Alister McGrath, once a self-declared atheist, was a highly intelligent and very well-educated young man.
However, despite his convictions, he decided to learn more about Jesus.
Amazingly, he was soon baptized and confirmed, and eventually even ordained as a priest in the Church of England.
Now a highly respected theologian, he writes extensively on faith and is well-known in theological circles.
On his website he writes;
‘The most radical question which anyone can be asked is not how much their possessions cost, but whether they have found something of value – that is, something that makes living worthwhile’.
For me, two things make life worth living: freedom and peace—the freedom to be our true selves and peace within our hearts, communities, and nations.
80th Anniversary of the End of World War 2
WW2 arose in a world still reeling from WW1, and the restrictions imposed because of it, affected personal freedoms in many ways.
But on 8th May 1945, the guns finally fell silent across Europe.
We celebrated last week 80 years since the end of the war, although it ran on for some months longer in Japan.
We remembered a time when nations stood united and a time when courage and sacrifice paved the way for freedom and peace.
Today we still try to imagine what those dark days in the 1940s were like for them.
Scriptures in both the Old Testament and New Testament remind us that even in the darkest times, God is our refuge and strength.
In war and in peace, His presence is unwavering to all who turn to him.
Many would have found comfort during those dark days from those words.
And comfort from understanding that;
Jesus is the Ultimate Peace-Maker and Freedom Fighter
In St John’s gospel, he speaks of being a Good Shepherd who would lead his sheep and never let them be snatched away.
Both David and Moses (from the Old Testament) in their earlier years, had been shepherds on the hills of the Middle East.
In those days sheep were an important part of the economic system. So they needed good shepherds to take care of them.
Because a good shepherd would make sure each one of their sheep was kept safe, well-nourished, and healthy.
They would fight off all sorts of vicious wild animals to protect them.
And Jesus was referring to Old Testament verses when he called himself the Good Shepherd, meaning the Messiah.
Jesus the Servant King
But many people who were awaiting the Messiah, believed he would arrive as a military leader on a war horse, to defeat the Romans who ruled over them.
However, the prophet Zechariah had forecast hundreds of years earlier;
that the Messiah would come “righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey”
And on Palm Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey, which would have been understood as an innocent beast which would carry the heavy goods of its owners.
The donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem on, represented a sinless beast of burden, indicating not warfare, but peace, and service.
Because Jesus came not to defeat the political powers that ruled at the time – but as a servant king,
and like the little donkey, to carry our burdens and defeat the powers that ruled within his people.
The Flesh vs the Spirit
Jesus said we must ‘die to ourselves’ to become like him.
Meaning to set aside our personal desires, and to fully embrace God’s will and purpose for our lives.
St Paul spoke of it as the ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit – which can be hard because; the spirit can be willing, but sadly the flesh often weak.
And this has been a central issue since the Garden of Eden.
In modern terms we might understand this battle as the ego getting in the way of things.
Of self-serving thinking getting in the way.
The Gift of God’s Grace
Jesus came to resolve these inner battles we all struggle, to some extent, with.
And while many expected the Messiah would overthrow Roman rule, Jesus taught a different kind of victory—
one over the battle of these inner conflicts, those that hinder the development of our relationship with God.
Modern psychology suggests self-perception is often an ego-driven illusion ….
…… leading to unconscious and unhealthy actions.
But Jesus was teaching about more than a psychological shift.
St Paul spoke of it as a renewing of the mind, because, by acknowledging it and embracing God’s grace, we can release unhealthy thoughts that bind us,
and hand them over to Jesus.
We Can Allow Jesus to Carry Our Burdens
As a clenched fist cannot give or receive—neither can a heart burdened with worldly worries ever be free.
Jesus seeks to free us from these burdens, to carry them for us as the donkey carried Him into Jerusalem.
And by surrendering our troubles to Him, we begin to find peace, allowing us to better follow God’s teachings and seek His will.
This in turn allows his presence to work deeper within a calmer soul,
which can then eventually gain the true freedom Jesus promised.
And this is how, by God’s Grace, the promise of freedom Jesus offers is gradually fulfilled, and we attain the peace our hearts crave.
A lot of words – and now a little reflection
Jesus taught that he was the Good Shepherd spoken of in the Old Testament, and he would take great care of his flock, so much so that he would give his life for their peace and freedom.
His arrival in Jerusalem just before the Passover, on the humble little donkey, signified that He was presenting Himself as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb.
But he came not to bring about a violent political revolution, rather, he taught inner transformation, with the spirit triumphing over the flesh.
So too the peace we reflected on during the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2 should inspire us to be peacemakers.
But our news outlets continually identify breakouts of war at various hot spots around the world, reminding us that peace is still precarious.
And while it is important to honour the sacrifices of those who fought and suffered,
And acknowledge that the victory in 1945 brought relief to weary hearts;
Christians worldwide believe it is only the victory of Christ’s resurrection over death,
and his willingness to carry our burdens, that promises true peace and freedom in this life,
as well as hope for a life to come.