March 2008

Easter comes a little early this year. Most of the time, Easter falls in the month of April, but this year, it falls on March 23. This early date doesn’t happen again until 2016. Just like Christmas, we celebrate Easter every year, yet as time passes, we often have forgotten the significance of this very important date. Christianity circles around the core issue of the Person of Jesus Christ. It is important for Christ’s followers (Christians) to know who Jesus was as a historical figure, and who He is at present. The Almighty God stepped foot on planet earth, which He created, two thousand years ago. He taught about the Heavenly Kingdom so that we may know how to live in this temporal world. He lived to die so that we may live. Finally, He was raised from the dead so that we too may have eternal life.

Easter is the day that we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection. After His resurrection, Jesus ministered to His followers for forty days before He returned home to His heavenly throne. There, He reclaimed His position which He temporarily gave up when He became flesh. At present, He continues to minister to His followers by being their advocate or bridge that connects them to God the Father. Jesus intercedes on our behalves! Jesus is at where He is today because He rose from the dead.

Easter is a significant day. It is significant for Jesus because it proves that He claims final victory over death and sin. The tomb that housed Jesus’ body couldn’t contain Him; the linen that wrapped Jesus’ body couldn’t confine Him. Three days after His death, He rose from the dead. What wonderful News it was to the disciples then and to us now. The bodily resurrection of Jesus was the greatest miracle of all. No wonder the Apostle Paul exclaimed, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The horror of death that is caused by Sin had been completely swallowed up by Jesus’ Resurrection.

Easter is significant to us as believers. It gives us hope. A hope for a better future where there are no more infestation and effect of Sin. We are sojourners in this world. One day we will have to leave everything that belongs to this world behind and step into eternity. When we have hope for a better future, it would help us to face today’s challenges, so we wouldn’t buckle under pressure. Easter gives us strength. Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. We are constantly being bombarded with the daily grind. But with the New Life that comes through in Jesus’ Resurrection, we have new strength to sustain. Easter gives us direction. Since we know where we are going, we now have a direction in life. Without a direction, we may be spinning our wheel without going anywhere. Easter reminds us that we are going “Home” to be with the God who created and loves us. He left us on earth for a mission—to live out a life that others may yearn what we have—hope, strength and direction in life.

Before I sign off, it is my prayer that all of you come to know the Resurrected Jesus as your Personal Savior. The Bible says, “Yet to all who received Him (Jesus), to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” What a blessing it is to become a child of God!

Pastor Larry

今 年的復活節是比往年來臨得較為早。通常來說復活節都是在四月份。但今年卻是在三月二十三日，而這情形將要到二零一六年才會再度發生。就如一年一度的聖誕 節，我們每年都會慶祝復活節，但隨著時日的過去，我們都可能忘記了復活節其實是一個非常重要的日子。基督教是以耶穌基督為我們信仰的核心。對基督徒（基督 的跟隨者）而言，認識耶穌是過去的一個歷史人物，以及他目前的地位是極其重要的。全能的神在二千年前涉足在祂所創造的地球上。祂教導天國的道理好讓我們懂 得如何在這個世上生活。衪活的目的是為人死，好讓我們可以因衪而得生。最後，祂從從死裡復活好讓我們可以得到永恆的生命。

復活節是我們慶祝耶穌復活的節日。在衪復活之後，耶穌繼續教導跟隨衪的人。四十天之後祂回到天國中恢復衪因為成了肉身來到世上時暫時放下的地位。現在衪仍然為著信靠祂的人作中保或橋樑，好讓他們能夠與父神相交；耶穌今日仍然為著我們而代求。衪現在在天上乃是因為衪從死裡復活。

復活節是一個有意義的日子。對耶穌來說是重要的，因為在這日證明了衪最後是得勝的；衪勝過死亡與罪惡。墳墓不能遏制耶穌的身體;而用來包裹著衪的細麻布不能限制祂。死後三日衪從死裡復活。對當時的門徒及今日的我們，這是何等的好消息！耶穌身體的復活是最偉大的奇蹟。難怪使徒保羅讚嘆說：「死啊，你得勝的權勢在哪裡？死啊，你的毒鉤在哪裡？」從罪惡所帶出來可怕的死亡已經完全被耶穌的復活吞噬了。

對 信徒來說，復活節更是一重要的日子，因為這日子帶給我們盼望。我們將會有一個更加美好的未來，而那時是再不會受到罪惡所帶來的侵擾和影響。我們今日在世都 是客旅。有一天我們都要將屬於這個世界的東西放下而踏足入永恆。當我們對未來有更美好的盼望的時候，我們就會有能力去面對今天的挑戰，而不會在壓力下萎 縮。復活節帶給我們能力。讓我們面對現實，生活不是容易的。我們每日都會面對不少的困難，但因著從死裡復活的耶穌所得的新生命，我們就有新的能力來維持下 去。復活節帶給我們方向。由於我們知道我們要往那裡去，我們在生命中就有了一個人生的方向。當我們沒有一個人生的方向時就好像車子的四個輪在轉動，但車子 卻仍然停留在同一個地方。復活節提醒我們有一天我們將要回「家」，與創造我們和愛我們的神同在。衪讓我們存留在地上是有一個使命要我們去完成，就是去活出 有盼望，有活力及有方向的新生命好讓其他人都渴望得著我們所有的。

在收筆之前，我的祈求就是願您們都能夠認識這位復活的耶穌，以衪為您個人的救主。聖經說：「凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄，作神的兒女。」能作為神的兒女是何等的福份！

唐若愚牧師