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The Holy Stairs and a Few Other Post-Easter Observations
Written by Peter Youngren on April 8, 2010Article for St Catharines Standard newspaper by Peter Youngren.
The Easter season has reminded us again that religion deals with ridding the soul of sin, guilt, remorse and shame. There are hundreds, if not thousands of recommended ways to get the job done. In the early fourth century, empress Helena, later St. Helena, believed she had discovered the staircase that led to the guardroom in Jerusalem where Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate. Helena was the mother of emperor Constantine the 1st, who adopted Christianity as the religion of Rome, though, to this day, no one knows for sure whether his conversion was a political convenience or a heart-felt conviction. Helena saw to it that the Sancta Scala, the Holy Stairs, were transported to Rome.
Those Holy Stairs were given their present location in Rome by Pope Sixtus the 5th in 1589. To this day millions of worshipers believe that the twenty-eight white marble steps are sacred, as Jesus’ blood would have fallen on them as he walked to his trial. By climbing the stairs on their knees in an attitude of repentance, devotees believe they can gain forgiveness of sins, even as they glean inspiration from decorations and frescoes painted by eminent renaissance artists along the walls and ceiling that enclose the sacred steps. Reportedly, after Martin Luther, the 16th century German reformer, had climbed the stairs, he complained of having no sense of relief from the burden of sins that plagued his conscience. I’ve found no records as to the testimony of modern day climbers and the measure of relief they may or may not feel.
A sense of guilt towards God seems universal. Pilgrimages, climbing holy stairs, confessions, bowing, meditation and prayer recitals all hold the promise of relief. Somehow this debt has to be paid and the sense of indebtedness to a deity is by no means limited to Christianity. Annually millions of Hindu devotees immerse themselves into the river Ganges, hoping that its holy waters will cleanse their sin. Protestants and evangelicals have their own ways of dealing with sin; repeat prayers, join a church, occasional fasting or other spiritual disciplines. Regardless of religion, the hope is that our sacred actions will convince a holy God to forgive our sins. As a child I regularly traveled through southern Europe on holidays with my parents. My young impressionable mind was affected by a shrine located on a hill, and pilgrimers climbing the stone steps on their bare knees in quest of atonement.
The gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, stands in stark contrast to religious activities. Jesus has “once for all” dealt with sin. He took away the world’s sins—remitted them. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “It was God, personally present, in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against people their trespasses, but canceling them, and committing to us the message of reconciliation, of the restoration to favor”, (2 Cor. 5:19).
The Easter season is just behind us, and again the symbols of sin and death dominated; the reenactment of the Via Dolorosa, crucifixes and depictions of a suffering Savior appeal to human empathy and need. Why is it that the symbols of death vastly outnumbered those of resurrection and life? The gospel doesn’t end with a suffering Savior on the cross, but with the one who absorbed human sin and guilt, rising to endless life. Maybe the best symbol for the gospel is not a crucifix, but an empty tomb, or an empty cross. Easter, with its Holy Week, fasting and special acts of devotion is over, but the one who dealt with sin once for all is alive. What neither the Sancta Scala nor any other acts of penance can do, Jesus already did; He put away sins and conquered death. Now that will take you to next Easter and beyond.
Gigi
~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thank You, Thank you, Thank you Jesus! Without you I can do nothing! With you, all things are possible!
Please help me this day to remember your family in my prayers and to thank you at all times because I always wanted a big family and I am a part of your family! The empty tomb,
Pastor Peter is indeed an awesome symbol of the gospel’s presence!
Love and Prayers,
Gigi
Mary
~ Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Thank you for that message. yes only Jesus blood can wash our sins and there is nothing else. if there was then why did jesus have to die?
Michel
~ Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Peter who are we to judge the act of these people. Yes it is true that Jesus Christ took our sins with Him on the cross, but this does not mean that you can do what ever you want and you will get away with it. Some of us in our great final destination will be surprise to ear our Lord saying depart from me for i do not know you. Some people like to raise money in the name of Jesus give great sermons in the name of Jesus but they think that because Jesus went to the cross for our sin it give them cart blanche. If some people want to climb srairs on there knews or lay down flat on there face for our praying to our Lord and Father who are we to judge them if it help them to have a closer relationship with their Father and Lord and Savior who we to judge. some people watch your show for some spiritual food, One could augue that it is a waste of time spend that time instead with the word, now that would make sense spend that time with Gods word to find the true will of God for our life. As we judged we will be judged. I dont believe that info mercial belong on an ALL christien television when there are so many other christian program on T.V but who am I to judge what someone decide to do with what they say the Lord put in there heart many years ago.
God bless you.
