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Now Easter is over, and we’ve celebrated Christ’s death and his resurrection, what’s next for those of us who believe that Christ is alive?
For us Easter is just the beginning, it’s the reason we now have a responsibility to tell others how much God loves them. So we must go out into our neighbourhoods and our communities and tell them how much God loves them and forgives them for all their sins.
If we do this, we can help others find true love in their life when they give their heart to God.
Easter weekend may now be over, and we’re all back at work, or school, but Easter isn’t really over. In fact because of Easter, our lives have only just begun!
Because of Easter we have been forgiven of every sin.
Because of Easter we know God loves us.
Because of Easter we don’t need to fear anything.
Because of Easter we know Christ is alive!
Because of Easter we now show our love for God by living for Him.
Because of Easter we now have the responsibility to go and share the goof news that Christ is alive, to those who don’t know Him.
I love a number of Easter songs, but there is one which I definitely consider to be my favourite. As I haven’t shared it with you this Easter, I thought I’d share it with you today.
Forever by Kari Jobe
The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Saviour of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon Him
One final breath He gave
As heaven looked away
The son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken
The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting?
Our resurrected King
Has rendered you defeated
Forever He is glorified
Forever He is lifted high
Forever He is risen
He is alive, He is alive!
The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting?
Our resurrected King
Has rendered you defeated
Forever He is glorified
Forever He is lifted high
Forever He is risen
He is alive, He is alive!
We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
We sing hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome
Forever He is glorified
Forever He is lifted high
Forever He is risen
He is alive, He is alive!
You have overcome
You have overcome
You have overcome
You have overcome
There is no doubt in my mind that Christ is alive! Even though he was put to death at Calvary, he overcame death by rising again and then ascended to heaven to be with his Father, God.
Because of those events, we celebrate Easter every year, in the knowledge that Christ really have overcome the world by dying for us.
When we succeed at something, when we’re victorious, you want to shout about it don’t you? That’s why the name of this cornet solo, The Victory Cry, is such a great title given it features the wonderful words the song The Power of the Cross:
Christ overcome the world when he gave His life for us. He achieved victory over evil and sin. Let’s shout about that victory this Easter.
Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath:
We stand forgiven at the cross.
Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face
Bearing the awesome weight of sin;
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
Now the daylight flees,
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
‘Finished!’ the victory cry.
Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death,
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.
This, the power of the cross:
Son of God, slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.
I’m sure over the years we’ve all heard lots of words to describe Easter. I’m not going to repeat any of these to you again today, but instead I’m going to tell you some words which describe what Easter means to me.
Rather than just randomly list of the few words that are meaning for me at Easter time, I thought I’d go with giving you a words for each letter in the words Easter. So here are words that are significant to me when it comes to Easter:
Easter isn’t just for those who believe in God. Jesus died for each of us, so Easter is for everyone, regardless of who or what they believe in.
I’ve chosen the word ‘alive’, as I believe Christ is alive, and is living in me. I just pray I can be more like Christ each day to try to repay all he sacrificed for me at Calvary.
Because of the cross, ours sins have been forgiven – And that means all our sins, not just some. So no matter what we’ve done in the past, we have been forgiven, because Christ paid for our sins.
One of the most significant images for me about Easter, is when Mary Magdalene discovered the stone had been removed from the entrance to Jesus’ tomb. Can you imagine how she must have felt, discovering that Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb he had been laid in? The significance of the empty tomb becomes even greater when she realises that Jesus is actually alive – He’s risen from the dead! That for me is the reason I chose the word ‘tomb’, but maybe more specifically it should have been ’empty tomb’.
We have been promised eternal life if we believe in God, because of Christ’s resurrection.
Every Christian has a responsibility to make sure Christ didn’t die for nothing. We must do all we can to tell others that Christ died for each of them.
What words are significant to you about Easter? Would you use any of the same words as me?
When a friend or family member pays a debt on your behalf, maybe even a relief that you don’t need to worry about a debt any more.
