Christ died on the cross and was buried in a tomb which was sealed with a large rock and guarded by Roman soldiers.
Then, the miracle occurred.
When his followers came to the tomb on Sunday morning it was open and his body wasn't there. The rock had not just been moved, a literal translation would say it had been thrown aside.
Then Jesus appeared.
He was no longer dead.
His body had been raised back to life. For the next 40 days he met with and taught his followers, proving himself to them.
The resurrection of Jesus is the single most important fact of Christianity. It demonstrates God's ultimate authority over life and death, and validates Christ's death on the cross as having been an acceptable sacrifice on behalf of humanity, paying the price for our sins.
It is also the foretaste of the promise given to all believers, that we too will rise again after death and enter God's Kingdom.
If the resurrection is not true Christianity is a complete sham because all of it's claims and teachings centre on it. St Paul, the greatest of all Christians, said without the resurrection his faith was worthless.
Today I give thanks to God for his incredible gift, his amazing grace, his wonderful mercy.
I look forward to that day when I go to meet my maker and lay eyes on Jesus my saviour.
While I'm not in any hurry for it to happen, it holds no fear or apprehension for me. God's promises are faithful.
I've enjoyed a little bit of chocolate today but the true meaning of Easter overshadows even the pleasure of chocolate!
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Good Friday
Today is the day that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ, the oddly named Good Friday.
It was an unusual day in history.
Jesus, a Jewish teacher, had only been "known" for three years.
He taught people about God in way that was new and different, revealing a personal God, not just an arbiter of rules.
He touched sick people and healed them, even those with leprosy, the AIDS of his day.
Jesus did miraculous things, verifying his authority over the earth and it's elements; turning water into wine, walking on water, feeding huge crowds of people with a few fish and a bread rolls, restored sight to blind people and much more.
He went further. He raised people who were dead back to life, literally stopping funerals and digging up graves to restore people from death.
His teachings were inspired. They carry weight to the present day and are believed and observed by millions of people throughout the world, not just Christians.
When questioned he stated that the whole of God's laws could be summed up in two simple rules. Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour the same way you love yourself.
Like him or not, agree or disagree with the Christian faith, I challenge anyone to apply those two rules and not find peace and meaning and fulfillment and become a better person. If the world truly embraced those two rules it would be radically transformed.
But, in a foretaste of the trouble that would follow and echo throughout the centuries, the religious leaders of the day were threatened by his popularity and following, confronted by his relationship with God and jealous of his power and authority. So, they killed him.
Late one night they bribed one of his followers to betray him, arrested him, and brought him to trial. They falsely accused him, called witnesses who could not agree or prove any wrong-doing and threatened him with death unless he repudiated his claim to be the Son of God.
I've seen a few real life trials, and plenty on TV and movies, but never one like this. Why was this one different? Because Jesus did not say a word to defend himself. Despite the lies and false accusations made against him he remained silent, allowing them to carry out their sham trial and their supreme act of injustice.
History, the Bible, and witnesses all concur that Jesus had no crime or sin ever recorded against him. He was completely innocent. King Herod and Pontius Pilate both admitted this fact, saying they found nothing against him, certainly nothing worthy of death.
But the religious leaders stirred the crowd and turned them against Jesus, demanding that he be crucified. Still Jesus did not protest his innocence or defend himself. He allowed them to carry out their evil actions, right through to a barbaric death by crucifixion, impaled on a cross with spikes through his hands and feet, left in excruciating pain to die of suffocation when he no longer had the strength to raise himself up to breathe by pushing against the spikes through his feet.
It was an horrific way to die.
And yet, despite the enormity of the injustice, even on the cross Jesus continued to show love and compassion for other people, calling on God to forgive the very people who were killing him, because they didn't know what they were doing.
Impossible as it is, try putting yourself in Jesus's shoes and consider your reactions in the same circumstances.
I daresay you would not have acted in the same way.
You would not have stayed silent at trial.
You would not have prayed for your killers to be forgiven.
You would not have quietly accepted the death penalty for something you didn't do.
This was no ordinary death because this was no ordinary man. Jesus knew their was a plan. There was a reason he had to die. He knew that his death was planned by God as the single greatest act in the history of mankind because through his death God was able to offer forgiveness to the world for all of it's sin and rebellion.
A little known detail of the crucifixion is that at the moment of his death on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The barrier which had always existed between man and God's presence on earth was torn apart, removed forever. It was as if God himself reached down from heaven and ripped it up, opening the way for man to have free and unfettered access to God. Prior to that, entry to the Holiest place was punishable by death! Now it was open for anyone to come in. It was a symbol of what Jesus achieved by his death, opening the way for people to come to God, by faith and trust in him and what he did on our behalf.
