This post is part of the April Synchroblog.
The question presented for the synchroblog is: What if the resurrection of Jesus was a hoax?
Well, the first thing that came to mind is that if he was not raised, he was not the Messiah - not the Christ. This would mean that everything from Matthew to Revelation (in the Bible) would be bullshit. There would be no room for the idea of viewing him as a good teacher, just not divine. Why? Because he made it very plain in the words attributed to him in the Gospels that he was the Christ and he would be raised. So, either he did not say those things and his followers made that part up, which would bring into question all quotes attributed to him, or he actually did say these things, in which case he was either a manipulative opportunist undeserving of being followed or he was a lunatic with delusions of grandeur whose teaching would be dangerous to follow. He said he was God, after all....there is not really much wiggle room here if truth is at all important. As C. S. Lewis pointed out in Mere Christianity, Jesus did not mean to leave any room for viewing him as just a good teacher.
But I want to take this in to a little more personal direction. If the resurrection did not happen, then I would not be here. For me, it is about more than teachings and doctrines and theologies and debating - not that I can't get into that at times - I can go all theonerd with the best of them. No, for me, it is about him being there in the middle of the night when the demons want to torment a 9 year old girl. It is about knowing him more and more - and being known by him more and more. It is about him being a real, living, speaking person here, now in this present time. Forget following his teachings as a good moral code for living. For me, he was/is a here and now - front and center - holding my hand in the dark so I could/can sleep, singing softly in my ear to comfort - constant presence in my life.
Simply put, if there was no resurrection, then he would not have been there holding my hand and comforting me while I walked through the hell that was my childhood/early adulthood. And if he had not been there, I would not have survived. So - Jesus not raised? I would not be here. If he was not raised, I would not have seen him and I would have succeeded in taking my own life. And I think that is the most fundamental point.... Emmanuel - God with us - still.
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Other synchroblog participants:
Marta Layton: On faith seeking understanding, truth and theology
Carol Kuniholm: Risen Indeed? The Hermaneutic Community
Tim Nichols: How Would Life Be Different If Jesus Did Not Rise?
Glenn Hager: Kingdom Come or Kingdom Now?
Sonja Andrews: The Resurrection and The Life
Josh Morgan: The Role Of The Resurrection
Abbie Watters: What If The Resurrection Were A Lie?
Minnow: Resurrection Impact
Leah: Resurrection - Or Not!
Hey Sonnie: The Resurrection Hoax
Liz Dyer: The Resurrection I Firmly Believe In
Helen Haroutunian: Is There A Christianity Without The Resurrection?
Christine Sine: If the Resurrection Did Not Happen, How Would the World be Different?
KW Leslie: Supposing Jesus Is Dead
Travis Mamone: If The Resurrection Was A Hoax...
Kathy Escobar: Jenga Faith
Jeremy Myers: What If Jesus Did Not Rise?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
What if.....
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13 comments:
I am so surprised that so many people jump to the conclusion that if there was no resurrection that everything else would be a lie. I just don't see it that way at all.
Hmm...it seems odd to me that people can assume that without the resurrection, nothing much would change. :-)
Excellent post Jeannette; Likewise, so many of us wouldn't have 'made it' without the real presence of Jesus in our lives. He is risen, and He lives!
Hey, Tim. Thanks. Yes.
I'm with you - if Jesus wasn't resurrected I'm sunk. As C.S. also said the gospel it either totally true or totally false the only think it cant be is moderately true. And it's trye believe me!! cheers, Graeme
Graeme - thanks for stopping by.
Jeanette,
Recently I read an article about reasons why the Resurrection accounts in the Gospels could NOT have been "faked" by men writing (who have been "accused of making it up as they wrote"). One very interesting insight offered as proof was that WOMEN were the first witnesses of the Resurrection. At that time in history a woman was not allowed to be a "witness" in a court - her "testimony" meant nothing.
If men had wanted to give their "fake or hoax" account MORE CREDIBILITY, the author of the article said "The witnesses would have been MEN, not women." That was very interesting, esp. considering that women's viewpoints are often "ignored" or
"discounted" by male leaders. Jesus showed NO PARTIALITY. There are other verses on PARTIALITY in NT. I like to do word studies and it's always amazing to see verses on the word studied all together. Thanks again for your blog!
Not A Rebel-
Hi! Thanks for the comment.
I think there are several things within the accounts that point to their authenticity. And the way Jesus treated women is soooo overlooked by the patriarchialists...they don't talk about, lalalalala..... ;-)
Thanks for sharing this article liked it very much ......keep posting..myersbriggspersonalitytest
There's so many different religions and beliefs, no one really knows the truth xx
With love to you!
PSALM 23
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,
That's Relationship!
I shall not want,
This supply is!
MAKE ME WALK IN GREEN PASTURES,
This is rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
This is refreshing!
He restores my soul,
This is healing!
GUIDE ME FOR THE PATHS OF JUSTICE,
That's Guidance!
FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR NAME,
This is on purpose!
THOUGH I WALK THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
That's Testing!
I will fear no evil,
That's Protection!
Thou art with me,
That is fidelity!
YOUR STICK AND YOUR staff they comfort me,
This is discipline!
Prepare a table before ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES,
This is hope!
UNGE MY HEAD WITH OIL
That's Consecration!
And my cup runneth over,
That's Abundance!
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY A follow me EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE,
This is a blessing!
AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
That's Security!
FOR LONG DAYS,
This is eternity!
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Lucy.
http://frutodoespirito9.blogspot.com/
I invite you to follow will be an honor
Also visit the blog brother Araújo:
http://discipulodecristo7.blogspot.com/
Regardless, the spiritual truths are there. It's how one interprets them to give meaning to their own life that is the most important factor.
You make a common logical error. You said that "There would be no room for the idea of viewing him as a good teacher, just not divine. Why? Because he made it very plain in the words attributed to him in the Gospels that he was the Christ and he would be raised. "
It doesn't logically follow that if the resurrection was a hoax, that it undermines what He may have said on other subjects.
Isn't it also quite possible that the gospel writers, in addition to inventing the resurrection, also might have invented some the claims that Christ made...He might indeed have been a wonderful teacher, though not divine.
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