Bethel Baptist Church

Below is the message of our Easter leaflet that has gone into the homes of Laleston. This Easter, we want to share with you what God has done for us in the death of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe this message is so important for the world to hear, and so we invite you to join with us for one (or perhaps all!) of our special Easter services. If you come along, you will hear a simple explanation of what the bible says about Jesus’ death and resurrection and how you can know forgiveness and peace with God.

Friday 21st March
10.30am Good Friday Service

Sunday 23rd March
10.30am Easter Morning Family Service
Service suitable for the whole family
6.00pm Easter Evening Service

Refreshments served following both services

For more information contact Jim:
Tel: 01656 659825

---

Why the Cross?
The cross has been the universal symbol of Christianity for a long time. It is illuminated on churches and dangled from earrings and necklaces. This is quite surprising when you consider its purpose! No-one would dream of wearing the symbol of the guillotine or the hangman’s noose as an ornament and yet thousands adorn themselves and their churches with crosses. The cross, like the guillotine or the noose, was after all a tool of execution. The cross signified the slow, painful and humiliating death of crucifixion.
So the question, “Why the cross?” is important. What does it mean? What is it about the cross of one man in particular, Jesus of Nazareth, that has made it the universal symbol that it is?
The cross of Jesus evokes a number of reactions in people today. For some, the response is revulsion. They find the details of death by crucifixion too much to bear. The pain and suffering of the victim is hard to comprehend. For some, the response is one of sorrow. They see Jesus as innocent victim and gentle teacher, falsely accused and needlessly suffering and they pity him.
Some, on the other hand, look upon him with a sense of admiration. They see Jesus as an heroic figure, bravely suffering for his principles, never giving up even to the point of death.
Others look upon him now, as then, with scorn and ridicule. He who claimed to be the Son of God couldn’t even save himself from being executed. But what do YOU make of the cross? What does it really symbolise?
Perhaps it would be good to hear what God has to say in the bible:
Power

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Forgiveness

“In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:9)

Substitution

“He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Love

“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This Easter, as you see the symbol of the cross, think of Jesus Christ, the Son of God suffering not in weakness, but in power, being punished in your place to bring forgiveness from your sin. All this he did simply because he loves you. And what does he ask of us in response?

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)