Another thing that is probably not well known or appreciated is how quickly these events took place. The whole time frame from arrest to crucifixion was about 9 hours, with a further 6 hours until Jesus' actual death. We are so used to criminals spending 10-15 years awaiting execution it's hard to conceive that such an important trial and execution was carried out with such phenomenal haste.
It's an amazing story, an incredible event, and the reason, quite rightly, today is known as Good Friday.
It was a bad day for Jesus personally, but a great day for the world.
The full extent of it's significance was not understood however until Sunday.
In one final irony, I am quite sure that the vast majority of people who celebrate or observe Easter this year will concentrate on chocolate easter eggs as the major symbol and meaning of the holiday!
That's amazing!!
It was an unusual day in history.
Jesus, a Jewish teacher, had only been "known" for three years.
He taught people about God in way that was new and different, revealing a personal God, not just an arbiter of rules.
He touched sick people and healed them, even those with leprosy, the AIDS of his day.
Jesus did miraculous things, verifying his authority over the earth and it's elements; turning water into wine, walking on water, feeding huge crowds of people with a few fish and a bread rolls, restored sight to blind people and much more.
He went further. He raised people who were dead back to life, literally stopping funerals and digging up graves to restore people from death.
His teachings were inspired. They carry weight to the present day and are believed and observed by millions of people throughout the world, not just Christians.
When questioned he stated that the whole of God's laws could be summed up in two simple rules. Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour the same way you love yourself.
Like him or not, agree or disagree with the Christian faith, I challenge anyone to apply those two rules and not find peace and meaning and fulfillment and become a better person. If the world truly embraced those two rules it would be radically transformed.
But, in a foretaste of the trouble that would follow and echo throughout the centuries, the religious leaders of the day were threatened by his popularity and following, confronted by his relationship with God and jealous of his power and authority. So, they killed him.
Late one night they bribed one of his followers to betray him, arrested him, and brought him to trial. They falsely accused him, called witnesses who could not agree or prove any wrong-doing and threatened him with death unless he repudiated his claim to be the Son of God. I've seen a few real life trials, and plenty on TV and movies, but never one like this. Why was this one different? Because Jesus did not say a word to defend himself. Despite the lies and false accusations made against him he remained silent, allowing them to carry out their sham trial and their supreme act of injustice.
History, the Bible, and witnesses all concur that Jesus had no crime or sin ever recorded against him. He was completely innocent. King Herod and Pontius Pilate both admitted this fact, saying they found nothing against him, certainly nothing worthy of death.
But the religious leaders stirred the crowd and turned them against Jesus, demanding that he be crucified. Still Jesus did not protest his innocence or defend himself. He allowed them to carry out their evil actions, right through to a barbaric death by crucifixion, impaled on a cross with spikes through his hands and feet, left in excruciating pain to die of suffocation when he no longer had the strength to raise himself up to breathe by pushing against the spikes through his feet.It was an horrific way to die.
And yet, despite the enormity of the injustice, even on the cross Jesus continued to show love and compassion for other people, calling on God to forgive the very people who were killing him, because they didn't know what they were doing. Impossible as it is, try putting yourself in Jesus's shoes and consider your reactions in the same circumstances.
I daresay you would not have acted in the same way.
You would not have stayed silent at trial.
You would not have prayed for your killers to be forgiven.
You would not have quietly accepted the death penalty for something you didn't do.
This was no ordinary death because this was no ordinary man. Jesus knew their was a plan. There was a reason he had to die. He knew that his death was planned by God as the single greatest act in the history of mankind because through his death God was able to offer forgiveness to the world for all of it's sin and rebellion.
A little known detail of the crucifixion is that at the moment of his death on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The barrier which had always existed between man and God's presence on earth was torn apart, removed forever. It was as if God himself reached down from heaven and ripped it up, opening the way for man to have free and unfettered access to God. Prior to that, entry to the Holiest place was punishable by death! Now it was open for anyone to come in. It was a symbol of what Jesus achieved by his death, opening the way for people to come to God, by faith and trust in him and what he did on our behalf.
Another thing that is probably not well known or appreciated is how quickly these events took place. The whole time frame from arrest to crucifixion was about 9 hours, with a further 6 hours until Jesus' actual death. We are so used to criminals spending 10-15 years awaiting execution it's hard to conceive that such an important trial and execution was carried out with such phenomenal haste.
It's an amazing story, an incredible event, and the reason, quite rightly, today is known as Good Friday.
It was a bad day for Jesus personally, but a great day for the world.
The full extent of it's significance was not understood however until Sunday.
In one final irony, I am quite sure that the vast majority of people who celebrate or observe Easter this year will concentrate on chocolate easter eggs as the major symbol and meaning of the holiday!
That's amazing!!
