Holy week and Easter

The events of passion week and following Christ's resurrection vividly illustrate the stark contrast between the ways of the world and the kingdom of God.

The four gospels record different aspects of the conspiracy, arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. The political intrigue, the suborning of Judas' betrayal, arrest of Jesus, show trials, and collusion between the priests and the Roman governor are all simply demonstrations of how the world-system governs. It is ironic that the priests had the Law of Moses, the law as ordained by angels (Gal 3:19), but bought into the ways of the world, and so opened the door to the ruler of this world. God did not simply allow this to happen as a means to accomplish redemption. He used it as a demonstration of the utter antipathy between His kingdom and the world. This was the inevitable outcome of the confrontation of the world-system by God Himself.

The manner in which Jesus revealed Himself following His resurrection demonstrates the completely opposite nature of the ways of God. We might think that God's power manifested in raising Jesus from the dead was like a volcanic eruption, perhaps akin to Mount St. Helens or Krakatoa. But when Jesus rose, He quietly left the tomb, and angels rolled away the stone so the disciples could get in to see that He was not there. When Mary Magdalene came to the garden, He spoke quietly to her but she did not recognize Him until He spoke her name. (John 20:14-17) The disciples on the Emmaus road likewise talked with Him at length without their recognizing Him or His deity.  (Luke 24:13-31) Although Jesus subsequently revealed Himself to as many as five hundred at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6) the only work of power that is recorded is His ascension. God did not manifest His power until Pentecost. Even in the days of Elijah, God was not in the great wind, earthquake, or fire, but spoke to the prophet in a gentle blowing. (1 Kings 19:11-13)

When we consider the power shown in creating the universe ex nihlo, and setting into place the universal principle of causality, our minds are unable to grasp how God can be outside and not subject to the law of cause and effect. He says, "I am that I am." His very essence is perfect holiness and perfect love. Yet in showing Himself to us He seems almost shy, deferential, and definitely low key. Power politics, governance, and society, no matter how noble or well-intentioned, cannot escape the need to show off and bluster.  At their heart, they are insecure in exercising position as unworthy usurpers. God needs no such displays and so does not coerce or even overwhelm. He woos; He pleads; He speaks softly and gently. Would that we hear His voice and respond, tuning out the din of the world-system and rejecting its ways.