Easter People

by Nicola Watson

On Palm Sunday we acclaimed, ‘Hosanna is the King’.  Christians around the world remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.  The bible tells us that the people cut palm branches for him to process over.  They also threw their cloaks onto the ground for him.  This was the 1st century equivalent of a red carpet celebrity arrival. 

Yet Jesus was not a ruling leader or authority figure.  He wasn’t dressed in fine clothes or jewels.  Even less did he wear a crown.  The people still saw something Kingly in him.  In the New Testament, we are told those welcoming him had been healed by him, their friends had or they had just heard of his deeds.  More importantly, they were choosing to publicly acknowledge that they recognised his Kingship. 

 Jesus however, was coming to Jerusalem to die.  He was coming to fulfil the task he knew his father had set before him.  Jesus knew the style of his death and how long he had left to live. Yet he did not shirk away from it.  He turned his head towards Jerusalem and went forward to his suffering. 

He faced on Maundy Thursday a day of betrayal and deceit by two disciples.  Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover feast with his disciples.  A festival remembering the sparing of the Israelite first born sons, yet he was not to be spared.  During the meal, Jesus prepared his followers for what was to come by instituting what is now celebrated as communion.   

One of Jesus’ disciples, though, had been tempted to betray Jesus.  After praying in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas led the soldiers to Jesus and the start of his final days.  Jesus prayed to God to relieve him of his suffering if it was Gods’ will. Later that evening, one of Jesus most loyal disciples, Peter, also betrayed knowing him 3 times.  

Following the horrors of Good Friday, Jesus being tried, tortured and crucified – we arrive at the glory of Easter day.  The women who followed Jesus went to prepare his body as it had been the sabbath day previously. When Mary Magdalene saw the tomb empty, she thought his body had been taken.  Mary asked the man she believed to be the gardener, where Jesus’ body was.  He replied, ‘Mary’. At that point she knew it was her Messiah, risen, resurrected, restored.  He told her to go and tell the disciples that he was with them again but hinted that it was not permanent.   

Why is the Easter story so relevant this year?  Why can the depths of despair and joy of resurrection speak to us so profoundly in 2020?  As a world, we are going through our own Easter journey.  The world is in a state of darkness and fear.  The usual way of life, all that we know as normal has gone.  We have had our daily lives, routines interrupted and the control of them taken away.  We don’t know what the future holds or how long it will be before life returns to our normal way.   

There is a lot of fear, worry and uncertainty.  The lack of reassuring contact with friends and family, to have a hug and say I’m with you, is not present.  The fact that the whole world is affected and people suffering regardless of age and status makes it even more out of our control.   

How then can this relate to the Easter story?  

Holy week, has a time in Good Friday of great darkness.  Physically so from 12-3 when Jesus was on the cross.  For the disciples and followers of Jesus, the holiness of their leader had not risen above physical suffering and death.  He had not proved invincible or supernatural.  Jesus had been made human in the most humbling way.  Crucified, punished and killed outside the city walls.  Yet this is not the end at all. We have the glorious resurrection of Easter day.  Jesus Christ is risen today – Alleluia. 

On the other side of Good Friday, there is joy, celebration and new life.  On the other side of this present time we are going through, life will resume, friendships and family still remain.  Life may change and our perspective of it and what is important to us may well be altered.  This time of inability is a time to think about what matters to us, who do we want to be? What do want to be and how do we want to live?   

A candle is usually lit at dawn to bring the Easter light into the darkness that has gone before.  Christians celebrate as Easter people.  Those who have seen through the suffering of the cross into the glory of Christ rising again.  May we be Easter People looking towards to hope of the light to come before us.  

Acknowledging that for some, this time has brought distress and grief into their life.  

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.