Thankful to Jesus for the weekend that changed the world, for good

Among the books I have read in the past months is a modern classic published by Henri Nouwen in 1972, “The Wounded Healer.” In addition to good advice about dealing with the challenges and relationships of today’s world, I was struck by Nouwen’s description of the world of the 1970’s as “Post-modern.” According to Nouwen, ‘modern’ culture had given up trusting in God and had turned to relying on science for answers to the world’s problems. But, the science which people had trusted to solve the issues of modern life had only caused more problems, especially with the development of nuclear energy and the atomic bomb. Scientific thinking has no answers to solve the problems caused by a nuclear war. When the source of hope for a generation disappears, it can lead to the malaise of hopeLESSness!

While the nuclear threat is still with us, it seems to me that today our world has more and bigger problems. We seem to be near the end of the 2 year plague of COVID-19, but now I hear so-called experts wondering when and how the next pandemic will hit. In addition, tensions have risen between nations. One sad example of those tensions is the current deadly war in the Ukraine. It is painful to consider when the next conflict will arise. With modern weapons, the possibility of wars and rumors of wars seems more dire than ever. Also, while there have always been disagreements between individuals, it now seems that if I simply disagree with someone, it is possible that person will consider me their enemy simply because we have different ideas about life. I could go on describing the problems and horrors of today’s world, many of which seem unsolvable. So, do you ever feel hopeless?

We can think that the problems of today are worse than ever, but it has always been so. When our world rebels against its Creator and Lord, the sin in our world and the sin in our lives has consequences. People today do not like to talk about right and wrong. They do not want to talk about or address sin. But just look at the struggles, the hopelessness, the evil in our world. In truth, we should not be surprised by our struggles and suffering. Our best efforts cannot redeem our sinful world. Hopelessness is understandable.

But, (and I am told that what follows the word ‘but’ is what really matters,) but, the historic saving events which God’s people observe and celebrate this week do bring hope to hopeless people, and to a hopeless world. The events of Holy Week, from Maundy Thursday when Jesus was betrayed, through Good Friday when Jesus was crucified, to Easter Sunday when Jesus arose, the events of this weekend have changed the world, for good!

Sin is real, but the love of God is also real and God’s saving love is stronger than sin. The love of our Heavenly Father brought Jesus to this world to live a life of obedience, of love, and of truth. However, the self-righteous of Jesus’ time could not stand the truth, and they arrested Jesus and put Him to death in a painful, humiliating, execution. The death of righteous Jesus paid for the sin of the world. This payment for sin offers forgiveness to God’s rebellious creation and changes everything. God inspired St. Paul to teach, “21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) No wonder Martin Luther wrote, “The cross teaches us to believe in hope, even when there is no hope.” (“A Reflection on the Cross,” For All the Saints, Vol. 3, p 1011.)

But, Jesus did not just die on Good Friday. He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. Jesus’ resurrection defeated death, won victory over the sin and evil that cause death, and overcame the reason for our hopelessness. On that first Maundy Thursday, Jesus taught His disciples, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19b) In this world of ‘post-modern’ worries and troubles, Jesus’ victory brings good news and eternal life and joy. Because of Jesus’ Easter victory, we have new lives of sure hope.

Nouwen taught about post-modern stress and worries in his 1972 book. Then, in my doctoral studies the teachers of the 90’s and 2000’s wrote how ‘post-modernism’ describes today’s world, how post-modern thinking is growing and leads to the hopelessness and the conflict we experience. But, . . . but, Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Mary, God Himself, died on Good Friday to pay for all sin. But, . . . but, Jesus, our Savior, rose again on Easter Sunday. The events we recognize and celebrate this weekend have changed our world. In a hopeless world of conflict, we have hope. We have joy. We have life!