DEAR News Of The Area,

IT’S Easter time – a time of autumn weather, Easter eggs and holidays.

Our word ‘holiday’ comes from ‘holy day’.

And for Christians, Easter is a holy time.

Even if you have no interest in Christianity, spare a moment to consider this: if Jesus Christ did not die on the cross and on the third day rise from the dead, then Christianity would have no basis.
Christians’ faith would therefore fall in a heap.

The reason for Jesus’ death on the Cross was to atone for mankind’s sins – he promised that whoever believes in him has their sins forgiven.

Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that he really is the son of God – and his promise of a new transformed life for believers is true.

Most Australians do not believe these things.

But Christian faith is not blind faith – it is evidence based.

Ancient historians writing in the first century, record Jesus’ death on the cross.

The facts attesting to Jesus’ resurrection are strong enough to stand up in a court of law.

Over the centuries, many have tried to pick holes in the evidence.

Some have said that Jesus did not actually die, but only appeared dead, and later revived.

But the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus knew how to ensure that a man was dead!

Others say that Jesus’ disciples stole his body to make it seem that he had risen – but his disciples were not
expecting Jesus to rise from death, plus they were afraid and the tomb where his body lay was sealed and guarded by soldiers.

And the Jewish authorities would not have hidden Jesus’ body – they wanted to quash any evidence of his resurrection.

After his resurrection, for 40 days Jesus appeared to his disciples, both individually and in groups, and even ate with them.

His disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, spent the rest of their lives spreading the good news that Jesus saves us from our sins.

Most died martyr’s deaths for what they believed.

Notably, the apostle Paul, who hated and persecuted the early Christians, encountered Jesus, was transformed, and spread the good news far and wide until being put to death by the Romans.

Since then, billions of people have had their lives transformed by God’s grace through faith in Christ.

It is happening in Asia, South America and Africa, and even in the Middle East.

But sadly, Western countries, including us, have turned away from God, and the consequences are becoming evident.

But there is still hope for everyone who hears the good news and turns to God through faith in Christ.

Regards,
Ross FERRIER,
Fingal Bay.