A description of Jesus that we hear during the Advent / Christmas season is that of Immanuel – ‘God with us’. While it is not used specifically over the Easter period the title remains true of Jesus and indeed is a truth that we would do well to own even more deeply in the midst of the profound Easter narrative.

I was reflecting this morning on a blessing that we use every time someone is baptised. It is found in Numbers 6:24-26 and is known as the Aaronic blessing:

‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.’

This is an Immanuel ‘God with us’ blessing. It is prayed over us at our baptism and there is no use by date to be found. It is prayed over us among a community of people to remind everyone present that the blessing is still alive and well and active among us.

How important is this as we reflect on the journey of Jesus over these seven days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday? Jesus was a man of Israel. He lived his life under the great blessing of Aaron. He knew of it as he grew with Mary, Joseph, friends and family in Nazareth. He saw its truth begin to grow out of a seedling of faith and flourish over three years of ministry, even when opposition stood in his way. During this time not only did he live under the blessing; for so many, he became the blessing.

And then Easter came. Over this week I think that we see Jesus more fully human then in any other period of his life. I say this not so much because we see him struggling with doubt, hurt and such great loss that we can more easily equate with these very human feelings; but because in the midst of this, I feel that we see him most fully as humanity was created to be.

There is magnificence about this Easter story. The religious leaders of the day thought that they had spiritual authority until Jesus stood before them. Pontius Pilate had the power of the kingdom of Rome at his finger tips and it took this Galilean Rabbi to remind him that there was a kingdom much greater than Rome to be considered. All the ritual, colour, pomp and power of the world were posturing and yet centre stage was taken by a man who was called at his birth Immanuel – God with us. Here is a man with torn flesh, thorns for a crown and purple robe mockingly thrown over him. Great men and women of stature and authority are given special chairs or thrones in places of prominence and honour. Immanuel was given a place of prominence so that all could see his majesty – his throne was a Roman cross, his consort’s two thieves.

Another verse that struck me this week was in the New Testament:

‘If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.’ 1 Corinthians 15:19

Easter reminds me that I am much more than what position, popularity, power or prosperity might try to define me. It reminds me – indeed calls me – to greater things than these. The life, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus are a very powerful reminder to me that there is much more to us than meets the eye. I believe that we are created in the image of God and that in all things:
‘we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

Blessings this Easter season - John