[{"id":2286,"order":0,"imagePath":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/0e0c1aee-bb31-446e-80cb-9da4ae9f91a2.png","type":"image","content":"https://admin.ezystream.com/static/images/article/0e0c1aee-bb31-446e-80cb-9da4ae9f91a2.png"},{"id":2287,"order":1,"contentText":"What are the essential places to see or must-do experiences you recommend in New Zealand? Iu2019ve no doubt that at some point, friends have asked you, u201cWhat should we see? Where should we go?u201d Or maybe you have even had the challenge yourself of deciding where to take them.
From Cape Reinga to Bluff, our islands are full of places that visitors really must go. At risk of offending someone, for me Abel Tasman, the Bay of Islands, Tekapo, Central Otago, Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu, Te Papa and Hawkeu2019s Bay are all on the list, as well as many other suggestions of places they could visit if time allows. Usually these requests come with unfeasible time challenges and geographical impossibilities: u201cWeu2019d like to see Milford Sound on our final day, but have to be back in Auckland for late afternoon.u201d You get the idea...
Whenever Iu2019m asked where should we take people, I have one place that I suggest they must go to, if at all possible. In fact, itu2019s so good and so special, I recommend it to everyone. But I really think every New Zealand Christian should make the effort to go at least once in their lifetime.
Take them to the cross! More specifically, take them to Marsden Cross in Oihi Bay, in the Bay of Islands. Marsden Cross marks the birthplace of Christianity on our shoresu2014the place where te rongopai was first proclaimed. It takes some time and a fair bit of effort, but each time Iu2019ve been there Iu2019ve found it to be worthwhile. On Christmas Day 1814, the words u201cBehold I bring you glad tidings of great joy for all peopleu2014a Saviour has been born, Christ the Lord!u201d were heard for the first time in English and te reo Mu0101ori on these shores.
For me, the place has special resonance. My whakapapa goes back to the same home village in Yorkshire, England, as the preacher that day, Reverend Samuel Marsden. Back in Yorkshire, there are two monuments commemorating the work and witness of Marsden, both here and across the Tasman. When my wife and I were exploring moving to New Zealand to serve as missionaries, following in the footsteps of Marsden was a significant part of the calling for us.
Marsden was far from flawless as a character, but his burden and intent were right: to introduce the good news of the gospel of Jesus to all the people of Aotearoa.
Later on Christmas Day, having proclaimed the good news, Marsden wrote in his diaries: u201cIn this manner, the Gospel has been introduced into New Zealand; and I fervently pray that the glory of it may never depart from its inhabitants, till time shall be no more.u201d
Our history, marred and broken though it is, is one that shows that prayer has, thus far, been answered as the gospel has taken root and its glory has not departed these islands.
Why take them to the cross?
Our Christian whakapapa in New Zealand goes back to the message of Jesus in Luke 2:10 arriving on these shores on Christmas Day 1814. But sadly, for many of us, thatu2019s where weu2019re happy to leave it. Weu2019re happy to say we follow Jesus; weu2019re happy to call ourselves Christians. Weu2019ll gladly share the good news of great joy and say itu2019s for all people. But are we happy to take people to the cross?
As we gather to celebrate Easter together, Iu2019ve observed that, as Christians in New Zealand, weu2019re happy to talk at Christmas of Jesus the baby in the manger, weu2019re mostly comfortable to talk about his teachings, and weu2019re even happy to have a cross in our churches, but so rarely do we actually take people to the cross. And yet, through the pages of Scripture, we see the cross is at the heart of all we believe; itu2019s at the core of what Jesus accomplished.
Let me ask you directlyu2014what place does the cross hold in your life? What place does the cross hold in the ministry youu2019re involved with? I am convinced that if the cross isnu2019t central to all we are and all we proclaim, we have a deficient gospel.
For at the cross, Jesus suffered and died, and took on himself the sin of the world. u201cHe himself bore our sins in his body on the cross...u201d (1 Peter 2:24, NRSV). I love the way Paul so helpfully explains what happened on the cross: u201cGod made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of Godu201d (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV). We cannot have the Christian message without the Christ of the cross.
As one songwriter put it, u201cBecause the sinless Saviour died, my sinful soul is counted free; for God, the Just, is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me!u201d1
The Apostle Paul was convinced of this himself. Writing to the Corinthians, he articulated this belief, saying, u201cFor I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucifiedu201d (1 Corinthians 2:2, NIV). Imagine thatu2014Paulu2019s sole focus for his life was on communicating the message of the cross of Jesus Christu2014that u201cwe preach Christ crucified...u201d (1 Corinthians 1:23, NIV).
This Easter, let us commit to being people who come back to the cross. People who resolve to know nothing, except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Let us make sure that in our conversations, our sermons and messages, we take people to the crossu2014that we get to Jesus and point to his finished work on the cross. Letu2019s not leave him there, for he has risen, but letu2019s u2018take them to the crossu2019, which is at the heart of all Jesus has done for us and all that we believe.
Reflection: Ben Carswell
Ben Carswell serves as national director for Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship and previously served as senior pastor of Hutt City Baptist Church. Heu2019s a u2018Yorkshire Kiwiu2019 and has lived in Lower Hutt for the last 12 years. He is married to Jen and they have three children.
Reference:
- Bancroft, Charities Lees. u201cBefore the Throne of God.u201d
Scripture:
Unless otherwise specified, Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright u00a91989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide http://nrsvbibles.org/.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Versionu00ae, NIVu00ae. Copyright u00a9 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.u2122 Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The u201cNIVu201d and u201cNew International Versionu201d are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.u2122
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