds of ailments and problems.

How was it a hospital with a difference?
Well, there were no doctors, nurses or health care workers. Patients
brought in their own beds. There was no operating theatre or hospital
equipment but there was a pool of water called the Pool of Bethesda.
Seemingly, at certain times of the year, the water in the pool was
supernaturally stirred and at that moment of stirring it contained
healing properties for those who could bathe in the water.
At present, in our time, hospital capacity worldwide is being stretched
to the absolute limit as so many people are being infected by the
Coronavirus. Temporary hospitals are being set up and it is amazing
that the newly opened Nightingale Hospital in London was constructed
in the short space of nine days.
These days in which we live present a great challenge to the Christian
church. Are we a ‘hospital’ or a ‘prison’? Is church a place where we
care for people with broken lives? Through sin in our society many
relationships and marriages are broken and people are in serious pain.
Alcohol and drugs have ruined so many lives. Can we open the ‘wards’
of the church and receive people who need help spiritually to be
healed?
A Patient with a Difference
Within the Bethesda General Hospital there was a dear paralyzed man
who had been ill for 38 years. He was immobile and unable to walk. He
expresses his despair in these words, “I have no-one to help me into the
pool”.
The isolation and loneliness of his experience would no doubt be
mirrored in his facial expression. All hope of being healed was gone and
life was simply an existence. There was no joy for him or purpose in
life.

A long stay in hospital can be a very debilitating experience. When I
was diagnosed with TB in 1975, I heard the doctor say that I could
possibly be in hospital for three, six or even nine months. It seemed like
a lifetime but I was fortunate that it was only to be three months.
There is a disease much more serious than Covid-19 and it is called sin.
Each one of us has been born with this spiritual malady and it has left us
powerless and weak. King David in the Bible says in Psalm 51:5, “For I
was born a sinner - yes, from the moment my mother conceived me”.
Psalm 51 is a classic Psalm of David’s confession of his sin. He
recognises before God his need to repent and confess and he
experienced the remedy for his healing from God in forgiveness.
A Visitor with a Difference
Visiting in hospitals and hospices requires a sensitive pastoral approach.
As a visitor you can bring words of comfort and hope to someone who
is seriously ill or someone even coming to the end of life’s journey.
However, sometimes you can say something really unhelpful or
inappropriate.
When I had just received the diagnosis of TB all these years ago a visitor
was passing my bed in hospital and, recognising me, he asked what was
wrong with me. “The doctor says I have TB” was my reply. The visitor
said, “Oh, I once had a brother who died with that!” I didn’t find this
comment encouraging!
The conversation in Bethesda General Hospital that day between the
visitor and the patient was quite different.
The visitor asked a very direct question, “would you like to get well?”
The patient is in despair with no hope of getting well. The visitor said,
“stand up, pick up your bed and walk”. Instantly, the man was healed,
rolled up his sleeping mat and left the hospital walking. It was nothing
less than a miracle!

Jesus was the visitor. He has the ability to transform lives by the Word
of His power. There was a time in the history of the world when Jesus
came to earth as a visitor. He came to rescue, heal and forgive broken
mankind.
Many doctors, nurses and health care workers today are willing to serve
in hospital and minister to patients with Covid-19 and it has cost some
their lives. What a sacrifice that these dear people are willing to make.
Jesus Christ was willing to become sin that we might become righteous
and that involved the ultimate sacrifice of His life at the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our
sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
Florence Nightingale once said, “Live life when you have it. Life is a
splendid gift - there is nothing small about it.”
Jesus said in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and
have it to the full.”
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary's mountain.

MESSAGE FOUR
The Fragility of Life
As the Coronavirus sweeps through the world and the death toll mounts
day after day we are staggered at the loss of life. The death toll in
America has risen to frightening levels while in Europe the number of
deaths has also been shocking.
We were greatly concerned in the UK when the Prime Minister was
taken into Intensive Care in St Thomas’ Hospital in London. His own
words were, “it could have gone either way”. In other words, he sensed
he was at the point of death.
When we hear the number of deaths being announced daily it does not
truly impact us until someone we know and love is one of these
statistics!
I had a very close friend who rose to heaven on Easter Sunday morning
as a result of the Coronavirus. His dear wife was in the same hospital
with the virus and the nursing staff were so kind and brought her to her
husband’s bedside and allowed her to witness his passing to Glory.
This made me think of the fragility of life. There is a true story in the
Bible which illustrates how fragile is the thread of life. The details that I
want us to think about are in Isaiah 38:1-5 under the title “The Fragility
of Life”. I will consider these verses under the following headings:
1. What a Difference a Day Makes
V1 “You are going to die.”
2. What a Difference Prayer Makes
V2 “He prayed and he wept.”
3. What a Difference God Makes
V5 “I will add 15 years to your life.”

