Easter : Seeing the Light in Dark Times
Visasier Acüu Kevichüsa

The death of Jesus Christ is easily the most famous death in history. 2,000 years after Jesus’ death, millions of people still talk about it as having great significance for their lives. When Jesus was crucified, all Jerusalem and the surrounding areas were buzzing with the extraordinary events that had taken place. But the scattered and confused followers had hardly come to grips with the reality of his death when there arose another buzz to puzzle them even more. Some people were claiming he was alive! He was back from the dead!

Easter. A day set aside to specially remember the resurrection of our Lord will be upon us soon. A day that brings to mind visions of light – light after the seeming darkness of death; a day that declares victory over the powers of darkness, sin, and death; a day that ushers in the hope of a new resurrected life for all those for whom our Lord’s promise holds true: “Because I live, you also will live” (Jn 14:19).

It is our hope upon this promise that reminds us to avoid two erroneous beliefs and strike a balance between the two. First, we need to avoid an attitude of utter helplessness. Life, with its troubles and sorrows, will not always be as it is. The promise of life with Christ renders death itself powerless. Jesus’ promise enables us to live with confidence in these turbulent times because he is one day soon going to make everything new.

At the same time, hope in Christ’s promise also cautions us against the second error, which is the prevalent “name-it-and-claim-it” theology – a belief that Christians can claim anything if we only name it. Surely, the hope Christ gives us is opposed to such triumphalistic attitude that we can have all that we desire now: health, wealth, and happiness. After all, why should we hope for anything if we can have everything now? The believers’ confidence is not because we have no more problems on earth, but because in spite of the problems we have a living hope that a better life awaits us. And as Paul says, “Hope does not disappoint…” (Rom 5:5).

So, my friends, this is the hope of Easter. It’s all about seeing the light at the end of a dark tunnel. My prayer this Easter is that all those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be able to proclaim confidently the words from an old song: