Memories of Easter
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).
I look back with affection to the Easter times I enjoyed as a young Christian. They started early on a Good Friday morning, when a group of us met at a hired church hall to put up tables and prepare everything for lunch. I learnt so much about team-working in this well organised and cheerful process. We were always ready in time for the first meeting of our Easter Conference in Hull. It was a praise and worship meeting. You sometimes felt the singing was going to lift the roof. Every year we were joined by a coach full of fellow Christians from Sheffield, and visitors from different parts of the UK. After lunch, we had a Bible Reading, followed by tea, and Bible teaching in the evening led by the Holy Spirit. The young people spent the evening together, and friendships were formed which lasted a lifetime. On Saturday, the day was filled with further meetings and times of fellowship. On the Lord’s Day we remembered the Lord, had our Sunday School and Bible class, then the Gospel meeting in the evening, followed by the young people’s fellowship. On Monday, a coach was organised, and we all travelled to Sheffield for another day of fellowship. By Monday evening, you arrived home tired, but so encouraged and energised in your faith.
At such times I was grounded in the Scriptures and learnt to value the saints of God. It is a privilege to grow up as a Christian amongst brothers and sisters with a simplicity of faith and genuine love for Christ. We benefited from Christ-centred ministry and the patience, kindness and care of godly people. That does not mean there were not difficulties and challenges at times, but God’s grace was always in evidence.
What these experiences taught me was the reality of faith in Jesus Christ. The praise and worship meeting, which was the springboard of our Easter conference, focused on Easter’s central themes – the wonder of Christ coming into the world He created to display the heart of God. We retraced His life in all its beauty and power, as that of the Person who was full of grace and truth. We remembered that His perfect life was laid down in love at Calvary. Our hearts soared in joy as we recalled the stone rolled away to reveal that Christ was not entombed in death but was alive forever. We considered the glory of Christ’s ascension, His present ministry as our Great High Priest, and the certain hope of His return. These times affirmed the Saviour’s power and presence in our hearts, and encouraged us to follow and serve Him.
Our fellowship echoed the experience of the first Christians who “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). They assured us that “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). As we worshipped, we also knew “truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).
It is good that there are times throughout the year when, together, we can focus collectively on the Person of Christ. We can thank God for such special times of fellowship, which in some ways look forward to an eternal day of fellowship. But they also remind us how we should walk each day, abiding in Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, assured of the Father’s care, drinking in the word of God with worshipping hearts, and living sacrificial and grateful lives.
