Archbishop’s 2009 Easter message

We are a bit short of hope today. People are asking, what is there to look forward to? The good times are over and we fear the future.

Poor President Obama was described in one headline as "the hope of the world'. But we only ever had one Messiah that good.
And it's a bit hard to live up to Jesus.

Australia used to be such a hopeful nation. What's come over us?

Well it's hard to go past the fears we all feel about the Global recession. In the midst of the pain many of us are feeling, we need help and we need hope. Hope keeps you going. Try to live without hope and you may as well be in your grave already.

Now the funny thing about real hope is this - it was born in a grave.
They consigned Jesus Christ to his grave after they did away with him.
They sealed the grave.
They set soldiers to watch the grave.
But it was no use.
He broke the power of death and came out of the grave to show us that it can be done.

After all, what is the end?
What's the worst thing?
To die.
To die without having made peace with God.
To die and to pass into eternity with no one to be a friend.
That's hell.

But no-one has to do that.

There is someone who died for you and who passed through death for you.
When it comes to your present and your future, when it comes even to death and
judgement, Jesus will stand by you, stand for you, stand with you.

Do you want to connect with Him?
You only have to ask.

Dr Peter Jensen,
Anglican Archbishop of Sydney