A Message for Easter

Do you keep your promises? Have you been let down because someone didn’t do what they said would they do?

Thinking about promise keeping, we may distrust political leaders because they fail to deliver on their promises. We may feel disillusioned that things won’t change for the better. We may then disengage with the world around us. We hope for people and our leaders to be promise keepers. We hope for people of reliability, authenticity and integrity. Jesus said before he died:

After three days I will rise again
(Matthew 27:63)

In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ resurrection, the angel said to the two Marys who came to the tomb:

He is not here; he has risen just as he said.
(Matthew 28:6)

This was done dramatically: there was an earthquake, a very bright shining angel and the stone covering the entrance to the tomb was rolled back.
Jesus did what he said he would do, keeping his promises. He next encouraged, energised and engaged his followers.

The women were encouraged by his familiar voice when he spoke to them. The women were energised to go and tell the other disciples they had met Jesus and gave them his message to go to Galilee, where he would meet them. The women and disciples engaged with Jesus and worshipped him.
The angel said to the women:

You are looking for Jesus.
(Matthew 28:5)

What are we looking for this Easter? Perhaps we might enjoy an Easter egg hunt and eating chocolate eggs. I certainly do! But then what? What else might satisfy us?

The women and disciples discovered something deep in following the reliable, authentic, trustworthy Jesus. They found joy and courage to move beyond their fears and live in God’s goodness. As they followed and imitated Jesus, they too became promise keepers. God’s promises have lasted throughout time as people have discovered that God is with them.

And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
(Matthew 28:20)

If we choose to follow Jesus, the promise keeper, the challenge is for us to also become promise keepers and to become authentic people of reliability and integrity.

To prayerfully and thoughtfully consider the promises we make and how we might keep them. To show people that we can be trusted, and that we are a considerate Christian community is a powerful message of good news!Jesus the promise keeper offered God’s unstoppable love for all humanity.

This Easter I pray God will bless us with the gift of faith, hope, courage and joy to share Jesus’ story.

Deacon Sarah Wickett