Column: Pilgrim's Progress: Erik Peeters: A revelation
In the church’s set Bible readings for these days between Remembrance and the start of Advent, we come across what are known as the “apocalyptic” texts from both the Gospels – the records of Jesus’ life and ministry – and the final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, written by John.
It would be wrong to think of these texts as predictions of the future – much as many people have tried to decode them over the centuries. Instead, their purpose is to “reveal”, to unveil a truth that is hidden or ignored by the world.
So what do they reveal? Jesus pointed out and John wrote down, that there is an ongoing conflict between two forces in the world. On the one side are human powers – political leaders, multinational corporations, social and economic ideologies – that claim to have power in and over the world to ensure our safety and bring us wealth, but which really only seek to manipulate and to exploit, and thus will ultimately destroy, both our communities and our natural world. And Jesus calls those who follow him not to trust in these powers.
On the other side is the true ruler and King of the world, Jesus himself, who became one of us to suffer and die with us and for us, so that he could bring us not only forgiveness and reconciliation and so true peace and freedom, but also resurrection to new life. And both Jesus and John point out that that conflict will only ever have one outcome – that in the end Jesus will win.
I find it interesting that people – often those in power, who benefit from the injustices of our world – ridicule this hope of restoration and new life as foolish, childish. Maybe the ridicule tells us something – that the hope is real, and that we can live in its light. And that in the end, Jesus will win.
Erik Peeters
Wakefield Cathedral