IT will be six weeks this Saturday (March 25) until our King, Charles will be crowned as King. It will be a momentous occasion, one that this country has not seen in 70 years.

There is a palpable sense of excitement in this nation as we prepare for the Coronation with plans under foot to celebrate the weekend at Holy Cross.

However, Saturday also marks two weeks until the Church remembers its darkest day. The day that Jesus lay dead within the tomb.

Having been crowned Himself, the day before upon the Cross (Good Friday), but before rising to new life on Easter Day. With plans underfoot again at Holy Cross for our Easter worship. 

Yet, the contrast between these two events could not be starker. One Coronation will be pomp and ceremony, and the other was bloody and humiliating. 

Charles will proceed to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Carriage, an ornate horse drawn vehicle. Whereas Jesus proceeded into Jerusalem upon a lowly donkey.

Jesus was crowned forcefully with thorns, that jagged and pierced His forehead. Charles will have a heavy gold crown placed gently on his head. 

Both Coronations are public declarations of a new king, yet one Jesus’, was hurriedly put together and the other, Charles’, has been years in the making.

As we as a country prepare for Charles’ Coronation, I wonder how we too can remember Jesus’, from which Charles’ takes its origin.

I imagine many of you will be thinking about who to share Easter Lunch with or are looking forward to being at an Easter lunch. But I wonder how many of you will be seeking to remember why we do this?

If you would like to find out more about Easter, simply drop into church over the next couple of weeks to find out or be in touch with me. 

Rev Lewis Eden

Assistant Curate in the Crediton Mission Hub