April 2007 Climate debate Moderator©s John Mavor rocks evangelicals prison visit retires again Page 4 Page 6 Page 11 It is fi nished... NOT Late in the afternoon, since it was the Day of Preparation (that is, Sabbath eve), Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Jewish Council, came. He was one who lived expectantly, on the lookout for the kingdom of God. Working up his courage, he went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate questioned whether he could be dead that soon and called for the captain to verify that he was really dead. Assured by the captain, he gave Joseph the corpse. Having already purchased a linen shroud, Joseph took him down, wrapped him in the shroud, placed him in a tomb that had been cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the opening. (Mark 15:42-46) Easter refl ections P.2 Moderator and Editorial P.7 Salvation or cosmic abuse P.8 Easter Art Resurrection doubts P.9 Easter traditions Agony in the garden P.10 The last temptation P.16 Journey asks Living the resurrection From the Editor I guess it will be on television here soon. THE GOSPEL records tell us The documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus produced by Hollywood that the encounters the disciples fi lm maker James Cameron claims a 2000-year-old tomb found in had with the risen Jesus were life- Jerusalem may hold the remains of Jesus of Nazareth, Mary his changing experiences. mother, Mary Magdalene, said to be his partner, and Judah, said to John, in his Gospel record, be their son, together with other members of his family. describes how the fear that gripped Message from the the disciples was transformed So, as yet another storm has broken out over the story that Christians into joy, and how the doubt that hold so dear, I refl ect on why I never went to see Mel Gibson’s Moderator celebrated movie The Passion of the Christ. engulfed Th omas was converted Rev Dr David Pitman into faith, as Jesus appeared Apparently it was fi lled with excessive violence and, anyway, I knew amongst his followers and restored how the story ended because I’d read the book. their hope and confi dence. But basically, when I go to the movies I don’t want to be depressed, I Th en, as we know, Jesus went want to be entertained and while the resurrection is the denouement, away again. He was no longer wading through the Good Friday stuff is really quite discouraging. with them. Th ere was no more was a new creation. Th e fact that Th e women at the tomb were seeing, touching or face-to-face it survived is a miracle and it’s a told to go and tell the good news Truth be known, I am a simple Protestant who likes the cross to be conversation! miracle that we are here today. that Christ was alive and the risen empty and the story to have a happy ending and Gibson, I fear, is Th e potential for post-Easter A multitude of forces have Jesus commissioned his disciples to essentially a Catholic who likes the crucifi x and wants to dwell on depression was very real. Th ey threatened to tear the church go into the world, sharing the good the sacrifi cial nature of Jesus’ death. might have been excused for asking, apart and destroy it on numerous news and baptising those who I want to be a resurrection Christian not a crucifi xion Christian. “Is there life after Easter?” occasions since Jesus appeared to believe. I long for a story with a happy ending. I want to draw my energy from All kinds of preposterous ideas his disciples on that fi rst Easter John concludes his Gospel the life of Jesus not the death of Jesus. have been advanced in relation Day long ago. record with the statement that to the death and resurrection of Th e church survived during all everything he has written about I want to be inspired by his stories, wisdom and interactions with Jesus. What can’t be denied is the that time because Christ breathed Jesus is motivated by his deep desire sinners, disciples, women and children, not by his gruesome, violent transformation of the disciples from his Spirit into it; because it is to give others the opportunity and painful suffering at the hands of cruel and barbaric torturers. fearful individuals hiding away to hear the story and believe for Come on Pentecost! Lent has gone on long enough and I’m ready in locked rooms, to courageous As followers of themselves that Jesus is the Son of to be uplifted and inspired in John 10:10 discipleship. public witnesses, boldly testifying “ Jesus we are God and Messiah. (John 20:31) to the living presence and power of called to be We live in a society that is fed “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Christ! bearers of good a constant diet of bad news and it Yeah Jesus! Inevitably, there is a strong news and embody is in this very social context that Bruce Mullan element of mystery in the the good news in as followers of Jesus we are called resurrection of Jesus. It is our own lives. to be bearers of good news and not something we can really embody the good news in our own understand. Rather, it is a reality ” lives. Descent from the Cross 1612-14 oil we experience and therefore believe Christ’s church, not ours; and As a good news people we on panel by Peter Paul Rubens. and celebrate! because the grace of Christ is communicate the love and grace of Perhaps Rubens’ best- So to the question, “Is there stronger than any of our human God in both word and action. known painting and a classic of life after Easter?”, the response of foibles and factionalism! We are a resurrection people! Christian art Th e Descent from Christians for 2000 years has been It has survived because of all We are a good news people! the Cross is the centrepiece of a resounding “Yes!” those followers of Jesus who have Let us live who we are in faith, a triptych commissioned by Th e witness of the gospel stories understood that the Christian life hope and love. the Arquebusiers (civic guard) reminds us in a compelling way is not about power, but pilgrimage; for their altar in the Antwerp that the church did not create the not about being served, but serving cathedral. idea or message of Easter. others. Thoughts on Easter A very sensual work in which It was out of the experience of It has survived because there have Jesus’ body is twisted for dramatic Easter that the church was born always been enough Christians who Believing that Jesus was eff ect the 4210mm x 3110 mm because the followers of Jesus have been committed as disciples crucifi ed is easy… it fi ts panel arouses the emotions sensed his continuing presence of Jesus to share the good news of with what we know about through its movement and amongst them and committed his life, death and resurrection with punishment and treatment colour. themselves to live as he had lived, others. of criminals at the time. We Th e body has obviously been Rubens’ portrayal of Jesus is and to pass on to others what he Th e resurrection stories in the can look to history to give us pierced by the spear and death is both tender and loving. had taught them. Gospels contain frequent references similar accounts of a death on apparent in the colour of the fl esh Rubens completed the work at Th e church that grew up around to this ministry of witness. a cross. But the resurrection and the posture of the head. the age of 37. that little group of men and women is another kettle of fi sh! It is a big claim; it is a mystery; and it takes a leap of faith to believe it… I believe it is both an event which happened and mystery which we cannot fully Sign of the Times understand. But living with that mystery has shaped my Journey is published 11 times a year for the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. life. Rev Kaye Ronalds Opinions expressed in Journey do not necessarily refl ect those of the editor or the policies of the Uniting Church. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement; inclusion of advertising So often we walk with Mary material is at the discretion of the publisher . towards that tomb expecting Journey cannot guarantee the publication and/or return of submissions but makes death and decay. We look out every eff ort to do so if requested. on the suff ering of life. We stare death in the face as Good Editor Bruce Mullan Friday hangs heavily on our Associate editor / advertising Mardi Lumsden hearts. But as Christians we Designer Osker Lau can be encouraged that war, Production: Communications Services Unit Printing: Rural Press (QLD) Printing, Ormiston, that racism, that disease, that Circulation 15,700 suff ering, that death – are not ISSN: 0817-4466 the end words. Rather we can Closing date for editorial and advertising for May Journey is 13 April 2007 have hope that our walk will Next issue of Journey will be available in churches on Sunday, 6 May 2007 take us with Mary to the empty tomb, to the place where we Communications Services Unit Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod will encounter the risen Christ Th is month’s mathematical church sign comes to us from Windsor 60 Bayliss Street Auchenfl ower QLD GPO Box 674 Brisbane QLD 4001 and he will call us by name.” Uniting Church in Brisbane Ph: 07 3377 9910 Email: [email protected] Fax: 07 3377 9796 Web: www.journeyonline.com.au Rev Peter Lockhart Send your Sign of the Times to [email protected].