God is Dead!
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?
In the mid-nineteenth century Friedrich Nietzsche popularised the phrase – ‘God is dead’ in one of his books. He essentially declared God’s death and by doing so he implied the rise of modernity where God has no role in human affairs. How did he come to such a conclusion? This statement was based on his observations of the Western world around him at that time which seemed to have no care for God.
Nietzsche believed that the assertion of God’s death opened new possibilities for humanity, we would be free to do whatever we want without any moral-law giver. Yet at the same time he recognized the crisis in God’s death as well. He described it as “nihilism” or a feeling of nothingness. Nietzsche recognized that God provides humanity with intrinsic value and meaning, his death therefore empties us of meaning, purpose truth and value.
We can see the effects of it in the world we live in. Truth has been trivialized so much that we hardly trust anyone, not even the news agencies! Life has increasingly become meaningless and without purpose. The continuous suicides of achievers across the spectrum brings this reality to the forefront. The open letter of Avicii’s family brings it to light once again. Avicii was one of the most popular music artiste of this new millennia, who in a short time attained great fame and success.
"Our beloved Tim was a seeker, a fragile artistic soul searching for answers to existential questions. An over-achieving perfectionist who travelled and worked hard at a pace that led to extreme stress. When he stopped touring, he wanted to find a balance in life to be able to be happy and to do what he loved most – music. He really struggled with thoughts about Meaning, Life, Happiness. He could now not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace. Tim was not made for the business machine he found himself in; he was a sensitive guy who loved his fans but shunned the spotlight. Tim, you will forever be loved and sadly missed. The person you were and your music will keep your memory alive. We love you, The Family.
Global as well as personal events of the twentieth and the twenty-first century prove that modernity and post-modernity haven’t been the messiah they promised to be.
God lives on…
Yet, on the other-hand we see images that show God alive and kicking. We have seen Martin Luther King Jr fight with purpose for the value of human beings irrespective of race and colour. We have seen Mother Teresa see meaning in sharing love with the sick and suffering on the streets of Kolkata. They saw the purpose, value and meaning in the truth of the Living God. Even today there are many who live for God, this isn’t a sign of death. God is very much alive.
In fact there is a resurging interest about God across the world. Countries like the USA, Russia, Japan and others report an increase in theism in the previous decade. There was a time during the days of the Soviet Union when the Govt. oppressed the religious. Their attempt was to kill God by harassing and even killing those who believe in him. So much so that by the year 1941 only 500 churches remained out of around 54,000 before the 1st World War. According to some reports around 1200 priests were killed in the period from 1922 -1926. Despite these overwhelming odds, faith in God remained so much so that today 58.2% Russians believe in God.
But then again this isn’t the first time when God was declared dead!
Two thousand years ago, when Jesus was crucified his enemies claimed victory for they killed the one who claimed to be God. While Nietzsche only attacked the concept of God and the Soviets and many others attacked the followers of God, the accusers and executers of Jesus attacked the very being of God.
But how can I equate Jesus with God, wasn’t he more like a guru? Jesus doesn’t give us the freedom to consider him as a mere teacher, he claims equality with God through his teachings and actions. In fact the Jews accuse him of this very fact – claiming to be God and this is what got him crucified as well.
… I and the Father are one.” Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:30-33 NIV
The verses above depict one of Jesus’ confrontations with the leaders of the day, these continue until one day he is arrested, tried and sentenced to death. But this story doesn’t end with his death, the climax is just around the corner.
After his death, his body was buried in a cave and sealed with a big stone. His grave was secured by Roman guards but on the 3rd day we find these guards run to the Jewish leaders claiming the absurd – Jesus rose from the dead. Yes, you heard that right. Running away from duty for a Roman soldier was like inviting death, they wouldn’t do it unless something really happened.
How can a dead person be alive again?
Scholars have tried to understand this freak event, there have been doubters as well and thus there are various theories to explain the resurrection. We will look into these arguments one by one.
There was no resurrection, the disciples were merely hallucinating.
Hallucination isn’t an internet live stream that we can just log into with our friends and enjoy. Hallucinations by their very nature occur inside individual minds. Yet in the case of Jesus’ resurrection, we find multiple people interacting with Jesus at the same time and this happens over a considerable period of time.
