Encountering the God Who Remakes Us | Hamish Gomersall

The sermon delivered on Palm Sunday examined the profound implications of encountering Jesus Christ, specifically through the narrative of the healing of the man born blind as recorded in the Gospel of John. The discourse posited that biblical encounters function as both historical records and theological frameworks, intended to facilitate a contemporary living encounter with the Divine. Central to this message was the assertion that Jesus acts as the primary initiator; just as the blind man could not perceive Christ without Christ first approaching him, humanity requires a divine revelation to overcome spiritual blindness. Furthermore, the speaker addressed the complexities of human suffering, suggesting that rather than seeking to assign blame for tragedy, believers should view Christ as a Redeemer who imbues pain with purpose. This was exemplified by the transformative power of forgiveness demonstrated by the Abdallah family, whose decision to entrust their grief to God led to widespread spiritual restoration. The sermon also highlighted Jesus’ role as a "Remaker" of creation, drawing a parallel between the use of dust in the miraculous healing and the original creation of humanity in Genesis to show that God seeks to restore, rather than discard, what is broken. Ultimately, the message concluded with a dual observation: a warning against the spiritual blindness that results from repeatedly rejecting divine initiative, and an encouragement that an encounter with God requires only a singular, incremental step of faith.Referenced ScripturesMark 11:8-10John 9:1-12Genesis 2:7