Tilehouse Street Baptist Church,
Hitchin Tilehouse Street Baptist Church,
Hitchin
OUTLOOK
Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves,
for tomorrow the Lord will do
amazing things among you."
Joshua 3:5
Dear Friends
May 8th, 2025. The eightieth celebration of VE Day, Victory in Europe Day. A day which, I’m sure, so many feared might never come. But victory (albeit after such terrible loss of life and pain and suffering) did come. And the words of Sir Winston Churchill, spoken to the boys of Harrow School on October 29th, 1941, were fulfilled: “… never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.” [1].
VE Day celebrations [Royal British Legiom]
March 16th, 2025. The Carabao Cup Final. Another day which, I know, many had ‘feared’ might never come! But it did. After 70 years of never giving in, of never giving up, Newcastle United finally won a piece of silverware to go with the last domestic trophy they had won; the FA Cup in 1955.
Two very different victories. The former of far more significance and importance than the latter (with apologies to any Toon fans!) but both requiring perseverance and hope. The same attitudes asked of us by our text for the year. “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” We persevere and have hope.
But, unlike Churchill and NUFC, our hope is not simply in our own efforts and the efforts of those around us. Our hope is found in the wonder and miracle of the events of what we call Easter. In just a few days we will once more join with believers around the world as we hear again the events of Holy Week and then celebrate the ultimate victory. That of Christ’s victory over the grave, over death.
Whatever we face in our own lives and in our corporate lives, no matter how dark or stern the days, no matter how long it has been since we have been able to experience celebrations the like of which were seen across the country in 1945 and on the streets of Newcastle in 2025, the Christian message declares over and over and over again: “Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!” In the words of S.M. Lockridge, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego: “The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. … Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him. And the grave couldn't hold Him.” [2] In Him we have hope. We have the victory.
And this year we will see that message acted out for us as one of our friends is baptised on Easter Day. Going down into the baptistery, being lowered down under the water as if into a grave, they will then be raised up to a new life in Christ. And in Christ alone they will declare their hope and their faith.
And that hope, that victory, is for all. For all who put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the one who went to the cross, breaking down the barrier of sin between us and God, sharing in the pain and injustice of this world. In the one who was victorious over death and who declared that love wins.
This Easter may you receive that gift of hope and love from the one who has the victory.
Every blessing,
Jane
[1] America's Churchill Museum, Never give in
[2] Thats-My-King-Do-You-Know-Him.pdf
