An Easter Message: A Meditation On The Divinity Of Jesus Christ
Theological evidence for the Divinity of Jesus Christ rests on many “pillars.” Some people cite New Testament narrative concordance with Jewish prophetic scripture. Some refer to historians such as the Jewish historian Josephus. Some point to ecclesiastical discourse on the nature of God. To me the most important foundational pillars are the miracles Christ performed, and, of course, His resurrection.
1: Regarding the veracity of Christ’s miracles, skeptics often claim that the many miracles attributed to Jesus were some kind of sleight of hand, trickery or, at best, psychological events. Aside from the fact that, if this view is true, that would have been an AWFUL LOT OF TRICKERY fooling an awful lot of people. There is another way, however, to look at this question.
It is a well documented, but perhaps little known, fact that all but one of the twelve Apostles died HORRIBLY for their faith in Jesus. A catalogue of their individual deaths is as follows:
•James (son of Zebedee): Beheaded by King Herod.
•Peter: Crucified upside down in Rome, at his own request, as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
•Andrew: Crucified on an X-shaped cross.
•Paul (Saul of Tarsus): Beheaded in Rome, during Emperor Nero’s persecution.
•John: The only apostle to die peacefully, of natural causes. However, Latin historians Tertullian (late 2nd / early 3rd century) and Jerome, have written that he had been boiled in oil prior to his death but miraculously survived to die of natural causes.
•Thomas: Tradition says he was speared to death.
•Matthew: Tradition says he was killed by a sword wound in Ethiopia.
•Philip: Some accounts say he was crucified, others say stoned.
•Bartholomew: Possibly flayed alive.
•Simon the Zealot: Tradition says he was martyred at an old age.
•Mark: Dragged through the streets by horses until he died in Alexandria, Egypt.
•Luke: Hanged in Greece.
•Thaddaeus: Tradition says he was executed.
•Matthias: Stoned and beheaded
The point I’d like to make here is that WHATEVER the Apostles saw and experienced was SO powerful that all but one faced horrible deaths on account of their belief in Jesus. They must have been so convinced of the divinity of Jesus Christ that, in the face of certain horrible execution, they held fast to their faith. No testament speaks louder to me than this amazing fact.
2: Skeptics of the resurrection of Jesus suggest that the body of the deceased Jesus was simply taken from the grave by His apostles and/or disciples, burying it elsewhere, making it APPEAR that he rose from the dead.
Arguing against this narrative is the fact that, by all accounts, the Apostles initially didn’t even KNOW what was happening, let alone having the wherewithal to fabricate the idea that they would or should cook up a plot to deceive. As another answer to questions about the veracity of the resurrection, I would point out that ALL accounts of the empty tomb indicate that Jesus’ burial cloaks were found discarded on the floor of the tomb. The point I’d like to make here is that NOBODY transporting the body of a dead man would first disrobe the deceased and carry a naked corpse around. The discarded clothing suggests to me that Jesus exited his burial garments supernaturally, as would be expected with resurrection.
As I reflect at this year’s Easter, on the Pascal Mystery of Christ, these thoughts blaze like a beacon of light. For Christians, may the joy of the risen Christ illuminate this Easter for you and yours. And for those of other faiths, may you take time to consider the possibility of God’s intervention in the lives of all (Passover for Jews, Enlightenment for Buddhists, Krishna and Vishnu’s guidance for Hindus and Kami for Shintos). Amen (for Christians and Jews), Sacca (for Buddhists), Satya, (for Hindus) and Makoto (for Shintos).
Please share this message of joy with others.