Richard's Reflections (April 2025)

We are approaching a very important time in the Christian calendar. Easter will be upon us very soon, and we remember the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. These events are so important because they form the foundation of our faith.

On Good Friday, we remember that Jesus suffered and was put to death on a cross. Why is that worth considering? Because Jesus was punished by death even though he had never ever done anything wrong. The point is that human beings have all done things that are wrong, and therefore there are consequences. If you break a law of the land, there are consequences. A motoring offence could mean a fine. More serious crimes end up in a jail sentence. You would not expect a fine or jail if you had not done anything wrong. Unless… you volunteer to pay the fine for someone else. In that case, once you have paid, the person who committed the offence does not need to pay anything. In dying, Jesus has, as it were paid the fine for all the wrong things we have done. As Peter wrote:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross. (1 Peter 2 v 24)

Or in the words of Graham Kendrick:

The price is paid:

come, let us enter in

to all that Jesus died

to make our own.

For every sin

more than enough He gave,

and bought our freedom

from each guilty stain.

Graham Kendrick

© 1983 Thankyou Music

CCL: 120228

Of course, the death of Jesus is only half the story. He did not stay dead, but came back to life again, so that we can have life for ever. We will look at that next month.

A very Happy Easter to you all, Richard