with Rev Dr Chris Walker
Christmas, Easter and Pentecost
We have recently celebrated Christmas. The next major celebration in the Christian year is Easter, followed by Pentecost. These are the three major events in the Christian calendar. Theologically if I was to use one word for each of these it would be as follows: Christmas – incarnation, Easter – reconciliation, and Pentecost – empowerment. I will expand on this.
Christmas is about incarnation. God not only sent prophets to enable us to know something of the word and character of God but finally sent his Son into the world. The word ‘incarnation’ means God with us. In the coming of Jesus, God the Son came to us to live our life, go through death and be raised to be with God. As Paul puts it “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name”(Philippians 2:6-9). God loved the world and the people he created so much that God was willing to have Jesus identify fully with our earthly human existence. God in Christ experienced the highs and depths of human life. Jesus came to usher in the reign of God, God’s rule of love, peace and justice, through teaching, example and non-violent symbolic action. In Jesus we are able to see the nature and purposes of God. Again Paul says it clearly, “He is the image of the invisible God”(Colosians 1:15). Through all Jesus said and did we have a clear indication of what God is really like. God is Christlike. In Jesus Christ we have the clearest sign of God for God was with us in Jesus the Son.
Easter has to do with reconciliation. In his life and ministry Jesus was engaged in enabling people to be reconciled to God and one another. He brought people fullness of life by healing them of physical problems, forgiving sins, and enabling people to be restored in their relationships with one another and God. The supreme instance of this was his refusal to turn from his ministry of announcing the reign of God and enacting it in words and actions even when it brought him into conflict with the religious and political leaders of the day. The religious leaders were deeply offended that he was acting on behalf of God in his parables of the kingdom of God and in pronouncing sins forgiven. His prophetic criticism of them led them to seek ways to discredit him and be rid of him. Not being able to trick him into saying things that would incriminate him with the authorities, they then took drastic action to have him betrayed and handed over to the Roman authorities to be executed. Jesus was fully aware of the danger he was in but did not change his approach or flee. Instead he accepted that to fulfil his mission he had to be willing to face an excruciating death. He did this not just as a martyr but as a representative person. He faced the cross representing sinful humanity willing to die from an unjust sentence. He was in fact the only innocent one and his accusers were the guilty ones. He was crucified demonstrating God’s costly love and desire for reconciliation with sinful human beings. God in Christ took on himself the pain and suffering of people. On the cross Jesus experienced even what it was like to feel abandoned by God. Yet God was with Jesus wanting people to know the forgiveness and reconciliation God held out to them.
Pentecost is about empowerment, empowerment by the Spirit of God. Following the surprising events of the resurrection the disciples were unsure what to do next. They had experienced the risen Jesus on a number of occasions and were convinced that God had really raised him from the dead. They were told to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit. Luke has the risen Jesus respond to their question about when God’s kingdom will come by saying it is not for them to know, but they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. They will be Jesus’ witnesses “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”(Acts 1:6-8). They are to continue the ministry and mission of Jesus and do so as his witnesses. Not in their own strength and according to their own leading but with the Spirit empowering and guiding the mission they are to go forward. In doing so, they will not only go to their own people in Jerusalem and Judea but cross cultural boundaries to share with even Samaritans. Their task is not limited to people with some ethnic affinity but will take them to all people, to the ends of the earth. The Spirit will guide the mission opening up opportunities. They will establish communities of Jesus followers who will be witnesses in their own areas. Luke presents the day of Pentecost as a dramatic coming of the Spirit upon the disciples. John on the other hand has the risen Jesus say to the disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He then breathed on them and said “receive the Holy Spirit”(John 20:21-22). There have been times in Christian history when groups of people have experienced the Spirit in dramatic ways. All Christians can know the presence of the Holy Spirit enabling and guiding them.
As we celebrate the major Christian events we do so knowing that God is our heavenly Father and Mother, Jesus is the Son and the Spirit are bound together in a Trinity of love who reaches out to all of us. God desires us to know that he is with us, God sent his Son that we might be reconciled to God and one another, and the Spirit empowers us to live as God’s people, witnesses to Jesus seeking God’s reign.
Chris Walker
(National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine & Worship)