the Resurrection: was it real?

Rembrandt, "The Risen Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene"

For Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday

Did The Resurrection really happen? If it did, this was the turning point of all of history, for in this moment, Man discovered that his relationship with God, broken by his own rebellion, could be reconciled, and with this, his entire life restored.

I believe this did happen and is an historical event. If it could be proven otherwise, then I would reject my faith, for it would be useless. As said the Apostle Paul:

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain; your faith also is in vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless (1 Corinthians 15:13-17).

How about you? If you aren't sure, here is a good place to start.

I became a Christian at age 13 by praying a simple prayer. "God, I believe that you sent your son to earth to die on the cross for my sins." I believed. I am now 47 years old and I still see that as the crucial moment of my life. I'm still on the journey, and haven't followed perfectly by any means, but I'm still following, and still being blessed as Mary was when she realized that the man she mistook for a gardener in Gethsemane was none other than Jesus himself, raised back to life.

For those of us who believe, when we get to heaven, wouldn't it be fascinating to sit down with Mary and ask her, "What was that like?" We'll have the opportunity and this is indeed something to celebrate.

Happy Easter.