Easter and the Christus Victor

As I write these words, our military continues to struggle Iraq. Over a year ago, we were given a near front row seat of coalition operations by means of news personnel embedded within military divisions. If you are anything like me, it was hard not to be glued to the TV or radio, listening for any new developments that might signal a quick and decisive end to the conflict.

While the initiall blitzkreig into Baghdad is over, our troups remain in harm's way. Although, the victory over Saddam Hussein's regime was decisive, there is much more dangerous work to accomplish. Nearly each day we hear news of yet another American troup killed in conflict. How is it that, though a decisive victory was won, fighting--and casualities--continue?

This current situation brings home an often overlooked scriptural dimension to Easter: Jesus’ resurrection won a victory over the powers of evil (the Christus Victor—the victory of Christ). As we typically associate Easter with niceties such as egg hunts, bonnets, and new outfits, perhaps we need to be reminded that the work of Jesus had to do with “binding the powers, dethroning the powers, and assuring his disciples and followers that the powers will be utterly destroyed and routed out of the world at the end of history” (Robert Webber, Ancient-Future Faith, p. 46).

Over the past several decades, people largely have abandoned an implicit optimism in humanity—the idea that humans are inherently good and have the intellectual and technological means to make our world increasingly better. Two World Wars, ruthless dictators, and increased acts of brutality--not to mention the tragedy of 9/11--have appropriately awakened our society to the reality of evil.

It’s appropriate for us—God’s people—to appreciate once again the “powers” that Jesus came to bind and dethrone. While Easter is now past, let’s remember that it signaled a moment in history when God engaged in mortal combat with Satan’s hordes and, by the resurrection, won a decisive victory for us (1 Cor. 15:57).

Our hope, therefore, does not lie in our own abilities to make our world a better place. It lies in the fact that Jesus Christ is alive forevermore, and has the keys of hell and death (Rev. 1:18). It is that reality that we celebrate on Easter...and every day. And, may we celebrate--and continue our struggle against evil--as victors with Christ!