Emptiness to Greatness

Easter is a feast of Greatness which calls for Emptiness. Easter is the culmination of God’s salvific plan. On this day, the Man who is considered to be ruthless and cause of chaos in the Jewish society is being raised and proved that He is not the cause of confusion in the society.

“Greatness doesn’t lie in amassing the things or positions
that are considered to be great.
Rather,
Greatness lies in amassing the things or positions
that are simple and humble.”

During holy week one could witness two persons (groups) who are aspiring to get greatness. The high priest, pharisees, sadducees and roman employers are one group who considered their power and position as something great and extraordinary. They find greatness in exercising their power, receiving salutations in the market place and honourable places in public functions. As leaders of the society they always wanted to exercise their power over the people to the maximum because they considered it as a noble work that which has and can bring greatness to them. As part of their duty of greatness they wanted to crucify Jesus. They thought that by crucifying Jesus they are removing the chaos or destroying the cause of confusion in the Jewish society. Atlast they succeeded in what they wanted: they crucified Jesus. But, the question that arises here is that did they achieve greatness? For them crucifying Jesus is greatness but after doing that they did not get greatness rather they were filled with fear. They put guards for Jesus’ tomb. It is the only tomb in the world that had a privilege of having guards.

On the other side, Jesus, a simple and humble man who was also aspiring to reach greatness did not even utter a word against these above prestigious fellows. He remained silent till the end of His last breath. He never argued with them. He realized that greatness will come only when he makes himself simple and humble. “He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7&8). From the beginning of His life He was humble. Taking the form of man itself is emptying His nature as God. It is this emptiness that gave strength to Jesus to endure His passion and death. As a result, he is risen today. He has achieved Greatness. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). The emptiness lead him to greatness. Thus, Easter is a call for each one of us to aspire Greatness with Emptiness as Jesus Himself did.