Easter Reflection - Steve Wright
(Thank you to Steve Wright for writing and sharing this blog)
As a lawyer I have often studied the amazing events at Easter, the trials of Jesus, the Cross and the evidence for the resurrection. These events were to have a transformative effect literally in the market place of Jerusalem, as thousands discovered New Hope that first Easter. Those events are still impacting men and women in the market place. As H G Wells said, “No man can write a history of the human race without giving first and foremost place to the penniless Teacher of Nazareth.”
Now as a retired member of the Legal Profession having served for over 30 years it has given me time to reflect. It was a privilege to work as barrister and as a Senior Public Prosecutor in the Public Prosecution Service directing on hundreds of cases, latterly specialising in complex fraud cases.
Whilst prosecuting strictly within the ambit of the Code for Prosecutors, and in the midst of such a cut and thrust environment, it was a challenge to bring the transformative effect of Christ into that context.
Q. What help did you find as a Christian in the Marketplace?
Alongside the great examples set by my colleagues, I was greatly encouraged as a Christian by the verse in Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
I was encouraged by the famous men and women in the gallery of Faith that there were those “who through faith…administered justice.” Hebrews 11:33
God loves Justice. It is rooted in in His character but it is linked to humility, kindness and concern for others
My regular prayer for myself and all of those involved in the Service was that God would give us wisdom in our decision making and that we would know His peace in the midst of difficult trials.
At times I was asked to direct on distressing and sordid cases that sadly so often come before the courts. As well as the help that is now offered I would often read the Psalms and experience the washing of the Word over a mind that had to consider such details. Apart from one case I can say I do not remember the details of the other cases.
Q. How do you find your legal training helps you share your faith in the Marketplace?
I have found as a lawyer it has given me a framework to analyse evidence and I seek to apply that in sharing of my Christian faith in the market place: the importance of evidence, the principal of accountability, and the necessity of a verdict.
1. The Importance of Evidence.
This exercise is crucial in any case.
I well remember taking time out to examine the evidence for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in my penultimate year studying law and concurring with Dr Luke conclusion “that he (Christ) demonstrated himself to be alive by many convincing proofs.”
Lee Strobel a former award winning, Legal Editor of the Chicago Tribune took up the challenge. As an atheist he saw the transformative effect that Christ brought to his wife’s values and character when she became a Christian. However as a sceptic he required more than that he wanted hard evidence. He took 1 year and 9 months out and wrote a best seller called the Case for Christ documenting how he came to put his faith in the One of Whom the facts speak.
He summed up the evidence under 4 E’s: Execution, Early Accounts, Empty Tomb and Eye Witnesses.
Execution - Christ was crucified on a cross - this is an undoubted fact of history
Early Accounts - these are contented in the gospels and in the Creedal material of 1 Corinthians 15:3-11, where it is written, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raisedon the third day according to the Scriptures.” This is followed by an impressive array of witnesses. Scholars now date that information within 2-8 years after Christ’s death and resurrection.
Empty Tomb - It is common ground that the tomb was empty. The body of Jesus was wrapped and encased according to the Eastern custom, a one and a half to two stone was placed there, a seal placed over the tomb and a Roman guard placed outside the tomb. Two witnesses to the tomb saw the amazing circumstantial evidence of the chrysalis like grave clothes with no body contained within the grave clothes. Generally speaking, robbers endeavour to act expeditiously in their raids - why unwrap the grave clothes and wrap them up again? If I had a choice of carrying a body with or without grave clothes I would prefer the former. The undisturbed position of the grave clothes gave eloquent testimony that something supernatural had happened at the grave.
Eye witnesses - Paul, a brilliant lawyer who adamantly opposed the Christian faith, was transformed by an encounter with the risen Christ from being the greatest opponent to being one of the greatest proponents. If each of the 520 witnesses (noted in 1 Cor 15:3-11) could give first hand testimony for 6 minutes it would fill a court room with over 50 hours of evidence, quite apart from cross examination. The genesis of Paul’s faith was in his encounter with the risen Christ “and last of all he also appeared to me”. People recognised the courage of the early Christians and simply noted “that they had been with Jesus” Acts 4:13
The encounter with a risen Jesus spilled out onto the streets and into the market place. The workplace of Christian were transformed as there Masters saw their love for Christ, their strong work ethic and their concern for others.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).
2. The Principle of Accountability
I was welcomed into the office by Sir Barry Shaw, the first Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland. He said “Stephen there is something that is bigger than me and this office that is integrity.”
I never forgot that - Integrity and Accountability are so important.
The law holds us all accountable. I love the amusing story of a student who was stopped by a policeman driving his motor bike down a one-way system in the wrong direction. The police man said “do you know what you have done wrong?” The student replied, “Yes I am not taxed and I am not insured!” His conscience got the better of him.
The truth of the resurrection to me was transformative - reminding me that ultimately I will be held accountable by a higher court. This helps you get things in perspective.
Lord Hailsham, a previous Lord Chancellor, who died in 2002 said, “When I stand in judgement, I will plead guilty, and cast myself on the mercy of the court.” How wise of him!
It is only God’s mercy, which secures our eternal home with Him.
As we approach Good Friday it is what the cross is all about - where God’s justice and love met. He died for our sins taking the penalty we deserve.
God demonstrated his love for us in that while still sinners Christ died for for us.
As I read the New Testament, I found that the Life of Christ challenged me intellectually, morally and spiritually. As Jesus asked, “who do you say I am?”
3. The Necessity of a Verdict
At the end of every case there is a verdict. I don’t think I have ever lost the drama of the moment when the verdict is brought in by the foreman of the Jury.
When Thomas was confronted with the resurrected glorified Christ, he declared “My Lord and My God.” What convinced him?
(a) The words of Jesus – he said to them “Peace be unto you.”
(b) The wounds of Jesus – “Put your finger here, see my hands, reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” These wounds spoke of identification. (John 20:27)
It also spoke of a sacrificial death. It was for our shame and sin that Christ died.
Tradition has it that Thomas went as a missionary to India. There they don’t call him “Doubting Thomas” but “Thomas the Confessor”.
May we this Easter know the transformative effect in our lives of the risen Christ - who through the power of his Holy Spirit can make a difference in our lives and give us the courage to “Confess Him” in the marketplace. Like Thomas may we make a personal commitment or a recommitment this Easter and cry “My Lord and my God”.
Happy Easter!
Steve Wright