On Good Friday, Major League Baseball announced they were moving the All-Star game this year away from Atlanta to boycott Georgia and to protest over Georgia’s new voting laws, which many Democrats claimed were racist and which Joe Biden himself said was “Jim Crow on steroids,” even calling it, “Jim Eagle.” I’ll be honest, that put me in a bad mood all day. It’s not like I ever bother watching the All-Star game anyway, but I had recently watched a news report on the new law and read a few articles on it, and it was (and still is) clearly obvious to me that what I had been hearing Democrats say the law was doing didn’t match up with what the law really said. No, it does not make it a crime to give someone in line waiting to vote on election a bottle of water. It clearly says one cannot hand free stuff out, including food and drink, to voters in line in order to solicit their votes. If you give grandma a bottle of water, that’s okay. If you’re working for a political organization and you’re handing out water, saying, “Hey, vote for Democrat!” or “Hey, vote Republican!”—that is what is illegal.
But what the heck am I saying this for? It’s Easter weekend and as I write this, Easter Sunday is literally three hours away. Besides, no matter what I say about the Georgia voting law will make a difference anyway. We are so politically divided, most people’s minds are made up as soon as they hear what the position of their party is, regardless of the facts.
…and what does this post have to do with Easter anyway?
Gethsemane and the Empty Tomb…and Peter
I’ve grown up in church all my life, so I have been to plenty of Easter Sunday services, and I’ve seen plenty of Easter pageants, plays, and movies about the passion week. There’s no need for me to try to describe them, because chances are you’ve seen just as many of them. You can probably imagine that stereotypical picture of Jesus, all in white, standing outside the garden tomb, with Mary Magdalene, down on one knee, looking up in enraptured amazement, with Jesus himself looking down at her with love and compassion.
Not to ruin that standard Easter picture, but I can’t help but think of what Peter was thinking, both when Mary came to tell him that the tomb was empty, and then when he went in himself and saw the tomb was indeed empty. Did he immediately think back to the times Jesus told the disciples, “Hey, you’re right that I’m the Son of God! And guess what? We’re going to Jerusalem! And guess what? I’m going to be arrested, beaten, and killed, but don’t worry, I’ll rise again in three days!”? Those times when Jesus told them that, we are told that the disciples didn’t understand what he was telling them. After all, how could they? They simply weren’t expecting the Messiah to die in the first place! Did they think he was speaking in riddles?
Well, I wonder, when Peter saw the empty tomb himself, did it finally click? “Oh…he was saying he was going to literally resurrect from the dead!” And if so, did Peter then think, “Jesus rose from the dead…he conquered death…and I betrayed him…crap, I’m in trouble!”
Really now, that Thursday night was not one of Peter’s better moments. They’re in Gethsemane, Judas and the Temple police come to arrest Jesus, and Peter thinks its time to rumble, so he draws his sword and chops off the ear of Malchus, a servant the high priest. In my twisted imagination, the real conversation between Jesus and Peter went like this:
“Peter! What the heck are you doing?”
“They’re trying to arrest you! It’s time to fight…you know, let the revolution begin!”
“Have you heard nothing I’ve said for the past three years? I’m not here to start that kind of revolution. I’m not that kind of Messiah! I’m not going to rule with the kind of power earthly rulers use. I told you that in order to be great in God’s kingdom, you have to become a servant! Good Lord, Peter! You’re picking up a sword and chopping a guy’s ear off…and he’s actually a servant! How thick-headed are you? Here I am, laying down my life to establish God’s Kingdom, and you’re acting like Rambo! Drop the sword, dude! How can you expect the Kingdom of God to come if you insist on lopping people’s ears off? Not cool!”
And it is on that note that Jesus is hauled off and Peter (and the rest of the disciples) run off and abandon him. Sure, Peter makes his way to the courtyard of the high priest to try to save face, but as soon as some recognizes him, “Nope! I don’t know that Jesus guy, damn it!”
That’s not really a good Thursday night for Peter. So, when Sunday morning comes, I have a hard time believing Peter was immediately overjoyed upon seeing the empty tomb. I think he might have been scared. After all, the guy you evidently learned nothing from for three years, the guy whose arrest you made a lot harder by cutting off a dude’s ear, the guy who openly denied you even knew while he was being set up to be crucified—that guy is back from the dead, and the last time you were with him, you proved yourself to be a royal screw up! You are so screwed!
