Easter is early this year. If you have school-aged children, a really unusual thing is happening; Easter is a long bank holiday and then there are two weeks holiday for the children, 11 days later. Children are happy, school teachers are happy. (Parents who have to arrange more childcare are probably unhappy!) Easter is early, Spring is early too. The church thermostats are reading 14 degrees even at the beginning of February when I am writing this. (Probably a cold snap will surprise me and the roses in the church ground!)

I wonder if the early Easter celebration and early Spring are symptoms of a society in a hurry! We can't wait for a stable married relationship before we have sex. We can't wait for the money before we buy the big purchase. We can't wait for seasonal produce so we transport tomatoes half way around the world.

It is not just this society. People throughout the generations have always been impatient. As we move towards Easter, I remember the words of the Pharisees:

John 10 v 24 :The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly."

Like the Pharisees, we want answers and we want them now. Maybe that is understandable. Like the Pharisees we have big questions: why did a loved one die? Why have lost my job? Why are my children going through their own marital difficulties? (Lots of other questions out there - insert your question of choice.) We want plain and immediate answers. With them, we believe that life will be clearer and perhaps easier.

Jesus answered, John 10 v 25 :"I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me."

Ah! Hmm. So Jesus tells us - the impatient for an answer - I have done it, but you are missing it. We want plain irrefutable answers, but even the miracles that Jesus did could be misunderstood! The greatest miracle that Jesus did is perhaps the most misunderstood of them all. By the power of God Jesus rose again from the dead. Over 500 people saw Him, touched Him and talked to Him on 12 different occasions over a period of 5 weeks. This was proof-positive that He was the Son of God would and who could forgive our sins and bring us back into relationship with God. Death is not the end!

If we are impatient, God's love for us is such that He will not wait until the end of time, but breaks into history to bring the good news of new life! Accepting the theories of climate change and church calendars, I wonder (this year) if early Spring and early Easter are spiritual signs to us of a God who cannot wait to bring resurrection into our lives. As we take a chance to consider these claims again this Easter time, may we not be so hasty in our doubts.

Yours, in his service
Jay Colwill
 

P.S. Take a look at the service calendar at the back of the magazine or log onto the website to find out about services over Easter. Do join us as we celebrate the good news of Easter!