Watch for surprises

By Simon Barrow

April 7, 2007

The Easter story resonates with alarming radicalism, says a scholar-bishop.

"As our politicians go round the tracks this way and that, fudging and dodging and hedging their bets, and as our culture lurches through the sneers and the whims of postmodernity, it looks as though we all know we need new creation but nobody knows where to find it. Easter offers an answer so striking that most mock at it and even the churches often don't know what to do with it. Forget the eggs and the bunnies. Read the story again, say your prayers, and watch for surprises." (Tom Wright, The power of Easter's message)

And in The Last Week, their book about Christ's final days before the confrontation of the cross, Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan, write: "He attracted a following and took his movement to Jerusalem at the season of Passover. There he challenged the authorities with public acts and public debates. All this was his passion, what he was passionate about: God and the kingdom of God, God and God's passion for justice. Jesus' passion got him killed."

But that Christians believe, is far from the last word.