A Word from the Clergy
Cradle to Cross
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16,17
During Holy Week, at the beginning of April this year, we shall once again remember first of all Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, with the crowds shouting ‘Hosanna,’ and waving Palm branches.
Then as the week progresses we shall remember his last meal with his disciples, the meal that we recall each Sunday in our Communion services, when we hear again the words that Jesus said to his disciples,
“ Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me,” and “Drink this all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
How the disciples must have wondered what he meant!
On Good Friday they found out.
Jesus was crucified, giving his body and blood as a sacrifice for us, so that we might have eternal life and forgiveness of our sins.
How this actually works is a mystery, known only to God, but we have the assurance and promise of the words of Jesus.
We have too the wonder and glory of the Resurrection, which we recall with joy on Easter Sunday when we hear once again the amazing account of the empty tomb, when the women going to anoint the body were told, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”
The story however does not end there, and later in the year we shall celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the comforter who is to be with us always.
Just as the story does not end on Easter Sunday, so it did not begin on Palm Sunday.
This part of God’s story, which began before creation, starts with the Christmas story, the incarnation, God taking on human nature, conceived in the womb of a young girl, who willingly accepted the charge told to her by God’s messenger, who said to her,
“you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Luke 1:31,32
The cross and the resurrection make no sense without the incarnation.
“ The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
The Word had to become incarnate , to become human, for salvation to happen; if Jesus Christ was not God then redemption through him was an impossibility.
God’s love for humanity is so great that he gave us Christ Jesus, who, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11
Thanks be to God.
Love, Prayers and Blessings,
Joy
The article above appears in the April edition of ‘The Voice’ – Bilton’s Parish Magazine. If you would like to subscribe please see our Parish Magazine page.
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