Easter's Big Story: Jesus' Resurrection Draws Millions in Netherlands
The castle of Slot Zeist, once an operations center for the Moravian Church in the 18th century, recently served as the backdrop for a live television presentation of the Passion story. This event, aired on Maundy Thursday, drew several million viewers in the Netherlands, highlighting the enduring relevance of the Big Story of Jesus' resurrection during Easter weekend.
The Big Story of Jesus, a narrative that has shaped European history and continues to influence the world, reached millions of believers and non-believers alike this Easter. The climax of this story, the resurrection of Jesus, has been celebrated by Christians since the early First Millennium, with the greeting 'He is risen' exchanged among followers on Resurrection Sunday.
Big Stories, like that of Jesus, have the power to inspire, envision, and remind people of true events, values, and meanings. This was evident in the open-air musical version of the Passion story televised live in the Netherlands. Despite predictions of its demise, the church has historically proven resilient, surviving and thriving despite being declared dead multiple times. One of the key factors contributing to this resilience is the missions movement started by the Herrnhutters, which played a crucial role in the development of religious liberty, mass education, and stable democracy.
The Easter season also saw the performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion hundreds of times in the Netherlands, further underscoring the cultural significance of the Big Story. Notably, the movement known as New Atheism, which sought to ridicule Christianity and Christians, has since faded from public view, perhaps a testament to the enduring appeal of the Big Story.
The live television presentation of the Passion story at Slot Zeist, along with other Easter celebrations, underscores the continued relevance and impact of the Big Story of Jesus' resurrection. Despite challenges and predictions of decline, the church and the Big Story it tells continue to inspire, educate, and shape societies, contributing to the development of values and institutions that benefit humanity.
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