The Moon Landing and Paul Kagame of Rwanda - 2 Conspiracy Theories

           

 The Moon Landing and the Presidency of Paul Kagame of Rwanda have much in common.  Both are shadowed in conspiracy theories.  There is a network of those who believe that the Moon Landing was a great conspiracy on the part of the United States Government and faked in order to intimidate the then Soviet Union.  President Kagame has convinced his loyal followers that there is a grand conspiracy against his rule and the right for Rwanda to move forward after the 1994 Genocide on the part most of the World Community.

            Both of these Conspiracy Theories hold little truth.  But here’s the problem:  If you don’t believe in the Moon Landing, no one gets hurt (unless you’re standing in a room of astronauts – then I’d suggest you keep your opinion to yourself).  If you are Rwandan and don’t believe in Paul Kagame’s conspiracy theory, there can be a severe price to pay if you speak out with your belief.

Professor Linda Melvern chronicled what she called the conspiracy against Rwanda.[1]  She says that this conspiracy is fueled by “Hutu Power ideologues[2],…fugitive genocidaires[3], and their supporters.”  This is only partially true.  Yes, there are fugitive genocidaires who have fled Rwanda and seek an armed and violent return.  But, we must remember the genocide is at the time of this writing 19 years old.  The most active genocidaires of that time would be close to age 40 now.  Therefore, while some of the genocidaires  are still seeking return, many have had 19 years to develop a new life and to settle.  Please note that I am NOT defending the genocidaires! Genocide is a horrible crime – quite possible the worst crime that can be committed! I am saying that President Kagame is keeping the fear of Genocide alive so that he can remain in power.

Melvern’s division of Hutu and Tutsi also plays into Kagame’s hands.  While right now, under Kagame, technically it is illegal to claim to be anything but Rwandan – the labels Hutu and Tutsi are illegal, by making people fear the Hutu Conspiracy, Kagame again seems like the savior. Tribe and race cannot be erased because one declares it to be so.  What can be erased is our ultimate allegiance to them.  For example, I am a white American male. I try to use the “whiteness” for statistical purposes only when I have to fill out forms asking for my race.  I may also use my race when celebrating my heritage from my ancestors from Italy, Sweden, and Ireland. Since those ancestors were white, by default, my race comes into play, but it is not at the forefront of what I celebrate. On St. Patrick’s Day, I eat Irish food and wear green.  I remember my Irish grandfather. Being white is only a factor in that my Irish Ancestors were white.  I honestly don’t think about it on that day.

By erasing Hutu and Tutsi divisions – except when it’s convenient – such as when discussing the Genocide of the Tutsis, Kagame has attempted to erase the past of a nation.  Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda should see themselves first as Rwandans, but they should also be allowed to celebrate their uniqueness.  This does not take away from Rwanda. It adds culture and builds up Rwanda.  By calling the Genocide the Genocide of the Tutsis, Kagame has made it illegal for Hutu families to properly mourn the loss of those whom they have lost in the Genocide.  It is true that more Tutsis were killed.  But it is more true that Rwandans were killed.

Melvern’s article claims that there is a master plan that wants to violently overthrow Kagame because the Hutu majority wants to be in power.  This could be true in some circumstances, but on the whole, do people really want more war?  There have been elections in Rwanda, and where has the violence come from?  In the last election, one of Kagame’s opponents was beheaded.  Of course the murderer was never found.  Does it take a rocket scientist to link Kagame’s 93% win with the beheading of an opponent?  Why was political opponent Victore Ingabire jailed (and at the time of this writing remains in jail) because she mentioned that Hutu families should be allowed to mourn their dead?  Then she was charged and convicted on “thought crimes?”  How exactly does one prove a thought crime?  Her crimes were partially based off of Wikipedia articles (something that any Academic knows is not a credible source) and admitted lies on the part of the prosecution.  Her case is now in appeal.  Does any of this sound like a violent overthrow attempt? To me it sounds like people following the political process and being jailed or murdered.

