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The Word's Eye View is a newspaper column written by
The Power of The Resurrection Easter Sunday will see an increase in church attendance across the fruited plain just because some will succumb to a twinge of religiousosity, not desiring to be classified as total pagans. Semi-pagans may be acceptable but many would avoid being considered a blatant unbeliever. It is to the slightly informed that I dedicate this enlightenment. There is a general acknowledgement among those who would call themselves Christians that the vicarious death of Christ was absolutely necessary to procure individual salvation. However, the apostle Paul went a step further in declaring that belief in the crucifixion must be accompanied by faith in the resurrection. (Romans 10:9) Three essential ingredients were demonstrated on that first Easter morning. The power of God was put on full display. Mankind has always been impressed with power, so long ago he learned to harness a horse which possesses far greater strength. In succeeding years the human race has built great locomotives, rockets and machines and has admiringly complemented itself in this ability. As man’s mastery is perceived to increase, the less willing he is to recognize a greater might. It is generally recognized that a powerless God is incapable of aiding people. If you are searching for someone who is exceedingly powerful beyond your capabilities---try this one on for size---come out of the grave. Real Christianity is unique for it totally depends upon the resurrection of its leader for its viability and existence. No other religion needs this! When D.L. Moody, the great preacher of yesteryear, was young in the ministry and facing his first funeral, he searched the Gospels for a funeral sermon by Jesus but found none. All Jesus ever did was break up funerals by commanding the victim to rise up. He alone had power over the grip of the sepulcher. John Lennon said, “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that: I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular that Jesus now…” Does even the most fervent Beatles fan really believe that Mr. Lennon has conquered death? Sin stands as a silent sentinel over the graves of the offenders. Christ came forth because His righteousness was so pure that the eternal adversary had no authority to keep Him bound. The alternative to our own captivity is to accept His righteousness, admitting our personal inability to reach God’s standard of perfection. Complete confidence in Christ’s victory over the grave delivers imputed righteousness to the believer, accompanied with justification for good measure.(Romans 4:24,25) Most parents have spent considerable time justifying their children’s bad behavior. The terrible two’s, the lack of a nap, too much sugar, the neighbor’s kids, the grandparents’ spoiling are but a few of the usual excuses. God, the complete Father is willing to do the same for those who become His children, but the basis for the exoneration He offers is the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8-10) and His resurrection which completes the deal. Our future rides on Christ’s coattails; in other words, Christianity does far more than serve us in the present. In the midst of the great resurrection chapter Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (I Corinthians 15:19) A wealthy family in England took their children to the country, and as could be expected the youngsters headed straight for the swimming pool. One of the boys began to drown. The son of the gardener jumped in and rescued the helpless one. The grateful parents asked the gardener what they could do for the youthful hero. The man said his son wanted to go to college with a desire to be a doctor, but that aspiration was beyond their means. “We’ll be glad to pay his way through” was their immediate response. When Winston Churchill was stricken with pneumonia after the Teheran Conference, the king of England instructed that the best doctor be found to save the Prime Minister. The developer of penicillin, Dr. Fleming, was called upon to rescue the perishing. “Rarely,” said Churchill to Fleming, “has one man owed his life twice to the same rescuer.” If this one slipped by you, it was Fleming who saved Churchill in that pool many years before. Daniel Webster of dictionary fame was dining with a company of literary gentlemen in the city of Boston. A minister of considerable literary reputation sat opposite him at the table, and said, “Mr. Webster, can you comprehend how Jesus can be both God and man?” Mr. Webster, with one of those looks which no man can imitate, fixed his eyes upon him and emphatically said, “No, sir, I cannot comprehend it. If I could, He would be no greater than myself. I need a superhuman Savior.” Socrates said, “Oh, that someone would arise, man or God, to show us God.” Hey, Mr. Socrates, He has!!
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