Good Friday and Easter Sunday
April 14, 17, 2006

The above Festivals are the most important in the Christian calendar. On Good Friday millions of Christians throughout the world will gather to reflect on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday they will gather to celebrate His Resurrection

Jesus Christ lived in a World of Laws. The Jewish people lived under the ancient laws of their tribe, and there were many of them, many of which still exist today in the area of food and religious ceremony.

They also had to live under the Laws of Rome, the Occupying Power with its Legions to enforce them and collect the taxes.

Jesus Christ had in many ways mocked the ancient laws administered by the Sanhedrin and the High Priests. He declared just two laws to be followed. In the first He said " I am the Lord Thy God” in effect announcing that he was the Boss and nobody else made laws. In the Second He said" Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" and went on to say this was not just the nice guy across the street but that miserable devil whose cars roared up and down the street at all hours. It is understandable that the leaders of the Jewish communities, the wealthy and probably on good terms with the Romans, had a great antipathy to these teachings as they threatened their authority and their future standing in the community.

The Romans also had serious doubts about this man whose oratory and statement of simple facts challenged their authority. They were much in the same position as in our lifetime we have seen the British in India struggling with the teachings of Ghandi, Batista with the rebel Castro and Israel with Hezbollah. The last thing they wanted was this Messiah, who the Jews considered another Moses come to rid them of their bondage, to cause a significant revolt which would engender an expensive military campaign to eradicate.

Both sides, with a lot of power, wanted to be rid of Jesus

Jesus was in essence a pacifist. He would not join in with the Zealots who promoted physical violence much in the manner of the Ayatollah of Iran. Even as He hung dying on the Cross he said "Forgive them" a reiteration of his " Love one another"

His Resurrection on Easter Sunday is seen to be a promise to the World that His Spirit will continue in the hearts and minds of the people.

It seems a pity that so very few Christian powers have followed His teachings, from the Crusaders of old to the modern war lords.

These comments are the personal reflections of an old man as he revues national behaviours and changes during his lifetime.

Back to Stories Page >>