25 April 2025

One Easter, I wrote an article for a newspaper on the crucifixion, framing it in the context of Christ’s failure. Some devout Christians took exception to this and wanted me to rewrite my article by removing  the blasphemous words about the cross being a failure.

From the perspective of the resurrection, of course, it is a victory. That’s what we sing about in our Easter hymns. But perhaps we get there far too quickly and miss the opportunity to ponder more deeply the failure which Christ experienced in his suffering and death.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, he prays, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’ And on the cross, he cries from the depths of his suffering, ‘My God, my God why  have you forsaken me?’

There is a deep sense that at these two points, Jesus has reached the end of his tether and cannot take any more. And yet, there is more to which he has to apply himself. He requires more resilience, patience and hope that despite all the things which are  aligning themselves against him, God will not desert him.

It is very important to hold onto this moment and the insight which it reveals to us. The ultimate failure is our death. We know this because we too live as if it will never happen. We deny it in our euphemisms and in the way we live our lives holding on to our youth in old age and the legend that we are indispensable.

The lesser failures are the better for preparing us to face the annihilation of self. For it is at the point where we can do no more that our trust in God bears fruit. This is the way of Christ and the way of the Kirk which is dramatically losing its lifeblood only to discover new life by growing more resilient, patient and hopeful.