Some Thoughts for Easter and Passover

We are in the middle of a very special week known as Holy Week. Historically it has been the most sacred of weeks in Christianity marking the remembrance of Christ's death and resurrection. Our salvation from sin is predicated upon the fact of the death of Christ on the cross and the assurance of that salvation is guaranteed by the resurrection of Christ from the grave. There could be no resurrection without a death, but the death of Christ in and of itself had no value apart from the resurrection. The Apostle Paul put it this way: "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:16-17). The true significance of Good Friday is found in the reality of Easter morning.

But this is also a very special week for our Jewish friends. Friday sunset will mark the beginning of Passover, the most anticipated of Jewish celebrations. At the Seder on Friday evening, families will gather around the dinner table and methodically retell the story of the exodus from Egypt so many centuries ago. Unleavened bread, known as "matzah," will be eaten remembering that the people did not have time to bake regular bread that night before leaving Egypt. Through symbolic foods on the Seder plate - a roasted egg, the shank bone of a lamb, some horseradish slices, a mixture of chopped apples and nuts and cinnamon, and a few sprigs of parsley along with some salt water - the story of the exodus will continue. The Seder is a yearly reminder to each family member of the faithfulness of God in the past and of His faithfulness in the present. The Seder closes with these words "Next year in Jerusalem" as a reminder that God is not finished with His people yet. They have a hope.

But, even as we celebrate, along with our Jewish friends, the power of God and His faithfulness, there are voices within the world crying out for the destruction of God and of God's people. In an interview conducted by the Fars News Agency (the main news source within Iran), the Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran's home-grown capabilities (speaking with reference to their production of weapons) have not only made the country self-sufficient in various field, but also given it the ability to help other countries. Did this statement contain the veiled threat that Iran would be willing to export its nuclear capabilities to other nations like itself? But such a statement causes Israeli leadership to ponder the serious threat a nuclear Iran could be. There is an urgency of the hour. As Prime Minister Netanyahu said when he was in Washington last month, "time is running out." Many believe that Israel is already posturing itself for an attack upon Iran that could happen before summer begins. Certainly the threat is not going away.

Of further concern for Israel, and should also be for our nation as well, was the announcement this past week that the Muslim Brotherhood will present a candidate for the office of president of Egypt. A year ago the Muslim Brotherhood had stated that it would not run a candidate for the presidency, but claims the Egyptian military establishment has not done enough to help Egypt in this time of revolution. Israel and the United States both know the intentions of the Muslim Brotherhood, namely the destruction of the state of Israel. Therefore, the elections to be held in Egypt on May 23 and 24 are critically important to watch. Just another sign of the further isolation of Israel in the Middle Eastern world.

Just a final note: We now know who to blame for the rising costs of gasoline. Anyone want to take a guess? The logical choice would be George W Bush for, after all, everything is laid at his doorstep. According to an article on the IsraelNationalNews.com website (April 3), Israel is to blame for the higher gasoline prices because of "Israel's posturing" on Iran. Just thought you would want to know. I guess we can get into a long line of history that places the blame for all the world's problems upon the people of Israel. They have carried this burden almost since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. If we do not know history, we are bound to repeat it. I keep finding this fact to be more evident in our world today.

As I close I want to wish you and your family a thoughtful Good Friday and a blessed and joyous Easter Sunday. And, for my Jewish friends, I wish you and your family a blessed Pesach. Together may we join hands and say, "Next year in Jerusalem!"