Isaiah 38:1-5
Hezekiah’s Sickness and Recovery
About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet
Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this
message: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for
you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and
prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been
faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing
what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord: “Go back to
Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your
ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your
tears. I will add fifteen years to your life’.
What a Difference a Day Makes
Hezekiah was a Godly king and leader in the nation of Judah. He had
restored the nation spiritually by demolishing idol worship and reestablishing
the worship of God at the Passover. He had followed the
commands of God and had pleased the Lord but he was not immune
from illness. One day he is well and life is good. He has so much to be
thankful for as a king then suddenly, unexpectedly he is seriously
unwell. What a difference a day makes!
In these uncertain days, we have discovered that one day our loved
ones or friends are well then suddenly the virus has overtaken them
and they are facing a life threatening situation. One day at home with
their family, the next day in ICU on a ventilator. Life is fragile.

The Bible reminds us on a number of occasions how fragile life really is.
Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know
what a day may bring forth.”
Job 14:1
James 4:14
“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of
trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like
a passing shadow, we quickly disappear.”
“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?
Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while,
then it’s gone.”
This pandemic, as it has attacked the nations across the world and
wreaked havoc upon so many individuals and families, has reminded us
of the uncertainty and fragility of life.
What a Difference Prayer Makes
The shock to Hezekiah with the news that Isaiah had brought
devastated him. It was a death sentence, the furthest thought from his
mind before the visit of the prophet had been death. He turned and
faced the wall and prayed. Prayer was not strange to him or something
that he had not practiced. He makes an appeal to God based on his
faithfulness to God and his obedience to God. He adds to his prayer the
emotion of tears. His prayer was immersed in tears.
In the crisis of life’s circumstances does prayer make a difference?
In the storms of life who do we turn to? Hezekiah turned to God in
prayer.

I once had a near death experience in Australia when I was caught by a
“rip tide” while swimming in the sea. I could hear my wife and two
friends calling for me to return to the shore but I couldn’t and I thought
I was going to drown. In my desperation I called out, “God save me!”
and the next minute my feet found sand. God heard my prayer and
rescued me. We often use prayer as a “last resort” when in fact it
should be our “first priority”.
What a difference prayer made in the early church.
Acts 4:31
Acts 10:9
Acts 12:12
“After this prayer, the meeting place shook!”
“Peter went up on the flat roof to pray.” The door to
the Gentiles was opened.
“Many were gathered for prayer” and Peter was
released from prison.
The Bible is full of illustrations where we can see the difference that
prayer makes.
I believe that if the church worldwide gives itself to prayer then this
pandemic will be stemmed and halted.
Hezekiah’s prayer was personal, passionate and powerful. Prayer and
tears are a great mix to capture the ear and eye of God. What a
difference prayer makes!
What a Difference God Makes
Isaiah 38:5 tells us that God says to Hezekiah, “I have heard your prayer
and seen your tears. I will add 15 years to your life.”

Job in his reasoning and understanding of God says in Job 14:5, “You
have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we
will live, and we are not given a minute longer.”
Is a Christian who develops Coronavirus and dies taken from earth
prematurely? Is it possible that I will die too soon? In the sovereignty
and purpose of God, despite the fragility of life, we will live our lives
within God’s timescale.
It was originally planned for Hezekiah to die on the day of Isaiah’s
announcement but God chose to add to his life 15 years. God has the
prerogative to change His mind. He is in total control of how short or
long each of us live on earth.
The Godly lady I mentioned earlier whose husband rose to heaven on
Easter Sunday morning has accepted God’s timing for her husband’s
passing and despite the pain of grief she has given God the glory.
I have a younger friend in his mid-40s who developed the virus a few
weeks ago in Canada. He was on a ventilator for many days and in an
induced coma but God has answered prayer and is raising him back to
health. What a difference God makes!
The Psalmist David offers a challenging prayer in Psalm 39: 4 & 5. “Lord,
remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days
are numbered – how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no
longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment
to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

MESSAGE FIVE
The Ultimate Sacrifice
The United Kingdom came to a halt on 26 th April 2020 at 11 am when
people from all over the country stood for one minute’s silence and
reflection. It was an act of honouring the doctors, nurses and health
care workers who have died as a result of serving the Coronavirus
patients. In this simple but profound act of respect and appreciation
the nation said thanks for the ultimate sacrifice that these dear public
servants made in giving their lives.
One of the doctors was Dr Adil El Tayar, a 64 year old transplant
surgeon from Sudan. He died on 25 th March in London and was buried
in Sudan beside his father and grandfather with no family present. A
cargo plane transported the coffin to Sudan. We honour the sacrifice of
all the doctors who have died serving in hospitals.
At the very heart of Christianity is the story of the cross where the Lord
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice when He gave His life to save
lives.
The details surrounding the death of Jesus make painful reading. The
record left in the Bible by John the Apostle is found in John chapter 19.
There are different characters involved in the events that unfolded on
Jesus’ last day on earth.
Let us consider some of the individuals mentioned in John chapter 19:
1. The Soldiers Vs 1-3
2. Pilate Vs 12 & 13
3. The Mother of Jesus Vs 25 & 26

