A Methodist Minister

As Easter approaches

I wonder how historians will look back on 2009. Will it be seen as a small blip in the endlessly growing global economy, or will it be seen as a watershed, a paradigm shift in our experience of life. Time will tell. At the moment it feels as though we are in the midst of turbulent economic times. There are many people facing unemployment, repossession of their homes and mounting debt. Whilst it would be wrong to be too gloomy, for those for whom this is their reality, the situation can be a living nightmare.

How quickly things change. Its not that long ago that best selling books were telling us we had no need of God anymore, we had become so clever and so sophisticated that that old outdated concept could be safely put to one side. Never underestimate humanity’s need to make a mess of things! The danger of that happening is never higher than just at the moment when we are congratulating ourselves on how great we are.

Of course we need God. All that happens when we dismiss God is that we create a vacancy and then try and fill it ourselves. And so in recent times as we have congratulated ourselves on great economic progress, the cult of self has quietly taken centre stage. Self respect, self fulfilment, self gratification are goals to be pursued. ‘Look after yourself, be good to yourself, make time for yourself’ we say to each other. Although we mean well, on its own that philosophy is dangerous.

Easter reminds us of Jesus Christ, who,
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

But Jesus isn’t just an example or a role model. By submitting to the cross he has smashed the power of sin that is the root of our human selfishness; the same power that spoils and mars our human efforts to better ourselves. In being raised from the dead Jesus is confirmed as God himself, breathing new life and hope and possibility into our human endeavour, whatever our circumstances. Wow…thank you Jesus!!

posted by Richard @ 8:03 AM