Easter and the renewal of all

This coming Easter billions of people will gather to celebrate the historical, biblical and eternal resurrection of Jesus.

Yet not all will join in on the fun.

Noted atheist Christopher Hitchens was interviewed by Unitarian minister Marilyn Sewell.  She said: “The religion you cite in your book God is not Great are generally the fundamentalist faiths of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make any distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?”

To which Hitchens said: “I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and, by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.”

It’s quite a sad irony, that an outspoken atheist grasps the central tenet of Christianity better than a church minister.  Yet tragically the church is full of “religious” folk who know nothing of the gospel, and defame Jesus.

It is important to be reminded at this time of year that Easter is when believers gather to pay special notice of the execution of Jesus (Good Friday) and his triumph over the grave on the third day (Easter Sunday).
John Stott famously said: “Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion.  The concept of resurrection lies at its heart.  If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.”

I do believe in the resurrection.  I believe Jesus rose spiritually, physically and eternally.  I believe there is also an abundance of evidence to believe in this historical fact.   As Thomas Arnold, a history professor at Oxford University says: “No one fact, in the history of mankind is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, than the fact that Christ died and rose from the dead.”

I also believe Jesus’ resurrection has massive implications for how we view our lives, how we understand God, where we find happiness, and what life will be like in the age to come.

The tragedies over the past few months have shown us just how fragile human life and our world really is.  As we hear news of yet another devastation, and count the endless lives lost – we are caused to cry out with tears of anguish, “No! 

This is not right.  There must be another way.  There must be more.  There must be a new and better day.”

In the resurrection we see that in Jesus there is a new day.  

In the resurrection we see that this world is not how it should be.  In the resurrection we see that Jesus is and will make all things new.  In the resurrection we see the hope of all creation.  In the resurrection we see that from death we will see life.  We will be new.  All will be new.  And in Him, it will all be glorious.  

In the final chapters of Revelation (last book in the bible) it says, and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  

This Easter you are invited to look back at what God accomplished in Christ from death – and look forward to what will be for all who are in him.  

City on a Hill is hosting two combined services on the Easter weekend.  On Good Friday (10am – Arrow, 488 Swanston St.), and Easter Sunday (4pm - Arrow, 488 Swanston St).  All are welcome.

For more information visit –  cityonahill.com.au