Message from the Headmaster
‘After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep’
1 Corinthians 15:6
Too Many Messiahs?
Dear Parents and Carers
This is the last edition of the Shore Weekly Record before Easter. In the time remaining, Shore will celebrate through Chapel the birth and resurrection of Jesus as the Messiah (Hebrew), or Christ (Greek). The Messiah is the deliverer. Why should Shore pay attention to this? After all, history is littered with multiple Messiahs, many self-proclaimed.
In the period immediately before Jesus, there were multiple zealots over hundreds of years who positioned themselves as the Messiah promised in the Old Testament of the Bible. Their model was usually armed rebellion, to reject the despised Romans who formed an occupation force.
In Jesus’ time walking the Earth, he had to stare down this model of Messiah as conquering hero. Jesus’ model of Messiah was to empty himself of all visible authority and die a criminal’s death in a Roman crucifixion.
Jesus was not universally acclaimed in the Ancient world, but he was recognised. The greatest historian of the Roman Empire, Tacitus, wrote “Christus (the Latin form), from whom the name (Christians) had its origins, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius, at the hands of one of our procurators” (Pontius Pilate).
The ancients also included the major Jewish writer of the first Century AD, Josephus, who said of Jesus: “this man was the Christ, and when Pilate had condemned him to the cross on his impeachment by the chief men among us, those who loved him at first did not cease, for he appeared to then on the third day, alive again”.
Closer to our time, we have seen Messiahs of various kinds. Some have been from the more paranoid and destructive mould. Most of us would be old enough to remember the extraordinary cult in Guyana, centred around Jim Jones, which led to around 900 deaths, many self-inflicted by his followers. Closer in time was the equally bizarre cult around David Koresh, in the Texan town of Waco, where he identified himself as the Lamb of God, which in Christian theology is reserved only for Jesus. A fiery siege left around 80 dead.
The concept of Messiah seems to be hard-wired into our thinking. We see messianic expectations as people embrace politicians (think Obama in America), sportsmen and other visionary leaders. Indeed, the nickname of Bob Hawke in the Labor Party was “the Messiah”.
Invariably, these false Messiahs disappoint. It is the claim of Christian faith that Jesus does not disappoint. Much extra-biblical corroboration has led scholars to affirm the full details of Jesus death and resurrection. As the Apostle Paul wrote,
“After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep”. 1 Corinthians 15:6 (NIV)
In effect, Paul was offering the testimony of these 500 who could vouch for the truth of the extraordinary claim of a risen Jesus, God in the flesh.
Modern writers have also commented on the issue of evidence. Using complex mathematical probability, the late Professor of Philosophy at Oxford University, Richard Swinburne, claims that the probability of Jesus rising from the dead is 97%!
The offer of Shore to our boys and community is invitational: take the opportunity presented by Easter to think on the Messiah and committing to the faith adoption of Jesus as Lord.
Destinations of Year 12, 2024
While we must needs wait for the printout of Australian University destinations by UAC (University Admissions Centre) of last year’s Year 12 graduates, we have shared the joy with some students on their successful entry to major American Universities. Calum Vujanovic has been accepted into Princeton, Braden Dent to UCLA and Ari Carboni to Columbia.
On the water, in the water — and on land!
The dominance of Shore at the Rowing Regatta, where Shore crews won more than half the races in the GPS program, was repeated last Friday night in the GPS Swimming Championships. Shore won all but one trophy. In my career of 53 years in schools, I have never seen such a sweep of results from a single school. The determination of our boys, and the quality of their coaching, was very visible. Moreover, each event was supported by a huge crowd of Shore boys, with many staff generously volunteering their time. Boys in the two crowds were very well behaved and well dressed.
At this week’s Athletics Carnival, I was delighted to see the very substantial participation of our boys in the carnival, as well as the support from boys in the stand for each race. Too often in schools, a small core of students participate while the large body of students in the stands take no part, nor demonstrate any interest in what is going on in track and field. The engagement of Shore students was a delight to see.
Last week, in the Rowing Nationals in Tasmania, our First VIII’s won the Under 19 event! Well done Rowers and Coaches!
Often in Assembly, I remind our boys to demonstrate the same passion for their learning. Happily, large numbers do so. To make the point again, Shore is “flying”. Academically, culturally and in sport, the outcomes are fabulous. This is a tribute to staff, parents and of course the boys themselves.
This evening, Friday 4 April, I will see our Musical, “Newsies”. Highly competent judges tell me it is professional in quality.
Vale Sophie Kilburn
The Memorial Service for Sophie Kilburn will be held in the Shore Chapel next Wednesday 9 April 2025 at 3:30pm. All staff, students, parents and Old Boys are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be held on the Chapel Lawn after the service.
Dr John Collier
Headmaster
