Miscellaneous - Religion   

The risen redeemer

CHENNAI : Good Friday and Easter are linked to God's creation of humankind, Adam and Eve, and their punishment for having eaten the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil beguiled by Satan in the form of a serpent. Thereafter God spoke to man only through prophets. God destroyed unrepentant mankind with a mighty flood saving the family of the righteous Noah who repopulated the Earth. In Old Testament times men feared God offering sacrifices to appease Him. Then God promised that He would send a saviour.

According to Christian belief, these prophecies came true 2000 years ago in the incarnation of God as Jesus, born to a virgin named Mary. Jesus, (`Saviour') taught of God's love for humankind. The greatest of God's commandments were to love God entirely, and to love one's fellowmen as oneself. Inveighing against their hypocrisy he angered the Jewish religious leaders, who had Jesus arraigned before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate and crucified him.

From the Cross Jesus spoke seven times— the Seven Words on the Cross. He pleaded: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." He assured a repentant malefactor crucified beside him, "Verily, I say unto thee today shalt thou be with me in paradise."

He provided for his mother's care by a disciple: "Woman behold thy son." The fifth word that hot afternoon was, "I thirst." He triumphantly proclaimed the achievement of the redemptive plan, "It is finished." Finally he surrendered himself, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." But the fourth cry "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" is poignant and puzzling. Jesus bearing the sins of all mankind was so soiled that he felt he was repugnant to the total holiness of God the Father. But it was also proof of the accomplishment of the divine mission— mankind's redemption had been completed.

The Gospel accounts tell of the burial of the dead Jesus and his rising again on the third day celebrated as Easter. The Friday on which Jesus was crucified is called Good Friday because it is observed as holy by the Church. Easter is derived from an earlier non-Christian spring festival signifying revival of life.

Anand Kumar Raju,
Chennai

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoon
The Hindu Crossword No. 8577
Solution to Puzzle No. 8576
The risen redeemer
dated April 15, 1956: Suggestion to Pakistan
dated April 15, 1956: Artistes felicitated
Weather

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu