He was not hedging his bets, if I can put it like that. Either Christ is risen from the dead, never to die again, and believers in him are the most blessed of people, or he never rose from the dead, and believers in him are most to be pitied. There is no middle ground. This is either high truth, the significance of which is for all eternity, or it is abject delusion, on par with believing in tea leaves and rabbit’s feet.
The resurrection of Jesus fits in with his claims to be divine; it seems the only way to explain how his disciples went from being terrified and scattered to being fearless witnesses to him; it is prophesied both in the Old Testament (eg Isa.53:10-12) and by the Saviour himself (eg Matt.16:21-23); and forms the basis for salvation (1 Cor.15:22).
Many of today’s decisions are likely to be somewhat mundane – what you eat, what football team you barrack for, and where you spend your time.
Trusting in the Saviour who lives forever is a result of faith and reason meeting together.
Pastor Peter Barnes,
Presbyterian Church.
