Easter Has Been Cancelled

A Facebook friend of mine who lives in Japan is an amateur photographer.  Looking through his Facebook photo album I found a picture that he had taken of an advertisement in the window of a store in Japan that said in big letters, “Jesus Body!” (I think there must have been something mixed up in translation because it seems to be an advert for some kind of medication, or vitamin supplement).   Looking at this photo I jokingly said to myself, “Well then, if the Japanese have found Jesus’ Body, I guess Easter will have to be cancelled!”

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“What if it was proven that the tomb wasn’t empty?”

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But then my imagination began to stir; “What if”.  What if, we could imagine some impossible scenario where it was “scientifically proven” beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus did not rise from the grave, change physical states and “ascend to heaven”.  Let’s just pretend for the moment that some sort of DNA or CSI type scientific evidence was found to show that the tomb in fact wasn’t empty that first Easter morning.  What would that mean for your understanding of your Christian faith and your relationship with Jesus?

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The message is greater than the miracle

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The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.  ² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.^[a] 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. (Matthew 16:1-4 NIV)

¹⁶ Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. ¹⁷ Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." (John 7:16-17)

The Gospel writers may well have borrowed the already popular theme of a dying and resurrected god from the various mystery cults and religions which would have been well known in their time and location. Tammuz, Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, and Baal all had the same story.  However, for the Gospel writers and Paul to portray Jesus as having been raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God was also the ultimate affirmation of both Jesus and his message.  This story states that God validates Jesus' teaching and affirms that it, "comes from God", the symbol of legitimacy and authority.

For me, a world where Jesus' Resurrection was disproven would not change the Truth of Christianity and of “who Christ is” as the “Son of God” and “my Savior”, would not change.  Jesus, the humble king who shares our sorrows, would still be my Lord over Caesar who staked his claim for divinity on the right of power and brutality.  The story of Jesus as the picture of God’s true nature and love for us would still ring True.  It would still be True because I have experienced that God, and that love, and recognize it.

Going to Sunday School as a child in the United Church of Canada, one of my favorite songs from the, "Alfred Ackley Sunday School Favorites", was, “He Lives”.  The end of that chorus, just like it did for me back then, still today says it all.

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!