The Chaplains Chapbook, April 7th

Easter: How God Demonstrated God's Love For Humanity!

Rev. Delphain Demosthenes

Counselor, Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life

Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you and yours during this Easter season! I trust and pray that this letter finds you well and that you are in a position to feel and know the many blessings of God upon your life.

As we approach Holy Week (in most Christian religious traditions), I want to take this opportunity to simply say a few words about Easter. Broadly, one can define Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) as the Christian “Holy Day” that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from death as described in many passages in the Christian holy book (the Bible). According to these texts: (Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24), Jesus died and was buried on Holy Friday and came back to life on Easter Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus is a fundamental part of the faith—without it, Christianity does not hold the same spiritual value for many Christians (1 Corinthians 15:17).

The idea is that humanity’s relationship with God was broken and to reconcile humanity to a healthy relationship with the triune God—Jesus Christ voluntarily gave His life to atone for the wrongdoings of humanity. Paul, the Christian leader, and author, in one of his texts in the Bible describes the atoning work of Jesus Christ in this way:

When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him. Even if we were good, we really wouldn’t expect anyone to die for us, though, of course, that might be barely possible. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

(Romans 5:6-8)

Moreover, in one of the most quoted texts of the Bible (John 3:16), we are told that

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

So, for most Christians, Easter is a holiday celebrating Love and Hope. It captures God’s most prominent display of love for humanity. What is so amazing about this act of love is that Jesus agreed to die to atone for the wrongdoings of all people. And Jesus did it for people while they were still stuck in their rebellious and evil ways towards God, others, and themselves. Easter is a time when many Christians are reminded of God's amazing love for them and how God was and is willing to forgive them completely. Easter is also a time that informs and reminds Christians of how precious they are in the eyes of God. And God’s only command to them is to practice what one calls Trinitarian love—namely to love God wholeheartedly, to love others, and to love themselves in the same way (Matthew 22:37).

Easter is a time when Christians collectively pause to remember and celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in worship. For them, it is because of Christ’s death and sacrifice that they have their eternal relationship with God restored. For many Christians, there can be no greater gift than to know that their transgressions have been forgiven by God. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ also gives Christians this powerful sense of eternal hope of a bright future believing that as Christ overcame death and the sadness associated with it, so can they overcome life’s challenges, sadness, and death? And Jesus told His followers that He was the resurrection and the source of all life—so those who believe in Him will live even in death (John 11:25).

I wish all those who celebrate a very happy, joyous, and healthy Easter! May this Easter season bring you and your loved ones peace, love, hope, and spiritual rejuvenation!

Yours truly,

Rev. Del Demosthenes

Rev. Delphain (Del) Demosthenes

delphain_demosthenes@brown.edu | 401.663.8515

Reverend Delphain Demosthenes is a licensed certified social worker and ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches of USA. He received a BA in Biblical Studies from Nyack College, a Master of Divinity from The Divinity School at Yale University, and a Master of Social Work from New York University. Reverend Demosthenes has counseled a wide range of clients including children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. He facilitates the weekly Gratitude Group on campus.

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Faculty, staff, and students may nominate. Extended deadline *April 11th*

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The Interfaith Leadership Award - Honors a senior in the college who has demonstrated interfaith leadership both on campus and beyond, within the confines of the academic year and/or during time away.

The Levi Adams Citation - Honors a senior in the college for distinction and service in the leadership of a campus based religious organization, project, or initiative.