Easter message 2018 from the International President

Published on March 27, 2018

‘Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him’     Matthew 28:7

As I’ve read again the Easter narrative,  I have been drawn to one small phrase that I must have read many times before, but which has touched me in a special way this year.  In the message the angels gave Mary to give to the disciples, we read these words:

HE HAS GONE BEFORE YOU and HE WILL SEE YOU THERE.

 The disciples were in a bad place. It seemed that their best friend Jesus had died, His body had been stolen, their leader had deserted them, they were in danger from the Roman authorities, their dreams had been shattered, their so called colleague had betrayed their master, they were fearful and had locked themselves away.  We can guess that their faith may have been in a bad place.  Then they got this message:

HE HAS GONE BEFORE YOU and HE WILL SEE YOU THERE.

Scripture tells us that the disciples went to Galilee and there He was.  He had indeed gone before!  There they saw the Risen Saviour and suddenly all was well.

Many of us are eagerly anticipating our planned time together in Zambia for ICGB 2018.  Some though, may be a  little wary about what it will be like, uncertain about the place we are going to stay, what we will be expected to do, whether our travel plans will work out, if we have packed the right clothes or whether we’ll like the food. Our concerns, however, are calmed by the knowledge that trusted GB friends from Zambia will have gone before us to the venue.  They will have organised our accommodation, sorted our transport, and negotiated so many other things. Then when the day comes we’ll see them there at the airport to meet us and all will be well. They have gone before us!

That experience reflects our everyday reticence about our human existence.  But turn your mind now to the bigger things that fill your life – scary opportunities, unforeseen set backs, unknown experiences, difficult conversations, unexpected barriers, big life questions and important decisions.  All these things can cause us to fret, to worry, to hold back, to fear the future, even to question our faith . But the angel’s Easter message is as true for us as it was in first century Judea.   No matter what the circumstances we, as individuals, can hold fast to the Easter truth that we have a Risen Saviour:

HE HAS GONE BEFORE YOU and HE WILL SEE YOU THERE.

Then as a Christian organisation, celebrating 125 years of fruitful and overflowing ministry,  let’s face the future of GB, not with fear or uncertainty, but simply rejoicing in the knowledge that:

HE HAS GONE BEFORE YOU and HE WILL SEE YOU THERE.

All we need to do is in obedience, follow where He leads.

Easter blessings,

Vivienne