Rumours of Grace: How Christ's death and resurrection can help me
Last week people around the world celebrated
the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. I am not one of those who believe
that the story of Christ’s rising is a fabrication.
Today I want to address the question of
Christ’s death and resurrection in a personal
way. How does it help me?
In the parts of the Bible pre-dating Jesus, there are many passages about the Jewish people sacrificing animals. God had impressed upon the people their tenacity in doing wrong – sinning. Their sins ranged from pettiness towards family members to murder and national scandals. There were issues of guilt, restitution and punishment. The sacrifice of animals was a symbolic act by which the Jewish people renounced their sins and acknowledged that something should stand in for them to receive the penalty for doing wrong. This was a way for God’s anger against sin to find an object other than people themselves. It suggested that God would find a way to deal with those issues of guilt, restitution and punishment.
But all the while, the sacrificial animals could not really take the place of humans. In some way, a human would have to suffer for human sin. Enter Jesus, the Son of God. He took on that suffering when he died on the cross. God’s dealing with sin is poetic justice; a person standing in for other people to resolve the issues related to human sin.
This means freedom for me. I know I have done wrong to my parents, children, wife, friends and associates over the years. There are issues here of guilt and punishment. Where can I go with all that? They are laid to rest in the death of Christ. I don’t mean that they don’t pester me at times, but I know their ability to define me is on the run, mortally wounded.
Celebrated all over the planet by the Christian church, Christ’s death is the most astounding and hopeful thing ever to have taken place – except, arguably the creation of the world.
Something new has been unleashed in the world. A crack in the iron rule of death has appeared. The crack is destined to grow and will leave death splintered.
Although my parents are dead, I have not seen the last of them. I will be able to speak with them about things that should have been said but weren’t and about things that should not have been done but were. It means that every good thing I have tried can be given a second chance. It means that every evil I have been involved in can be left to vapourize. It means that as I reach out to God for direction and forgiveness, eternal life is thrown into the bargain.
Christ’s death and resurrection. Hope. I would say that it brings hope.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
In the parts of the Bible pre-dating Jesus, there are many passages about the Jewish people sacrificing animals. God had impressed upon the people their tenacity in doing wrong – sinning. Their sins ranged from pettiness towards family members to murder and national scandals. There were issues of guilt, restitution and punishment. The sacrifice of animals was a symbolic act by which the Jewish people renounced their sins and acknowledged that something should stand in for them to receive the penalty for doing wrong. This was a way for God’s anger against sin to find an object other than people themselves. It suggested that God would find a way to deal with those issues of guilt, restitution and punishment.
But all the while, the sacrificial animals could not really take the place of humans. In some way, a human would have to suffer for human sin. Enter Jesus, the Son of God. He took on that suffering when he died on the cross. God’s dealing with sin is poetic justice; a person standing in for other people to resolve the issues related to human sin.
This means freedom for me. I know I have done wrong to my parents, children, wife, friends and associates over the years. There are issues here of guilt and punishment. Where can I go with all that? They are laid to rest in the death of Christ. I don’t mean that they don’t pester me at times, but I know their ability to define me is on the run, mortally wounded.
Celebrated all over the planet by the Christian church, Christ’s death is the most astounding and hopeful thing ever to have taken place – except, arguably the creation of the world.
Something new has been unleashed in the world. A crack in the iron rule of death has appeared. The crack is destined to grow and will leave death splintered.
Although my parents are dead, I have not seen the last of them. I will be able to speak with them about things that should have been said but weren’t and about things that should not have been done but were. It means that every good thing I have tried can be given a second chance. It means that every evil I have been involved in can be left to vapourize. It means that as I reach out to God for direction and forgiveness, eternal life is thrown into the bargain.
Christ’s death and resurrection. Hope. I would say that it brings hope.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
