Easter Our Hope
The moment Jesus emerged from the tomb, Christianity was born. Without the historical reality of the resurrection, Christianity would not exist. The resurrection means there is hope because Jesus is alive!
Back in the 1880’s the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche declared that “God is dead,” and before the turn of the Twentieth Century, Shaw and Wells chimed in saying the 20th Century would mark the end of the world’s “religious phase.”
Yet, today a church now meets in Russia’s Museum of Religion and Atheism-the former centre of atheism, and Christianity grows behind China’s iron curtain.
Nietzsche, Shaw and Wells have long since decayed in their graves, and God continues to live! It was John Stott who said: “We live and die; Christ died and lived!” – That’s the message of Easter. He is risen. He is risen, indeed!
When I think of Easter, a number of thoughts come to mind. Death is conquered, sin is defeated, and Christ reigns victoriously!
Easter is our hope because the resurrection of Christ is our hope! The Church proclaims this hope at Easter with joy. She announces the hope that is now firm and invincible because God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
At Easter, we relive the story of how a shameful and bloody crucifixion transformed into a victorious resurrection to everlasting life. We marvel again at Calvary where sin and death was conquered forever. Christ died in our place—the Righteous One for the unrighteous; the Sinless One for the sinful; the Holy God for the ungodly. Yes Easter is our Hope.
There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There is hope that Christ is coming soon—this is what is called in Scripture “the blessed hope.” There is hope that there will come someday a new heaven and a new earth, and that the Kingdom of God will reign and triumph. Our hope is not in our own ability, or in our goodness, or in our physical strength. Our hope is instilled in us by the resurrection of Christ.
May God help us to live our lives in the light of the Easter Hope!
To Him, our victorious King, to him who is crucified and risen, we sing out with joy our Alleluia!
Pastor Arnallt Morgan is Senior Pastor at Waterfront Community Church
For more information on the different events at Church this season. Head to our special 'This Easter at Waterfront' article
