We live in a world of fears and uncertainty, a disturbed world desperately searching for peace and hope. But the only true Hope is when Jesus Easters in us.

Easter Hope

Let Him easter in us, be a dayspring to the dimness of us, be a crimson-cresseted east.”   
From The Wreck of the Deutschland by Gerard Manley Hopkins

 Our darkened world needs a dayspring of hope in the rising of the Son of God

Before the cross cruel hands has been lain on Jesus’ s body. Now only loving hands touch him to prepare for what they thought were his last rites. A touching end to what had been a terrible day.

Luke’s Gospel records the sadness and confusion of many of those who had come to watch the crucifixion. They had seen the terrible suffering and experienced heaven’s response as the sun darkened and the earthquake shook the earth. It was an awesome moment. They went home ‘beating their breasts in grief’’.

Noble Joseph of Arimathea had acted with boldness and great kindness. While the disciples had forsaken Jesus and run away, Joseph boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body. Then probably helped by Nicodemus he buried the body of Jesus in his (Joseph’s) own tomb.   Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus and the other women had watched the terrible cross with the growing realisation that all their hopes had been buried with their beloved Master.

Resurrection

Christ  makes sense of life’s shattered hopes. When the risen Jesus came and walked with them, all became clear.           

Now with the Sabbath over, the women, faithful to the last, came early in the morning to anoint the body of their beloved Lord. But they were in for a great surprise.

The bells of our village church are ringing. This is a very special day. No wonder church bells are ringing in churches everywhere. This is the Day of the Resurrection.

 Like the women on that first Easter Day members of own church of St Margaret’s will soon be preparing to decorate the church for Easter Day. Come Sunday this place will be filled with worshippers and rejoicing, joyful Easter hymns and smiling faces.  

Finding Faith Today

As Michael Green wrote:

 “ I well recall the day when as a teenager I first made this discovery. I had believed in the resurrection, in a second hand way all my life; but it meant nothing to me in practice until a few months earlier, when I came across some boys and masters at school to whom the living Christ clearly meant a great deal. They had a joy, a poise, a vitality, a good humour, and an unselfishness which greatly impressed me. I wanted it too. And then that Sunday afternoon a friend showed me that if Jesus rose, then it followed that he was alive. So I could  meet him and come to know him. Hesitantly, I put my life in his hands, as best I knew how. And I have proved the reality of his presence ever since. It has gradually become the greatest certainty of my life.

A very happy Easter. Let Jesus easter in you.