Sunday 24th March

Philippa Kirby shared a message titled,
'Why We Celebrate Easter' 

In a lot of ways we have prettied or nice-ified Easter because the reality of it is really quite uncomfortable! Easter is not just the fun little bits of chocolate eggs and hot cross buns... There is the whole depth of what it represents for us as Christ followers. 

The Easter story began even before creation. That's a big thought! 

Ephesians 1:4
'Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.'

Before He made the world, God had grace for us - He loved us! He had a plan for our redemption. 

There is hope for now and for the future. 

John 1:1-5, 10-16 NLT
In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognise him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 
They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 
John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me. From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."'

John 1:16 TPT
'From the overflow of His fullness we received grace heaped upon more grace!'

John 1:17-18 NLT
'For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.'

John 1:18b TPT
'Now that he has come to us, he has unfolded the full explanation of who God truly is!'

God had a plan before the world was created. When the time came, He sent His Son to outwork that plan and reveal Himself to us. 

Ephesians 1:3-5
'All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.'

It gave God great pleasure to outwork the plan of sending Jesus. This was not a back up plan or an after thought - God knew whilst He was creating, from the very beginning, how things would play out. 

Jesus chose death for the sake of our lives - because of His great love for us. 

It gives parents great pleasure to see their children happy, content, and blessed. It gives God great pleasure to see us living in wholeness and joy! 

He KNEW
He CREATED 
He ENTERED
He SHOWED 
He OVERCAME 

The light is in me - darkness can never be hostile toward me. 

Christ made His home among us, and asks us to make ourselves at home within Him.

John 1:12 NLT
'But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.'

John 1:12 TPT
'But those who embraced him and took hold of his name he gave authority to become the children of God!'

We are the Bride of Christ (we take His name), yet we are also Children of God. 

Genesis 12:1-2 NLT
'The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.'

Leave 
Go 
I will show
I will bless
You will be a blessing

Yahweh revealed His love and kindness to Abraham in a way that he could understand. God draws us by His kindness. Jesus revealed to us that He had a better way!

Just like Abraham had a son born miraculously who started a new nation, God had a Son born into humanity by miraculous means and He started a new Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven.

This is the celebration of Easter - Jesus brought and bought a new Kingdom!

Jesus was the revelation of God's character. 

John 1:17 TPT
'Jesus, the Anointed One, unveils truth wrapped in tender mercy.'

Perhaps as you unwrap an Easter egg this Easter - you can reflect on the unveiled Truth that Jesus brought to us. It is finished! Nothing has been left undone - hallelujah! 

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You can watch the full message below: