Crucifixion

My Heart and the Heart of Christianity

/ Peter Mead / Leave a comment

The Bible as a whole is rich and complex, filled with sweeping narratives and occasional snapshots of human experience. But when we come to the events of Easter—the week that culminates in Jesus’ death and resurrection—we are gifted with four separate accounts that lead us with remarkable clarity through the story that changed the world.

In a sense, the whole of Scripture builds toward these final chapters of Jesus’ life. In the Gospels, the earlier material—the teaching, miracles, travels, questions, and encounters—serves as a backdrop for what is about to unfold in Jerusalem. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly tells His disciples that He will go to Jerusalem, be betrayed, suffer, be killed, and rise again. Yet time after time, they hear the words without really absorbing their meaning.

The Easter narrative can be so gripping. It isn’t just a story to be read from a distance; the event draws us in, challenges us, and demands that we ask the fundamental question: Where do I see myself in this story?

Coming to Grips With the True Intent of Jesus

At the heart of the Easter story is a truth we can easily overlook: Jesus came to die. That’s not an incidental part of the narrative; it is the very purpose of His journey to Jerusalem. Yet Jesus’ willingness to die was unlike any other leader we know. In a world familiar with leaders who pursue power, prestige, or security, Jesus’ path reveals something radically different: a love willing to endure pain and rejection for the sake of others.

Reading the Gospel accounts, we see Jesus in the Upper Room with His disciples, acutely aware of what is coming. We see Him in Gethsemane wrestling in prayer, yet surrendering His will to that of the Father. We see Him before religious leaders and political authorities, stunningly silent and unyielding in His purpose. And finally, we watch Him walk towards the cross—not as a defeated prisoner, but as One who knows exactly why He’s there.

Easter is more than a historical narrative. Easter is an invitation to identification. It invites us not only to observe what happened but to see ourselves within it. Do we recognise echoes of Peter’s bold assertions followed by denial in our own lives? Do we recognise our own moments of fear or confusion in the disciples who couldn’t understand what Jesus was trying to teach them? Do we find, perhaps uncomfortably, a reflection of Judas’ betrayal in our own failures of loyalty and trust?

And yet, beyond these personal mirrors, Easter points us to a more profound truth: this is a story about God choosing to identify with you—to step into your world, to face suffering, to take on death itself, and to rise again.

The Cross: More Than a Symbol, It Is the Centre

The temptation with Easter is to relegate it to sentiment—a religious milestone marked once a year among chocolates and spring flowers. But Scripture repeatedly anchors us in the reality of what happened: the cross was real, and Jesus’ death was intentional. He was not a victim of circumstance. He chose to walk into the reality of suffering out of love for us.

Every step of Jesus’ journey that week reveals a divine deliberateness. In the Garden of Gethsemane, His sweat, like drops of blood, reflects the profound weight of what lay ahead. Arrested, tried, mocked, beaten, and crucified—Jesus remained steadfast, because His mission was not only to die, but to die for us.

It’s essential to notice that the Gospels don’t shy away from the brutality of these scenes. They foreground them with vivid detail not to glorify violence, but to ensure that the cost of our redemption is not diminished in our minds or hearts. Christian faith isn’t grounded in a sanitised, sentimental version of events; it is grounded in the stark reality that God became flesh and bore the full weight of human brokenness to bring us life.

Resurrection: The Heart of the Matter

Of course, the story doesn’t end at the cross. The resurrection is not an add-on or a happy ending to make us feel better. It is the climactic affirmation that death is defeated, that life has conquered the grave, and that hope is real. Jesus’ rising from the dead isn’t just an ancient event; it is Easter for you and for me.

When we come face to face with our own mortality, our own failures, our deepest fears and regrets, the resurrection declares that nothing ultimately has the final word except life in Christ. We do not have an abstract hope. Easter hope is a living, breathing reality that Jesus extends to each of us individually—offering forgiveness, renewal, and purpose.

