In 1939, Tolkien, the famous author of The Lord of the Rings, coined the term eucatastrophe. A eucatastrophe is literally a “good catastrophe” and is used to describe a sudden turn of events in a story in which the protagonist escapes impending and probable doom. But he did not just make this up out of thin air. He anchored this idea and saw it displayed in the person and work of our Lord. The incarnation of the Son of God in the child born of Mary is the eucatastrophe of mankind’s history of sin and rebellion. The empty tomb of Easter morning is the eucatastrophe of the incarnation and the sacrifice Christ came to make. The events of Jesus’ life fundamentally changed the world, a sudden reversal that shaped how we read and tell stories. And it is why we see the story of Christ playing out in the books we read, the movies we watch, and even in the stories we tell.
This reminds me of another metaphor for the work of Christ I once read in a commentary on Paul’s letter to the Romans. The event of Christ’s death and resurrection was described as an explosion. It was an explosion of such great force that it changed the landscape. The impact of that moment left a crater so massive that nothing remained as it was before. Its effects are lasting and cannot be ignored, even by casual tourists. And that explosion, the bomb that went off, was the sacrificial death of the only begotten Son of God for the sins of the world. It was a sacrifice you did not earn or merit in any way, a gift from Heaven which altered human history. Scripture speaks of it as a light shining in the darkness, or as peace that surpasses all understanding.
The coming of Christ is the sudden reversal for doomed humanity. It left a scar that cannot be ignored. Over the centuries, the Church has grown accustomed to building cathedrals around the crater. Big or small, they are places where people are invited to hear the story. They can examine the history of the explosion and learn about the actors who played a part in its detonation. They praise God for the work He did as they stare in awe at the magnitude of God’s grace.
One of the most prominent ancient voices who sheds light on the events that happened, the one who digs deep into the eucatastrophe of the cross and empty tomb, is Saint Paul. He begins by saying, “We know that whatever the Law says it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the Law comes knowledge of sin.” The Law of God, His holy and just decrees of righteousness, do not, in fact, lead sinful man to righteousness. Instead, it leads to condemnation. The Law of God holds the entire world accountable. It exposes the truth that no one is good, no one is faithful, and no one can be justified before God by their own work. Your works, no matter how good they may seem, cannot save you.
And then comes the sudden reversal, the great explosion that changes your dire situation. Paul says, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the Law…” This is the “righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift.” Your standing before God is changed, not by your works, not by your wisdom or good deeds, but by faith in Christ. It is a faith which trusts in what He has done. Christ alone is righteous, and His pure blood is spilled to deliver you from the wrath of God. The sacrifice has been made. The promise then goes forth, you are “justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.”
Now, to say that this is good news is a gross understatement. This is our hope, our life, and our joy. This is the heart of our fellowship as the people of God. Today is Reformation Day, a time to give thanks to God for the work of the reformers of the Church, who faithfully pushed back against the constantly encroaching temptations to reestablish works and means of righteousness. Those cathedrals built on the edge of the crater began to behave like museums, curators of the story of the explosion, and they began to build up systems that one had to follow if they were to see the wonder of what happened. By paying certain prices or performing certain rituals, you might get the VIP tour, a real close-up experience.
They became preservers of a tradition, but that tradition muted and perverted the work Christ accomplished. But what Paul is doing in his letter to the church in Rome, and what the reformers sought to recapture 500 years ago, is that we are not just here to tell the story of the explosion or to offer tours through the crater. Rather, the explosion is to be a continual happening in the lives of the people of God, for the good catastrophe happens as the Word of God impacts you. You are sinners unable to save yourselves. You have fallen short of the glory of God time and time again. You sin in your thoughts, in your words, and in your deeds. Therefore, you stand as empty-handed beggars before your God.
Do not hide from this. Do not pretend you are better than anyone else. “For there is no distinction: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift.” Justified by grace as a gift, this Word is for you. This is the explosion. This is more than a history lesson of the past. This is a Word for you here and now. By His pure and holy blood, the Son of God delivers you from the wrath of the Father. You are saved, not by what you have done, not by your effort, but only by what Christ has done for you. By faith alone you are redeemed, justified before God.
We stand in the great heritage of the Reformation. So, let us not be content simply setting up shop on the edge of the crater. Let us experience the explosion which speaks of freedom, love, and forgiveness. Let us gather here around the altar of our Lord, where Christ Himself comes with the promise that your salvation is sure. This is not a tour of times gone by, it is a gift for you today. The very body and blood of the Son of God come in, with, and under the bread and wine, so you might, once again, know of His love. For you who are dead in your sins are made alive to eternal life by grace through faith in Christ alone.
