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Viewpoint from Rev Chris Tinker 05/05/2017
 Rev Chris Tinker
Rector, St Nicholas' Church, Bradwell
as published in the Yarmouth Mercury
Hope in Spring?
Spring is now well on its way. Traditionally, it's a time that turns our minds to new life, as the flowers begin to bloom, as the trees become clothed once again with leaves and as the weather brightens our moods
But, whilst our moods might be lifted and our thoughts taken up with new life, we still can't escape the reality of life and, sadly, death. No matter how hard we might try to distract ourselves, death still looms, whether it is as we lose a lost one, or face our own mortality
 But, the good news is that whilst spring provides a feel of new life and new beginnings, the events of Easter provide real hope for life in the face of death. The story of Easter involves the darkness of death, but it is through this death that hope for life in the face of death can be found
On that first Good Friday Jesus was killed, a truly innocent man who had wronged no- one. But this death took place in order that we might have hope. We all ask what lies beyond. Some fear there is nothing, some fear we're going to be called to account for what we have done, and some hope that maybe heaven is ahead
But the message of Easter is that there is more beyond. Not long before He died, Jesus explained to his disciples. “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I'm going to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me” (John 14:1-4)
 When Jesus' disciples asked Him the way to heaven, He continued, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no-one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
All this can make a real difference to us. Jesus being alive means we can follow Him as 'the way' to the Father and trust in him for forgiveness and eternal life. Though death is still a reality and something that we all have to face in this life, there is hope offered beyond death through Jesus' death and life, the hope that we’re reminded of every time we see the new life of sprin
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