At St Peter’s of the Rock this week we are starting to look at the book of Exodus. We are going to delve into the story of some events that happened more than a thousand years before Jesus in the Middle East.

Why? What do they have to do with us? Actually, much more than you may think. In fact, you celebrated them not long ago…

Well, indirectly. But still. You see, we had a weekend off for Easter last weekend. Easter eggs, hot cross buns. But the crosses on the hot cross buns remind us that Easter (Good Friday in particular, when it comes to the cross) is remembered because of the massive impact on our society of the events of the first Easter – the death (on the cross) and resurrection of Jesus. And those events, in turn, happened at Passover time (eg Luke 22:15). And Passover is the time when Jewish people remember the events of the Exodus – God’s great rescue of his people, when he redeemed them out of slavery.

So if you celebrated Easter, you indirectly celebrated the events of the Exodus. the Exodus events are still having an impact on our calendar more than 3000 years later.

However, those events have more to do with us than just an indirect celebration once a year (or perhaps a direct celebration if you are Jewish). Because the New Testament consistently links Jesus to the Passover, for instance the Apostle Paul who said ‘Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed’ (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus’ death and resurrection were the fulfilment of these great events in Exodus. And conversely, these great events in Exodus give us deeper insight into Jesus and what he means. They are all part of one great, significant, and true story which has something significant to say to each one of us. And so it will be wonderful on Sunday mornings to share together in the Book of Exodus, and see more of the Great Redeemer who is behind it all.

Love to see you there!