Friday, April 06, 2007
The Holidays Have Begun
The Holidays have begun, starting with Easter this weekend, then the two week term break. One of the best things about working in a school is the regular cycle of work and "holidays". I am still at work during the three term breaks but obviously with the schools closed, the nature of my duties changes significantly and there is plenty of scope to use my time creatively.
We're going to Bridgetown tomorrow for a few days.
Then I'm working for a mate in his glass factory helping makes frames and windows for a few days to help him out of a bind, he's got plebty of work but not enough workers so I offered to give him a hand.
I've got 4 doctor's appointments in Bunbury for a series of cortizone treatments on my still injured left ankle. I really hope it can improve enough to allow me to play volleyball again in a few weeks time.
At the end of the second week there's a three day chaplains retreat at Fairbridge. I'm rooming with Birchy and Cam and I think we're all looking forward to hanging out, and playing plenty of sport in between teaching sessions and prayer times.
And just in case there is a moment of spare time in the next fortnight, Sophie and I are going to paint her bedroom.
Throw in a couple of taxi shifts and by the time school restarts I'll be looking forward to going back to work so I can have a break!!!
Keeping busy and having plenty to do suits me fine, I get bored and fall asleep if I haven't got a task or a job to work on!
The taxi shift went well tonight, I drove one of the maxis and was kept pretty busy with a constant stream of customers. I pulled the cab over and warned one bloke that he'd be walking if he didn't quieten down and discontinue the swearing and obscenities. Drunkenness is no excuse for the sort of filth he was spewing out. The cab was full of girls for whom he had no regard nor respect. He did quieten down significantly, with on-going reprimands from the rest of the group. A couple of the girls thanked me when they got out for my having said something to him about his behaviour.
Apart from that the customers were well behaved and a pleasure to drive.
We're going to Bridgetown tomorrow for a few days.
Then I'm working for a mate in his glass factory helping makes frames and windows for a few days to help him out of a bind, he's got plebty of work but not enough workers so I offered to give him a hand.
I've got 4 doctor's appointments in Bunbury for a series of cortizone treatments on my still injured left ankle. I really hope it can improve enough to allow me to play volleyball again in a few weeks time.
At the end of the second week there's a three day chaplains retreat at Fairbridge. I'm rooming with Birchy and Cam and I think we're all looking forward to hanging out, and playing plenty of sport in between teaching sessions and prayer times.
And just in case there is a moment of spare time in the next fortnight, Sophie and I are going to paint her bedroom.
Throw in a couple of taxi shifts and by the time school restarts I'll be looking forward to going back to work so I can have a break!!!
Keeping busy and having plenty to do suits me fine, I get bored and fall asleep if I haven't got a task or a job to work on!
The taxi shift went well tonight, I drove one of the maxis and was kept pretty busy with a constant stream of customers. I pulled the cab over and warned one bloke that he'd be walking if he didn't quieten down and discontinue the swearing and obscenities. Drunkenness is no excuse for the sort of filth he was spewing out. The cab was full of girls for whom he had no regard nor respect. He did quieten down significantly, with on-going reprimands from the rest of the group. A couple of the girls thanked me when they got out for my having said something to him about his behaviour.
Apart from that the customers were well behaved and a pleasure to drive.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Counselling
I had my first appointment with a counsellor this afternoon which is a significant step for me and hopefully will be a part of my contnued recovery from the "depression" I experienced a few weeks ago. I have a good friend who swears by counselling as a really helpful thing in sorting out and dealing with stuff. I haven't been that enthused about it prior to now but this time I'm approaching it with an open mind and a willing attitude. The irony is that "counselling" is part of my job, albeit not a major part, but I have resisted trying it for myself! Having said that, I have seen counsellors in the past and not been impressed or "helped" which tended to innoculate me against the whole thing a bit. The first session went well I thought and I have some home work, some stuff to reflect on about disappointment and vulnerability.
The kids have broken up for the holidays. I've got one more day to go but as it's a student free day with the teachers doing professional development it will be a quiet one for me. I'm driving the taxi tomorrow night rather than on Good Friday which looks like being a quiet night with most places closed. We're going over to Bridgetown for Easter with Mum and Walter although with Sophie and Jordan both working only Sport Boy will be coming with us.
I wonder how many people will look past the eggs and chocolate and think about Jesus and the cross and the empty tomb this Easter?
The kids have broken up for the holidays. I've got one more day to go but as it's a student free day with the teachers doing professional development it will be a quiet one for me. I'm driving the taxi tomorrow night rather than on Good Friday which looks like being a quiet night with most places closed. We're going over to Bridgetown for Easter with Mum and Walter although with Sophie and Jordan both working only Sport Boy will be coming with us.
I wonder how many people will look past the eggs and chocolate and think about Jesus and the cross and the empty tomb this Easter?
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