Small Things

I’ve been thinking about insignificance. About how often a mustard seed becomes a mighty tree. People often tell me that the Christian gospel is man-made and that is why it is so hard to believe. I would posit the converse – the reason why it is true is because it’s so bizarre. We don’t write stories like those – if you examine the myths and legends from just about every culture, whether it is about fairies, or dragons, gods on Olympus, sea monsters, sun gods, giants, you name it – the constructs are recognisably human. The protagonists might have green or blue skin, they may be 8ft tall or fit on top of a thimble, but they act like humans.

Forget Easter, crucifixion and resurrection. The creator of all things decided to make some people in his image and when they went astray, he waved his hands, weeded out the offending people and started again? No, he decided to go into their universe as the weakest possible version of humanity so that he could grow up and die and carry all their sins for them. Then he would make all things new. What??? That is possibly the craziest idea I’ve ever heard. That is not a story that we would write.

And how did this redeemer go about putting in place the way in which the world would be saved? He selected 12 completely ordinary men and spent 3 years teaching them before he allowed himself to be arrested and crucified. He didn’t build the largest army ever seen, he didn’t give them power to zing any unbelievers with lightning. He told them to go and make disciples of all nations and then left them to it. And here we are in 2026.

The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ is even crazier. God allows himself to be crucified so that he can draw all to him on the cross? A form of death that is so painful, it has its own adjective – excruciating. While on that cross, he forgives the very people who are crucifying him. The first person he welcomes into paradise afterwards is a thief who also died on the cross. This is not a story humans would write. Our version would involve a rescue by the angelic host, summary execution of Pontius Pilate, fire raining from heaven on all of Jerusalem, and Jesus wearing a crown encrusted with every precious gem known to mankind.

My thoughts were prompted by a woman writing on social media this weekend. She’s an America mother requesting prayer for her son who is one of the fighter pilots in Iran. She asked for prayer for his safety, and you can imagine the replies. Let’s just say that people declined to pray for the safety of someone who left his home to travel thousands of miles to kill other people’s children. Yet what is a mother to do?

After the bombing of the school where 168 children were killed, I suspect most Christians at their very best might be able to stop from wishing these people to perdition as we struggle with the sixth commandment. But, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do?” That takes some doing, and it’s why I know we did not write the story. I an not Iranian or Palestinian or Lebanese but I cannot say those words. How much more, if it’s your nation being pummeled and your people being slaughtered. That’s why I know we did not write that story.

We are all uneasy, and we can see that everything that can be shaken is being shaken. Will things go back to how they were, and can we revert to our blissful ignorance? I don’t know. I do know that while this may not be the end, there will be one day that is the end.

Forget the Strait of Hormuz, Christ says, “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Does that mean that the majority of humanity is doomed? I don’t think so, because that same Bible says “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” On this most hopeful of days, I quote the reason for the season Himself, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Christ Is Risen. Happy Easter.