My earliest introduction to Easter was a week-long set of sermons ending with a Sunday service celebrating Christ’s resurrection. This was followed by an Easter hunt of colored boiled eggs hidden in places easy to find.
For me, eating a lot of those eggs on the spot where I found them caused issues with my stomach. Nevertheless, it was an exciting time spent with other children doing what children do.
This also represented the end of a long week of church services every night with themes about Jesus and his death. Specifically, every night of the week was dedicated to 1 of the seven sayings Jesus Christ uttered while nailed to the Cross.
At the time, I listened very little to the sermons mainly because I did not understand what the dying man was trying to say. As I look back, I do not think that those that preached about the sayings really knew either.
The seven sayings represent the first segment of a three-part cycle that describes Christ’s death and resurrection. The transformative process involved the death of his human form, transition to a new beginning and rebirth to his eternal nature.
The first saying on the cross is: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…” This theme of forgiveness was a most important part of Jesus’ ministry.
The second saying personalizes the theme of forgiveness during a very unusual circumstance. Christ was one of three crucified the day of his death. The other two were individuals condemned to death for their crimes. On the cross, one of them, a thief identified as Dismas, recognized his sins and asked Jesus for forgiveness.
Christ forgave him and said: “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise…” Christian doctrine has interpreted that saying to mean that even in the death bed, it is never too late to ask and receive forgiveness.
The third saying is: “Woman, behold, thy son…” This powerful statement recognizes Mary as more than just his mother. Jesus also recognized her as an eternal partner that shares with him the spiritual nature of his being. That is why the bible refers to the Holy Spirit as “the spouse of Mary.”
The next four sayings refer to the process of Jesus dying to his human form as well as giving back his spiritual attributes to the Father. The fourth saying: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?…” is the cry of agony over having been left completely alone both in the human and spiritual realms.
The fifth saying: “I thirst…” is a totally human reaction to a human condition. The sixth saying: “it is finished…” recognizes the end to his life as a human on earth.
Jesus’ seventh and final saying: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…” completes the first step in the cycle of death and resurrection. Burial closes the curtains of his ministry and sets the scene for transition from one life to another.
One of Colorado’s popular Easter events is the sunrise service at Red Rocks Amphitheater at 5:30 am on Sunday March 31st. Christ as the risen Savior appears as the favorite among the majority of church goers.
However, there is also the death side to the epic story. Many that wear a crucifix depicting the bleeding Jesus on the cross carry that death scene around their necks without knowing the story behind it.
Death and rebirth has long been an archetypal pattern of living things. Jesus lived it as a hero.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of laVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
