What a fabulous sunny day on Good Friday, perfect for the Good Friday service held in Tittensor CE (VC) First School.  Thanks to Head Teacher Gail Craig, the school was opened and we were able to worship in this wonderful Church of England school.  Surrounded by examples of staff and children's work, able to see the 'prayer wall' where the children shared their hopes and fears with God, it was impossible not to feel full of hope for the future.

Of course, Christians 'know the full story' but on that first Good Friday all of Jesus's friends, followers and supporters did not know what was going to happen as they either hid or bravely watched as their teacher was killed with a prolonged and brutal death at the hands of the Roman occupiers.  Although Jesus had spoken to his disciples about rising again, they clearly did not understand what he was talking about; for them, this was the end.  His own mother stood there with friends and watched as her young son was tortured in front of her.

Even at that point, Jesus thought of her; as he sank towards death, he called down to one of his disciples and told him to look after his mother as though he was her son.  He also spoke with one of the men being crucified alongside him, offering him comfort and the prospect of eternal life in paradise.  He called out to God, asking that he should forgive those killing him.

This was not a vengeful end but a loving one.  Even in agony, Jesus reached out to others in love.

Christians believe that, in dying, Jesus allowed our wrongdoings to die too.  That is why people talk about being born again.  His death gave each one of us the opportunity of a fresh start, of saying, 'Jesus has given me a second chance; I can walk away from what I was and become what he wants, the person he sees in me.'

That is why Good Friday in Tittensor was so important to its Christians, walking into the school, worshipping Jesus, seeing new hope all around us and in Jesus, and then walking out to that village green, with its crosses.  When that cross was carried around the centre of the village, it was a Walk of Witness, remembering how those first onlookers defied the authorities by bearing silent witness to what was happening.  When we stopped to sing, we were saying, 'We don't care about earthly authority when it comes to this.  This is the most important event ever and it has changed us totally.  We hope to become better people because of it, even though we know we are far from that.  It's a long road to that but no one can stand in our way.'

We pray that everyone sees the opportunity of this gift and accepts it.  We pray with thanks that Jesus came to us and died to show us what we could become if we believed.  Amen.