Stainglass window
Christmas 2011
3rd Dec Advent Party
12th Dec @ 2pm
Carol Service at Oak tree Court
16th Dec @ 2.30pm
Carol Service at Stratford Court
17th Dec @11am
Carol Singing outside Co-Op
18th Dec Nativity and Christingle Service and Carol Service
24th Dec @ 11pm (Service starts at 11.30pm
United Service at URC Etwall Rd
25th Dec @10am
Christmas Day Service
A
Matter of Life and Death"
Dear Friends,
Back in the 1970s (when I was just a teenager!), the then manager of Liverpool football club, Bill Shankly, was criticized for taking football too seriously. "Surely," said a reporter to him (echoing what I feel, I must confess!), "it's only a game. It's not a matter of life and death." "A matter of life or death?" mused Shankly. "No, it's much more important than that!"
The events of Holy Week and Easter, which we celebrate this month, can be summed up by that very phrase: they are "a matter of life and death"
1) A MATTER OF DEATH- THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
The Christian message centres on death, namely the death of Christ. On Good Friday, we shall be joining in the streets of Hall Green, carrying a wooden cross to proclaim this very thing.
But the uniqueness of Jesus' death does not lie in its manner. Thousands had been crucified after him. No, the uniqueness lies in its purpose. Writes the Apostle Paul, "Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3).
When Jesus died, it wasn't just some heroic act to show us how much he loved us. It was death in our place. Imagine a young lover telling his girlfriend that he loves her so much, that he's going to sacrifice himself by jumping in front of a train. I suspect the words "nut" and "case" might go through your mind. You don't show your love for someone by killing yourself. But supposing she was in the path of the train, and he pushed her out of the way, rescuing her, but losing his own life as a consequence. Now that we can understand.
That's why Jesus died. Not just as a demonstration of his love, but to rescue us, as a substitute in our place, to bring us to God.
2) A MATTER OF LIFE- THE LIFE OF THE RISEN JESUS CHRIST
Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ the first Easter day, the cross of Christ would have no meaning. Its uniqueness lies not in his coming back to life, miraculous as that may have been. No, the uniqueness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ lies in his having been raised to life, and being alive forever. Jesus is alive, and will be for eternity. Because he is alive, it means that not only sin, but also death has been dealt with.
In that famous chapter in his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul faces the issue of what life would be like if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, if it 's all a big con, or a huge mistake. His conclusion is that of all the people in the world, "we are to be pitied more than all men", because we are deceived about the most important issue in the universe. Easter is a matter of life and death.
3) A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH- YOURS AND MINE
The death and life of Jesus is something, says Paul, we must "receive" for ourselves. But then that's true of everything in life. I hope someone might buy me an Easter egg (hint! hint!). I'm sure they will. but it won't be mine until I receive it for myself. Gifts only make a difference to us when we receive them. And that's true of the gift of Jesus too. We need to receive him into our lives, to willingly decide to follow him and his way. In the early centuries of the Christian church, Easter Sunday was the the day when people were baptised, publicly showing their decision to receive Jesus, and to follow him. Maybe there's a challenge there for you.
But Paul has another phrase; he also talks about the importance of "holding firmly" to our faith. In other words, it's what you are like now that matters, not what we did some years ago. I must be honest with you: I do worry about some people. although they say they are Christians, and they believe they are Christians, they don't seem to show much evidence of it. Like the trees in our gardens that are beginning to reveal their greenery and blossom, you know what it's like by the fruit it produces. maybe that's where the challenge to you lies.
Don't let this Holy Week and Easter slip past you. It really is a matter of life and death.......
Your friend and pastor,
Jonathan Calvert