The true meaning of Easter

Easter is upon us, a time of chocolate overload, excited children hunting for eggs and shoppers bargain-hunting  at the sales.  But is this really what Easter is about? 

Essentially Easter is when Christians remember that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross, and came alive again three days later so that we can be forgiven for our sins and restored to friendship with God.  The bible says “For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.  

This astonishing Christian belief is a claim that everyone needs to consider and decide if they believe it.   As a Christian I believe it to be true based on faith and my own experiences of God’s work in my life, but also on facts.  So I would like to share with you some of the evidence supporting Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God and the truth of the Resurrection.

For starters the events we now call Easter are recorded in the Bible, which is a collection of texts written by over 39 authors over a period of 1,500 years, and in other historical works.  More than a history book, the Bible reveals the God who created us, loves us and who gave us the choice to know and love Him.  God didn’t want robots or slaves – He wanted friends and family.   The Bible explains that God, being holy, cannot be in the presence of sin – all those things we do wrong – and therefore sin needs to be paid for.   “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ” Romans 6:23.   Initially people sacrificed animals for their sins, while priests prayed on their behalf, but God promised to send a Messiah, a saviour, to reconcile us with Him.

The Bible contains over 300 prophecies predicting the Messiah, prophecies which state that He would be the Son of God, and which contain details of his birth, ministry and death.  According to Peter Stoner in “Science Speaks” for one person to fulfil just eight of the major prophecies would be 1 chance in 100,000,000,000,000,000, and yet Jesus fulfilled all of them.  This fact alone is convincing evidence that Jesus was who He claimed to be.   The bible, backed up by other historical documents, also records numerous miracles including Jesus walking on water, raising the dead, and healing people which show him to have the power of God.    So why did He die?

Jesus’ death was orchestrated by the religious leaders who were angered by his controversial teachings and by his claims that He was the Son of God.   Based on the evidence of his power He could easily have escaped from the cross.    But He didn’t save himself because He wanted to save us.   So whipped and beaten, Jesus died a slow agonising death with nails driven through his hands and feet into a wooden cross.   Jesus died “so that … He might free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death”  Hebrews 2:15.

Jesus’ body was then placed in a cave which was sealed with a huge stone and guarded by Roman soldiers to ensure that his body was not stolen.  And yet three days later the body was gone!   Jesus then appeared alive to over 500 followers over a period of 40 days before ascending to heaven.   The behaviour of these followers is one of the most convincing arguments for the resurrection.   For Jesus’ followers, his death was a tragedy and disappointment.  They had believed him to be the Messiah and yet He had died.  The Bible records that the disciples hid in fear following his death and yet in the following years they boldly told the world of his teachings, death and resurrection, often suffering torture and death for doing so.  Only the resurrection of Jesus could have sparked such determination and courage within people who had previously run in fear.

So based on this evidence we can believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that the resurrection did happen.  And we can therefore believe that Jesus is the fulfilment of promises that out of love God would send His Son, and that in spite of his power to save himself He would die, then rise again.   “For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.  Consider the evidence, investigate for yourself, seek the truth.  God promises that when we seek him He will be found (Matthew 7:7).

Believing that through great sacrifice Jesus has given us full access to a loving God has the power to change our lives.  

This is what Easter is really about.

Larisa Hockey  - Mangapapa Church

For more information please see http://hopeproject.co.nz/

Published in the Gisborne Herald 26 March, Easter 2016

Power made perfect in weakness

In the past few months, I have been challenged about what is involved in leadership. I believe that the events at Easter more than 2000 years ago, speak of leadership, and provide an important foundation for us. I believed leadership to be largely defined by strength, power and influence. I have since learnt that true leadership is also defined by pain and weakness.

Recently a situation came up in my life, where I was leading a group of people. I felt like a failure and completely out of my depth. I prayed and asked for God’s help at the time but it didn’t change how I felt in the situation. It was only afterwards that I could appreciate how God is with us in our weakness.

The following verse helps us understand how God is with us in our times of human weakness. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This verse emphasises how God works most powerfully in our human weakness. Our weakness causes us to rely on God more.

The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) in the Bible describe many examples of Jesus operating as a highly influential leader when he lived on this earth. The gospels also describe him performing miracles and operating as a strong leader of groups, such as his disciples.

The most powerful impact of Jesus as a leader, occurred at his time of apparent human weakness, nailed to the cross. This was when Jesus died to take away the past, present and future sins (bad things) of the world and exchanged these for forgiveness. Do you realise that you too can accept this generous gift of forgiveness, for the sins in your life?

Published in the Gisborne Herald, 26 March, Easter 2016

Don McLean
Assembly of God

Super Humans?

Altering human genes to create a “super” human seems like the plot of a science fiction movie.  But scientists have taken a step closer to being able to do just that as Britain approves experiments to edit the genes in human embryos.

While supporters of this research say that it could lead to cures for diseases such as HIV and inherited disorders “critics warn that tweaking the genetic code this way could be a slippery slope that eventually leads to designer babies”  as quoted in the Gisborne Herald 2 February. 

It is easy to see how this technology, developed with good intentions, could be abused.  In Nazi Germany scientists experimented on babies in the womb as part of the plan to create the Aryan super race.   What could radical groups today do with such technology?

