(April 15, 2025) Robert McQuillan reflects…

My mobile’s daily Bible link reminded me that today is Holy Tuesday of 2025 Holy Week, another day closer to Good Friday and Easter.

Easter Considered
Don’t know about you, but I’ve always considered what is called ‘Easter Weekend’— so-named ‘sorrowful darkness of Good Friday, ‘grey Saturday’ and the joyful brilliance of Easter Sunday’— to be the most important Christian celebration (even more so that glorious Christmas!).

Our website this month contains several precious Easter-centred articles based on what our Saviour achieved for us—

• He (Almighty God) became a human and allowed Himself to be crucified on Calvary’s cross for our sins (the breaking of His laws… 1John 3:4-6), and with His shed blood and resurrection redeemed us from eternal death. (All Hail King Jesus/)
• Full salvation is ours— if of course, we genuinely repent and accept Jesus as Saviour, are determined to follow scripture teaching and be another of His disciples. Jesus had left nothing undone (John19:30Mge)! (Easter no Unfinished Work by Jesus/)
• Powerful hope because of His resurrection, (Romans 6:4) giving us great confidence in our Lord! Jesus’ victory over the grave guarantees that we too can rise above our circumstances.(Renewed Hope Behind Jesus Resurrection/)
• Encouragement to know that we can look back on the cross of Christ as a finished work of God regarding salvation and, as born again Christians (Galatians 2:20), we can move on in Him. (How Will You Leave the Cross This Easter/)
• We can rely on our Saviour’s promises and God’s word for just as those Mark 14:16 disciples discovered. (Just as Jesus has Said/)
• Joy and peace in trusting God and His word… as Paul wrote in Romans 15:13. (Hope Renewed by a Tiny Flower/)
• The greatest decision anyone can make… John 3:16 is ours! (Decisions-Decisions-Decisions/)

Easter Historically
I wonder… what are your thoughts about Easter? For many they’re merely thoughts of a holiday break! For parents and kids it’s particularly thoughts of chocolate eggs and bunny rabbits.

Look up Brittania on Google (www.brittania.com) and you’ll read that Easter is ‘… principal (my emphasis) festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after His Crucifixion.’ And that ‘Easter, like Christmas, has accumulated a great many traditions, some of which have little to do with the Christian celebration of the Resurrection but derive from folk customs.’

Brittania goes on to state ‘Christianity, major religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth (the Christ, or the Anointed One of God) in the 1st century CE. It has become the largest of the world’s religions and, geographically, the most widely diffused of all faiths.’

Easter Challenge
Out-of-the-blue, some years ago I was privileged, indeed challenged, to be asked to share some ‘Short Easter Thoughts’ with a great organisation— my local (at the time) Rotary Club.

As speaking time would be limited ie I knew that I knew that I knew ‘Short’ meant ‘No 30minutes sermon’ and no church-type alter call for prayer: that the guys would be looking forward to the superb lunch. Well, I did make my message short, but pointed! It began with this very simple question…

‘Some Easter thoughts? What does Easter mean to you? I wonder if you’re in one of the following three groups?’

Glancing around I knew that I’d immediately grabbed their attention and went on to add the following—

• Holidaymaker only?
  Sadly Easter has no spiritual significance for you.
• Chocy egg eater?
  Smiling, I added that I personally love dark choc and that a recent news flash had declared: ‘Dark chocolate is actually good for you!’
• Spiritually inclined?
  You consider Easter is only for Christians— that is those who have accepted Jesus Christ as friend and Saviour. To them Easter is the most important date on their church calendar.

Or… are you all three? I really hope so. Hey… just don’t look at me only as a minister, a man of the cloth, and you’re all businessmen! I’ve been a manager of three international companies in my day! I’ve had challenges not unsimilar to  yours… tricky decision-making and headaches!

Back to Easter for me. To me it speaks of…

• Sacrifice
  Our Saviour Jesus Christ’s Calvary sacrifice.
• Forgiveness
  God’s forgiveness of our rebellion, independence and sins.
• Relationship
  Getting back into meaningful friendship with our creator God through Jesus.

Now I knew that although those businessmen were good guys, only one was a Christian and I added these other three questions,  and challenges…

• Easter is about Christ’s huge sacrifice on Calvary’s hill blessing us. Is there someone that you can bless and help this Easter in a simple way by sacrificing something for him or her (or them for that matter)?
• It’s about forgiveness by God! Is there someone you need to forgive this Easter and stop carrying bitterness? Bitterness, by the way, is retained anger and unforgiveness… all of which are very dangerous and can lead to sickness and a wasted life.
• It’s also about a new relationship established. Is there someone you can start developing a meaningful relationship with this Easter over, say, even just a cuppa?

I wrapped my short talk up with this… Speaking of relationships, maybe you’re thinking that you need a real Easter relationship with God. Try prayer… now that’s not a hassle for anyone: The word just means to talk. Yes, talking to God is that simple!

Easter Heartiness
Then I concluded my second shortest ever message with ‘Food for thought and words of encouragement, guys! Have a great Easter… and God bless you all.’

I’d dared be straight with those businessmen, sharing from my heart— and now there was silence. But I’m happy to say that it was only for a moment and then I was heartedly clapped. I had given them some historical points and truths to think about and consider. The spiritual outcome was in the hands of my risen Saviour and the blessed Holy Spirit!

My point here is that although we don’t always have opportunity to share even briefly with a crowd of people. But every now and then opportunities do come about when we can share with individuals… in supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, public transport, funerals, petrol stations, cafés or when out for a walk. Why… even in church!

May we all remember our risen Saviour’s great commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Paul’s direction of Romans 10:14-15, and Peter’s wish of 1Peter 3:15. While there is still time… (Revelation 3:8)!

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Dr Robert and Pastor Maureen McQuillan’s links are OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook  PS… maybe one day, I’ll tell of my other even shorter message… one in England where I could give an alter call that brought a response.
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