4^th April 2023

Greeting in the Name of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again.

As we prepare for the Easter Weekend, we do so with immense gratitude in our hearts for all God did for us in and through the person and works of Jesus Christ. Just to think ‘that God was in Christ, reconciling the world, sinful humanity, to Himself, not counting our sins against us. And that God has committed to us the message of reconciliation’ (2 Corinthians 5:19). Oh, what unmerited grace and an underserving privilege to be proclaimers of such Good News.

The undeniable message of Easter is about the absolute holiness of God and depravity of every human heart. This is nowhere so clearly demonstrated on the Cross and specifically from the lips of the crucified One, Jesus Christ, ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are you so far from saving Me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Psalm 22). The absolute perfection of the One whose ‘eyes are too pure to look on evil and cannot tolerate wickedness’ (Habakkuk 1:13), could not look at His Beloved Son when ‘He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.’ (1 Peter 2:24).

Now, that ‘He came to pay the debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay.’ So, you and ‘I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how He could love us, sinners condemned and unclean. He took our sins and our sorrows and made them His very own. He bore the burden of sin to Calvary. He suffered and died for us. How marvelous, how wonderful is our Saviour’s love for us.’

As was said by many preachers, ‘Today is Friday, but Sunday is coming.’ Thank God for the glorious resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Besides the biblical, irrefutable evidence and extra biblical and historic evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ‘you ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart.’ Indeed, we serve a risen Saviour, and now He lives in each of His children by the person and work of the Holy Spirit. He now lives and work through His Church to call sinners to repentance and empowers His Body to fulfil the Great Commission.

May we proclaim unashamedly the substitutionary death and the triumphant resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The ‘preaching of the cross is still the power of God to those who are being saved.’ (1 Corinthians 1:18).

From the National Leadership Council, a blessed Passover weekend to you, your family, and the family of God.

Pastor Greg Matthei

(National Ministry Leader of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa)