Be amazed

As Easter approaches, the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson urges readers to consider the wonder of the life, death and resurrection of the Son of God.

IN the manse we have a houseplant which is absolutely beautiful when in season.

Each year it springs to life producing large colourful flowers; and only this week I was delighted to see it in bloom once again.

The problem is, it is a Christmas cactus. Every December we enjoy a wonderful show of red flowers and for the rest of the year the plant sits relatively dormant waiting for the right conditions to flower.

This year, after flowering last Christmas, it is in bloom again – nine months early! Our cactus seems to think winter has arrived – what happened to spring, summer and autumn (or was that one day last month)? This has come as a total surprise and is completely unexpected.

Easter is here once again. It is in season. It is not a surprise nor is it unexpected, but for the early followers of Jesus that is exactly what it was. Jesus had repeatedly told of his impending death. He stated that he would be dead for three days and rise again. Yet, early on the Sunday morning the tomb was empty, Jesus had risen. What a wonderful surprise, and when the women who discovered the empty tomb told the disciples: “…the apostles thought that what the women said was nonsense, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; he bent down and saw the linen wrappings but nothing else. Then he went back home amazed at what had happened.”

“ We should still be amazed at the wonder of what Christ has done for us. God came into our world in Jesus. He lived as one of us and died for us.

(Luke 24: 11 & 12) The rest, as they say, is history. However, this is where I beg to differ. As Christians we believe the resurrection to be an historical fact but it should not simply be confined to one period in history. It is real for us today.

We should still be amazed at the wonder of what Christ has done for us. God came into our world in Jesus. He lived as one of us and died for us. That is amazing in itself, but to rise from the dead and open up the gates to eternal life is truly wonderful.

As we celebrate Easter, my prayer is that we won’t look on it simply as another season during which we methodically go through all the various traditions as a matter of routine.

If we do, then the joy and wonder of this season will pass us by. May we look at Easter and be amazed at what God has done for us through Christ. As the angels said to the women early on Easter morning: “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised.” Thanks be to God.

Wishing you all a wonderful, and meaningful, Easter.

The Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson is Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2024/25 and minister at Strathaven: Trinity.