Sometimes that feels like a quaint greeting on Easter Day. Sometimes it is just the thing you say without realising its significance.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the watershed moment of Christian faith. Everything hinges on the resurrection of Jesus.
If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead – then Paul declares that ‘your faith is futile, you are still in your sins… we are of all people most to be pitied’ (1 Cor 15:17-18). But, he declares, ‘Christ has indeed been raised from the dead’ and the implications of his resurrection are enormous. He has conquered death and can offer forgiveness and eternal life to all who trust in him. We don’t need to fear death but can live in certain hope of our own resurrection life. He is the Lord triumphant whom we must obey and love because he will call everyone to account on the last day.
How will you respond to the Easter message? Apathy just doesn’t make sense. You either trust and live for the risen Lord Jesus, or you walk right away if you think he never did rise.
He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!
Tag: easter
Phil turned to me after our Easter Sunday service at St Marks last week and declared, ‘This is an historic occasion!’ It was the first time he has seen the mezzanine at St Marks needing to be used on a Sunday. It is so exciting to see God at work gathering his people and building his Church in our midst. Both our Churches have seen significant growth in attendance already this year. All this is an answer to many faithful years of prayer for the growth of the gospel – let’s continue those prayers and continue the work of living for and proclaiming the good news of our Saviour Jesus.
Last Thursday a small subcommittee of our parish council began meeting to consider our options for future growth – focusing particularly on how to develop our Wilton Church site. Please be praying for wisdom and God’s leading in this process, we will endeavour to keep you informed and involved. If you have ideas or want to discuss this further please contact: Peter F, Glenn A, Milton L or myself.
Yours in Christ, Ben
Easter begins with bad news. Can you imagine the grief of Jesus’ disciples as he died and darkness came over the whole land on that first Friday. The same darkness and grief of death hangs over Brussels today, as it does in many places around the world and indeed in many of our own lives. Death is a great enemy all of us must face one day and its shadow stretches back across our lives menacingly. Jesus death is different. Jesus dies in our place, he dies to conquer death and he proves it by being raised to life in the joy of Easter Day! In 1 Corinthians 15:54 we read that ‘death has been swallowed up in victory’. If we will confess our sins and place our trust in Jesus then we can have confidence that he has removed the ‘sting’ of death. Jesus forgives our sin and promises the joy of resurrection life!
Wishing you a happy and joyous Easter, Ben
Easter Invitation Challenge
It’s only two weeks now until Easter. This is the most significant event on the Christian calendar and possibly the easiest time of year to invite friends or family to come to Church. Today, I want you to pause and pray for three friends or family who don’t know Jesus yet. Pray that you would have the opportunity to share why Easter is important to you, and invite them to join you at Church this Easter. Then take three or more of our Easter postcards and invite them. The goal isn’t to grow our Church – but to help people find salvation in Jesus. Coming to our Church (or a different one) is a means to this end!
Here’s a link to our Easter service times on the website, and on facebook (Wilton), the St Mark’s facebook event is coming…
Yours in Christ, Ben