The research itself also results in a tragic loss of life.  Embryos in this particular experiment will be allowed to develop to around 250 cells before they are destroyed.  Each of those embryos could have been a baby and God tells us that all life is precious.   God said to Jeremiah (1v5) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” and the message is the same to us.  God assures us that he knows and loves us throughout the bible.  While I am sure he is intrigued with our continued unravelling of the scientific wonders that He created, I am also sure that He did not intend for them to be used in this way, killing unborn children, and opening up a door to experimentation and abuse. 

We need to treat scientific knowledge with care, and thank God for the gift of life for as the Psalmist says “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

 Larisa Hockey – Mangapapa Church

Larisa has been a Christian since Youth Group days in Kaukapakapa North Auckland.   She believes in finding the truth in God's word for all situations.

Published in the Gisborne Herald 20 February 2016.

NZ’s future – One of peace or one of unrest?

Kia Ora,


I wonder how you spent Waitangi Day. Did you allow time to remember why we have this holiday or to consider New Zealand’s future and the role you play in it? Or was it simply a nice day off, a time to socialise or get a few jobs done around the house?

It is important to remember our history, so we can learn from it. We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past and we want to repeat the things that went well. In my opinion, the Treaty was a fantastic attempt at developing principles for the Māori and English people to live together in peace. Yes, there were problems with subtleties of word meanings, but what a great effort!


We are advised to live together in harmony, respecting each other and living peacefully with each other. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14) As Christians we must be the peacemakers in our society, as through this action people will see the Lord.


Perhaps today is the day you will choose to begin a personal relationship with God. Jesus said “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you” (John 12:24). Do you want to make peace with God and receive the gift of peace He offers you? It is the way we as individuals choose to live in relationship with God and others that affects the level of peace in our own life, our families, our workplaces and the wider community.


The choice is ours: Do you want a future filled with peace or a future filled with unrest?


Nicola Hawkins
Mangapapa Church

Published 6 February 2016

Making a real difference

Lose weight, exercise more, spend less, make a difference in the world…  The typical New Year’s resolutions list for most of us.  But to make a real difference to your health, happiness and contribution to society, try adding “Forgive others”,  for not only does unforgiveness damage  relationships between individuals and inevitably wider family or social groups, science shows that it can also damage our health. 

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies” said Nelson Mandela in The Long Walk to Freedom.   Scientists are finding this to be true as studies show damaging levels of cortisol are released when individuals think about people they have not forgiven.  

God, the designer of our incredible bodies, warns us that our thoughts affect our health, for example in Proverbs 17:22 it says “a joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”  God also tells us to forgive because it is necessary for restoration of relationships between people, and between God and ourselves.  Jesus said “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” Matthew 6:14.      We are all sinners!  We all make mistakes and hurt people.   “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”  C.S Lewis.

Forgiveness means to let go of the hurt and bitterness, and keep doing so when those feelings return.  True forgiveness is not just an internal feeling but a decision to actively work to restore relationships.  Jesus said to love our enemies and when our “enemies” are within our families and community groups the benefits of doing so are far reaching.

So in 2016 resolve to forgive - for health, happiness, and an improved society.  “Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” 2 Corinthians 13:11. 

Larisa Hockey – Mangapapa Church

Published in the Gisborne Herald on Saturday 9 January.

Larisa,  is fascinated by the links between our spiritual state, our mind and our health and is particularly interested in the work of Dr Carolyn Leaf in helping us rewire our brains to overcome toxic thoughts.  

Never again

At 29-years of age, Abby Johnson, the director of an abortion clinic in Texas was a committed proponent of abortion. And she'd personally had two abortions. But one morning she was unexpectedly asked to assist with an ultrasound-guided abortion - a procedure which in her own words "would shake the foundation of my values and change the course of my life." 

What she saw was "the entire, perfect profile of a 13-week baby." In her book, Unplanned, she writes, "The detail startled me. I could clearly see the profile of the head, both arms, legs, and even tiny fingers and toes. Perfect. Then a new image entered the video screen. The next movement was the sudden jerk of a tiny foot as the baby started kicking, as if it were trying to move away from the "probing invader" ... the baby began struggling to turn and twist away ...  then it crumpled ... and then it was gone." In that instant Abby knew, "It wasn't just tissue, just cells. It was a human baby, and it was fighting for its life. What I have believed, taught and defended, is a lie!  And then this thought came from deep within me: Never again! Never again!" 

At that moment Abby had a spiritual conversion. She immediately left the abortion industry and became an advocate for LIFE. In the words of columnist, Saul Elbein, "This is essentially the narrative of every Christian convert, from St Paul to St Augustine. A life of sin, a moment of truth, and suddenly everything changes." And in what is being described as an expression of redemption, the abortion facility where Abby Johnson once worked is now a pro-life pregnancy centre. Tracy Frank, executive director of the centre says, "What was once a place of death and grief where an estimated 6,400 abortions were performed, has been transformed into a place of life."  

Julia Martin 

 Wife, grandmother, and daughter of God, Julia believes we are all precious in God's eyes, known and loved from the very moment of conception.