APRIL 2025
Please note this will be the last Pause for Thought, as we look at other exciting possibilities for the website. Let us take this opportunity to thank and pray for everyone who has contributed to Pause for Thought over the years.
We hope you enjoy reading this month’s Pause for Thought.
Sunday 6th April, 2025: John 12: 1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it. “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
Mary’s response to Jesus was to bathe his feet with expensive perfume – her heart was touched by his message and her extravagant way of showing this must have seemed somewhat over the top to those present – but it was her spontaneous gesture to all that Jesus was offering.
How do we respond to God’s overwhelming goodness to us? - is our response generous and instantaneous, or do we hesitate and hold back? God gives us all we have – how can we show our love for him this week?
Sunday 13th April, 2025: Luke 19 - 38
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked, “Why are you untying the colt?” “The Lord needs it,” they answered. Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it. As He rode along, the people spread their cloaks on the road. And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Today is Palm Sunday when we remember Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem when the crowds greeted him with shouts of joy and waved palm branches. What a moment of triumph – yet bittersweet as Jesus knew that this would be short-lived and the crowds would soon be shouting for him to be crucified.
It is easy to praise and give thanks to God when things are going well, when life is all good and problems seem far away. But God is there with us in the bad times as well as the good – he is beside us, supporting us, grieving with us, encouraging us. Can we take strength from this knowledge and continue to trust and follow him at all times?
Sunday 20th April, 2025: John 20 1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put Him! ”Then Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and looked in at the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Simon Peter arrived just after him. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed. For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down 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 the other at the feet. “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus. “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘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 she told them what He had said to her.
Halleluiah! He is risen. Today is Easter Day – when the Christian Church throughout the world celebrates Jesus’ rising from the dead. After the horrors of the crucifixion, his disciples and friends were utterly despondent. All they had believed and hoped for suddenly seemed to be ended – and then Mary comes with the incredible news that she has seen Jesus. He is alive; he has spoken to her. What an incredible day it was – and is for us over 2000 years later.
We rejoice and give thanks that God loved us all so much – he sent his son Jesus to die so that we – every one of us – will be saved. Our sins are forgiven – what an absolutely amazing truth is this and we give thanks today for it. A joyous and thankful Easter to you all
Sunday 27th April, 2025: John 20 19-
It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord! But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
Jesus appeared to his disciples and amazed them by doing so. But Thomas wouldn’t believe what the others told him when he missed the first time they saw Jesus again. Only if he saw him himself would he believe, he said. How many times have we felt like this – we just cannot believe when we are facing problems, challenges, sadness, that God is still there, loving us. Jesus knows this – and draws alongside us reassuring us and enfolding us in his love.
Can we take this amazing truth with us and lean on it when times are hard – accept him into our lives in faith, knowing he will never ever let us down.