When we reflect on the various responses in our different nations
towards those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in this current
pandemic, we also discover that there were varied responses from the
individuals who appear in John 19 to the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus
made.
What did it mean to the soldiers that Jesus died on the cross?
- It meant NOTHING.
What did it mean to Pilate that Jesus died on the cross?
- It meant SOMETHING.
What did it mean to Mary that Jesus died on the cross?
- It meant EVERYTHING!
The Soldiers – The Ultimate Sacrifice that meant NOTHING
John 19:1–3
“So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers
twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on
Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And
they struck Him with their hands.”
The soldiers made a mockery of Jesus. They crafted a crown from thorn
bushes, forced it onto His head and cried in a mocking voice, “Hail, King
of the Jews”!
They took the liberty to abuse Jesus, they spat in His face, struck Him
with their hands and pulled the hair from His beard.

To these Roman soldiers, Jesus was a nobody and He meant nothing to
them. For them to fulfil the demands of the sentence, they had to take
Jesus and nail him with hands and feet to a Roman cross but it did not
mean anything. To them He was just another prisoner. They stripped
Jesus of His clothes and they gambled for His seamless robe.
From the soldiers’ actions at first we understand that there was no
appreciation of who Jesus was or why He was giving His life. There are
many in the world today for whom the death of Jesus on the cross of
Calvary means NOTHING.
Pilate – The Ultimate Sacrifice that Meant SOMETHING
John 19:12 & 13
“From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried
out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s
friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out
and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is
called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.”
As the Roman Procurator in Judea, Pilate had the authority to sentence
a man to death or release him. Pilate was intrigued to meet and to
have a personal interview with Jesus. He interrogated Jesus and
concluded that He was innocent and not guilty of death. Having been
counselled by his wife not to get involved with Jesus, Pilate made every
attempt to release Him as there was a custom for a prisoner to be
released at that time of year. However, the pressure from public
opinion was overpowering and Pilate, against his better judgement,
scourged Jesus and released Him to be crucified.

Many people today are represented by Pilate. They are fascinated or
intrigued by Jesus and they have a knowledge of the truth about Him
but they lack the courage to make a decision to accept and follow Him
as Saviour and Lord. The influence of the crowd is too strong and so
Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice does mean SOMETHING but not enough
for people to fully surrender their life to Christ.
Mary, the mother of Jesus: The Ultimate Sacrifice that meant
EVERYTHING
John 19:25 & 26
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His
mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the
disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His
mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
Four women stood at the cross and witnessed Jesus die. How
emotional it must have been for each one of them but especially for
Mary, the mother of Jesus. They loved Jesus deeply and He had meant
so much to them in their personal lives and salvation.
In Scottish history in the year 1685, four women appeared in a court of
law charged with attending a Christian gathering. They had broken the
law and they were guilty as charged and were sentenced. One of the
women was sentenced to drowning in the Solway Firth. She was 70
years of age. One other girl was also sentenced to drown with the
proviso that if she changed her mind and recanted her faith her life
would be spared. Margaret Wilson, at 18 years of age, refused to
recant. She was led into the water and tied to a stake when the tide
was out and was duly drowned when the tide returned. Her last words
as they led her to the stake came from Psalm 25, “Oh my God, I trust in
thee: let me not be ashamed.” To these women, Jesus and His ultimate
sacrifice on the cross meant EVERYTHING.

We salute and honour each life as we reflect on doctors, nurses and
health care workers who have been willing to give their lives for others.
However, the challenge for us is also to reflect personally on the
ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made when He gave His life on the cross.
Many years ago I stood in the Omaha War Cemetery in North France to
pay my respects and to honour 10,000 soldiers who paid the ultimate
sacrifice on D Day, 6 June 1944. On the walls of the garden of
remembrance I read these words from John 15:13:
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again
And once again I look upon the cross where you died
I'm humbled by your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank you
Once again I pour out my life *
*Once Again by Matt Redman

