Dear Friends,

Like most people of my generation, I can remember exactly where I was when the news came through of the assassination of President Kennedy.

I can also remember the atmosphere amongst the boys in school the morning after the Munich air disaster when so many Manchester United footballers were killed. That event was etched even more deeply into my consciousness because one of the air stewards was from my hometown, Brynmawr. As an eleven-year-old choirboy it wasn't easy to keep your composure at a funeral when big, strong airmen were crying all around you!

And I can remember listening to the radio the night the solemn mournful announcement was made. "The King is dead! The King is dead!" The King in this case was not British but the American known as Elvis Presley - for some people he was (is?) the king of the world and the king of every good thing in life.

And I can remember where I was when I heard about the death of Jesus and understood for the first time what it really meant.

For many people the death of Jesus is another human tragedy - another example of blind brutality. What a pity that such a good man dies so young! Jesus was a martyr dying for his cause like many other worthies. But the death of Jesus meant more than this - Jesus died for us!

Jesus chose the path that led to the cross - he declared that the whole purpose of his coming was to give his life as a ransom for many. The death of Jesus was not a tragic accident - it was a sacrifice for sin, and as such it was the fulfilment of God's plan. The Bible makes it clear that it is only through faith in the crucified Christ that sinners can be saved - there is no other way - there is no other Saviour from sin! But there is another major aspect of the Christian message that is very different and it is this:

Jesus is alive!

The Christ who gave himself for sinners on the cross could not be found in the tomb - because he was not there - he had conquered death!

The excitement of Easter morning focuses upon the person of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. The people who knew him before he died saw him again - alive!

When they were able to take this in it gave them tremendous joy.

We pray for a peaceful Easter.

Eddie Jones

Pastor