
Resurrection and suffering - the two sides of Easter. It's interesting Paul puts the two together.
Horatio Spafford was a successful attorney, but lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871, he also lost his four year old son to scarlet fever. Thinking a holiday would do his family good, he sent his wife and daughters to England. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship collided with another and sank. More than 200 people lost their lives, including all four of his daughters. Horatio, on hearing this, immediately left for England. The captain of the ship, aware of the tragedy, informed Horatio when they were passing the site of the ship wreck. Thinking about his precious family he wrote these words;
When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”
How could he write that? He knew the two sides of Easter - suffering and resurrection.
Incredible suffering. Incredible glory. And that's Easter.
[written by Ian Hunter]