Well, the good news for Peter was that Jesus wasn’t out for revenge…obviously. The whole point of his teaching, his ministry, his death and resurrection was to show that the Kingdom of God doesn’t play by the same set of rules of the kingdoms and politics of men. Of course, no matter how much he tried to hammer into the head of his disciples that the Kingdom of God was about identifying with the least of these, ministering to the needy, not trying to lord one’s power over people, and about absorbing the beatings and blows instead of dolling them out, his disciples (especially Peter) had a hard time grasping that notion. That being said, it wouldn’t make much sense for the resurrected Jesus to appear to them all that Sunday night and beat them up! I mean, that would kind of run contrary to, well, everything the Gospel was about.
And the thing is, as Luke tells us in Acts, even after forty days of teaching them after the resurrection, Peter and the disciples were still asking him, “Okay, are you now going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Translation? “Okay, Jesus, we get it now. You conquered death…now you really have power! Let’s use it for the Jews!”
Even being taught by the resurrected Lord of creation for forty days didn’t do the trick for the disciples, it seems. But as we know, over the next 40 years, they learned experientially what it meant to truly follow Christ. They learned experientially that the politics of the Kingdom of God involved absorbing the blows of worldly powers and their politics. Peter himself ended up being crucified upside down in Rome during Nero’s persecutions.
What’s My Point?
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and announces that the power of death is broken. It displays the power of the Kingdom of God, but it also, for Christians at least, declares a stark new reality that can be a challenge that is most definitely not easy to learn. That new reality is that the Good News of the Kingdom, indeed the power of the resurrection itself, is made known in our weakness, and that the only way to get to the resurrection is to pick up our cross and follow Christ.
And that means we need to drop our swords when we find ourselves in our own Gethsemanes and we need to learn to not play by the rules of this world’s politics. We need to stop hacking wildly about and chopping off the ears of other people who are enslaved to a whole variety of things in this world.
It doesn’t mean that we somehow magically don’t let things that happen in our political world bother us. I’m sure Peter and the disciples still got mad when they saw yet another instance of Roman oppression or corruption in the Sanhedrin. Who knows? Maybe Peter and John were tempted to give the Sanhedrin the finger and tell them to screw off in Acts 4…but by then, they learned enough not to lash out, even at those who probably deserved it.
Of course, the situation in America isn’t exactly the same as first century Judea. Peter, John, and Jesus even, didn’t have any political power or say. In American democracy, each one of us has a say, and we sort of have the responsibility to discuss political issues so that we (hopefully) can become better informed voters. Really, like what could the disciples have done to protest the crucifixion of Jesus? Boycott Pentecost or announce they would be now celebrating Passover in Bethany until new leadership was voted-in in the Sanhedrin? They were already politically powerless, and Jesus was telling them not to try to even take up the reins of that kind of power.
So how does that translate for us in America today? How does that translate for Christians in America? I don’t think I have a clear answer. I find I’m sort of like Peter. I haven’t physically maimed anyone over in any political debate, but man, I’ll admit it, you can get a rush in some heated political exchanges! I blame it on being introduced to teaching Worldview actually. The idea that one can get a well-informed understanding of political, cultural, and philosophical trends in civilization and then rationally argue for what is true is all well and good, but in reality, it’s sad to say, it hardly ever works—especially in a highly polarized society. It easily devolves oftentimes into just nasty arguments and partisan talking points.
And the thing is, you want to win the argument. You know you are right and the other person is a freaking moron—how can he not see it? So you pick up your sword, sit down at your computer, and take a few swipes on your keyboard until the guy’s ear is chopped off….metaphorically speaking—and then you realize that because of what you’ve done, that guy is never going to be able to listen to you anymore because you’ve sliced off his ear!
And then Easter comes, and Jesus is resurrected, and he keeps patiently telling you, “Again, Peter, I’m telling you again—you aren’t supposed to be like the rulers of this world who lord their power over others. You’re supposed to be a servant and you’re supposed to bear witness to me by being like me and doing what I do…or at least trying to…and yeah, you’re going to be crucified too eventually.”
