From the Headmaster

they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left

(Luke 23:33)

Easter – An Instrument of Roman Terror

Dear Students, Parents and Carers,

Easter is nearly upon us, with its Easter hat parades, Easter bunnies and chocolate in industrial-sized portions. All of this, perhaps strangely in terms of style, reflects the crucifixion of a man 2000 years ago in an obscure backwater of the Roman Empire. Whatever our views on the Christian faith, we are all so familiar with the story that we can become blasé. The historian Tom Holland in his Dominion: The making of the Western mind, is helpfully graphic: ‘exposed to public view like slabs of meat hung from a market stall, troublesome slaves were nailed to crosses … no death was more excruciating, more contemptable than crucifixion. To be hung naked “long in agony, swelling with ugly weals on shoulders and chest” (First century Roman writer Seneca); “It is only by means of terror that we can hope to coerce such scum” (First century Roman writer Tacitus)  … it was this disgust that crucifixion uniquely inspired, which explained why when slaves were condemned to death, they were executed in the meanest, wretchedest stretch of land beyond the city walls. … helpless to beat away the clamorous birds, such a fate, Roman intellectuals agreed was the worst imaginable.’ Jesus died the death normally reserved for slaves and criminals.

As Holland himself points out, historians accept the truth of the narrative. Indeed, former Professor of Classics at the University of Auckland Professor Blaiklock insists that Luke is one of the greatest historians of the ancient world. Edwin Judge, Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at Macquarie University, says that the writers of the New Testament realised the need to establish the evidence for Jesus. Their concentration on this was unusual in their culture.

These unlikely origins of the Christian faith were as shocking and counter-cultural then as they are becoming now in a very different society. The unfortunate tendency in the Middle Ages, which has persisted even to this day, of sanitising the scene with a serene Jesus on the cross shrouded in a halo has been very unhelpful. The Gospel writers do not centre on the gore but are brief with just the facts: “they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.” (Luke 23: 33) Normally, the individual crucified would writhe in agony for anything up to three days, with death coming eventually by exposure, loss of blood or heart failure as he tried to push himself up on the upright beam with his feet to avoid asphyxiation through the sagging of his body on the Cross. The weight of his body would tear flesh upwards from the nails until a bone was reached.

Holland again: “that a man who had himself been crucified might be hailed as God could not help but be seen by people everywhere across the Roman world as scandalous, obscene, grotesque.” To the Jewish people of the time, it was abhorrent, and to the Greco-Roman world of the time, the notion that a God might surrender his power and submit to such a horrible death was contrary to all their concepts of divinity.

The Christian claim of the crucifixion as exhibiting God’s love in sending a Saviour to die in our place remains extraordinary 2000 years later. Familiarity can mask the sheer audacity of the claim. It doesn’t, of course, end there, as Christians claim, contrary to our everyday experience, that this man Jesus rose from the dead. The late Professor Richard Swinburne, Professor of Philosophy at Oxford University, using Bayes Theorem, claimed there is a 97% probability that Jesus rose from the dead.

Apart from the obvious reference to the season of Easter, why, you might ask, is this worthy of an article? There are two reasons: firstly, the lovely culture we have at Shore, with its humility, sense of service and respect for others, is a direct result of the Christian ethic centred on Jesus. Secondly, if it is true, it changes everything, as it is of cosmic significance.

Happy Easter!

Head of the River

Our rowers across all age groups and crews gave their all at the Head of the River last Saturday. The results were mixed, with one 1st place, a 2nd and some minor places. Some of our boys were disappointed. There was no need for them to take this to heart. They trained hard with full commitment and were hugely supported by a large Shore contingent on the day. Their commitment did us proud!

School Musical

Congratulations to all students and staff involved with our 2023 musical Singin’ in the Rain. The performances were stunning, brilliant, and breathtaking, not least because they pushed the boundaries of what we thought possible. An outdoor performance, with a specially built stage and coordination with an orchestra lodged in a far-off room unable to hear verbal cues, required a new technical mastery. The success was a tribute to all, and even the weather was mostly kind, so we were not constantly singing in the rain.

Cadets

Congratulations to all our Cadets, staff involved and especially the Commanding Officer, Major Oxley, for the recent delightful Cadets Dinner and Passing-Out Parade. The discipline and precision were most impressive, and the effective cooperation with a neighbouring Girls’ school, Wenona, was very pleasing.

Dr J Collier
Headmaster