Easter Sunday: pan ethnē (παν έθνη)

 The Messiah is to suffer

   and rise from the dead…

So that forgiveness of sins

   will be proclaimed to all nations. (Luke 24:46-48)

Dear Priscilla,

It is a lonely Easter Sunday for us. It has to do with the lingering pandemic. I’m quarantined till DBS surgery a week from Thursday. It’s my first Easter away from church—the fellowship, the community of saints who gather on this Sunday of all Sundays.

The “pan” in “pandemic” caused me to think of our risen Lord’s words: “pan ethnē.” You can figure it out without even knowing Greek: “all ethnicities;” or, as usually translated, “all nations.” That’s how us gentiles get in on it. Our Risen Lord teaches us that that was always in the heart of God—in all scripture, that the terms of Jesus’ death had to do with the salvation “of all people” (Lk 2:10).

Jen just dropped by on her way to church along with Sarah and Josh; so, it is not a totally lonely Easter after all. When they left for church, we found your Easter service on YouTube—Harris Creek. We looked for you among the worshipers. You pastor talked about the cross being the cure for the sickness of sin. A “pan” salvation for the pandemic of sin.