Everything is different

Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, Sunday 21 April 2019

Hallelujah, Christ is risen.

It is said that there is no such thing as a free lunch. That may well be, but there is free breakfast. We had one in church today before the morning service.

A beautiful sunny morning where we were able to admire the blossom on the trees on the walk down to church. I can’t remember the trees producing this much blossom, Spring is abundant this year.

Church was earlier than usual as there was only one service that combined elements of both the traditional and contemporary services. I was playing percussion in the worship band and my wife was helping to serve the breakfast. Coffe or tea, fruit juice, fruit, toast and jam or honey, croissants and crumpets were on offer.

We were asked to bring flowers and some were provided for those without. They were arranged on the cross, the end result was spectacular despite the randomness of the arrangement. Or maybe because of it. The whole service was a celebration of the resurrection.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen.

Vicar Mike gave the sermon. What follows is taken from my notes on that.

In June 1815 there was a lookout in the tower of Winchester Cathedral. Looking out to sea he saw what he was looking for, a ship bringing details of the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo. The future of Britaindepended on it. The mist was coming down, but the lookout managed to get the message, “Wellington defeated.” Disenchanted he passed this message down to the next lookout and via beacons across the country.

It was not until the mist had cleared that the full message became evident, “Wellington defeated the enemy.” What had looked like defeat was in fact a Victory.

The cross is the place of victory. But to the disciples it did not look like that. The disciples had seen Jesus executed, everything looked like defeat, but it was a victory. Jesus’ words from the cross, It is finished, was not a cry of regret or saying he was glad that was over. It was a cry saying it is complete.

It is finished.

Death has been swallowed up in victory. The demand of the law is met and death is overcome. Our sin has been nailed on the cross.

The proof of this is that Jesus has risen, it is not as a reversal of the cross but breaking on through to the other side. If Jesus has not been resurrected all that we believe is false. Jesus died on our behalf, he was buried. He was raised and there were many witnesses.

Hallelujah, Christ is risen.

This changes everything. Everything is different. This life is not all there is. His resurrection is a picture of our resurrection. He gives us the victory, he has fought the battle and has won.

Some people are scared of death. Others face death with a faith in Jesus, knowing they are going where he has gone before. The power of death has been defeated. Death is a defeated enemy but it is still an enemy.

Easter is the hope of resurrection. This hope becomes reality in Jesus, it is safe in God.

Do you have that hope?

Hallelujah, Christ is risen.

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