Ascent to Easter

By Mbokodo Publishers and Chuck Stephens

Embark on a unique literary pilgrimage with Chuck Stephens in "Ascent to Easter: Fragments on the Roots and Relevance of Easter." This collection of snapshots captures the ascent up a holy mountain, both metaphorical and geographical, spanning a six-and-a-half-week period in the calendar.

 

Unlike traditional narratives, don't expect a defined plot or thesis. Instead, join a virtual pilgrimage, a journey that adds value to your personal "ascent to Easter." There's no certificate upon completion; virtue, in this case, is its own reward.

 

Pilgrimages, much like the Canterbury Tales, have a starting point and a destination, yet it's the journey itself that leaves an indelible mark. Take your time with this book; let it rest on the coffee table until you're ready to delve into another chapter. It's not just a reading experience – illustrations accompany the text, providing moments for meditation.

 

While the journey may seem familiar, nuances and thought-provoking content along the way enhance your existing memories. This guide, more devotional than academic, doesn't burden you with footnotes. Instead, for your reading ease, website quotes are italicized.

 

"Ascent to Easter" is a literary companion that encourages reflection and exploration, reminding us that the journey can be as profound as the destination. Chuck Stephens invites you to discover Easter's roots and relevance in a fresh and meaningful way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mbokodo Publishers
• Release date: Feb 12, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224018482

Mbokodo Publishers

Colani Nkosi was born (16 April 1994) in Mpumalanga, Nhlazatshe. He is known in the music business as SooPurB. He is a Siswati Hip Hop musician, songwriter and record producer...fell in love with music at a young age and has been ceaselessly growing as an artist. He's done performances on national television shows -  SABC 1 (YoTV Live) and eTV  (Shiz Live) and also got featured in various publications such as Mpumalanga News, The Star, Times of Eswatini, Daily Sun, Slikour On Life and more. His music plays on radio stations such as Ligwalagwala FM, Ikwekwezi FM, Mkhondo FM, BCR FM, etc. He is a life-long scholar of the music industry, as a result, he decided to script this book to simplify the industry concepts for other aspiring South African artists and wannabe talent managers.

Book preview

ASCENT TO EASTER

Fragments on the Roots and Relevance of Easter

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Chuck Stephens

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Mbokodo Publishers Logo -2_1 Final.png

All rights reserved

The right of Chuck Stephens to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with the copyright Act, 98 0f 1978.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without written permission from the publishers, except per the provisions of the Copyright Act, 98 of 1978.  Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.  Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ascent to Easter

© 2024 Mbokodo Publishers

ISBN-13: 978-1-998971-41-1 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1-998971-58-0 (eBook)

Pictures credit: www.clipart-library.com

Typeset in 10/14 Garamond by Mbokodo Publishers

Printed by Mbokodo Publishers 1 2 3 4 5 1 2

Every effort has been made to obtain copyright permission for material used in this book. Please contact the publisher with any queries in this regard.

Contents

Preamble 

1.  Melchizadek’s Mountain 

2.  A Centenarian’s love-child 

3.  Mount Moria 

4.  The Temple Mount 

5.  Carnival 

6.  Pancake Tuesday 

7.  Ash Wednesday 

8.  Lent 

9.  Palm Sunday 

10.  Maundy Monday 

11.  Maundy Tuesday 

12.  Spy Wednesday 

13.  Maundy Thursday 

14.  Good Friday 

15.  The Cleft in the Rock 

16.  Black Saturday 

17.  Easter Sunday 

18.  Epilogue 

Preamble

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Don’t look for a plot or thesis in what follows.  These are snapshots of ascent up a holy mountain – one which can be metaphorical as well as geographical; and of a six-and-a-half-week period in the calendar. They are selected and recorded only to add value to your ascent to Easter. It is a kind of virtual pilgrimage, nothing more. No certificate on completion. Virtue is its own reward.

Pilgrimages start somewhere and go somewhere. Were the Canterbury Tales starting in Canterbury or going there?  It doesn’t really matter because the journey will be as well remembered as the destination. Take your time. Put the book down on the coffee table and pick it up when you have time to read another chapter.  Don’t just read. Illustrations are provided for meditation. This journey is not an unfamiliar one. But along the way; there are nuances and some thought-provoking content that add value to what you already remember.

For your ease of reading, where websites are quoted, website text is italicized. This guide is devotional not academic, so sources are not foot-noted. Just note that some content is found through research and then borrowed.

1. Melchizadek’s Mountain

Mount Moria has acquired an aura of sanctity and is the subject of many traditions.  Indeed, its sacred status may date back to the early Canaanite period, when it perhaps was the cultic center of El Elyon, God of Melchizedek, king of Salem.

In Genesis 14:18 it is recorded: And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High [=El Elyon]. He blessed him, saying, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, creator of heaven and earth.

Of course, Salem became Jerusalem. It was on Mount Moriah. The annexation of Zion, another mountain just to the southwest across the Tyropoeon Valley came much later.

free mountain clipart - Clip Art Library

Did you ever wonder what language Abram and Melchizedek communicated in?  Or did they use interpreters? The Hebrew language was still a long way off, it only emerged centuries later. Abraham was probably an Acadian speaker, coming from Ur. But Melchizedek? 

Some analysts believe that Melchizedek (= the king of righteousness) was really Shem - because Abraham tithed to him. Or one of his descendants.

Abraham probably left Ur as a climate refugee. That city was dying from climate change. He was looking for greener pastures – agriculturally and metaphorically