Mashramani is a very colourful national celebration in Guyana. The word mashramani means “celebration after hard work,” and it comes from the Amerindians (indigenous people) of the country. It is about laying aside, however briefly, the memory of the “blood, sweat and tears” expended to complete a project and taking time to rejoice, however temporarily. The connotation of Mashramani has evolved from a family or village celebrating after the completion of some family or community endeavour to an almost carnival- type event marking a national observance of the country’s republican anniversary. Not only may a village or country have something to rejoice about, but Christians everywhere have very good reasons to rejoice because of what Christ has done for us through His death on the cross of Calvary.

The central character of Advent is Christ, our Messiah, who was born to die so that mankind may live forever. When Pilate asked Him whether He was the king of the Jews, Jesus replied, “You have said so” (Mark 15:2). I could think of no other king who’d be willing to die for the sins of the world, not just for the Jews. Jesus was intently focused on His mission. Because He was very purposeful, He glorified His Father who had sent Him on the search and rescue mission, as He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). That’s something to celebrate. Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice!

“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last” (Mark 15:37). Those who provide end- of-life care for terminally-ill people know what it is like for someone to breathe his last breath. That’s it. It signals one’s time on earth is done and one has passed from life to death. Jesus’ mission was accomplished by dying in our place. The curse which hung over sinful humanity came to rest upon Jesus instead. Hallelujah! Now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!

“The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). What a great opening! That which kept mankind from direct fellowship with God was destroyed. God Himself removed the separation by ripping that curtain from top to bottom so that there should be no barrier but free access between God and man. No one but God, by His mighty hand, could open the veil. So we now can declare He hath opened heaven’s door, and man is blessed evermore! Christ was born for this!

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:39). A centurion was a soldier who had one hundred men under his command. The one on duty on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion had probably seen more of this kind of death sentence than he cared to remember. However, this man, Jesus, whom he saw killed, was no ordinary man. He left an impression. In other words, to the centurion, no man could have died the way Jesus died unless he was the son of God. And indeed, Jesus is.

So what are we going to do about this? Rejoice! This is the true Mashramani time—celebration after hard work. The only thing is that Jesus did the hard work of dying for our sins, and we get to do the rejoicing.

Thank God.