“Isn’t it mixed and strange times we live in?” was a question/ statement that was made to me recently. To a certain extent I could fully understand the meaning behind what was said. The other day I looked out the Kitchen window of the Rectory to find the beautiful daffodils in full bloom, surrounded by a layer of snow, somehow it just didn’t seem right. Last week I found myself planting some seeds for vegetables in the small greenhouse, and this week I found myself having to cover them because of the cooler weather. During the last few months we have seen happen, what once may have been unthinkable. Donald Trump elected as President of the USA, Brexit, another election for Stormont in Northern Ireland, more terrorist attacks etc. It all seems a bit strange and surreal, and nothing is really predictable anymore.
This has somehow caused me to think about events that took place in Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago. The Gospel writers take us on a journey and give us the accounts of how on one particular day crowds of people cried out in praise and adoration, and yet less than a week later the cries had changed to shouts of hatred and accusations. The former proclaiming Jesus as King, and the latter condemning him to death. I can imagine in my mind in those days people saying, “Isn’t it mixed and strange times we live in?”
However, we know that the story doesn’t end there. After the crucifixion Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, but on the third day the tomb was empty. The followers of Jesus were greeted with the words “He is not here, He is risen!” Jesus had conquered death, and had come back to life. Paul describes the meaning of this in Romans 6:9 “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him”.
For the Christian this brings great hope and assurance. In 1st Corinthians 15:22 we read “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”. The central message to our faith is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we believe with our whole heart, body, mind and soul that Jesus died and rose again for us then we have the certainty of life eternal. Paul also writes in 1st Corinthians 1:8 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.“
So in these mixed and strange times, what does the death and resurrection of Jesus mean to you? It is my prayer, that for each of us it means life, and life in all its fullness (John 10:10).
This has somehow caused me to think about events that took place in Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago. The Gospel writers take us on a journey and give us the accounts of how on one particular day crowds of people cried out in praise and adoration, and yet less than a week later the cries had changed to shouts of hatred and accusations. The former proclaiming Jesus as King, and the latter condemning him to death. I can imagine in my mind in those days people saying, “Isn’t it mixed and strange times we live in?”
However, we know that the story doesn’t end there. After the crucifixion Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, but on the third day the tomb was empty. The followers of Jesus were greeted with the words “He is not here, He is risen!” Jesus had conquered death, and had come back to life. Paul describes the meaning of this in Romans 6:9 “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him”.
For the Christian this brings great hope and assurance. In 1st Corinthians 15:22 we read “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”. The central message to our faith is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we believe with our whole heart, body, mind and soul that Jesus died and rose again for us then we have the certainty of life eternal. Paul also writes in 1st Corinthians 1:8 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.“
So in these mixed and strange times, what does the death and resurrection of Jesus mean to you? It is my prayer, that for each of us it means life, and life in all its fullness (John 10:10).
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