The Day God Died

“As the world lay dark and Jesus’ followers were reeling in disillusionment, a seismic moment in history shook the world to its core. Jesus rose from the dead!”

“Is God Dead?” was the iconic headline of the April 8, 1966 issue of Time Magazine. To this day it remains one of the most recognizable magazine covers of all time. The Easter season story gripped the nation during an era of cultural change, and at a time when 97% of the public expressed belief in God. (Image from Istock)

What was the article trying to communicate? According to the Time religion editor, John Elson, he wrote in his story, “Princeton Theologian Paul Ramsey observes that ‘ours is the first attempt in recorded history to build a culture upon the premise that God is dead.’” Elson described the idea of God as dead in different terms based on upon various thinkers, from God’s irrelevance to God’s non-existence.

What were some of these academics basing their bold claims on? The evil happening in the world at the time and the emptiness of the church in response to it.

The ideas presented by Time Magazine, had some similarities to first century Christians at the literal death of Christianity’s founder – Jesus of Nazareth.

For three years His followers had believed in Him for the future of themselves, and their nation. Peter, the leader of Jesus’ Apostles once said to Him, “See, we have left everything and followed you…” (Matthew 19:27) But then the unthinkable happened. He was arrested on false charges in the dead of night. It is written, “Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.” (Matt. 26:51) And throughout the night, Israel’s corrupt leaders convicted Jesus on false charges which required death by crucifixion. It was a cruel and torturous form of death, that left Jesus nearly unrecognizable. The prophet Isaiah predicted how awful it would be, “…his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance…” (Isaiah 52:14)

In just a matter of hours, it seemed as though the three years of Jesus’ teachings and His movement was dead and irrelevant. Even though Jesus accurately predicted all this would happen in order to prepare His followers, they were left discouraged and fearful.

While the disciples were in isolation and mystified by all these events, there was something unfolding, which they did not understand.

Isaiah declared how the Jewish Messiah, who would also become the Savior and Deliver for all the world, would need to “be high and lifted up” (Is. 52:13) on a cross. Why? Because this was the only way He could save people from their sins. For Jesus did not come to save people from political oppression or the injustices of an evil world. This is something neither His followers nor enemies, fully understood. He came to save people from the very thing that makes the world evil. Sin. And there was only one way for that to be done. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, had to die. Why? Because then His perfect blood would provide the necessary payment and penalty for sin. He would voluntarily do for the world, what no one could ever do for themselves. 

But one thing had to happen to secure it all. Jesus must not only die, but He must defeat death. How? By conquering it.

As the world lay dark and His followers were reeling in disillusionment, a seismic moment in history shook the world to its core.

Jesus rose from the dead!

As His followers went to weep at His grave, angels appeared to them saying, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:5-6)

The death and resurrection of Jesus reveals to the world that God is alive and more relevant than ever. This story declares that our feelings, opinions and circumstances do not have the final say. No! It is the empty cross and empty tomb that declare what truth is. Jesus is alive! 

A prayer for you – Lord God, we believe you are the truth, not the things happening all around us. We confess our selfishness and prideful ways. Help us to turn to you in repentance and faith that we might be made new by the resurrection power of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

What If The Resurrection Never Happened?

“Never has there been one who has died, been buried, then days later raised from the dead to escape its clutches forever. No one except for one. Jesus.”

Over 150,000 people die each day globally. Never in my lifetime has there been a single news report about someone dying, then rising from the dead to not die again. In the years I have been a minister and conducted numerous funerals, never have I observed a single person that has been laid to rest, then raised up to avoid death again. In history there have been people who were dead for seconds, minutes or even hours—then came back to life. But never has there been one who has died, been buried, then days later raised from the dead, to escape its clutches forever. At no time has there ever been such a case—except for one. Jesus. (Image from Istock)

Understandably, the story of Jesus being resurrected has its critics. “A historical fact which involves a resurrection from the dead is utterly inconceivable” wrote the late Dr. Rudolph Bultmann, an influential New Testament German theologian. However, there are many who believe the biblical story of Jesus’ resurrection, such as Bible scholar, Dr. N.T. Wright, who has done extensive research on the resurrection. He says, “Because he is raised from the dead, he is Lord of the world, sovereign over the whole cosmos, the one before whom we bow the knee, believing that in the end every creature will come to do so as well.”

From the day Jesus’ tomb was found empty until today, the debate over Jesus’ resurrection has been as divisive as ever among scholars. What if the critics are right? What if Jesus died, but never rose from the dead? What if the resurrection never happened and there was no Easter to celebrate? This presents at least three major problems.