Melvern’s largest error is that she blames Europe and the United States for this conspiracy against Rwanda.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Kagame has been the favorite “African Son” of the West for years.  He was trained at Ft. Leavenworth in the United States.  This is a place where only the top US Generals get to be trained. An average US Soldier does not train there.  He has received countless dollars in aid from the West and continues to do so. When the Group of Experts named Rwanda as sponsoring the M23 Militia that has invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States refused to take any action.  In a very short press release after weeks of the report being released, President Obama made a short phone call to President Kagame telling him to stop all interaction with M23.  Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has vehemently defended President Kagame’s dictatorial regime.  So, there is no Western government threat against Rwanda!

Let’s be clear:

            *The only people who deny the 1994 Genocide are sadistic people. They are obviously wrong. No one except for the sadistic few believe the Rwandan Genocide did not happen. To say otherwise is a lie.

            *Only a sadistic few would say that anyone deserved to be killed in the Genocide.  Most people have sympathy for ALL Rwandans because of the Genocide! I do, and everyone I know who knows about it do.

            *Very few want a violent overthrow of Kagame. To be on record: I am NOT                        calling for an armed or violent takeover! Let the political process work, and let it work as it is intended. Stop the scare tactics of opponents and quit murdering them!

            *The reason there is so much opposition against Kagame’s Rwanda has nothing to do with the citizens of Rwanda. I, for one, wish the best for Rwanda.  Our problem is with the leadership’s bloodlust.  Human Life has become expendable to the Kagame regime. The regime has sparked the 2 Congo wars that have killed an official 6 Million People (and probably more). 

            (When bringing this up in a Twitter conversation, I was sickened on 2 occasions when 2 different people asked me something to the effect of,  “Oh, did you go out there and count all the dead bodies?”  Where is the human compassion?)

            *Since I have mentioned the Congo, all the blame cannot be put on Kagame. The Congo is very unstable. President Joseph Kabila is a weak president (at best) or an uncaring dictator (at worst). Again, all of the blame is NOT on Kagame, but at the same time, when there is an unstable situation, more instability is not needed.  While Rwanda is free to defend its borders, making incursions into the Congo to go after the genocidaires was questionable. There was no distinction made between actual murderers and civilians.[4]

Conclusion:  The grand conspiracy theory that says that the world lies about Paul Kagame and Rwanda is simply untrue.  It plays off of peoples’ sympathy for the 1994 Genocide.  Kagame is a dictator – plain and simple – who rules by scare tactics and an iron fist.  His first and only quest is power.  Rwanda has made great gains under his rule – that cannot be denied.  The economy is up, the nation is beautiful, and the streets are safe.  These positives, however have to be looked at through the lens of what brought them there.  They were brought on the blood of innocent people and maintained through deceit and emotional hostage holding.

           

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[1] http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmintdev/writev/726/726.pdf

[2] Hutus are one tribe along with Tutsis in Rwanda. The Twa people are a third tribe making up only 1% of the population.  During the ’94 Genocide, mostly Tutsis were massacred, but Hutus were killed as well.  By saying this, I have committed a crime of “Double Genocide Ideology” in Rwanda which is harshly punished.

[3]A Genocidaire is one who participated in the mass killing of the Genocide.

[4] To see documentation of this see the Mapping Report of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: http://www.friendsofthecongo.org/pdf/mapping_report_en.pdf

Notes on Forgiveness - Sermon Outline from 4/14/13

Acts 6:8-14, 7:47-60

⁸Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) stood up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.¹¹Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹²They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. ¹³They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; ¹⁴for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.” ⁴⁷But it was Solomon who built a house for him. ⁴⁸Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says, ⁴⁹‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? ⁵⁰Did not my hand make all these things?’

⁵¹”You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. ⁵²Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. ⁵³You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.”

⁵⁴When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. ⁵⁵But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ⁵⁷But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

The Word of God for the People of God

Notes on Forgiveness

     1. There is no 1 model of forgiveness – It’s throughout the Bible.  The only sure model is we are commanded to forgive.  There is no step-by-step guide. These are just observations from scripture.

2. Forgiveness includes (maybe starts with) self-forgiveness. If we are forgiven by God, who are we to not forgive our selves?

 3. Forgiveness is Hard! Jesus and Stephen are extreme examples making it seem simple. (Acts 25-26, Paul appeals to Caesar –King Agrippa- of his innocence)

4. Forgiveness cannot be done without God!

     5. Forgiveness Hurts (Jesus on Cross/Stephen being stoned) and Heals (Genesis 50:¹⁵Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” ¹⁶So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ¹⁷‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” ¹⁹But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?²⁰Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. ²¹So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.”)

