Reflections on Easter

As Easter approaches, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts about this holiday in the context of our tumultuous world. On Easter morning, Christians proclaim something truly extraordinary: death has been defeated, Christ has risen, and a new kingdom has begun. But what does that kingdom look like? This question becomes increasingly uncomfortable as we confront the reality of the world we live in.

Confronting the Enemy

If you’ve heard recent comments from the U.S. Secretary of Defense, who prayed for “overwhelming violence” against enemies in Iran, you might be taken aback. I understand that instinct. This world has real threats, oppressive regimes, instability, and causes death. Sometimes, we need to take a hard look in the mirror. Governments have a duty to protect their citizens.

The Bible is not silent on this tension either. The Psalms of King David include fierce prayers, calling upon God to bring judgment upon enemies: “Break their teeth, O God…” Those words are found in scripture. They reflect something profoundly human: a yearning for justice and a desire for evil to be decisively ended… and even the wish for revenge.

A Different Victory

However, Easter changed everything. Christ did not conquer His enemies through overwhelming violence and punishment. Instead, He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross. He absorbed violence rather than unleashing it. He did not summon legions of angels. He did not crush the Roman Empire. He did not silence those who accused Him. Instead, He said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

As I wrote last year, that is not how kingdoms typically operate. But that is the crux of the matter. The resurrection is not only evidence of life after death but also a revelation of a kingdom that operates on entirely different principles.

Love Your Enemy… But How?

Jesus did not leave this as an abstract idea. He made it painfully concrete: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This is one of the most audacious commands in all of scripture. If we are honest, it is also one of the hardest. It is easy to love those who are kind to us or to pray for people we agree with, or to show tolerance when we have nothing to lose.

Facing those who threaten us, oppose us, or even hate us is much more difficult. This does not mean pretending that evil does not exist. It does not mean giving up on justice or refusing to confront wrongdoing. But it does mean refusing to let hatred have the final word.

The Tension We Live In

There is a role for government in restraining evil. The Bible acknowledges that there is a place for power in a fallen world. But for Christians, there is a higher call that cannot be ignored or explained away. We are called to see even our enemies as human beings created in the image of God. We are called to pray not only for their defeat but also for their repentance. We are called to resist the instinct to dehumanize, even when it feels justified.

This is not weakness or naivety; it is faithfulness to a kingdom that does not operate by the same rules as all the other kingdoms in history. That very principle sets Christianity apart from all other religions! And this reminder is not just for Christians, but for all of humanity, each member created in the image of God.

Conclusion

Easter is the ultimate declaration that violence and death do not have the final say. The cross looked like a defeat. The resurrection revealed it as a victory. And that victory shapes how we are called to live: faithfully. This means that even in a world filled with real enemies that threaten us, Christians are called to something higher. We are called to love when it becomes difficult. To pray when we feel unworthy. And to believe that the kingdom initiated by Christ is not built on overwhelming violence, but on a love that refuses to be subdued by it.

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Reflections on Easter