The journey from Christmas to Easter -and beyond

Address for 9th Annual Combined Caravan Clubs Rally service 
Sunday, December 31st, 1995

Title: "The journey from Christmas to Easter -and beyond"

Where have you come from?
Where are you going?
What's brought you here?
I'm sure many of you have had a wonderful time listening to each other, and sharing stories of your journeys. 
We can talk about our lives as journeys.
Journeys which start at birth (or before birth, when we were conceived-) and which continue until the end of our days.
Some lives are long. Others are sadly cut short. Some lives are like journeys that have a clear destination. Others can seem like merry-go-rounds: up and down, and round and round. 
	Recently we celebrated the birth of Someone who is not running around in circles. Someone who came into the world for a reason.  
	His name is Jesus. 
	He was born in a little place called Bethlehem. It's in what is now modern day Palestine, and recently we've heard on the news that Israel has handed over control of Bethlehem to the Palestinians.
	*It's not far from Bethlehem to Jerusalem: 
		5 miles   or  8 kms.
	This short distance from Bethlehem to Jerusalem reminds us of the purpose of Jesus' life. 
	He came to Bethlehem, with Jerusalem in view.
	 As we think of Bethlehem, we see a baby in a manger: the feedbox of cattle and donkeys. When we think of Jerusalem, and particularly at Easter time, we imagine a hill; and on the hill we see three crosses. One was his. But that's not all we see: 
we also see - an empty grave.

	I'd like to share with you an account of Jesus' life, which is expressed very well: 
It's the story of Jesus: from Christmas to Easter and beyond.	It's called
"One solitary Life"

 	Nearly 2000 years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where he worked as a carpenter until he was thirty. Then he became a travelling preacher.
	This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. he never held a public offic. He never had a family, nor owned a home. He never put his foot inside a big city, nor travelled even 200 miles from his birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed him. 
	He had no credentials but Himself.
	While he was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against him. His followers ran away. He was handed over to his enemies, who put him through a mockery of a trial. he was sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his only piece of property he had on earth-his simple coat. His body was laid in a borrowed grave, provided by a compassionate friend.
	But within three days this man came back to life, proving he was and is, who He claimed to be: the Savior whom God had sent, the Son of God Himself.
	19 centuries have come and gone, and today the risen Lord Jesus is the central figure of the human race. His birth divides our calenders into two eras. One day of every week (in many countries), is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate his birth and resurrection.
	On Churches and in many places around the world, his cross stands out as the symbol of victory over sin and death.
	This one man's life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, orphanages, and other institutions have been founded in honour of this One, who gave his life for us.
	All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that have ever reigned, have not changed the course of history, and of individual human lives, as much as this One Solitairy Life.

	The life journey of Jesus had a purpose: he suffered, died, and rose again, to provide us with the best possible destination, for our journeys through life.	
	He came to a world of sinners. To a world adrift from God; a world brilliant in many ways, but: spiritually running round in circles. 
A world circling, spiralling downwards.
A world rushing headlong down a dead end road.
	No God = no life
	Know God = know life!
	But Jesus came to save us.
	To get us off the not-so merry, merry-go-round.
	He came to take us home.

	Jesus is alive! And his journey is continuing. 
Today he comes alongside each one of us... 
	He wants to walk with us. To take our burdens. To release us from all our sins, and to cover over everything we're ashamed of. He has the authority, and the power to do this, because he took on himself, in perfect love, us. And suffered with our sufferings... in order to share with us, his perfect peace and joy.

	Where have you come from?
	Where are you going?
	What's brought you here?

	We've come from different places. Different backgrounds -different states, countries, cultures. 
But we have this in common: Without the Lord, we are on a merry-go-round. A not so merry, merry-go-round. We need to get off. And start moving, with Jesus Christ as our Saviour and companion, towards a new destination: the promised land of heaven.

Our heavenly Father is waiting. Ready to welcome us home.
Won't you let Jesus Christ come alongside you... take your burdens...  let him release you from all your sins. And start a new life, with him, right now.

Many of you have known the Lord for years. 
As we enter a new year,
a new stage of our earthly journeys,
let's move on with the Lord.
	
There's nothing we need do, to enter this relationship, but simply to believe in Him. Let's entrust ourselves to him. And walk with him,  from Christmas, to Easter, and beyond.

AMEN!


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