EASTER is a strange time of year.

The dates are never fixed and sometimes you just don’t know where you are with it.

This year it’s really early and next year it is mid-April.

However, there is one thing that remains the same year after year. The Message.

God loves us, we have sinned, Jesus died in our place and we have to choose whether or not we are going to follow Him.

It’s as simple as that.

Don’t let people try and complicate it for you.

The Message of the Gospel is free and brings freedom because when we take the words of Jesus seriously he brings us life.

I have recently done a set of lessons for 14 year olds in a local Cirencester school and their homework was to write down five questions to ask me.

They gave me a good grilling most lessons and it was good fun. The most common question was “If God is a God of love then why is there suffering in the world?”

My answer always was to let them know that God gives people free will and that humanity can decide if they will follow God or suit themselves.

Every time someone decides to suit themselves they exercise the free will that God gave them.

They choose to either be greedy, jealous and sinful and so other people take the brunt of their actions.

This is why there is suffering.

Easter reminds us that God suffered too, it’s not like it is an alien concept to Him.

He sent his only son Jesus into the world to take the brunt of all of the sin of the world and then to beat death.

All of this took place on a cross in full view of many onlookers.

The Bible states “the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

REV BOB MORRIS

Minister, Youth and Children

Cirencester Baptist Church