Remaining with Jesus

“No one can remain neutral regarding Jesus’ resurrection. The claim is too staggering,
the event too earthshaking, the implications too significant and the matter too serious. We must either receive it or reject it as truth for us. To remain indifferent or undecided is to reject it.”  ~Mark Driscoll

In thinking about the resurrection of Jesus and other things the problem with people today is we like to find ways to “remain neutral.” We are raising our kids to think in this very realm. The more we can get people to sit on the fence the easier it is to knock them off to one side or the other. That may work with what we believe about global warming, what the speed limit should be, or if sugar is truly toxic or not. However, it doesn’t work that way when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus we either believe it or we don’t. We either reject it or accept it.

If you think about the claim regarding His death and resurrection it truly is too staggering, earthshaking, and significant to not take seriously. Back in Jesus’ time crucifixion was Rome’s punishment for slaves, foreigners, and criminals who were not Roman citizens. It was the most agonizing and disgraceful death a cruel age could devise. Nails were driven through the hands and feet, and the victims were left hanging there in agony, starvation, insufferable thirst and excruciating spasms of pain. Death usually followed in four to six days but in Jesus’ case it was over in six hours.

Jesus death was witnessed by many, his burial was no secret. Extra preparations were made to ensure no one could steal Jesus’body and then claim He rose from the dead as He had promised. In spite of all they tried to do Jesus arose anyway to appear to enough people to seal the deal showing He had indeed risen. Archaeological findings are everywhere to confirm what happened thousands of years ago at the time of His death and resurrection.

Back then there was no reason to “remain neutral” they either believed or they didn’t. Like Thomas who had his doubts we have our doubts too but it’s no reason to sit on the fence. We need to exchange our need to actually “see the nail marks” for faith. Sitting on the fence ready to jump to either side when the final moment comes won’t do. We either believe the whole story or not at all. Indulging in only the bits and pieces we like to munch on or pick out of the Bible like a snack tray are no good, they are worthless, null and void. There is no resurrection without the cross and there is no cross without the resurrection.

Jesus at any time could have put a halt to all of this. He had the power to stop it all before it even began but He didn’t. He had a task to do, a promise to fulfill, people to save, death to defeat and He did what He had to do. Now it’s time for us to do what we have to do and that is to believe. There is no reason to be neutral about it and make it out to be some kind of myth or fairy tale passed down from generation to generation. If that were the case then at the end we would all be sailing in the same boat. However, if the stories are true then that opens up a whole different boat to sail on that makes the outcome at the end different.

Remaining neutral is not the answer. Remaining with Jesus is!

What a wonderful thing we have in our “Easter baskets” the hope and promise of salvation, forgiveness, love, grace and mercy wrapped up out shining the chocolate bunny we often get this day. God’s gift lasts longer that’s for sure!

© 2012 Karen Gillett @ Pencil Marks and Recipes