Weekly Update – 17th April

Dear all,

Hallelujah, Christ is risen,

He is risen indeed, Hallelujah

 

These words will ring out in churches across the land on Easter Sunday morning. Holy Week has been a sombre time as the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus unfold, but all that turns to joy as Easter Sunday bursts onto the scene and the full force of the resurrection becomes apparent.

 

Those that struggle with the reality of the resurrection might ask for proof, and there are some who will seek to argue the case accordingly. One of Jesus’ closest followers, Thomas, wanted ‘proof’ – he said;

 

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side I will not believe.” John 20:25

 

The passage continues with these words;

 

Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:27-29

 

‘BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE COME TO BELIEVE’

 

‘Proof’ isn’t the point. Belief, or faith, is the point. The bible doesn’t set out to ‘prove’ anything, it sets out to present a relationship between God and humanity that is brought to perfection through God as Christ.

 

The apostle Paul (he of the ‘road to Damascus’ experience) wrote this in one of his letters to the church in Corinth;

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians:18

What seems crazy in terms of ‘the world’, and the way we usually experience it, is not so with God. The cross and the resurrection seem so far removed from our world view that they come across as ‘foolishness’ and yet they are the most profound statements of the love, and the presence, of God and transcend our mortal lives in ways that have cosmic and eternal implications.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen

He is risen indeed, Hallelujah

 

Happy Easter,

Rev Chris

 

UKRAINE APPEAL

Our cash collections during Lent are being bundled together to be sent to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) in connection with their Ukraine Appeal. I am pleased to let you know that we collected a total of £900, which is an amazing effort so thank you to all concerned.