/ 14 April 2000

Easter myths and mysteries

Jesus bar Joseph, 33, a male Jew, was executed on Friday in the presence of family and friends. Rumours that he was seen alive two days later are rejected by the soldiers who conducted the crucifixion. “We know what we are doing. We do what we are told to do.” – Jerusalem correspondent

Millions throughout the world will recall that event this coming week. Jews remember the death of a prophet who was not the Messiah. Muslims revere the memory of a prophet who was not a god. For Christians, it was the birth of their religion.

Many will go to church and listen politely to ancient doctrines and hymns which seem alien to modern ears. Demanding a human sacrifice to placate God’s wrath over our sin is simply incredible in the 21th century. Most people seem too busy with everyday life to get paranoid over eternal life.

Many feel uncomfortable with United States fundamentalist versions of the religious superstitions of the Middle Ages. They wonder if the cross/resurrection story has any personal or social relevance today. What does it do for a country dominated by poverty, corruption and Aids?

The myths and mysteries of Easter promote a triple assertion. One is that Jesus was not killed by criminals and hijackers and rapists, but by highly civilised men. Respectable civilised oppressors kill to secure their power and profit. Slavery, colonialism and apartheid were all products of civilised religious people who had persuaded themselves that wrong was right. You can spot the crucifiers today on government and opposition benches, in business and education and religion, and in some families.

The second assertion is that the victims will be victorious. Built into the structure of human society is the factor that right will triumph over wrong. Love conquers hatred. Values outlive violence (vide PW Botha). Reconciliation overcomes oppression (vide Madiba). Owners of the country’s wealth, aloof and respectable, support the system which is crucifying the poor, but the wealth empire will collapse like the colonial empire, the Nazi empire, and the apartheid empire.

Exploitation carries the seeds of its own destruction. The victims will be victorious. That is the faith of every liberation struggle and it moves mountains.

The third assertion is that self- sacrifice saves the world. Solving the cancer of corruption which is destroying our government offices, business community, and sport begins by confronting it. Many people are not willing to do that. It takes courage to cope with incompetence, root out graft, refuse to cheat when “everyone does it”, or blow the whistle on your boss or your colleagues. You may be ostracised or crucified for caring, but it is the only way to stop the rot and save the nation. And suddenly, ubuntu will win, and the victims will be the victors.

We shall be liberated from Aids by those who give their lives to produce the attitude changes, medical discoveries, and care which are needed.

People inspired by Jesus bar Joseph have an unswerving belief that spiritual power has more guts than physical power. Religions reveal that spiritual strength is built into human society which conquers oppression and survives crucifixion, and we need it. That’s the real reason so many will go to church next weekend.