Further, if the resurrection was just a hallucination, then the body must still be there in the grave, which was both known and under protection as well. All the authorities had to do was to show the dead body of Jesus but they couldn’t do so because the body was truly missing.
All across history no one has denied one fact about Jesus’ resurrection – the empty tomb. If the tomb wasn’t empty then surely there wasn’t a resurrection. In fact, the response of the Jewish leaders prove the empty tomb.
While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened. So the chief priests met with the leaders and decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money. They said to the soldiers, “Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep. If the governor hears about this, we will talk to him. You won’t have anything to worry about.” The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The Jewish people still tell each other this story. Matthew 28:11-15 CEV
The Swoon theory – Jesus wasn’t really dead, he recovered and came out of the tomb.
This theory revolves around the premise that Jesus didn’t die on the cross. Firstly we have to remember that the Roman executioners weren’t professionals and not amateurs, they couldn’t afford to let a convict escape punishment. They knew when a person died. Jesus’ didn’t just endure the cross, he was severely flogged/whipped as well. Most scholars agree that Roman floggings led to massive loss of blood. We see Jesus struggling with this loss of blood when he collapses on the way to Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion.
Secondly, when Jesus’ side was pierced, blood and water spilled out. This happens only in cases of death by asphyxiation, which is what kills those who are crucified. Again this is a pointer to Jesus’ death on the cross. Even if for a moment we agree to this premise, then Jesus’ condition would still remain critical due to the injuries sustained. Can you imagine yourself flogged, having your wrists and legs staked with nails and your side pierced with a spear? Now imagine yourself without food or water for the next three days, would you be in a position to get out of the burial clothes wrapped around your body, push the heavy stone away and then go for a walk as if nothing happened? This is where this theory doesn’t make sense.
The disciples stole Jesus’ body.
Jesus’ arrest and conviction scared most of the disciples, they immediately go into hiding. Apart from John, no other disciple seems to be around even during the crucifixion, Peter is seen earlier but he too denies any association with Jesus out of fear. These men couldn’t possibly jostle with the Roman guards and steal the body.
Let us for the sake of argument accept that the disciples stole Jesus’ body. If that be true then the entire message of the disciples is nothing but a lie as it revolves around Jesus’ resurrection. This doesn’t explain the willingness of the disciples to suffer for this lie. No one would be willing to die for a lie they made up and spread. The disciple’s passion to travel great distances, endure great torments and even death points to the authenticity of their claim that Jesus died, was buried and on the third day, he rose from the dead.
Finally the greatest proof of Jesus’ resurrection is seen in the history of the Jesus movement, how it grew from a small group of scared disciples to a movement that conquered the spirit of the mighty Roman Empire and spread to the very ends of the Earth, not by sword but by faith in the risen Christ through little acts of love and sacrifice.
God’s not dead, so what?
Jesus’ resurrection assures us of his promise, he didn’t just say things he did what he said. In a world that has been tearing itself apart, Jesus brought the message of love and reconciliation. He said that he is the way, the truth and the life. He promised peace, he asked us to stop running and come to him. He offered to carry our burden. His birth, life, teaching and death point us to the fact that he took our place on the cross. He paid for our sins. This offer of forgiveness and new life would be left without any guarantee if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. His resurrection authenticates God’s plan of reconciliation because he did what he promised.
Jesus’ resurrection assures us of his presence in our lives. God is not dead, he is living and involves in our day to day lives as well. This is what empowered the early disciples to continue their mission against overwhelming odds. You and I are not alone in this battle of life, God is with us, ready to extend his offer of friendship.
God’s not dead, despite every attempt of ours. His resurrection shows his awesome power and encourages us by reminding us of his power at work in us. Paul describes it in his letter to the Ephesians as follows:
My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people. I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. Ephesians 1:18-20 CEV
Therefore the resurrection not only invites us to trust God’s offer of forgiveness and new beginning but it also promises us his active presence and awesome power in our lives to help us live a life that is truly abundant and limitless.
Blaise Pascal wrote: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” The resurrection provides us with a guarantee as well as an invitation to fill that vacuum once and for all. Jesus entered the grave dead and come out alive. Many of us today are living lives that are dead, deadened by the routine grindings of life, Jesus’ victory over death invites you to trust his promise of life.
Comentários