Unveiling the Mystery: The Resurrection and Our Faith

Dear Congregation,

In the vast expanse of human experience, Albert Einstein once remarked that "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science." His fascination with the mystery of space and time led to revolutionary insights, showing us that time itself is not the fixed constant we once thought. Instead, it bends and shifts with our movement through the cosmos. This concept has inspired countless narratives in science fiction, where travelers to the stars return to find time has moved differently for them than for those they left behind.

Yet, the mysteries we encounter in our daily lives are no less profound. For the young couple in love, time races by in each other's presence, while the same hour can drag endlessly in a dull classroom. Just as Einstein spoke of mystery in the realms of art and science, we find it equally present in the realm of faith. Religion, much like love, touches the core of our existence, and in Christianity, it is inextricably linked with love.

The Enigma of Divine Mysteries

The great holidays of the Christian calendar envelop us in a mysterious atmosphere. At Christmas, we celebrate the divine life entering our world in human form—a concept beyond our full comprehension. On Good Friday, we mourn the extinguishment of that divine life, accepted by God as atonement for our sins. And on Easter morning, we rejoice in the reappearance of divine life from death, a resurrection that defies destruction. Each of these events remains shrouded in mystery, yet we are invited to partake in them.

The Resurrection: A Cornerstone of Faith

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, addresses a crucial misunderstanding within the early Christian community. Some accepted Jesus' resurrection but denied the general resurrection of the dead. Paul's logical argument in 1 Corinthians 15:12–20 is clear: if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. This chain of reasoning leads to a stark conclusion: without the resurrection, our faith is futile, and we remain in our sins.

Paul's bold assertion is that Christ's resurrection is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, paving the way for the resurrection of all believers. Easter, therefore, stands as a beacon of hope, the foundation of Christian eschatology. Without it, there is no fulfillment, no redemption, and no salvation. If Jesus has not risen, we are still trapped in our sins, without hope for deliverance.

The Resurrection and Our Worldview

Christianity hinges on the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of a general resurrection. This belief is not merely abstract; it is rooted in the personal experience of forgiveness and the anticipation of eternal life. Christians do not just believe in the forgiveness of sins; they know that the risen Lord has personally forgiven them. This personal relationship with the risen Christ is what distinguishes Christian faith from mere historical acknowledgment.

The resurrection transcends historical reality, challenging us to embrace a new worldview where death has been defeated. This belief is not against reason, though it cannot be proven by the standards of human logic. Just as Einstein's theory of relativity faced skepticism and opposition, so too does the Christian belief in the resurrection. Yet, no definitive evidence has been provided to disprove it.

Embracing the Mystery

In our world, many are distracted by intellect, natural disasters, and suffering, struggling to relate to the resurrection. Yet, like Einstein's confidence in his theories despite opposition, we must hold fast to the resurrection as the foundation of our faith. It is not just one topic among many but the very essence of Christianity.

Albert Einstein once quipped, "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, but I’m not sure about the universe." In a world where logical thinking seems to wane, we must not let our faith in the resurrection be swayed by intellectual doubts. Christianity is based on a historical event—the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus—yet it transcends history, inviting us into a mystery that is both personal and cosmic.

The Call to Faith

Dear Congregation, we cannot prove the resurrection, but neither can anyone disprove it. We are called to a faith that embraces the mystery of the resurrection, a faith that is logical in its own right. Just as Einstein stood firm against his critics, we must stand firm in our belief in the resurrection of the dead, for it is the cornerstone of our hope and the promise of eternal life.

The Lord is risen!
He is truly risen!

Let us live in the light of this truth, sharing the hope of resurrection with a world that desperately needs it. Let us embrace the mystery of our faith, knowing that in Christ, we find the ultimate fulfillment of our deepest longings.

Amen.

Sermon held on 04/04/2021