Easter Isn’t Just History—It’s Personal

That’s where Easter becomes personal. The phrase “for me” is not a sentimental addition we tack onto the end of a historical reflection. It is the Gospel’s own invitation to you. Jesus’ death and resurrection were not distant events observed by people like us; they were acts of divine love for you. Jesus intended to die, and His death was meant for you.

Easter was not merely about individual salvation in isolation from the world. Instead, it means that in Jesus’ journey to the cross and beyond, God has drawn near—embracing humanity’s pain, confronting death itself, and offering life that is both present and eternal.

So this Easter—whether it feels familiar, challenging, overwhelming, or hopeful—let it be a moment of recognition. Let it be a moment where we see ourselves in the story, not as distant observers but as invited participants. Let us stand with the disciples in wonder, with Mary in grief and joy, with Thomas in doubt and awe. And let us embrace the central claim of the Gospel: life is not about me identifying with biblical characters so I can learn from them, but in discovering that Christ identified with me, died for me, and rose again for me.

___________________________________________________________

Preaching Easter (Podcast Post – Episode 6)

/ Peter Mead / Leave a comment

In the latest Biblical Preaching Bitesize, I share ten pointers for preaching Easter effectively.  The Easter story is the heart of the Christian faith, and a key moment in our church calendar.  So why might we struggle with preaching at Easter?

1. The story is so familiar.  The Easter story comes up repeatedly throughout the year as we present the gospel in various situations.  Sadly, the most wondrous news of all can become stale and predictable.  We can end up saying the same things about the cross and the same things about the empty tomb.  Listeners can bring assumptions from artistic images they have seen, or from presentations they have heard before. 

2. The wondrous truth can get buried.  Each passage that we might choose to preach is saying something about Easter.  But sometimes, that theological and potentially life-changing truth can get buried in the story’s recounting.  Or it can be lost because listeners get the sense they are listening to a famous old myth rather than the central moment of human history. When stories feel like a myth, listeners listen differently.

3. The preacher can feel flat.  Familiar material, a busy time of year, and a preacher recounting history rather than feasting on the Word of God can lead to a flattened heart at the front of the church.  We don’t want that, for our sake and theirs.

So, ponder the ten pointers in this Biblical Preaching Bitesize! To watch the Bitesize, click here.

And don’t miss the encouragement at the end.  What could be more powerful than a vivid image projected on the screen in a church using the best contemporary software?

To follow the Podcast, click here for Apple, or here for Spotify.

Thank you for helping to get this podcast to others by sharing it with people who care about preaching, as well as for any positive reviews, comments, etc. All good interaction with this material helps the algorithm put it in front of more people.

10 Pointers for Preaching Easter

/ Peter Mead / 1 Comment

10 targetfEaster is a critical season in church ministry.  There may be people in church who would normally not be in church. There will be regulars who need to be captured by the Easter story afresh.  Here are 10 pointers for preaching Easter:

1. Tell the story – whether people are first-timers, once a year attenders, or regulars, they need to hear the basic Easter story.  Jesus told his followers to have a regular reminder in the form of communion, so we can be sure that Easter itself should include a clear presentation of what actually happened.

2. Pick a passage – while you can preach a blended harmony of accounts, why not pick a specific passage and preach it properly?  At the very least, it will be a blessing for your own soul.  For instance, Luke’s account of the trials, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is marked by his distinctive “two witnesses” motif . . . underlining the certainty of what took place.  His use of the term “it is necessary” underlines the ‘must-ness’ of God’s plan.

3. Undermine familiarity – the frequency of reference to the death of Christ, combined with serene artistic impressions and popular jewellery, has made most people unaware of the reality of that first Easter.  Carefully pick a fact or two to help bring it home: Jesus was probably crucified at eye-level; the condemned had to lift his body weight to take a full breath.

4. Beware of shock and awe – people won’t be drawn by your graphic description of gory medical detail.  Rather, they will be won by the Spirit.  Be sure to preach Christ and him crucified, don’t try to shock people into a response.  Some may be hardened by exposure to Hollywood special effects, but others may grow faint at the mention of blood.