Crap, that’s hard to do. So Happy Easter, my fellow Christians! Yes, let’s celebrate the resurrection, but let’s be sober and remember what that means we’re in for and who we are supposed to be like. I’m trying to let go of my verbal sword more, but every now and then I end up picking it up when I feel threatened…or am convinced that only I can give the all-convincing argument to save our democracy. That never happens, though. Therefore, I’m trying to constantly remind myself that the political weapons of this world don’t ever really work, so it’s best not to use them.
I can be quite hard-headed at times. I guess I’m a lot like Peter. Perhaps I should take up fishing…or try to feed some sheep. One thing is for certain, I won’t be going to the All-Star game.
Not that I would anyway. So I’ll try to shut up about it and get doing other things.
Thanks Joel. I’m reading N.T. Wright’s “History & Eschatology” (given to me by Lee Freeman). I hope you will read this book and review it for us. I think he does a splendid job of explaining the “cultural river” the Christian Church has been… swimming up , for the past three or four hundred years.
Also, this bit of rambling on my part:
The lingering fragrance of death’s perfume (Mk 14 – 16)
Do we know the Woman’s name? It just says she came into the house of the Leper who’d been healed by Jesus. I don’t know if any of the commentaries have the same question I have here (most of them talk of values, the price of the fragrance etc.) If this borders on speculation so be it…i’m just asking questions off the top of my head. We know from the text that the fragrance would have been strong all over the house. It was very near passover, would the Disciples still have smelled the fragrance on Him at the “Last Supper event in the upper room”? As Jesus was in the Garden praying would there have been a waft in the air of His perfume? When Judas came with his kiss of betrayal…would he have still smelled the Fragrance? When he was sat before his accusers, the chief priests, the high priest and pilot…would they have smelled the fragrance? When the Roman soldiers beat him to a pulp and placed a crown of thorns on his head and dressed him in a purple robe and eventually removed the robe and and removed his garments would they have smelled nard in his garments? When they nailed him to the tree…would they have gotten a faint scent of the fragrance from his head, his feet? Would there still have been this perfume of death on him as he was laid into the tomb. Of course my answer is: I don’t know but I’ve wondered about this for many years. I’ve also wondered if this woman had heard the parable of the “Pearl of great price” and was showing her appreciation for that great Merchant who “sold everything” for her? Don’t know that either…but both of them are still remembered. Also; wonder how long Simon the leper could remember the event, get faint wafts of the fragrance in his house and remember his own Leprosy being healed? just wondering.
Got to thinking further and re-read Mark’s account all the way through and after asking myself this question: OK, Jesus was the one who had this perfume poured on his head and body and how many times did he breath it in on his way to the tomb? (a pernicious on-going reminder of his destiny in a matter of hours). “Mark 16: When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body”.
But; they never got to do this for the stone had been rolled away which makes me wonder, as these women entered the tomb would they have gotten the last whiff from his burial or would it have been Peter (Luke 24: 9)? Again I don’t know but, this is how I might remember and tell “their” story. The story of the fragrance of death that occurred prior to His Glorious Resurrection! And again; just pondering.
Dear Dr. Anderson,
Please this time, do answer my question. I am not sure if this is the best place to ask this question and please do correct me on where to post these questions. In your last response, you had said that St. Paul was using 1st Timothy as a theological point. Not as a fact that Adam and Eve really existed. I referenced NT Scholar Dr. N.T. Wright who said that St. Paul would have believed Adam and Eve would have existed otherwise he wouldn’t mention them. You rebutted Dr. Wright’s point that he is not a mind reader, therefore, there is no evidence that St. Paul thought Adam and Eve existed.
That’s a fair point but I think your interpretation of Genesis 1-11 suffers from another issue. The existence of death. St. Paul makes it clear in Romans 5:12 where he specifically says that death entered the world because of the actions of one man. It is clear on this verse that St. Paul thought that Adam and Eve were historical figures. It is very clear that he thought death entered the world through sin. In my opinion, I think this strengthens the fact that St. Paul Adam and Eve were historical figures and thus weakens your points that Genesis 1-11 could not have been historical.
Please, please do answer my question. I look forward to your answers.
Happy Easter.
Yours Sincerely,
The Programming Nerd
Romans 5:12: JUST AS sin came into the world through one man [a reference to Adam in Genesis 3], and death through sin, SO TOO IN THIS WAY death came to all men, because all sin.
