Easter Message from ASQ
Easter Day sermon preached at All Saints Queensbury 20th April 2025 by
Bishop John Went
As Good Friday drew to a close the women watched Jesus’ lifeless body being laid to rest in the tomb; a great stone rolled across the entrance sealing the tomb; heavy hearted they went to their homes; end of story; so many hopes invested in Jesus and now as the stone sealed off the tomb those hope shattered.
Saturday was a rest day; the Sabbath; so they could do nothing except nurse their fears, nurse their shattered dreams, try to come to terms with all that had taken place; despair; wrapped in darkness; no ray of light on the horizon.
Sunday morning the women were up at crack of dawn; making their way to the tomb to pay their final respects to their beloved Master; as they made their way, they chatted to one another: how will we get in to the tomb? None of us are strong enough to roll that great stone away that has sealed the tomb? But as they approached the garden tomb, they expressed to one another their surprise: Someone has moved the stone! What does it mean? Have grave robbers (very common at the time) come and stolen the body of our beloved Master and Friend?
As they arrived at the tomb and looked in, there were gasps of horror as they realised that the body of Jesus had gone; two strange messengers (must have been angels surely) told them: He is not here; he has risen! Just as when Spring arrives the life in the trees cannot be held back but has to spring into life, new fresh leaves, beautiful blossom; so the life that was present in Jesus from all eternity, the life that brought the universe into existence, the life that created you and me, could not be held down; that life burst out, restoring Jesus to fulness of life, boundless life. The grave could not hold him.
As the Easter story unfolds we see different individuals encountering Jesus and each encounter is life-transforming.
Mary Magdalene; she was a desperately needy person; she had met Jesus & his compassion had changed her; now heart-broken by the empty tomb; but as the risen Christ meets with her, calls her by name, her sadness is turned to joy.
Peter, full of bravado, told Jesus he was ready to die with him & then three times at the trial of Jesus he denied all knowledge of him. A servant girl sees him & says you’re one of his followers aren’t you? I don’t know the man! I don’t know what you’re talking about. Then Jesus turned & looked at Peter & he broke down & wept, heart-broken to have denied his Lord. But then by lake Galilee the risen Christ meets with Peter and gives him the opportunity to be forgiven, have a fresh start. Three times he denied Jesus; now three times he is invited to reaffirm his love for Jesus, his trust in Jesus.
Then Thomas; for whatever reason not with the others that first Easter Sunday; they tell him they have seen the risen Jesus; he refuses to believe; demands absolute proof. A week later Jesus comes again and this time Thomas is with them; Jesus invites him to see the print of the nails in his hands and thrust his hand into the wound in his side; doubt, scepticism give way & we find Thomas on his knees before his Lord exclaiming My Lord and my God.
Later on Stephen the first Christian martyr prepared to be stoned to death rather than deny his Lord. Surely those first disciples (many of whom were martyred for their faith) would not have been prepared to die for their faith if deep down they knew it was based on a lie. St Paul writes of 500 plus on one occasion having seen the risen Christ and goes on to comment that most of them are still alive. The implication: if you don’t believe me, then ask anyone of them.
And down 2000 years of the history of the Christian Church countless individuals have had encounters with the risen Christ and their lives have been turned upside down through that encounter! Jesus invites you to open your heart to him this Easter and know the peace, the love, the joy, the hope of the risen Christ fill your heart and life.
Hallelujah! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!
Bishop John Went
Why not join us every Sunday for Eucharist service at 10am?
We would love to see you there, bine aţi venit!
Waltham Drive
Queensbury
Edgware
Middx
HA8 5PQ