Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

A Reflection on the Second Reading for March 1st, 2020:
​First Sunday of Lent

Romans 5

12 Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned.

17 If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  18 Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.  19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience many will be made righteous.

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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

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I’ve been a fan of the Harry Potter series for years—both the books and the movies. One of my favourite movie scenes is in the Half-Blood Prince, where Dumbledore and Harry seek out Professor Horace Slughorn in a Muggle house in the village of Budleigh Babberton. Slughorn, in an effort to throw the Death Eaters off his trail, has rendered the house a shambles. After reassuring Slughorn there is no danger, Dumbledore suggests they put the house to rights. With a wave of his wand, rubble begins to rise from the floor. Plaster restores itself to the ceiling. Pictures float to their places on the walls. Books line themselves up along the shelves. And a lone crystal gem, squeaking and squirming, is released from beneath the sole of Harry’s sneaker and shoots up to reattach itself to the chandelier with a satisfying ping. Order is restored.

This special effect, used in cinematography for ages, is called reverse motion for the (somewhat obvious) reason that the filmed action is shown in reverse. As someone once put it, this technique serves as “an early demonstration that filmmakers have the power to mend what has been broken, even if it is an on-screen illusion.” 

Restoring what has been broken in this way and on this scale certainly is an illusion in the hands of human filmmakers—but what about in the hands of the Divine? Would God have any use for reverse motion? I believe so. The second reading for this Sunday is proof of it.

In the Letter to the Romans, Paul says: “As one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.” Adam, through his offences, weakened all humanity and condemned us to separation from God. But all that this cost us has been paid by the generosity and obedient love of Jesus, demonstrated to us through the gift of His suffering and death. 

We have all heard there is no greater love than to give one’s life for a friend. Jesus, who is Love, gave His life to restore the kingdom to us. In his weakness—his greed and pride—Adam broke his promise to God and led us all to death. But Christ, through His far greater strengths of selflessness and humility, has brought us to a new life and a restored covenant with God. Our ruin in Adam is great, but our salvation in Christ is greater.

Jesus has brought us greater blessings than those we lost after the fall of Adam. In a kind of reverse motion in real time, Jesus did more than tidy a messy house. He paid the wages of sin, conquered death, and restored humanity’s relationship with God. Jesus, the greatest of creators, mended all that was broken and reopened for us the gate to the Garden. This is no illusion. This is for real.


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Donna Davis

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

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