A few years ago I happened to be in Greece at Easter time. The family I was with wanted me to experience the full joy of the Easter celebration, so they took me up to a high place overlooking the city of Athens. It was just before midnight and, as soon as the clocks began to chime the midnight hour, the doors of every church in the city were flung open. Each congregation followed the clergy out into the squares. Everyone carried a lighted candle. At the appointed time a great shout went up throughout the city: "Christ is risen!" Then all the church bells chimed out the good news. The Easter celebrations had begun.
It was a thrilling spectacle, and I thought anew of the deep dimension of the resurrection message and what it takes to follow Christ.
The culmination of Christ Jesus' lifework was in his resurrection from the grave and his final ascension. He illustrated and proved by his love the deathless reality of Life as God. Love literally vanquished hate and all its effects. Jesus began a new era of possibility for the human race.
