Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. Jesus died for about 1923 years ago, that is if you set his death and resurrection in 30 A.D. There has been quite a lot written about this subject so I’m sure that I don’t have anything new to add to the subject.

What I do find interesting is how many people want the focus of the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection to be about something other than his resurrection. In Sweden we can celebrate witches, the Easter bunny, eggs and chocolate, but if you bring up the real reason for celebrating Easter people will look at you quite strange.

I could be wrong in my assessment, but I’d like to share something that happened to me today. I was the präst-på-stan “priest-in-town” with a group of young people from various churches. They started last summer by making thin Swedish pancakes, with jam and whipped cream, and passing them out for free. Sometimes people would find out that they were Christians and start talking to them about spiritual things. They were nicknamed the pancake church, pankakskyrka, and the name stuck. Last summer and now during Holy Week’s last three days they have been having a show in the middle of town.

This may not seem very special where you are, but here in Uppsala this is something really unique. Well as the priest people can, if they want to, come and ask me questions. Today not one person did that, which is okay, since it is very unusual in Sweden that people who have not been introduced to one another should strike up a conversation that extends beyond asking for directions.

After a while I got this thought in my head to go up to people and wish them a Glad Påsk, Happy Easter. From zero contact to quite a lot of contact, was a very interesting phenomenon to observe. The majority smiled and said thank you. It would not surprise me if a relatively large number of those who accepted the greeting wondered if I were only dressed up as a priest or if I was a real priest.

Not everyone was glad to hear “Glad Påsk” but in no pleasant way made it clear that my message were unwelcome. There is a lot of skepticism when it comes to religion, especially Christianity. Very many people in Sweden think that it is very strange that someone who is a Christian would actually believe in basic beliefs of our faith.

Take the resurrection as an example. The majority of researchers believe that Jesus was a historical person who actually lived. There are quite a few references to Jesus that are outside of the Bible. He died by crucifixion and was buried. His death left his disciples very demoralized and dejected. After 3 days several of Jesus’ followers had experiences that lead them to believe that it was the resurrected Jesus. They went around telling people that Jesus the Messiah was raised from the dead. The New Testament is the record of this and was written between the years 45 – 90 A.D. This movement eventually spread around the world.

But here people think that to believe this is very strange. It is as though they think that a person can believe in Jesus without believing in the facts surrounding his identity. If Jesus did not die on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead, then our faith is a lie and has absolutely no merit.

Since I believe in miracles then it is a very logical thing to believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is my Lord and Savior and I am proud to admit that. I am pleased to be able to help people to understand that Jesus died for them also. This gift of eternal life is possible for every person on the earth, if they want to receive it. Maybe this is why people want us to tone it down.

It’s not fun telling someone that each person has already broken God’s law and beyond the shadow of any doubt is guilty and therefore deserves eternal punishment and separation from God. This is going to affect everyone, unless God does something about it. God loves everyone and so Jesus offers up his own blood and died so that the penalty of sin is paid. This gift is presented to everyone and they can accept it or reject it. God never forces anyone into his kingdom.

I don’t know anyone who likes hearing this. In fact quite a few people get really upset when they hear someone say that their future hope depends upon Jesus and him alone. The thing is that even when they know that there is a way out of the condemnation they won’t accept the solution. They want another solution than the one provided, preferably one that allows them to continue on their way. They just don’t seem to want to get it that they are still guilty, since only Jesus can take away their guilt. Every other attempt leaves them guilty.

Now in a pluralistic society it might be considered rude to say to the person who presents another solution, than Jesus, that their solution is not good enough. But if this is really about life and death, then what should be our response? How far should we go?

Tomorrow (Saturday) I will also be präst-på-stan and I hope that I get a chance to talk to people and tell them about what Jesus did for them. We all need to know that God loves us and that he has a plan for our life that begins with accepting the salvation that comes only through his son.

Gudsfrid

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