Easter

Easter, our minister told us on Sunday morning, is the “silly season” for comments about religion in the mainstream media. Most years there is some sort of expose or amazing discovery about Christianity. This time it was the unveiling of the so-called Judas gospel.

Unfortunately the people of both our century and Biblical times have the wrong approach to Jesus. They think that belief in God is something that brings them personal happiness and is spiritually satisfying – and if not, why not?

If Christianity doesn’t do this, they’ll move on to some other set of beliefs. Forget the catechism that says man’s purpose is to know and glorify God.

The authority of the Bible is unique in that it’s based on historical events, not on the philosophical speculations of self-appointed gurus. Jesus was a king because God sent him, not because of any popular consensus amongst the population on his land.

Christ came not to make our lives more pleasant and comfortable but to help us escape the consequences of the way we lead our lives. We come to him because we need rescuing; we stay because he is Lord.

One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
one day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away,
Rising, He justified freely for ever:
One day He’s coming: O glorious day.

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!

One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Saviour is He!

One day the grace could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glory will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
Glorious Saviour, this Jesus is mine!

May you have a happy and blessed Easter.