THE LORD OUR PASSOVER HAS REDEEMED US

HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF EASTER, once again.   As usual we began to Remember and Enter In, on Thursday, the evening before the Crucifixion.    This painting is one my favourites.    WE could not emulate the Upper Room, but we could put as many round our family tables to celebrate Passover, as Jesus and the Disciples did that evening.   I often wonder if any of them really had seen through it all, and were prepared for what Jesus wanted to reveal so graphically to them all.     He had told them how much He had wanted to celebrate THIS particular Passover with them - but had they yet grasped WHY?     And then in the midst of the Meal He had taken Bread, and Blessing it, handed it round to the others, saying to them ' This is My body, broken for you, take and eat in affectionate remembrance of me..     And then perhaps a little later he had taken the Cup, and also Blessing it, had passed it on to the disciples saying - 'This is Cup is the new testament or covenant (ratified) in My blood which is shed, poured out for you.   Do this as often as you want, in affectionate remembrance of me.'
DID they realise THEN that it was JESUS who was to be their true Passover Lamb.     After three years of  being with Him, the disciples were still quite a mixed bunch.   They were not especially bright, spiritually either!    Judas was still one of them.   Some were still concerned about their own standing and importance...and even Peter's mind, and believing in Whom Jesus was, had little or no idea of HOW  Jesus would come to govern Israel;   still inward looking as a Jew.

WELL it was very much the same around our five tables this past Thursday.     Young and Old we were, and are still, looking through a glass darkly - about ourselves, our loved ones, and the world at large.   YET we DID feel and realise His Presence amongst us.      We also shared the Bread and the Cup, and Sang a hymn, and continued in fellowship with each other in prayer.     Many were distinctly moved within themselves.
THE NEXT DAY we again met - this time all together - in the School Hall for a Family Remembrance of His suffering and death for our sakes.       And then - for those who entering in - a sense of loss, and even more the  realisation of what it cost to save 'my' life - each one of our lives, came across all

In the midst of all this one of our 14 year old boys from Tyndale Cottage was found to have run away with a small sack full of school text books - for the second time.    Very sad when something happens like this.  He has been with us six years....!           AND the RAINS began.      It rained almost all of last night, heavily, and today it is continuing.   We Praise God for this relief.    And also a little news of a small relief for our more material needs now on the way to us.     How wonderfully Faithful our Father in Heaven IS, though He knows how to teach patience, and to help to also learn how to let patience have its perfect way in us.   
AND NOW we look in SUNDAY and anticipate once again the MIRACLE of His Resurrection.    UP from the Grave He AROSE,    Yes indeed He DID, to live WITH us and walk with us through this life, making us ready for the NEXT.       Oh HALLELUJAH!   This is the REAL JOY of Easter - His Victory for us over Sin and DEATH.

ESTHER AND I, plus Hellen and Abigail (now 1 year old) are all fine.     Even Manu is well, and has been spending the week-end with us.    And DARYL is also fine.    Our Board met on 27th March and he was felt to have proved himself  able to be finally established as my successor without any further supervision by me.      I think this was a proper move, and leaves him quite free to put his own stamp on the work as he walks on with God.

Green Cottage is ours for the duration of our lives so we shall remain within reach of everyone without having to intrude on office management or administration.       I shall be glad of  more time to study and even perhaps to do more writing.     Esther is still continuing with her School Supervision of the Teaching Staff - though a little less demanding than last year.      This is our 43rd Easter together since we married in August 1971.      We are content and glad in the Lord.   I especially have felt ready to let go of the day to day responsibility of running TFH, and it is an enormous relief to know some one else is there at the helm with Jesus.
Hope you will pray for him the more.     Our prayers reach out to you all, trusting that in Jesus you will all be Blessed and filled with His Peace.

Lovingly in Him

John, Esther and Daryl Green