Messiah

On the 16th of December there was a pilgrimage taking place in central Cape Town. More than two hundred of us, Christians, Jews and Muslims, walked from St George’s cathedral to the Jewish synagogue (the Shul), then to the oldest mosque in town, the Palm Tree Mosque and back (see Barbro’s blog).
As it happened, one of the speakers at this event was Albie Sachs, a judge at the constitutional court, who has played a crucial role in the creation of the South African constitution. As we walked off from the cathedral I was able to greet him and tell him how he had inspired me when I was a student in Lund in the 1960s.
Albie Sachs, who is a Jew, was detained without trial in the 1960s by the South African authorities, because of his anti-apartheid activities. This detention was particularly ugly, as it was not only what wardens could do to you in the prison that was to be feared, but that the detention could be extended without trial. Albie Sachs served the first 90 days, and then was given another 90 days. However, after 168 days in all, for some reason, he was released.
This was such an overwhelming, unexpected development that once he came through the door of the police station in Caledon street in central Cape Town, he just ran the nearest way to the beach. He ran off to the sea in order to throw himself into the turquoise, glittering salt water, head on, with clothes and all. He actually ran to Sea Point, which is about three kilometres away.
In the midst of terrible repression in apartheid South Africa, he did this, and when reading his book The jail diary of Albie Sachs while at Lund, I thought this was a wonderful example of a liberative action. Now, on our walk from the cathedral I was able to tell Albie Sachs how he had inspired me.
To me this outburst of human protest against an evil system, this expression of joy in a hopeless world with no or few signs of change for the better, remains a wonderful symbol or metaphor for liberation. And let me add, I think this is the kind of metaphors that we need. We will not reach a stage where all problems are solved or where we get out of unjust structures for good. If we get rid of some, other injustices will quickly emerge instead. Therefore, it seems to me, that such actions of defiance, of protest, in the midst of darkness, such joyful outbursts, are a very true reflection of the human predicament as a whole. The inability of political leaders to deliver has recently been demonstrated in Copenhagen, which is now called Hopelesshagen.
As Christians we all have a Jewish background in the sense that we have learnt to look for Messiah who must come. Furthermore we believe, as Christians, that Jesus is the Messiah.
At Christmas, we are again looking forward to his coming. In the midst of turmoil, oppression, injustice and impotent world leaders, we await the impossible; we await him who brings hope. Through him we will not get a perfect world, but we will experience acts of liberation which will make us run out of joy.
It seems to me that the shepherds out in the fields near Bethlehem (Beit Sahour) when they heard from the angels that Christ (Messiah) was born, “they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger” (Luke 2.16). This shepherd run is of a similar kind. The coming of Messiah signifies liberation, from want, sickness, sin, death. It is a wonderful metaphor for liberation.
“[W]hen the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy...” (Titus 3.4-5).


Sachs, Albie, The jail diary of Albie Sachs. Cape Town : David Philip, 1990. Swedish edition: 168 dagar. Dagbok från sydafrikanskt fängelse. [Översättning av Barbro Nessén]. Stockholm, DKB, 1967. 8:o. 344 s.