The pioneer artist to grace Eurovision Song Contest stage in 1956, Henriette Nanette “Jetty” Paerl, was of Jewish descent, born in the Netherlands. However, World War II’s onset resulted in her fleeing to England to elude the Nazis. Here, she fortified her singing career by broadcasting via a Dutch-language radio-service permeating the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. She remembered how two young men, who had recently absconded from the Netherlands to join the Allied forces, approached her post one of her war-time concerts. They inquired if she was indeed the vocalist they had surreptitiously relished listening to back home. One of them was disbelieving enough to seek permission to touch her, to confirm her existence.
This recalls Mary’s puzzlement on the first Easter Day. Mary ventured to Jesus’s grave to embalm his expired body, but found an unoccupied tomb. Her assumption was that his body had been removed, and she didn’t know where they had placed it. She then noticed an individual whom she considered to be a gardener until Jesus vocalised. Even this left her with doubt; were her eyes playing tricks on her? Her impulse was to touch him, to validate her belief, but this was deemed unfeasible. Instead, she was instructed to enlighten the disciples regarding this occurrence. The Apostles’ disbelief at the first Easter is a persistent theme in biblical narratives, although it was a source of potential embarrassment. These were the individuals who had personally witnessed events culminating in crucifixion, and were subsequently apprehensive about Roman retribution. However, their initial disbelief transmuted and they chose suffering over the denial of their experiences.
The cross symbolises the optimism that, regardless of the cruelty we confront, they will not be our end. Many Christians opt for displaying a barren cross, as opposed to a crucifix adorned with Jesus’s depiction, highlighting the reality of resurrection. The vacant cross harmonises with the deserted tomb, creating a sequence of vacuity that nonetheless abounds with prospective connotations. It provides reassurance that in spite of life’s tribulations, they are not absolute. It symbolises the beyond, a realm filled with the promise that hardships will cease – where “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. For the old order of things has passed away.”
Siberia’s gulag bore witness to the transformative effect of the cross on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a Russian author. He, like his fellow inmates, endured severe manual labour day in and day out. Overwhelmed and devoid of hope, Solzhenitsyn decided to surrender life itself. He ceased to work, sat down, and prepared for punishment, possibly even his death, from the guards. Unexpectedly, while awaiting his fate, he experienced an intense supernatural presence. He noticed an emaciated elderly prisoner crouching near him. Without exchanging words, the old prisoner traced the symbol of the cross onto the dusty ground before Solzhenitsyn. This solitary act changed Solzhenitsyn’s entire outlook. He perceived a power infinitely greater than the vile reality of the prison or the might of the Soviet Union. In the simplicity of the cross, he discovered the hope that could lift humanity.
It’s not easy to grasp and maintain the optimism symbolised by Easter. True followers of Easter may even experience doubt and curiosity. This is because the hope bestowed upon us is not ours to give but a divine gift from God, through Jesus Christ. It promises a new aspect of life, way beyond human comprehension. Ex-Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, emphasised the importance of holding onto and sharing this news. He believes nothing could be more beneficial to mankind today than recapturing the feeling of transcendence- a sense of a life and love that reassures us that God is genuinely in command.