5. Recognize there is emotion in Easter – we certainly don’t want to manipulate emotions, but neither should we deny them.  Easter stirs emotions.  There will be sadness at what Jesus went through and why it was necessary (my sin). Yet also the joy and celebration of the resurrection – Easter mixes and stirs the emotions.   Preach in such a way as to make evident the emotion within the text you are preaching, while engaging with the mixture of response from those listening.

6. Make clear the truth of Easter – it is hard to think of a good excuse for not making clear the truth of Easter, including the fact of the Resurrection.  Apologetically this is ground zero for our presentation of the Gospel and Christianity.  Don’t miss the opportunity.

7. The Resurrection is more than proof – be careful that the Resurrection does not become simply the proof that theologically Christ’s sacrifice was accepted, or apologetically that Christianity is true.  Yes and yes, the Bible presents this truth and offers unparalleled historicity, but there is more.  The Resurrection introduces the wonder of New Covenant spiritual life now, and hope for the fulfillment of God’s plans in the future, and so much more.

8. The Crucifixion is more than payment – just as the Resurrection can get reduced to a source of proof, so the Crucifixion can be reduced.  Some will make it just an example for us.  That is very weak.  Some will present it purely as the payment for the penalty of our sin.  This is stronger, but still incomplete. Consider John’s Gospel emphasis on the cross as the revelation of the glory of God’s character, or as the means by which people are drawn to Christ.  (Obviously, if your passage is focused on satisfying the wrath of God against sin, then don’t fail to make that your emphasis!)

9. Clarify the ultimate identification – preaching any narrative will naturally lead to listeners identifying with characters in the story.  The Easter story is full of potential points of identification: deserting disciples, denying Peter, doubting Thomas, betraying Judas, power-hungry Caiaphas, self-protective Pilate, hurting Mary, mocking soldiers, shouting crowds, repentant thief, etc.  But don’t miss the central character: Jesus Christ came to identify with us, to bear our sin, to take our place, and to invite our trusting and adoring gaze in his direction.

10. Never lose the wonder – be sure that if you are preaching Easter to others, that it has first refreshed and thrilled your own soul.

Helmut Thielicke described Spurgeon’s humour as “Easter laughter,” that which comes as a “mode of redemption because it is sanctified – because it grows out of an overcoming of the world.”  May Easter so grip our hearts this year that our preaching points others to the wonder of the cross and the empty tomb, and so that our own souls burst out in praise to the God who would make such an event the centerpiece of His glorious redemptive plan!

Preaching Easter (Pt2): Shock and Awe

/ Peter Mead / 1 Comment

I expect we would agree that the typical crucifixion image that comes to mind is probably a little too “hygienic.” The traditional pictures seen in old churches with the Lord serene and clean, hanging on the cross with a minimal element of humiliation are so far from the brutal reality of the event. Those pictures, combined with the regularity with which we refer to the cross, lead many believers to have an unrealistic mental picture of Calvary.

As we preach the Easter story in the next days, we have the opportunity to tell the story well. We can give enough description, and take enough time, so that the image is able to form in peoples’ minds. We can give enough description so that the image forming is more accurate, less “clean” and closer to what actually happened. Historical and biblical accuracy should permeate our preaching of this great event.

However, this does not mean we should automatically “go all out.” It may be that overly graphic detail is unhelpful to some. I’ve heard some very effective presentations of the crucifixion that went into the medical details and the sickening truth of the event. I’ve also heard some where the “shock and awe” tactic backfired significantly. We must be aware of who will be listening and what will be most effective for them. Our goal is to present the biblical truth and call for response, not to repulse people with images that obscure the message. Remember that people will be drawn and convicted by the Holy Spirit, not by our skill in story telling that can stir the emotions into a frenzy.

Let’s try to find the right balance for our listeners this Easter. We need to tell the story well, we need to help people see and feel the reality of Calvary. But we also need to be careful to allow the Holy Spirit to stir the heart, rather than merely stirring the stomach by excessive shock and awe tactics.