Bishop Reg Piper’s Easter Message - April 2004

Some people tell me God has spoken to them.  No one tells me this Voice was heard by others.

This is not surprising.  Only in extraordinary times does the Bible talk about God speaking in an audible Voice.  One such extraordinary time was in the week before Easter.

As Jesus determined to go to the cross, he prayed that God’s name might be glorified.  The Father replied audibly, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again”.

Previous Glory

Before this encounter God had displayed his glory in Jesus’ ministry through his miracles.  They indicated who he was.  When Jesus turned water to wine, walked on the Sea of Galilee and fed 5000 with five loaves, God showed he was the Agent of Creation. When Jesus healed the official’s son, the man who had been ill for 38 years and the man born blind and raised Lazarus from death, God showed that he was the Source of Life.

By these and many other signs God showed Jesus was no ordinary person but the very Son of God himself.  They also demonstrated that Jesus had come to serve.

Future Glory

God would however especially show his glory in the Easter events.

In an astounding display of glory God raised Jesus to life three days after his crucifixion.  This was not a mere resuscitation.  It was a resurrection.  By this act Jesus conquered death.  Everyone can now enter into his victory with him.

In an even greater display of glory, Jesus demonstrated how far his service would go. He would not only suffer the physical brutality of the Roman whip and cross but also the spiritual wrath of God’s righteous anger so people might be saved eternally.  Everyone may now be forgiven through him.

Hundreds of millions of Christian pulpits will be proclaiming these themes over Easter.  My prayer is that everyone will see God’s glory in Jesus.

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