Michel
David
~ Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Well put Peter,
I’m surprised and love the fact that these articles are put in a secular newspaper (favor). Are you seeing fruit from these articles yet? I’d love to hear some testimonies. Have you considered Toronto newspapers?
Grace and Peace to you,
David
Rebecca
~ Siksika Nation, Alberta, Canada
Praise be to God for Jesus’ death and resurrection. As I was reading this message above, I felt this urge to make this comment:
I strongly feel that we do not need objects, materials, “stairs”, for us to repent and ask for forgiveness of our sins. Remember, it is written in scripture…..“ask, and you shall receive….”
All we have to do is pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness…......do this with faith and a sincere heart and you shall receive God’s mercy and grace.
I used to rely on man-made images of Jesus, angels, crucifixion crosses, ect. to feel that God was near….however, now I just rely on my prayers.
Speaking of prayers, I need prayers from everyone who may be reading this, or if you can pass it on to all Christians….....my nephew is being controlled by the demons of alcohol and drugs and the spirit of suicide - he is now fooling around with another girl who is not his common-law wife and his daughter keeps asking her mom when his daddy is going to stop drinking. I told her mother to tell her daughter to keep praying for his daddy and not to give up as I beleive that we will eventually beat those spirits and my nephew will have strength to not let those spirits control him…...thus my request to you….....the more people who pray for him in faith the better chance we will have
thank you and Peace Be With You
Jacob
~ Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Haleluja ! Praise God, Son and Holy Spirit for such unspeakable Love !!!!!
Robert
~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
holy stairs…great message…Yes, the price was paid in FULL, no more need to do any thing other than apply for forgiveness Jesus said “It is FINiSHED! !
Thanks for your balanced teaching
Nell
~ Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
Thanks for reinforcing a simple truth with a good example to boot!!
Sarah
~ Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa
Thank you Jesus. Without you i can do nothing. With you all things are possible.Please help me this day.
I am a part of your family.
Love and prayers
Sarah
Kim
~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Very good Pastor Peter! In response to this timely message the only stairs we need to focus on are heavens stairs. In other words Jesus sacrifice and resurrection is to be our focus and only that message, its a complete deal and nothing we could ever do could champion that. Unfortunately people focus on articles or objects rather than the work that was done. Knotice they are thinking their sins are blotted out by climbing stairs with repentant prayers . A work of penitence to cleanse yourself from guilt and sin. I know you weren’t belittling their effort. They are to be commended for such faithfulness, but it is misguided all the same. No person except Jesus could stand for another’s sins as they are tainted themselves. Jesus also had the supernatural God of the Trinity the Son residing inside so therefore He was the only substitution as He was fully God and fully man. How that happened is a divine intervention and mystery. We all like to see any blood stains from 2000 years ago but its a distraction as to the eternal purpose God had. It puts the wrong focus instead of looking to the One who made eternal life possible. blessings-
Adel
~ Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa
God hep me everyday without you i can do nothing.
wasim
~ Peshawar, Pakistan
praise the Lord
that was great message this message clearly told me where m i and how i should speak and walk
Sarah
~ Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa
May God i love you so much.God i want power from you, help me give me a healthy on my life. Without you i can do nothing.
Thanx for give me a big peace on my life. Jina lako litukuzwe mbinguni na dunia.
Amen
Sarah
True B
~ Antakya, Hatay, Turkey
Great article. I really like it. Thanks for information a lots.
Dave
~ usa
Wow,what a post? I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors… Will be back often to check on the new stuff you post!
Homesta
~ Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Annually millions of Hindu devotees immerse themselves into the river Ganges, hoping that its holy waters will cleanse their sin…..funny, another Indian report suggests Ganges as the most polluted river in the world, leading to several illnesses !
Debtcon
~ Selam, Tamil Nadu, India
It is really a commendable and noteworthy effort. I was looking for the information for a long time. The discussion has helped me a lot in my research. One of the most remarkable articles I have come across.
Ear
~ Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Hi,
Holy Staircase is believed to be the actual steps that Jesus climbed the day He was sentenced to death.Thanks for sharing this nice article.
Dezyz
~ Netherlands
Thankyou peter youngren for your dedication to the gospil.
Because of you thousands of people who might never of heard the gospil will be with us in heaven.
You are a wonderful man peter and your reward will be great in heaven
-Dezyz
spiritual
~ Maharashtra, India
We must consistently encourage our spiritual life with the Spiritual foods to defend it properly. Also, we require spiritual food in order for us to stay spiritually healthy.
meigan
~ Maharashtra, India
The most powerful symbol of food associated with religion in Christianity is the bread and wine of communion. The bread and wine had during communion represent the actual body and blood of Christ. Communion is thus very sacred for Christians and is regularly celebrated by many.
christian hospitality.
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Comments:
Andre
~ Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Easter, with its Holy Week, !!!!??
Holy Week by whom?