The “Just as…so too” is a comparative that EQUATES the sin/death of Adam in Genesis 3 with the sin/death of all men. As my professor Gordon Fee argued (and he was a Pauline expert), Paul is NOT talking about “original sin” here. He’s not tryin to pinpoint the specific time in history and historical person through which sin and death came. His point is to argue for the UNIVERSALITY of sin: Everyone sins, everyone dies. Death comes to everyone because everyone sins. Death doesn’t come to everyone because a historical Adam sinned. Death comes to you because you sin. It comes to me because I sin. We are all “in Adam” because we are human beings. This is the state of human beings in this creation: We sin and we die.
Dear Dr Anderson
I really value your learning and sensible Christian perspective on so many things, but I just can’t get my head around this interpretation by your professor and yourself:
“Everyone sins, everyone dies. Death comes to everyone because everyone sins. Death doesn’t come to everyone because a historical Adam sinned. Death comes to you because you sin. It comes to me because I sin.”
I agree we deserve death because we sin but are you saying that if a human did live a perfectly sinless life they wouldn’t die?
If so I find this just a tiny bit problematic and have some more questions for you (and I’m not even a biologist).
Well, the question is moot, because we all sin…lol. But the Bible is pretty clear that death happens because of sin–sin opens the door to death. James 1 talks about how our lusts give birth to sin and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.
Obviously he using metaphorical “birthing” language, and I would argue that Genesis 1-11 isn’t historical either. But the picture given in Genesis 2-3 is that of natural humanity–and that picture of one that is “naturally” sinful. Even though we come into this world “innocent,” so to speak, as children, we inevitably sin and we inevitably die.
But the Good News of the New Testament is that there is one who DID live a sinless life, and because of that, even though he voluntarily laid his life down, death couldn’t hold him. Christ broke the power of death because of his sinless life, and now, through the Spirit, those who put their faith in Christ are given that same Spirit that will empower them to break death’s hold as well.
Thanks for your reply, yes the passage in James 1 about sin and death is something to ponder. It is difficult for me to tally with our human experience if taken at face value as applying to individuals.
Has everyone who has died really sinned? Can you sin before you are born? Or by 2 weeks of age?
Just wondering about the first brother I never had because he died of exhaustion during labour. Apparently my strictly-brought-up Mum didn’t yell and scream and curse enough…
Dr Anderson, you, or others of this view, have probably answered the above obvious query before. If so please just direct me to that material.
Yes, I was going to bring up Christ’s death…but wow that is a big topic…so under your interpretation Jesus would have lived forever in his human body if He hadn’t as it were, made himself die? (?)
If true that does put another slant on Satan’s tempting Him to take control of all the kingdoms of the earth doesn’t it?* But then, Christ’s human body was ageing?
And I could ask about animals…
I would say we all die (or can be killed) because our bodies are mortal. To deny the inevitable reality of that seems to me just as weird scientifically speaking as the claims of YEC.
Programming Nerd, Dr. Anderson wrote a blog on NT Wright’s take on whether there was a literal, historical Adam or not several years ago.
As for what Wright believes, Wright believes a “primal pair getting it wrong”–which Genesis calls “Adam and Eve”–*did* happen–yet significantly, with John Walton and Dr. Anderson, believes Genesis 1-3 is “myth” describing how people “make a temple or tabernacle.” To insist that it MUST be literal history he says, is to miss the point. Certainly if you also tack on lots of other stuff to it and use all of it as a litmus test for orthodoxy (lower case). The world was created by God as his temple, his dwelling place or home, and he shared it with humans. Wright believes Adam and Eve are/were representative of humanity in general, just as Dr. Anderson has been arguing. But Wright *does not* believe Genesis 1-3 is literal scientific or historical reporting.
Here’s a link from BioLogos to a video-clip of Wright explaining his views on a historical Adam and Eve:
Here’s a link to a video-clip of several NT scholars and theologians including, NT Wright, Alastair McGrath and Chris Tilling on Paul and Adam:
Pax.
Lee.
Dear Lee,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate them. It is good to hear from you. Believe it or not, it has given me something to think about.
I hope you enjoyed your Easter.
Yours Sincerely,
The Programming Nerd