Uncommon Era
So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun,
as Mordecai had written to them.
Esther 9:23
Despite living much of his life as a pagan, the Roman emperor Constantine (AD 272–337) implemented reforms that stopped the systematic persecution of Christians. He also instituted the calendar we use today, dividing all history into BC (before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, or “in the year of the Lord”).
A move to secularise this system has changed the labels to CE (Common Era) and BCE (before the Common Era). Some people point to this as yet another example of how the world keeps God out.
But God has not gone anywhere. Regardless of the name, our calendar still centres itself around the reality of the life of Jesus on earth.
In the Bible, the book of Esther is unusual in that it contains no specific mention of God. Yet, the story it tells is one of God’s deliverance. Banished from their homeland, the Jewish people lived in a country indifferent to Him. A powerful government official wanted to kill them all (Esther 3:8-9 & 12-14). Yet through Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, God delivered His people, a story still celebrated to this day in the Jewish holiday of Purim (9:20-32).
Regardless of how the world chooses to respond to Him now, Jesus changed everything. He introduced us to an uncommon era, one full of genuine hope and promise. All we need to do is look around us, and we will see Him.
Bible Reading
Esther 9:20–23, 29–32.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the history-changing reality of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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