Kinlochleven Church - the next service is on Sunday 29 March at 10.00 am led by the Major Janet Macintyre.
Duror Church - the next service is on Sunday 29 March at 10.30 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.
Nether Lochaber Church - the next service is Easter Sunday 5 April at 11.30 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.
South Lochaber Parish :
Bible Study - on 31 March at 10.45 in Jeremy's home.
Bible Study - Kinlochleven on Friday 27 March at 11.00 am.
Sunday 22 March 2026 South Lochaber Church - available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/t9HX7RdW4Ts
Opening Verse Jesus said, ‘Because I live, you shall live also’ (John 14:19)
Chorus
Jesus, I will trust thee,
Trust thee with my soul
Guilty, lost and helpless,
Thou canst make me whole.
Prayer Almighty God, who sent your Son into this sorry world, grant me a share in the salvation he wrought, I ask in his name. Amen.
Bible Reading John 11:17-19, 32-35, 38, 41-44. Jesus arrived and found Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. Mary knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (Martha too had said this). Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping. He was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” He said this, and he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out; his hands and feet bound with cloth; his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said: “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Message Martha Marshall was the wife of Charles Cameron, 21st Lochiel, clan chief. Charles Cameron was born in France, his godfather was Bonnie Prince Charlie. Charles came to Scotland. He commanded a company of men of his own clansmen in the 78th Fraser Highlanders. They were set to go to America to fight in the American Revolutionary War. His men waited for him to arrive but soon after getting to Glasgow he fell ill and died. There was great sorrow among his men, and his passing left a grieving Martha and a young family.
Jesus was friends to Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. Lazarus had died and the two sisters and the local people were mourning. Jesus was deeply affected too and he shared their sorrow. We have a Saviour who identifies with us in our sorrows and feels our pain. To weep is part of our humanity. But this episode is also teaching us of the power of Jesus to make a difference. Jesus came to rescue our broken humanity from the ravages of sin and death.
This is the last of the seven signs or miracles Jesus performs in John’s gospel. It is the greatest of them. Here we have a sign of his power over the grave. Christ achieved a greater victory in his own resurrection. United to him, we will share in his resurrection life. For the believer, our life in Christ will suffer no interruption when we depart this world. Our mortal bodies may be left to decompose, but our true life is said to be hid with Christ, in God.
It cost Jesus dearly, even to perform this sign. Opposition to him was growing and his appearing and performing his sign so near Jerusalem put him in danger. We learn that true love does not count the cost. Sadly there are always those who will find and use any opportunity to cause trouble. We learn to expect it and to see it for what it is.
Jesus agonised, groaned within himself, was moved with anger and indignation. He was angry at reality of the human condition. Jesus prayed fervently and wept, both here and at Gethsemane. He went through an inner turmoil as he took on our plight. His victory was won with an internal struggle that we may never fully understand. Calvary was Christ’s greatest prayer. His prayers were always answered.
Jesus often saw the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. He liked their company. Jesus valued and sanctified family life. His presence with them now was a comfort. In this miracle he was showing them that not even death could take his friend Lazarus beyond the reach of his love. This was to give them real hope. It can help us too. As believers we may approach our own death positively. To do so is perhaps faith’s highest expression.
Prayer Lord, help me to grow in grace, deny self, and follow Jesus, and in his name we pray. Amen.