20th March, 2008

John Henderson, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Australia

"Over the centuries, as they have scattered over the face of the earth, Christians have developed different dates for the festival of Easter. This collection of Easter messages from Australian Church leaders is timed for March because Australians mostly follow the Western tradition, when there is a national public holiday. Other Australians, however, following the Eastern tradition, will not celebrate Easter in their Churches until the end of April. Whatever the date over two billion Christians around the globe agree on what Easter is - the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is the original Christian festival, and the highest point in the Church’s calendar. Easter - or more properly the three days from the death of Jesus on Good Friday to the resurrection on Easter Sunday - is more than a commemoration. Christians really celebrate Easter every week, every Sunday, but this special festival makes sure we never forget what God has done for us. In these few days humanity itself dies and is born again to a new life with new possibilities. This is a vast claim, and it lies at the heart of Christian faith. Is Jesus really the Son of God? Did God raise him from the dead? All around the world every year, Christians celebrate with a resounding, ‘YES’. And they are sure to do it again this year, on 23rd March and again on 27th April."

Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia
"The Christian Easter message is a message of new life. This new life is offered to all by God, through Christ, and is to be found even in death. In recent weeks and months Australians have caught glimpses of new life emerging from situations that have been painful and threatening. Thanks to welcome rains some parts of Australia are beginning to break free from the devastating cycles of drought. Last month’s bi-partisan apology to the nation’s indigenous people, especially members of the Stolen Generations, was given and received in a spirit of graciousness that prepares the way for the healing of some of the most painful chapters of our national life. Australia’s signing of the Kyoto Protocol signals our intention to be part of an international response to the dangers and injustices of global warming. These are promising beginnings. Much will depend upon actions that are taken now and in the coming months. My prayer for us all this Easter is that we might know God’s life-giving Spirit, even in the darkest places of our own lives and of our nation and our communities. May we be enlivened by that Spirit to participate in God’s transformation of death into life and may we constantly rejoice and give thanks to the Lord our God who gave his only Son that we might have life and have it abundantly."

Brian Houston, National President of Assemblies of God/Australian Christian Churches
"As a committed disciple of Jesus, the scene at the foot of the cross that first Good Friday must have been horrific. Their promised Saviour, Jesus Christ, hung battered, bruised and dying, and they were left despondent, disappointed and downtrodden by the events that unfolded that day. But the words uttered by Jesus with His dying breath, ‘It is finished’ were not those of a defeated man. They were words of triumph and victory because Jesus knew that Sunday was coming. The pain and anguish He suffered on that dark and lonely Friday would be surpassed by the freedom and celebration that resurrection Sunday would bring for all of humanity. Friday is only half of the Easter story, and I thank God that we have the privilege of seeing the powerful events of that day through the veil of God’s promise fulfilled on Easter Sunday. His was a selfless act. His blood spilled that each of us could know life, love, hope and freedom. It’s both His sacrifice and supernatural resurrection that we remember and celebrate each Easter. Wishing you and your family a truly wonderful Easter weekend."

Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
“The celebration of Easter every year is a reminder to us that Our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection gives hope to the world. In the world today, violence seems to be on the increase and the possibility of peace seems ever more distant as the days go on. Everywhere we turn, senseless violence is influencing the lives of poor and innocent people and one can be tempted to think that in the midst of all this there is no way for us to make a difference. But at the same time, there is another message, another story and we see that exemplified in the lives of so many people who in the ordinary circumstances of their daily lives are peacemakers. People seeking reconciliation within their own family life, people seeking to make peace with others, people engaged in humanitarian works and charitable works. Such actions make the world a better place and are what the Lord requires from those who honour him in his death and resurrection. These actions are true to the power of His love which was revealed so clearly at His death and so resplendently at the moment of His resurrection. So while we wish everyone a very happy Easter and all its blessings, we must see it also as a call to us to belong to Christ, to renew our commitment to him and to work for peace in the world.”

Rev Dr Mike Semmler, President of the Lutheran Church of Australia
"An empty tomb on Easter morning does not prove that Jesus of Nazareth, crucified on Friday, rose on Sunday morning. A physical resurrection however, would demand an empty tomb. History has never argued about the empty tomb. What has been postulated through the ages is that the body was stolen. Obviously a concern from the beginning as a guard was placed at the tomb in case someone got brave and took the body. From a stolen body theory to a wrong tomb theory, there were those who suggested that it was another tomb, mistakenly visited, which was empty that caused the excitement for those who went early to the grave on Easter morning. Of course there was no satellite navigation facility at the time! Perhaps Jesus only appeared to die or under a narcotic spell looked like He was dead. Or maybe the discoverers so wished for an empty tomb and for a resurrection they deluded themselves into believing it. Or was it the gardener who, tired of his plants being trampled, removed the body and buried it elsewhere? When the followers of Jesus claimed he had risen, no one took them to the tomb and said ‘there is the body, you are wrong!’ This resurrection, the most incredible claim in history, is no mystery for Christians. Christ is risen! Everyone is now invited to celebrate new starts, new life and hope as He rose not for Himself, but for us."

Commissioner Les Strong Commissioner James Knaggs, Australia Eastern Territory Australia Southern Territory, Salvation Army
"We tend to identify Easter with symbols of the cross, and rightly so. It represents the extent of God’s love for humankind. It reminds us of His plan that all might be saved. Every believing Christian can look beyond the cross to the empty tomb. It represents God’s power over death. It brings to us the hope of eternal life. May you be challenged by the price Christ was prepared to pay for your sin and may you be encouraged in your faith journey as you realise the hope of the resurrection. May God Bless you."

Pastor Ken Vogel, General Secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
"EASTER IS ALL ABOUT LOVE BEING STRONGER THAN HATE and it is about God’s love at that! At such a time as this with global turmoil, you and I need God’s love. Human hatred brings death. Human hatred brought about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Yet it was love that drove Jesus to allow men to kill Him. If there were no resurrection it would mean hatred had conquered God’s love. But Jesus is alive! Death could not hold Him. Jesus has risen from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is the triumph of God’s love over all that human hatred could and can do. Why not, right now, call on God to cover you with His love."

Rev Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia
"Easter impacts on people of all faiths...and of none. Despite walking this earth 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ continues to make more impact for good on people in the world today than any other human being. This Easter it is worth noting that the stresses that can occur between those of different religions are generated by a very few people. The far more common story is the good relationships that are being nurtured by the vast majority of people of faith. In the Indian city of Machilipatnam, thousands of Hindus and Muslims come to the city cathedral every Christmas Eve to pray, in respect for the Christian faith. Their offerings that day make up more than 10 per cent of the cathedral’s annual budget. In Jerusalem last year, a new Council for Religious Institutions was established, with members from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, to work on the long-term future status of Jerusalem. In Australia the leaders of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths are planning a joint visit to Israel and Palestine in 2009, to consider how faith leaders may contribute to peace in the region. None of these things would be happening were it not for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to live and teach God’s love for the whole world, not just for His particular followers. This Easter we encourage you to give thanks for Jesus; a man who promoted peace and advocated for justice for all humans; and the man whom we Christians worship as Son of God and Saviour of the world."