7th April 2024 

Happy Easter!

By 5pm last Saturday, almost every trace of Easter had vanished from Penge Sainsbury's, its shelves emptied of chocolate eggs and hot cross buns. But whilst commercial Easter seemed to have ended even before the shout of "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" rang out from Lennard Road at sunrise on Sunday, here in church we, God's Easter people, continue to celebrate Easter for 50 days, right up until Pentecost.

The Resurrection is simply too big a truth to gloss over in one day of celebration. For the first disciples, this was certainly the case. In the different resurrection narratives in the gospels we see them gradually moving from doubt and fear, through amazement and wonder, towards joy and trust. And, because, like us, they were all different, they took different lengths of time and needed to encounter Jesus in different ways in order for the great truth of his resurrection to sink into their hearts and minds. Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring some of these great resurrection narratives in our 10.30am services and hearing the invitations of the risen Jesus to draw near and see, touch, hear, taste the authentic solidity of his risen life.

For the good news of the gospel, the good news that those same disciples, just 50 days after the Resurrection, went out boldly to proclaim, is the good news not just that Christ was born and lived among us - although that is good news - nor just that Christ died for us on the cross - although that too is good news.  The good news is that Christ who was crucified for us has been raised from the dead and that, because of this great act, this great reversal, death itself "has been swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54).

The Resurrection confirms that Jesus is who he says he is, and that God's way of obedience, humility and surrender will ultimately triumph over all human arrogance, pride and aggression.  The Resurrection means that although we grieve now - over personal, national and international tragedies - we do so as those who hold out a firm hope that, one day, when Jesus returns, God will wipe every tear from every eye (Revelation 21:4).

And surely that's worth at least 50 days of celebration?
Alleluia! Christ is risen!