Hallelujah, He is Risen

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Easter Sunday has come. Christ is risen. As an advert for a certain sweet says ‘Now it all makes sense.’ The suffering and death of Jesus makes sense. Sin and death have been conquered; not just in our lives as Christians but for the whole world, for all time. That should make us of all men (and women) most happy.

Since that first Easter Sunday there has been hope, there has been purpose in life. No longer is the grave our destination. Our hearts sing and we are happy. But we so long for everyone to grasp the truth, to know the power of sins forgiven. Christians should sing and dance all day long, but then we remember our unbelieving family, friends and neighbours. We stop our singing and pause in our dance.

As we return from the mountain top into the valley and plains, we pray that the Lord may be able to use our testimony as we go about our daily lives, that others may see our hope and want it for themselves. That is our prayer this Easter Tuesday.

Easter Sunday

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The miracle has happened. Christ has risen. Hallelujah. Poets and hymn writers have attempted to put into words the wonder of the resurrection.

‘The strife is o’er, the battle done.’ Christ has been triumphant over death. ‘He broke the bonds of death and hell.’ The resurrection of Jesus shows that the power of death has been won. ‘Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus my Lord.’ Christmas was a work begun and Easter is a work completed. The debt for sin has been fully paid; there is no more penalty necessary

Do we as Christians sometimes live as if the battle has not been wo?. Are we apologetic for our beliefs? We should be shouting it from the roof-tops. Christ is the only answer to the problems of the world. Doesn’t everyone want an answer to our many. many struggles. ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus.’

Good Friday

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‘It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. For the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. . Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father into Your hands I commit my spirit.’ When He had said this He breathed His last.’

Luke 23:44-6

Maundy Thursday

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This is the fifth day of Holy Week when we remember Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and the Last Supper. May we never forget how amazing it was for the creator of the world to kneel down at the feet of those who would soon betray Him. He wasn’t kneeling before kings. He completely took on the role of a servant. It is likely that none of the disciples would be willing to do such a thing.

Where does that leave us? We should never consider any task which God asks us to do is too lowly. Surely we should be a servant to those who need us. That means not hogging the limelight, not wanting the best seat or looking for praise from others. In the light of Jesus’ actions, when He became a Servant King, we too must follow. in servanthood.

Just a Few Days

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In just a few days we will once again experience the time when the world was tipped. The days of the first Easter was when life was turned up side down. Things would never be the same again. My life and yours would never be the same again. Jesus payed the ultimate price for our sins. We would not now be judged. Jesus has taken our place.

Because we remember every year it does not lessen the miracle. Jesus is the Son of God; we are just mere mortals. This death has decided our eternity. Oh, that everyone would recognise the true meaning of Easter. It is for anyone who will listen. This truth is for believing Jews, trusting gentiles, every nation of the world and places which are not even a nation.

Shouting the news from the roof-tops will not make people listen; announcing it on the news will not tell people and even when I tell my neighbours they will not care. Prayer is the only answer. It is God’s work, He will do it. My only task is to pray and to speak when the time is right. But we know that by Sunday, hallelujah, Christ is risen.

Red, Amber, Green

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Sometimes life seems like a set of traffic lights. On occasions everything seems red and to stop. Expected letters don’t arrive, phone messages are not answered and all business seems to stall.

Then a time comes when the cogs of life start moving, amber. Hospital enquiries become appointments, phone messages are taken up and friends are ready to co-operate. Just as suddenly life goes green and it is go, go, go. Everything seems to be taking place all at once. We can hardly cope with all the activity. There are just not enough hours in the day to deal with everything.

The Bible tells us that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. The clue is to know where we are in the set of traffic lights of life.

Barabbus

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When thinking about the story of Easter I had almost forgotten about Barabbus. Pilate chose to release a known terrorist and crucified Jesus, a gentle innocent man. His fear of the people prevented him from doing the right thing. The chief priests and elders wanted Jesus dead because He challenged their commitment to God.

I wonder how Barabbus acted after his release. Did he rejoice at his escape from death and think about the man who took his place on the cross? Or did he continue harassing the Romans? Did he know that his release condemned the Saviour of the World to death in his place? We do have a lot in common with Barabbus!

Which am I?

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Jesus told the story of two brothers requested by their father to work in the fields. One agreed but never obeyed. The other refused but later changed his mind and obeyed his father’s wishes.

I rather smugly thought in my life that I had agreed to God leadings and obeyed Him. Then when I gave it more thought I realised that I hadn’t always obeyed even though I had told Him that I would. I can display the worst characteristics of both brothers.

The case of ‘speck’ and ‘plank, I suppose!

Prayer Problems

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At our recent church meeting we discussed the problems with our prayers. We admitted that we don’t do enough of it, felt inadequate compared to others and weren’t able to use all the long words. One person, a writer, confessed that he prayed as if he was composing a book; his prayers had a beginning, a middle and an end.

I feel that the answer is to pray, pray and pray. God sees the heart. He doesn’t need long words, God isn’t interested in polished prayers. He wants to have loving conversations with us as often as possible.

Getting Nearer

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Each day this week and next week we are getting nearer to the time to when Jesus dies on the cross for our sins and then rises on the third day. We know what is going to happen on the 15th of this month; the disciples didn’t. These men didn’t know that their time with Jesus was down to a few days. They imagined Jesus their Master would continue preaching and healing and some believed He would then conquer the Romans. It was outside their imagination that He would be crucified and their dreams would come crashing down. From where they were standing they didn’t know the concept of substitution and redemption.

Matters are so different for us. We are the other side of the crucifixion and resurrection. We know Jesus dies and rises from death. We know it was for our sins. Their incomplete picture is made complete for us. We can rejoice and not weep. Hallelujah Christ has risen.