ALIVE WITH HOPE THIS EASTER
The empty tomb is a symbol of great hope and significance for the Christian faith. But it is more than just a symbol. The empty tomb is the result of an event that occurred in history, is recorded in the Word of God, and central to so much of what we believe.
Josh McDowell says it well when he says, 'I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of human beings--or it is the most remarkable fact of history.'
Despite any critics that say otherwise, the greatest proof of the resurrection today, for me, is in the transformed lives of people. People who have come to know His healing power, felt His powerful presence, or been impacted by His message of hope delivered through millions of churches and believers the world over.
Yet today, just weeks after the tragedies as far removed as Haiti, Chile and even this week in Moscow; our world is shaking with the reality of how fragile life can be. Watching the facts of these news stories emerge on the television can cause feelings of such despair and hopelessness. Yet, amidst so much heartache and turmoil, we have seen the best of humanity, as stories of great courage and solution rise from the rubble.
It is wonderful to watch as millions of people reach out to contribute resources, finances and prayers to these countries in desperate need and so deserving of our attention. Though, may I encourage you that need this Easter is also not too far from home. This Easter weekend as we spend time with family, many people in our own cities are without the basic necessities of life: food, clothes and shelter. Many people and local organisations are recovering from a year of economic instability and it is the generosity and thoughtfulness, creativity and resources of the church that will make all the difference in these uncertain times.
I am proud to live in a country of generous people, people who recognise a need, and work together to bring help and solution. I pray that this Easter we will serve one another with an increased understanding, compassion and care towards our fellow neighbours.
Our church has been blessed this week to be a part of a great movement called SERVOLUTION. Servolution is about churches from all over the world coming together to express the love of Christ to the people in their communities through simple and practical acts of kindness and generosity in the days leading up to Easter.
Hundreds of volunteers from Hillsong Church have joined forces with local organisations, meeting needs and bringing hope to our communities. Our response teams planned street BBQ's, cleaned houses, organized Easter egg hunts and pampered busy mums. Connect groups delivered food hampers and visited with the elderly, sang songs and served tea. Women in our church cooked 'Meals for Medics' and honoured the everyday heroes in our community, police officers and ambulance drivers that are so often overlooked. Professional photographers donated their time to take photos of refugee families who have come to Australia to make new memories, and our Sisterhood girls took hope and happiness to the beautiful kids and parents in the local children's hospital.
Easter is the perfect time of year to not only speak about, but also demonstrate the love of Christ to one another. What Jesus accomplished on the cross was for every individual, and when He rose again, He made a way for us to have hope over any and every circumstance. There is no hope in death, but there is hope in Christ.
This Easter, I pray that you grasp the truth of the crucifixion and resurrection, that you are both the giver and receiver of neighbourly compassion and love, and may you have great hope and joy knowing that everything He did, He did for you.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Easter,
Love, Brian
To read this blog in Spanish, please click here.
