God's Love. God's People.

On this Good Friday, I am reminded once again of the depth of the love that God has for us. Romans 5:8 tells us “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus willingly faced the horror of crucifixion, shedding his blood as a sacrifice for our sins, so that undeserving and ungodly people like you and me can have life in Him. His sacrifice is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for us, and that is why we can call this horrific day “good.” Tim Keller said this about the good news of Jesus: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. Without Jesus, we are hopeless and dead in our sins, more so than we could really understand. Yet through our faith in Jesus, God tells us “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isa 43:1).

Of course, Jesus’ death on the cross and burial in the tomb is then followed by his triumph over death. This resurrection Sunday we will hear from the gospel of Mark (16:1-8) an account of the first Easter morning, when a few women encountered the empty tomb as they went to anoint Jesus’ body. They had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and burial and did not expect Him to have risen. How surprised and in awe they were to discover the large stone rolled away, and be greeted by an angel announcing the resurrection of Jesus! 

As I look forward to gathering with you all on Easter Sunday, I thank God for Christ Church, where we can declare together “He is risen!” I thank God for a body of believers where we can worship Him together, loving and serving each other to His glory. In a very real sense, Christ Church is my home and a little foretaste of heaven. Here, I hear the Word of God preached faithfully and experience deep fellowship. I am encouraged and discipled when facing my failures and sins and comforted while going through hardship. I pray together with fellow brothers and sisters in lament over the brokenness of this world. This is indeed a body of people who lovingly bear each other’s burdens and care beautifully for one another. 

And together with you, I look forward to an eternity worshipping our Lord. We can have confidence in Jesus, who said “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).