And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:6-7).
And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake (Mark 13:12-13).
Why do I share with you these unpleasant warnings of Jesus in the Easter season? To my mind, the thoughtful Christian cannot help but recall these warnings when making a cursory survey of our culture, domestic politics, geopolitical situation, and our Church. So where is the joy emblematic of the Easter season to be found?
By looking at our world differently.
Look from the perspective of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.
The title of this article comes from the motto of the Carthusian Order and reminds me we have to look at our time, as well as time past and yet to come, in light of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. Easter shows us that salvation history is the inner dynamic of history as we commonly think of it. I’ll call history as we commonly think of it “surface history.” Deep below that history, driving it toward the purpose or finality God has intended for His creation from the start, is the One through Whom all things were made (cf. John 1:3), the crucified and risen Jesus. Thus, despite the tumult of our time (“the world spins!”), Easter joy is to permeate our lives, for we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him (Romans 8:28).
David J. Conrad
And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake (Mark 13:12-13).
Why do I share with you these unpleasant warnings of Jesus in the Easter season? To my mind, the thoughtful Christian cannot help but recall these warnings when making a cursory survey of our culture, domestic politics, geopolitical situation, and our Church. So where is the joy emblematic of the Easter season to be found?
By looking at our world differently.
Look from the perspective of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus.
The title of this article comes from the motto of the Carthusian Order and reminds me we have to look at our time, as well as time past and yet to come, in light of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. Easter shows us that salvation history is the inner dynamic of history as we commonly think of it. I’ll call history as we commonly think of it “surface history.” Deep below that history, driving it toward the purpose or finality God has intended for His creation from the start, is the One through Whom all things were made (cf. John 1:3), the crucified and risen Jesus. Thus, despite the tumult of our time (“the world spins!”), Easter joy is to permeate our lives, for we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him (Romans 8:28).
David J. Conrad
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