From Ben – 5 April 2015
This past month our country has been in the grip of the cricket world cup. Even those, who in the past hardly followed NZ cricket, have become fans overnight as our team went all the way to the final. Sadly the final match was a huge disappointment. I am aware that our boys did their best, but they left us all feeling a little gloomy.
I reflected back on a similar feeling in the America’s cup regatta. We came so close to winning but stumbled badly in the end leaving the country in sad, gloomy state of mind.
The upside is that after both occasions our country rejoiced in the achievements and commitment of our teams. In many ways gloom turned to gladness and sorrow to joy.
That is just how the disciples must have felt on Good Friday. They were gloomy, sad, dejected and sorrowful. Jesus was dead and buried and all their plans seemed lost, but then the news broke on Easter Sunday – He’s not here, He’s alive, He has risen!
Their gloom turned to joy and their sadness to celebration. This Easter we have every reason to rejoice and be glad. Our Lord conquered the grave and rose again. He won for us the greatest victory. If we place our faith in him and repent of our sin, we too will share in his hard won victory.