Hey, look, hot cross buns are in the shops. Have been for nearly two months.
We go from Christmas - celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ - straight into three months of delicious snacks that - maybe, hopefully, possibly -remind us that Easter is coming. I love hot cross buns and Easter eggs. Come Easter time, I will devour my fair share of sugary goodness. But that's not what Easter is about.
John 3:16 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
God gave the ultimate gift - his son Jesus - who died on the cross on the first Easter, then rose from the dead on the third day.
His death and resurrection paid the price for our sins, a debt we could never pay.
Before the death of Jesus, people made animal sacrifices to make up for their sins. It was never enough.
Jesus came as the final sacrifice, the one who paid the price so you and I can have an eternal relationship with God.
If it seems crazy and messy and weird, that's because it is... by human standards. But God - the one who made each and every one of us - knew what we needed to be saved.
So go ahead, enjoy the hot cross buns and chocolate (the big chocolate bunnies are the best). But through all of it, I hope you are reminded of the God who loves you so much he gave his only son so you could have an everlasting relationship with him.
If you want to know more, contact one of the Christian churches in the area, or ask someone you know who has accepted the gift of life from Jesus.
