Jesus died by crucifixion. It was capital punishment deliberately designed to cause maximum shame and send a message of intimidation to everyone else. There was no dignity in Jesus' death.

When Jesus came to our world as God become man, it was bewildering that his life would end through murder on a cross.

Those who followed him eventually understood that his death was not something to hide. Why?

The wonder is that from the shame of Jesus' death, mercy and forgiveness overflowed to the whole world - sufficient to reach all the way to you and me.

However, there was something else. His undignified death was not the final thing recorded. He left his grave with an eternal glory that will never diminish. Jesus' death and his subsequent conquering of death is the moment the world changed.

Inevitably, we will all encounter our own death. None of us can tell what it will be like.

It may be a quiet death. We hope, at a stretch, for a peaceful death. However, whenever death comes it will be undignified. Death is like that.

This is where the message of Easter powerfully speaks.

I am not walking ahead on a path never trod. Jesus has already walked ahead of me. Jesus the Saviour has paved a new way, where death and the consequences of death are destroyed.

More than that, Jesus raised from the dead means in turning to him you are not alone as you walk into the future he has already secured.

Keep Jesus at the very centre of your celebrations this Easter. It is a great time to reconnect with your faith or to learn more about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Anglican Church has many church services taking place over the Easter weekend, many with specific Easter programs and events.

All are most welcome.