MESSAGE SIX
The Exit Strategy
As the storm of Coronavirus slowly passes by people are becoming
anxious to know when an Exit Strategy will be declared! After 8 - 10
weeks of lockdown there is frustration and tension building for people
to be released from the restrictions.
The leaders of the nations are under pressure to come up with a plan
that will release the lockdown and at the same time keep people safe!
On the recent 75 th anniversary of VE Day, we were reminded of the
famous wartime song which was sung by Vera Lynn –
We’ll meet again
Don’t know where
Don’t know when
But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day!
Families long to be finished with separation and isolation and to be able
to embrace one another and enjoy the closeness of loving relationships.
In the book of Genesis there is a fascinating story of one family. A great
proportion of Genesis is given over to the unfolding circumstances of
the story of Joseph and his father Jacob. There are emotional scenes
recorded in Genesis 46:28-31 when the “lockdown” was over and they
met up as a family after 20 years of separation.
In order to understand the whole picture we need to look back over a
number of chapters (Genesis 42 – 45). During the years of famine and
national crisis many factors affected the lives of Joseph’s brothers.

Under these simple headings let me retrace the steps that led to an Exit
Strategy!
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
The Journey of Repentance
The Joy of Reunion
Jesus and His Return
Step 1 The Journey of Repentance
The history of Joseph’s brothers is not easy reading. They were jealous
of the special favour Joseph’s father, Jacob, gave him and as a result
they hated him. Their hatred led to attempted murder then eventually
they trafficked him to slavery in Egypt.
They had no conscience about returning home and spinning a set of lies
to Jacob, telling him they had found a coat like Joseph’s covered in
blood. For 20 years they lived a lie until they were confronted with the
truth on a visit to Egypt and met Joseph face to face!
Remarkably, Joseph’s heart was full of compassion and forgiveness and
he invited them to relocate from Canaan to Egypt for preservation from
the crisis of famine.
By the time they were making their third journey to Egypt their hearts
had been changed by an amazing process of God’s grace. When the
brothers with their wives and children were heading to Egypt, in
transport provided by Joseph, it was a JOURNEY OF REPENTANCE. They
were now truly sorry for how they had treated Joseph over the years
and were prepared to repent.
Each one of us needs to travel on the Journey of Repentance for how
we have treated Jesus and we need to be sorry to God the Father for
our sin and rejection of Christ, His Son.

Step 2 The Joy of Reunion
Genesis 46: 28-31 Jacob’s Family Arrives in Goshen
As they neared their destination, Jacob sent Judah ahead to meet
Joseph and get directions to the region of Goshen. And when they
finally arrived there, Joseph prepared his chariot and travelled to
Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he
embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long
time. Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I
have seen your face again and know you are still alive.”
And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family, “I
will go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s
entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan’.”
These verses beautifully describe the moment of reunion between
father (Jacob) and son (Joseph). It was very emotional with a warm
embrace and many tears!
They hadn’t seen each other for 20 years and Jacob had been grieving
all these years, believing the lie of the brothers that Joseph had been
tragically killed by an animal. Now Joseph has risen to become Prime
Minister of Egypt with great power and authority behind him. Indeed
he was regarded by the Egyptian people as someone of real importance
but to Jacob he was his beloved son whose mother Rachel had died so
suddenly giving birth to his brother Benjamin.
For so many people whose loved ones have been victims of
Coronavirus, after weeks of isolation in hospital, on a ventilator and
having survived, what an emotional and joyous moment to be reunited
with those they love and to celebrate life!
Personally, I will never forget the moment many years ago of being
reunited with my children after spending three months in hospital with
TB and because of the risk of infection we had been separated for all
these weeks.

Step 3 Jesus and His Return
In the Joseph narrative, as we have said, when Jacob and all the family
were nearing their destination Joseph came to Goshen to meet his
father and that was where the reunion took place. If this reunion was
so wonderfully fulfilling in human terms, what will it be like when Jesus
comes back and we meet our Lord and Saviour face to face! The one
who loved us and died for us and with whom we are going to dwell for
ever as part of the family of God. This exit strategy is described in the
New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what
will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve
like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus
died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus
returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living
when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have
died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a
commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise
from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still
alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So
encourage each other with these words.
The Bible is very clear that one day Jesus will return first to the air to
engage in a glorious reunion with the church worldwide.
What is the exit strategy?
Phase One:
The Lord will come down from heaven with a shout
with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of
God (v16).

Phase Two:
Phase Three:
Phase Four:
The Christians who have died will rise from their graves
(v16).
Those Christians who are living will be changed and be
caught up together with those raised from the graves
(v17).
We will all together be with the Lord forever (v17).
The promise of the sure and certain hope that He is returning brings
great encouragement to our hearts in these days of uncertainty.
There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye.
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;
And forever I will be with the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
In John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may
be also.”