6. Forgiveness is NOT weakness – It’s a sign of strength – Is Jesus a wimp? What if we looked at getting even as weakness?

7. Forgiveness does not do away with justice

8.  Forgiveness does not make you a punching bag – God’s commandments still rule! You are made in the image of God!

9. Questions: Can we forgive people who haven’t asked for it? – Jesus did on the cross/Stephen did while being stoned

10.  Forgiving vs. Enabling – Forgiving = forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us – Enable = letting people continue in their sin

11.  How much do we forgive? Jesus said 70 X 7 Times – That means forever in Hebrew numerology.

A Prayer For Our Enemies

God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
     We confess that in times of tragedy we do not want to love our enemies.  We do not want to grant them mercy. We do not want to acknowledge that You created them in the same way that You created us.
     We are unwilling to accept that you love them in the same way that you love us.  We want them to be judged more harshly by You than You would judge us.
     As humans, we have confused and perverted the words "justice" and "revenge." We want revenge; we don't seek justice.
     We want revenge: We want to be God - We want to be You. We want to make the ultimate decisions of others' fates. We think we know what should be done.  They hurt us and the ones we love, after all.
     You seek justice. You seek that the wrongdoers face consequences for their actions by other humans but that those consequences not be doled out in revenge.  You are the only one capable of revenge because only You know the entire story.

     We can take comfort that you also know our pain. You know that we live in a broken world. You know that seeking revenge is more common than seeking justice, but you give us a higher calling.  You've called us to live in your son's image and into His example through the power of the Holy Spirit.
     Empower us to not only tolerate our enemies but to pray for them and to love them.  Yes, God, I did say love.  Even I do not want to love my enemies, but I pray that you guide me in a direction to where I will want to love them.
     Our enemies have done terrible things.  But we are only to carry out justice; not revenge.
     When our hearts are hardened with thoughts of revenge, we pray for a softening that will lead us to turn to You and put judgement back in your hands.  When hate fills our minds, we pray for love.  For only in love are we freed from fear.  And fear is the ultimate enemy that tortures us and causes us to hate and seek revenge.
     We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever. Amen!

Duke University and the Two-Ply Toilet Paper Syndrome

Quite possibly, almost 3 years ago, I entered Duke as a graduate student with a bit of naïveté.  I assumed that by entering such a highly ranked academic institution, there were certain issues that just would not be part of the cultural make up of the university.  My bit of naïveté is an understatement.  I entered a different world.  Maybe it’s the fact that I am an adult who entered graduate school after 10 years in the work force.  I don’t know.

Thankfully, this world I entered still has hope.  This world is no longer under the oppressive regime of single-ply toilet paper!  Yes, tuition is on the rise, but we no longer must fear sanitary mishaps.  Victory is ours! The voice of the proletariat has been heard! Two-ply toilet paper is here, and it is here to stay at Duke University.[1]

Maybe this two-ply toilet paper can be used to clean up some of the excrement that has happened just in the past year at Duke University.  Obviously, Duke Administrators see no need to take an active stance.  Their pay checks are high enough, why should they be concerned with any issues that student have?  Of course, when Duke Administrators are more concerned with making a name for themselves by building and developing a “Duke” University in China and then seeing it denied by the Beijing Ministry of Education[2] than they are with enhancing the programs they already have in place now, I suppose the petty concerns of students is of little concern.

Since I am on the topic of an Asian Nation and problems, I might as well bring up the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.  In February 2013, they held an “Asian Themed” party that sparked a lot of controversy among Duke students and even made the national news reports.  What a way to stay classy, Duke! The party was filled with overt racist overtones that included an invitation mocking a supposed Asian accent beginning with the words “Herro Nice Duke Peopre” with a cartoon figure of Kim Jong Il as the supposed speaker.  When Duke Administrator Larry Moneta, the Vice President for Student Affairs heard the party was planned, he “heroically” urged the fraternity to cancel the event, but even heroes sometimes fail.  The party went on as scheduled.  Despite the fallout that included a televised protest near Duke Chapel, Moneta decided the proper course of action for the University Administration was to do nothing.  Instead, he determined that dialogue was the answer.[3]  That’s right, Vice President Moneta, sit in your cushy office and let a segment of students be victimized and be made to feel unsafe at a school where they pay as tuition more than the yearly salary of most Americans.  It doesn’t affect you anyway.  I’m sure the two-ply toilet paper will comfort all wounds and make this one disappear eventually.  Let’s just talk about it.  Talking always solves racist based problems.   Let the privileged and racist perpetrators go on and look at their victims in class, on the bus, in the dorms, and in the dining halls and let them keep their deserved place of superiority! They’ve earned it, right?  They are at Duke, after all. 

