When we say, ‘I hope so’ we often mean, ‘I’d quite like
something to happen, but can’t be sure it will.’ Like our favourite football
team winning the FA Cup, or getting that dream job, or whatever. Hope is a
fragile thing in an uncertain world where we never really know what’s around the
corner. But a fragile hope that things are going to turn out well is better than
no hope at all, I suppose.
Easter is all about hope destroyed and reborn. Jesus’
followers were full of hope that he was the long-expected Messiah who was going
to put the world to rights. The Saviour of the world, even. But it didn’t seem
to work out quite like that. Jesus was rejected by the religious authorities,
put through a mockery of a trial and condemned to be crucified on the first Good
Friday. Some Saviour. Couldn’t even save himself from the suffering and
indignity of public execution. Jesus’ followers dutifully buried their Master
and thought that was that. All their grand hopes of a new and better world were
gone.
They were wrong, however. On the fist Easter Sunday morning
Jesus’ followers were amazed to discover that his tomb was empty and the body
was nowhere to be seen. Later that day he appeared to them. Jesus had risen from
the dead. At first they couldn’t quite believe their eyes, but it was him
alright. The same Jesus who had been crucified was alive. The hearts of his
followers burned with hope once more.
Jesus explained that it was by his death on the cross and
resurrection from the dead that he had broken the power of sin and death. Now
those who believe in him may be forgiven and restored to a right relationship
with God. The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise his
people to everlasting life and glory.
That’s the Christian hope. It is rooted not in an optimistic
feeling that things are going to work out for the best, but in what God did in
Christ on that first Easter Weekend. The believer has a sure and certain hope in
the living Lord Jesus.
*For Easter editions of News & Views and Holy Trinity Magazine
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