EASTER is the zenith of Jesus Christ’s mission on earth. He came to save man from spiritual death and restore man’s link to the Father. No wonder the feast is celebrated by the whole Christendom with joy and thanksgiving.
The feast day, however, is preceded by Christ’s entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem. People gathered to greet him and many of them cut branches from palm trees to pay homage to him. It was a joyous moment, but Christ knew the real score. He was getting closer to the end of his journey toward Golgotha or Calvary. In just a few days, the very same people who welcomed him with great high and warmth would crucify him with great hatred and wrath.
It was a shock for those who knew and loved Christ. From joy to sorrow, they seemed to have lost him forever.
Many times in our lives we experience great highs as when we land good-paying jobs or hit the jackpot in our business or everything is going well with everyone in the house.
Then one day we are shocked to learn that a loved one has a chronic illness. We find ourselves crying the whole night because of this sick loved one. We may lack sleep from comforting the sick loved one even into the wee hours of the morning.
The fact that no one wants to take over our cross makes us feel even more abandoned. In our misery we may cry out to God, and then we remember Christ’s agony.
Christ was denied by Peter, one of his “inner three” disciples (i.e. John and James), and abandoned by many of his friends. Christ’s own Father turned away from him at the cross. Some theologians say the Father saw the mire of sin that Christ bore on his shoulders in our place. Christ’s sacrifice was our gateway to eternal life.
Our tears and pains diminish in the light of Christ’s suffering. However, Christ’s journey did not stop at defeat.
On Easter Sunday, Christ did what no other savior could do. He defeated Death. It is through this glorious event that we can draw strength daily. There is hope after the pain. There is triumph after the suffering.