On the issue of the Asian Themed Party, one of the biggest critics of the Asian Students feeling victimized was The Chronicle, Duke’s Newspaper (and I use that term very lightly), columnist Fedja Pavlovic.  He published a response to the Asian Student Aliance’s (ASA) protest entitled “Shame on You, ASA.”  His basic premise in this op-ed (yes, Fedja, after your “schooling you gave me on Twitter, I do know the difference between an op-ed and a report) was that if French people are not insulted by people dressing as musketeers and Swedes are not insulted by others dressing as Vikings, then the Asian students should just get over their pettiness.[4]  Of course, this person, so versed in critical thinking and rational discourse (a topic I will soon address) should have understood his logical fallacy. We no longer, at least to my knowledge, have musketeers, nor do we have Vikings, but the world still has a sizable Asian population, and it was this population that was being denigrated into objectivity.  This would be comparable to a Duke Athlete wearing a Halloween costume and being photographed in Blackface and then having it put on the team’s website (*shout out to the 2012 Duke Women’s Lacrosse Team).[5] One just does not do such racially insensitive things. 

Ok, let me sound a little “elitist.” I do go to Duke – And their acceptance rate for the incoming undergraduate freshman class was approximately 5.3% or 1705 out of over 32,000 applicants.[6] Shouldn’t such an elite university “just know” certain behaviors are unacceptable?  Shouldn’t the worldview be just a little larger?  I mean I did overhear some undergraduates on the bus excited that one would be spending the summer in Spain while the other would be in France, and they should “totally meet up sometime.”  These are not people who haven’t seen others who are different from themselves.  Maybe the two-ply is not the solution – it won’t clean the messes – maybe it’s the problem – it’s causing this sense of privilege where “the other” doesn’t matter in some people’s minds. Maybe having the luxury of two-ply vs. single-ply toilet paper at “traditional” universities is causing too much comfort that those at Duke are losing their understanding of what the rest of the “single-ply” world endures.

Since I brought up Chronicle columnist Fedja Pavlovic, in what I find to be a self-promoting act of ego-boosting, he published an op-ed (NOT a report as he so diligently educated me in a Twitter conversation) openly stating, “Teaching theology as an academic discipline is incompatible with the goals of a modern university; furthermore, it is a legacy of the very thing a post-Enlightenment university is meant to abolish.”[7]  Obviously, the two-ply syndrome seems to have gotten to Mr. Pavlovic to make such a bold statement.  I made the following Twitter “tweet” in response to this op-ed piece: 21 Mar ‪@DukeChronicle: Sophomore Fedja Pavlovic presents another bigoted reason ‪@DukeU is not a safe space for many.[8]  After a “conversation,” Mr. Pavlovic challenged me to a one on one theological debate due to my “intellectual superiority.”  I declined for 2 reasons: 1. There cannot be a debate on which one party does not know the subject being debated, and 2. I am a firm believer that one should not “feed the trolls.” 

I let Mr. Pavlovic know that I would not play into his attention seeking behavior and wished him a good night (all of this conversation occurred over Twitter).  He claimed that my view of discourse is flawed as a view as a view of attention seeking behavior.  However, in later tweets, Mr. Pavlovic tweeted to Dr. Richard Dawkins, the American Atheist, and the Huffington Post, that the debate between science and religion has been started at Duke University (with the unspoken subtext and attached article that he started it).[9] I would classify that as attention seeking! I would also call that seeking to make others feel unwelcome.  To further prove my point, the “two-ply” toilet paper syndrome has caused him to feel a little too comfortable and privileged when he tweeted, “tweet in the library, tweet in the lab, tweet in bed. the influx of my thoughts in your daily lives will soon be unbearable ‪#likeaboss”[10]  

