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2013 Easter Message-Archbishop Dr Peter JensenEmbargoed until Good Friday, 29th MarchThe leader of Australia’s largest Anglican Diocese, Dr Peter Jensen, has delivered his
final Easter message, saying he is ‘filled with hope’.
Dr Jensen retires in July and the statement issued today is his 12th Easter message as
Archbishop. He has been one of Australia’s foremost religious leaders and one of the
longest-serving of recent times.
The message comes as Anglican churches hold Good Friday services and prepare for
Easter Day services on Sunday, celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Dr Jensen draws on his own self-reflection upon leaving office.
“As I think on my time as Archbishop, naturally I look back and try to judge myself – not
with much success!” he says. “Like you, I have a real judge. Think how much more God,
who knows all the secrets of our hearts, must be able to hold me to account. It should
make us tremble.”
But Dr Jensen says Easter fills him with hope.
“What happened at the first Easter reminds me of the love of God. Through the death of
Jesus even I, and all of us, can have forgiveness as we turn to him in sorrow and trust him
for our lives” he says.
“Our failures are not the last word over our lives. And, through the resurrection of Jesus I
have a great and undeserved hope of my own resurrection and future.” the Archbishop
says.
The main service at St Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral, Sydney Square (next to the
Town Hall) on Good Friday will be at 10am and Dr Jensen will preach on Easter
Sunday at 10:30am. Filming points and audio will be available. The Easter message
is available in text (attached), broadcast video and audio.
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This is my 12th and final Easter message as Archbishop of Sydney.
As I think on my time as Archbishop, naturally I look back and try to judge myself
– not with much success!
Like you, I have a real judge. Think how much more God, who knows all the
secrets of our hearts, must be able to hold me to account. It should make us
tremble.
But I am filled with hope. Why?
Because of Easter. What happened at the first Easter reminds me of the love of
God.
Through the death of Jesus even I, and all of us, can have forgiveness as we
turn to him in sorrow and trust him for our lives. Our failures are not the last word
over our lives. And, through the resurrection of Jesus I have a great and
undeserved hope of my own resurrection and future.
I can only quote the words of John Newton, the man who wrote the song,
Amazing Grace: ‘I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Saviour’. Thank the
love of God for that.
Dr Peter F Jensen,
Archbishop of Sydney,
Easter, 2013 AD <저작권자 ⓒ christianreview 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
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