FORGIVEN & FREE

Easter stands as the absolute cornerstone of Christian faith. As Tom Wright puts it in Surprised By Hope: " Take away the stories of Jesus's birth, and you lose only two chapters of Matthew and two of Luke. Take away the resurrection, and you lose the entire New Testament and most of the second-century fathers as well."

The Cross represents the pivotal moment in all of history - the ultimate expression of God's love meeting humanity's deepest need. This historical event isn’t simply another religious ceremony or tradition. It was the moment when everything changed. At its core, Easter reveals three extraordinary truths:

• God's Extravagant Love: The Creator of the universe chose to sacrifice Himself for His creation. This profound act of love should both humble our minds and cause our hearts to overflow with gratitude.

• Complete Restoration: Jesus' death dealt the final blow to everything that separates us from God. Through His sacrifice, the way was opened for genuine, intimate relationship with our Creator.

• New Life Unleashed: The resurrection wasn't just about Jesus conquering death - it was the first fruits of a new creation. His rising marked the beginning of God's kingdom breaking into our world in a radical new way.

The events of Easter rendered the old systems of temple worship obsolete. Hebrews tells us that while animal sacrifices could temporarily cover sin, only Jesus' sacrifice could deal with it permanently. This perfect sacrifice opened the way for us to enter covenant relationship with God.

The impact reaches far beyond a single weekend two thousand years ago. The Cross was the doorway that opened the path to God's presence. The torn temple curtain symbolised the removal of barriers between God and humanity, inviting us into bold, confident relationship with our Creator.

But this gift requires our response. To fully grasp the covenant faithfulness of God revealed at Easter, we need to engage deeply with both its sobering reality and its joyous promise. This takes more than a quick service attendance - it invites us into ongoing transformation. Easter made a way for us to be with God, and the gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to live out this new reality daily. Through God's Spirit, we can experience the ongoing presence of God, walking in the freedom and power that Easter purchased.

Remember:

• Easter represents God's ultimate act of love through Christ's death and resurrection

• This sacrifice permanently dealt with sin and opened the way to relationship with God

• Through the Holy Spirit, we can live in the reality of Easter's transformation daily

Maybe you could step into responding to the true meaning of Easter with prayer and worship. It’s a time to celebrate the profound gift of relationship with God made possible through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.