By Marek Zabriskie
The best way to understand what it means to be a Christian is to participate in worship throughout Holy Week and Easter. Starting with Palm Sunday, this eight day period provides the best window into what Christianity is all about.
Christianity was founded by Jesus, who Christians believe was the Son of God. He was not just an incredible teacher, preacher, healer, human being or founder of the world’s largest religion, but he was God incarnate.
It is natural to struggle to believe this. Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher and theologian spoke of the need for taking a “leap of faith.” The idea that God took on human form, lived as one of us and died for our sins upon the cross is not an easy thing to believe.
I had spent a full year at seminary before I decided to stop focusing on my doubts and instead concentrated on accepted the fundamental tenets of our faith and living the Christian faith. After all, constant questioning allows us to keep religion at a safe distance.
The Jews believe in the Messiah or Savior. The ancient prophets spoke about this. In many ways, Jesus radically re-envisioned what it meant to be Messiah. Holy Week addresses this.
For the Christian, it comes down to the verse found in John’s Gospel, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This is perhaps the most famous verse in Christian Scriptures.
We may struggle to wrap our hearts and minds around this verse. Could God, who is said to be all-powerful, all-knowing and all-good, and who fashioned the universe with its vast galaxies, actually be concerned with life on the little planet that we call earth? Christianity answers with a resounding, “Yes.”
We believe that God took on human form in Jesus Christ to reunite humanity with God and reveal how humans can discover meaning, purpose and joy at the deepest levels. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
God became incarnate in Jesus to save us from leading superficial and self-centered lives. In so doing, God revealed how to experience hope, generosity, compassion, kindness, gentleness, love, faith, and grace. Hence, St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”
We can believe that life is random, chaotic or meaningless and that there is no higher power, no God, no organizing principle or overseeing power in the universe. We can believe that we are all alone with no one to watch over us. But that is not what the Bible reveals.
The Bible tells us that there is meaning inherent in creation. We were created for a purpose, and God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Despite our shortcomings, God forgives us and longs to be in relationship with us.
Jesus came to express God’s truth and love. He was embraced and followed by many. His teachings and miracles have inspired people billions of people. He is the hinge of history.
But Jesus also met with great opposition. His message of love and inclusivity was rejected by many in power, who sought to destroy him for his teachings and actions threatened them.
Palm Sunday recounts Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where he was heralded as a conquering king by those who hoped that he would overthrow the Roman occupying forces. But this was not his intention. He was instead betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified.
During Holy Week, we mark Jesus’ Last Supper, where he instituted the Eucharist as the sacred meal to feed us spiritually and washed his disciples’ feet to show us what servant leadership looks like.
On Good Friday, we experience the power of the cross. We marvel at mystery of how Almighty God could allow humans to kill his Son on a cross to atone for our sins. Good Friday is a holy mystery that shows how God can redeem all of human suffering.
The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday is the most mystical service of the year and the favorite service of many Christians. It begins in darkness as the Paschal Candle is lit symbolizing light overcoming the darkness as we commemorate Christ conquering death in the Resurrection.
Easter is the most powerful day of the year for Christians. It highlights that nothing is so grave, so wrong, so marred by evil or so hopeless that God cannot transform it.
We are reminded that that humans often break God’s heart and others’ hearts. We sin, sometimes on monumental levels and cannot undo the damage that we have done. But Jesus’ death on the cross has atoned once and for all for all human failings.
While it’s easy to say this, it’s transformative when we believe and accept it. The resurrection reminds us that the worst things are never the last things for God can take the worst evil that humanity can offer and transform it into the ultimate source of hope.
Attend worship each day this week and you will find your faith renewed and your faith in God is renewed, and you will be changed spiritually from the inside out so that your faith may guide you to abundant life. That’s what this week is all about.
The Rev. Marek Zabriskie is Rector of Christ Church Greenwich.