1-A spiritual problem.  According to Christian teaching, Jesus’ death provided the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of mankind’s sin. His resurrection completed the work. No resurrection would mean no forgiveness. Humanity would be cursed to bear the guilt and shame of their sin forever. All people would be destined to a vain life and fearful death because of no hope beyond ourselves. The Bible declares this, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

2-A moral problem.  According to Christian teaching, God declares He does not lie and condemned the deceptive act among His followers in the Ten Commandments. If the resurrection never happened then God is a liar. Jesus is a liar. The whole Bible is a lie. The billions of Christians for the last 2,000 years are all liars, and Christianity is humankind’s greatest conspiracy. The Scriptures addresses this as well, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ…” (1 Cor. 15:14-15)

3-A theological problem.  According to Christian teaching, Jesus was not a mere man but divine and His resurrection was ultimate proof. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, it would be legitimate to question the deity of Christ. If there was no resurrection Jesus was not divine, but a mere mortal. His miracles would be a hoax. His teachings would all be suspect. He would be nothing more than an influential historical figure like Socrates, Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr.

What shall we say in response to all this? His tomb is empty. His bones have never been found. There were eye witnesses to His resurrection. One early follower said, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32). For centuries billions of these witnesses have been transformed by Him. This is the ultimate proof that Christ has risen. YES, JESUS IS ALIVE!

A prayer for you - Lord God, I pray for those who doubt the resurrection. Hear their objections and provide understanding. Bring us all to know the truth of Christ and His power like never before. This day we declare our belief in the risen Savior and Lord of all.  In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Baptism – Can It Save You?

“Baptism is not enough 

to forgive or absolve your sins.”

When I walked into Terry’s hospital room, and saw her laying on her bed she said to me, “I was wondering when you were going to get here.” Her physical condition was deteriorating and she was not ready to face her Creator. As I got down on my knees and visited with her, we soon began talking about God, and I shared with her the good news of Christ. Later, as I was praying over her, she yelled out for God to save her from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. It was an incredible moment. Weeks later when Terry was home and bed-ridden, she wanted to be baptized. So surrounded by family, and with a cup and towel I conducted her baptism. What a blessing! Then hours later Terry left this world to see her new Savior face to face. (Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash)

What prepared Terry for her new home with Christ? Was it some of the good things she had done, her baptism, her faith in Jesus or something else?

Like with Terry, many times I have been at the bedside of the dying. If someone is fatally sick, and knows their time is short and their not right with God, they might request to see a clergyperson. If a dying person is baptized, are they saved? Have their sins been forgiven? Will they go to heaven?

Baptism is part of our American religious culture. Millions of followers in Catholic and Protestant churches have experienced the sacrament, from infants to adults, during memorable religious ceremonies filled with family and friends. Sometimes it is a quiet, solemn and reverent event. At other times it is filled with much energy and praise. The occasion is looked upon as an important religious milestone in a person’s spiritual life.

Why does someone get baptized? Because it is a command given by God in the Bible, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38)

A baptism ceremony is filled with beautiful and significant symbolism. As a person stands ready to be baptized, they are a picture of their old self, standing dead in their sin as Jesus hung dead upon the cross. Then as Jesus was buried, so they are buried. Their old self gets buried in the waters of baptism. The water is an image of the Holy Spirit washing them of all their sin while being immersed into the life of Christ and His church. Then as Jesus rose from His grave with a resurrected body, so the one being baptized is raised up out of the water, like a new creation. It is a powerful thing to watch, an honor to administer, but most of all, it is life changing to personally experience. The mighty grace of God is almost palpable in those moments.

What is the singular most important focus in baptism? Jesus.

It is not the water, the Pastor or Priest, nor the one being baptized. It is about Jesus, and a picture of His suffering, death, burial and resurrection from the dead.

Sometimes we can elevate the pomp and circumstance of a baptism ceremony above Christ. We can elevate the water above Him, believing it becomes holy. We can elevate the actual baptism above Christ, thinking that through it we can secure our eternal salvation.

Unless you have turned from your sins and to Christ, and placed your full trust in Him alone -- your baptism is meaningless. Do not believe anyone who says otherwise. Your baptism is not enough to forgive or absolve your sins. Only the blood of Jesus, which was shed from His cross can save you. Thankfully, Terry understood this when she cried out to Jesus in her hospital bed.

A prayer for you - Lord God, if there is someone reading this that has been deceived, believing the waters of baptism are greater than the atoning blood of Jesus, open their eyes to see the truth. Bring them to turn from trusting in a ceremony, and to repent of their sin and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.