At what point was it even debatable to decide which programs and studies a university held as valid? Would it be valid of me to say that since we are in the middle of an economic crisis, and most likely, some Graduates of the Duke Fuqua School of Business were CEO’s at the time of the majority of the drops in the economy that we should drop the School of Business?  That would be ridiculous! Even if they learned flawed logic and put that logic to use and it didn’t work, not many would say that a school of business does not belong at a university.  Why would a Theological School not belong at a University?  Does Mr. Pavlovic even know what theology is? I refuse to make a point-by-point argument (see rule 2 in two paragraphs above about feeding the trolls).  I will however point out that Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Oxford all have Theological Schools.  I will also refer to the founding of Duke in that prior to the Civil War, then called Trinity College, the university was committed and partially funded by the Methodist Church to provide a free education to Methodist preachers.[11]  When Trinity College changed names to Duke University and moved to Durham largely thanks to the Duke Family, part of their prerogative was to continue to support the Methodist Church through the university.[12]

Mr. Pavlovic seems to have some problems that he needs to address.  I could go on with other serious issues, but due to my Christian beliefs – the same that he finds no place for in a university, I will stop here.  I do not know Mr. Pavlovic personally, and while I disagree with him, I only hope the best for him in life.

Racism is alive and well at “liberal” Duke.  In 2012, an economics professor published a study saying that Black Students are more likely to switch to “less difficult” majors.  Apparently, Dr Peter Arcidiacono ranked different majors in their difficulty and did a study and found that Black students are more likely to major in easier subjects. This sparked outrage among the Black Student Aliance (BSA).[13] I would have to stand with the BSA in this issue! I was a music major in my undergraduate years. This is a subject that Dr. Arcidiacono would consider “easy.”  If 21 credits a semester for 4 years (while receiving only 18 of those FOR credit and not receiving credit for 3 of those credits), 3-6 hours a day in the practice room on an average day in addition to whatever ensemble rehearsals there are on any given day, and the additional non-music required classes, and the papers, compositions, music theory and analysis homework that are all daily requirements is easy, then the concept “easy,” needs to be reevaluated.

There are also anecdotal stories of the two-ply toilet paper going to people’s heads at Duke.  It makes them feel privileged.  I’ve heard Muslim students and faculty say they are looked upon with suspicion and contempt.  Black students say they are eyed with suspicion and treated differently by professors and in campus stores and dining areas.  Any signs of weakness are pounced upon by the “elitists” who know more, and are smarter than everyone else in the classroom (including the professor).  Rather than encouraging a sense of community, the faculty and administration goes out of its way to encourage a sense of competition among the students.  Kill or be killed. 

We ARE Duke, and WE have TWO-PLY toilet paper! But, I’ll bet the basketball team – that is, the MEN’S team has THREE-PLY!

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[1] http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/27/2783146/duke-going-to-two-ply-toilet-paper.html accessed on April 11, 2013.

[2] http://dukecheck.com/?p=12154 accessed on April 11, 2013

[3] http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/02/05/duke-kappa-sigma-party-ignites-firestorm-criticism accessed on April 11, 2013.

[4] http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/02/07/shame-you-asa accessed on April 11, 2013.

[5] http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8626389/duke-removes-halloween-costume-blackface-photo-lacrosse-player-team-website accessed on April 11, 2013.

[6] http://storify.com/DukeUniversity/duke-university-class-of-2017 accessed on April 11, 2013.

[7] http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/03/21/eruditio-versus-religio accessed on April 11, 2013. 

[8] From my Twitter account at @tomhallberg1

[9] From the Twitter account of Fedja Pavlovic at @fedjapavlovic

[10] Ibid.

[11] http://library.duke.edu/uarchives/history/narrativehistory.html accessed on April 11, 2013.

[12] Ibid.

[13] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/black-students-duke-study_n_1216878.html accessed on April 11, 2013.

