Church

Easter 2008 - Messages From Australian Church Leaders

Over the centuries, as they have scattered over the face of the earth, Christians have developed different dates for the festival of Easter. This collection of Easter messages from Australian Church leaders is timed for March because Australians mostly follow the Western tradition, when there is a national public holiday. Other Australians, however, following the Eastern tradition, will not celebrate Easter in their Churches until the end of April.

The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall
Primate
Anglican Church of Australia

Assemblies of God / Australian Christian Churches

As a committed disciple of Jesus, the scene at the foot of the cross that first Good Friday must have been horrific.

Their promised Saviour, Jesus Christ, hung battered, bruised and dying, and they were left despondent, disappointed and downtrodden by the events that unfolded that day.

But the words uttered by Jesus with His dying breath, ‘It is finished’ were not those of a defeated man. They were words of triumph and victory because Jesus knew that Sunday was coming.

The pain and anguish He suffered on that dark and lonely Friday would be surpassed by the freedom and celebration that resurrection Sunday would bring for all of humanity.

Friday is only half of the Easter story, and I thank God that we have the privilege of seeing the powerful events of that day through the veil of God’s promise fulfilled on Easter Sunday.

His was a selfless act. His blood spilled that each of us could know life, love, hope and freedom.

It’s both His sacrifice and supernatural resurrection that we remember and celebrate each Easter.

Wishing you and your family a truly wonderful Easter weekend.

Brian Houston
Senior Pastor – Hillsong Church & National President – AOG/ACC

Baptist Union

Easter Message: Don’t ‘crucify’ vulnerable Australians

Federal and state political leaders should reflect on the Easter story and ensure they do not ‘crucify’ innocent victims of social and economic injustice, according to the President of the Baptist Union of Australia, Rev Dr Ross Clifford.

In his Easter message, Dr Clifford observed how political leaders in first-century Judea had overlooked injustice and allowed Jesus Christ to be wrongly sentenced and crucified.

He urged policy makers not to make the same mistake and ignore the needs of the poor and vulnerable in Australian society.

“We hear of concerns about government budget cuts, carer bonus payment cuts, acute housing mortgage stress, unavailability of adequate dental health for hundreds of thousands of Australians, macular degeneration growing with little support for thousands of Australians losing their vision, and uncertainty on workplace relations.

“In particular, the housing, health and education needs of Indigenous Australians must be at the forefront of our national and state concerns.

“What Australia needs today is ongoing strong leadership that safeguards economic growth, upholds human rights, and provides better care for the less well off,” he said.

“Jesus came to help the poor and vulnerable, the hurting and the meek in our society. The death and resurrection of Jesus has implications for our social arrangements as well as our spiritual destiny.”

Also the first Easter was a challenge to religious leaders, and it remains so today, Dr Clifford said.

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