Jon's Pastor's Letter, April 2017 

 Hi Friends
 
At the time of writing this letter we are finishing off the preparations for this Sunday’s All Age Meeting for Palm Sunday.  This is the Sunday when we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem when the crowds gathered, singing Hosanna and laying palm in front of Jesus (a bit like rolling out the red carpet) to welcome him in to the “Holy City”.  The crowds that gathered, and even Jesus’ disciples and friends, were excited and full of hope as Jesus entered the city.  Was he the One who would set them free from the Roman oppression and the civil unrest? Was he the  One who would make Israel great again?
 
In the middle of all this excitement and celebration there is also great sorrow.  Only Jesus really knows what lies ahead of him as he enters the great city.  Only Jesus knows the betrayal and abandonment, the pain and the suffering that is to come.  As he enters Jerusalem he is setting himself towards the cross, the place where sin and death are defeated once for all, that we might be reconciled to God.  It is a place of incredible suffering but also of unequalled victory.  Jesus is indeed the great King, the long awaited Messiah, but his victory comes through great suffering.
 
I am often struck, as I consider the Liberty Family that some are in the midst of great celebration and happiness, whilst at the same time others are fighting through pain and sorrow.  Often on a Sunday morning there will be the full range of human experience represented as we gather to worship, just as on that Palm Sunday Jesus own sorrow was mixed with the celebration of those around him.  What we know though is, that for every situation we find ourselves in, and every emotion we face, we can say with confidence that Jesus has overcome.  Because Jesus set himself towards the cross for our sin and for our salvation, we are free.  That is why when we gather to worship we can always sing of the greatness of God; we can always sing “Hosanna to the King of kings”.
 
I look forward to meeting with you over these next couple of weeks as we move towards Easter Sunday and the celebration of the greatest victory ever won.
 
Love and Blessing
 
Jon