The same applies to us when we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour, because on that first Good Friday, Christ paid the ultimate price for our debts, death! Because of Calvary our debt to God has not only been paid, but has allowed us to be forgiven of our sins and promised eternal life with God.
Calvary has paid our debt, because Christ paid the ultimate price for us.
The Saviour alone carried the cross
For all of my debts, He paid the cost
Salvation complete now forever I’m free
Calvary covers it all
Calvary covers it all
My sin and shame, don’t count anymore
All praise to the One who has ransomed my soul
Calvary covers it all
No power on Earth
Not even the grave
Could separate us from mercy and grace
He is faithful to save, oh His blood never fails
Calvary covers it all
Calvary covers it all
My sin and shame, don’t count anymore
All praise to the One who has ransomed my soul
Calvary covers it all
No one but Jesus
Can make us pure as snow
We stand in Your freedom
Calvary covers it all
Calvary covers it all
My sin and shame, don’t count anymore
All praise to the One who has ransomed my soul
Calvary covers it all
All praise to the One who has ransomed my soul
Calvary covers it all
30 years ago today, the worst disaster in British sporting history happened during an FA Cup semi-final football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield.
With 96 fatalities and 766 injuries, so many families were affected by what happened that day. So many people left their homes to go and watch a football match, and never got to return home. It was a desperately sad day for everyone involved, and even for those of us who watch the TV as news of the terrible events unfolded.
Today, 30 years on, we remember not only the 96 people who lost their lives, but those who were injured and the families of all those who were caught up in the those awful events.
When I discovered that a band I’ve seen a number of times had written song specifically to remember this tragic event, I felt I had to share it with you. I not only remembers those who were killed but it’s also a great song.
So as you listen to The Christians sing Big Red Sky, remember those who were killed or injured at Hillsborough 30 years ago today.
Today in the UK it is Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday. It is always celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent, exactly 3 weeks before Easter.
Although these days today is seen as a day for celebrating our mothers and all they do for us. It was traditionally a day when people returned to their ‘mother’ church. The place they were baptised, or the parish where they grew up and were nurtured in faith and where people cared for them as they grew up.
I wonder who those people were for you? A family member, a member of your church, maybe your mother.
For those whose mothers have passed away, Mother’s Day can be a difficult day. While for those who have children, it can be a joyful occasion where their family celebrate all mother does for them.
I must admit, while it’s great to celebrate the life of our mothers, there always seems to me to be little consideration given to those whose mother’s have passed away, those mother’s who have lost a child, and those who would love to be mothers but it either has never happened for them, or other reasons have prevented them from having a family.
However you feel about celebrating Mother’s Day today, I pray that whether it be celebrating with your mother, celebrating with your family, or simply remembering your mother or child who have passed away, that you find some joy from your time with family, or remembering those loved ones who are no longer with us.
Devastation, destruction, chaos, uncertainty – just a few words you might think of when you read the title of today’s blog post.
Do you think those words would have applied after Christ died on the cross?
In a moment of glorious surrender
You were broken for all the world to see
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath
The aftermath of Christ’s death is forgiveness for each of us, no matter how huge or insignificant our sins may be. What a wonderful aftermath! However it came at a cost for God, as he had to sacrifice his only son for us.
Aftermath by Hillsong
[Verse 1:]
The skies lay low where You are
On the earth You rest Your feet
Yet the hands that cradle the stars
Are the hands that bled for me
[Chorus 1:]
In a moment of glorious surrender
You were broken for all the world to see
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath
[Verse 2:]
Freedom found in Your scars
In Your grace my life redeemed
For You chose to take the sinner’s crown
As You placed Your crown on me
[Chorus 2 :]
In that moment of glorious surrender
Was the moment You broke the chains in me
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath
And in that moment You opened up the heavens
To the broken the beggar and the thief
Lifted out of the wreckage
I find hope in the aftermath
[Bridge:]
And I know that You’re with me
Yes I know that You’re with me here
And I know Your love will light the way
[Chorus 3:]
Now all I have I count it all as loss
But to know You and to carry the cross
Knowing I’m found
In the light of the aftermath