Breaking the Law Again - Easter 2013

Luke 24:1-16

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they went in, they did not find the body. ⁴While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. ⁵The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. ⁶Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” ⁸Then they remembered his words, ⁹and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. ¹²But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

¹³Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁴and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, ¹⁶but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

The Word of God for the People of God

Breaking the Law…Again

Most of us have heard the Easter Story a million times if we've heard it once. But maybe that's the point - We need to hear this story...OUR story.  This is where we, as Christians get our identity.  Not only do we need to hear the story, but we need to find our place in the story.  Where do we fit in? What is the meaning for us? What does Easter do for us?

There is little that is new that can be said about Easter.  Maybe this is a slightly new take from things you've heard, but it is still the same story.

Jesus was an outlaw. "Good Guys" didn't get crucified. "Good Guys," as I'm using the term refers to the people who toe the line, follow the rules and don't challenge authority.  If that's what a "Good Guy" is, Jesus was not, in his earthly ministry, a "Good Guy." He crossed every boundary he could find, and he challenged all earthly authorities that challenged the authority of God.

Jesus was an outlaw in that he didn't fit into the Roman Government's standards of what was acceptable.  He challenged the status quo.  What was this business of a "King of the Jews?" Was he a challenge to Caesar?  This sounded like treason - That's a crime punishable by death!

As we lead up to the Easter Story, Jesus was tried by a "Kangaroo Court." He was tried on trumped up charges and false accusations. His closest friends abandoned him in his time of need. He was betrayed by one of his own disciples for money. Did his closest friends buy into the false accusations that Jesus was an outlaw? Or, were they just afraid?

At that time, the Jewish authorities and the Romans had a tense relationship.  Jesus challenged both.  Let me be clear.  I am not against Judaism.  Jesus was not against Judaism - He was Jewish! He challenged those who did not take God's promises and teachings seriously.  When it came to Rome, Jesus was not against authority - He was against oppression.  He still is today!

In his challenging, Jesus broke the law and "had" to be punished.  Jewish law did not allow him to be killed, so the Romans did the killing.

Jesus was laid in a tomb, a huge stone - one that couldn't be moved by just one or two people, but rather one that took several strong people, and then with a lot of effort - was placed in front of the tomb, sealing it.

Sealing is an interesting word.  It sealed the tomb shut, but it also sealed in a different way.  From ancient to modern times, leaders and rulers have seals to mark official documents.  In Roman times, wax would be put on a document and Caesar would put his ring in the wax to put his seal on the document making it official. We can compare that to a notarized document today.

Jesus tomb was not only sealed shut, but it was sealed with all the authority of Rome.

Then, Jesus did the unthinkable!  He broke the law again!  After all, Resurrection is Against the Law!  It is against the law of biology, the law of life and death, the law of physics, and the law of Rome!

Jesus defeated the last power that this world held - Death. He also defeated every power known to this world that holds people in oppression by bringing God's Kingdom into reality through his Illegal Resurrection.  

Through the Resurrection, Jesus created a new way for people to live. No longer are we bound by greed, oppression, hatred, and fear. We can now live in hope because our God is alive! Times will get tough, but victory is around the corner! The old is gone and the new has come.

God's Kingdom made a breakthrough on Easter.  The battle was won. We now live in the time between the decisive battle and the "signing of the peace treaty." The Kingdom includes Heaven - which is a very important part - but it also includes now! The Kingdom is within us, and it can spread from us to others. We can live by the Kingdom, or by the ways of the world. The choice is ours.

Did you notice the disciples couldn't believe the women? They were probably too busy being "real men"...and hiding.  Finally, Peter decided to have a look at the crime scene - he just couldn't believe, because he too knew that Resurrection is Illegal!

In our final scene, we have the people walking to Emmaus and talking about the events.  They are transfixed - Resurrection is Against the Law!  Jesus joins them, but they don't recognize him.  Why not? They don't recognize him because he broke the law one more time. You see, Jesus wasn't resuscitated. He was resurrected. If he were resuscitated, he would have just started breathing, and his heart would have started breathing again.  But, he was Resurrected.  He had his Heavenly Body - not his old body.  This is against the law - It's against the law for the old to be made new!

But, we are promised that one day, our bodies will be reunited with our souls, and our bodies will be in a heavenly state. We don't know what that will look like, but we know we will recognize each other. We know that whatever it will look like, it will glorify God as God reconciles creation back to the way it was intended in Eden.

Then, the Law that was Broken will Become the Law!