Easter is a dangerous time for Jewish people historically.
“[The Easter story] can stir up very ugly memories within Jewish history,” said Dr. Christopher Leighton, the Executive Director of the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies in Baltimore.
Gospel authors shifted responsibility from Roman leaders onto Jewish crowds, according to Leighton. “They whitewashed Roman culpability.”
Charging Jewish people with Jesus? death and holding subsequent generations responsible is “false, mistaken and lethal,” he said.
Jesus is also a critical figure in Islam.
“You are not a Muslim, if you do not believe in Jesus,” said Safi Khan, Imam and director of Islamic Dar-Us-Salaam in College Park.
Muslims believe Jesus was a resurrected prophet, but not the Son of God, Khan said.
“We believe he was lifted by God himself, taken in body and soul. We believe he is in a second heaven and will come again.”
Marking Jesus? resurrection, Easter is the culmination of 40 days and nights Christians devote to repenting, fasting, giving more of themselves and remembering Jesus? sacrifices, said Dr. Catriona MacLeod, professor of religious studies at College of Notre Dame in Baltimore.
“Easter is a sign of light,” she said. “You always have the large Easter candle lit at Easter mass and the light going out from it to every one, one by one. It starts in absolute darkness and then, the light spreads. It?s magnificent.”
Jesus? resurrection gave Christians the “sense an ancient dream has been actualized or fulfilled,” Leighton said. “At the same time, there?s an acknowledgment that the job is not complete because we still see political turmoil and suffering swirling around us.”
“We have a taste of the world that God dreams for us,” he said. “But we have to wait and work for the world that is more properly aligned to his ultimate reality.”
