The Shocking Point about Resurrection
by Edwin Crozier
As Paul and Silas continued their European tour, they made their way through Thessalonica–where they caused an uproar, Berea–where the Jews were more noble-minded, and Athens–where Paul was dragged before the Areopagus to defend his preaching. They called him a babbler and accused him of preaching foreign divinities. These accusations call to mind the very accusations which caused Socrates to be executed in Athens about 450 years earlier.
He connected well with his audience by addressing the altar to the unknown god. He wasn’t preaching foreign divinities as accused; he was claiming to know the God the Athenians recognized but didn’t know. He quoted their own poets to draw them in and establish common ground. Even using their own poets, he explained that their conception of God needed to change, and they needed to seek Him. He explained this wasn’t merely a suggestion but something God commanded.
But then he mentioned something that threw the whole thing into a cocked hat. He said God had set aside a day to bring everyone into judgment before the man He had appointed by raising Him from the dead. This caused a divide. Some simply mocked. Some said, “We need to hear more about this.” A few immediately joined up with Paul and the disciples of Christ.
This is important because skeptics today like to act like the ancients were all so superstitious and open to spiritual things that they were easily duped by teaching on the resurrection. However, as we read here and throughout the New Testament, people did not naively accept resurrection because they were superstitious. In fact, the resurrection itself prompted so many to reject the preaching before it was even finished. First and foremost, resurrection was foolishness because it meant the supposed God had died. Second, it was ridiculous because everyone knew then, as we all know now, that resurrection doesn’t happen. Resurrection is impossible.
In fact, think this through. If people accepted resurrection because they were superstitious and just accepted things like that, then the resurrection of Jesus would not have even been a very incredible thing. It wouldn’t have changed anyone’s life. But these ancients, just like moderns, believed resurrection just doesn’t happen. So if you could convince someone it did, that would be a hugely important event. If people accepted the resurrection of Jesus because they believed resurrection was just one of those things that happens sometimes, then hearing about Jesus’s resurrection would have been an interesting but humdrum affair. But if it never happens because it is impossible, and then you became convinced on this one occasion it did, that would be a life-changing, world-changing event.
That is exactly why preaching Jesus Christ’s resurrection changed lives and changed the world. Not because people naively and superstitiously accepted it. But because people were convinced it happened despite their belief that resurrection just doesn’t happen. When resurrection happens, it is a God-sized miracle. When resurrection happens, you stand up and take notice. When resurrection happens, you change your life to follow the one who pulled it off.
That is exactly what happened when Paul went around preaching the resurrection of Jesus. Certainly, plenty of people rejected it. After all, resurrection just doesn’t happen. Some people wanted to hear more because, let’s face it, resurrection doesn’t happen; you can’t expect us to accept it on first hearing. And some people changed their lives because, if a man did the impossible, that man should get to rule my life.
What do you think about Jesus’s resurrection? Will you believe He accomplished the impossible and surrender your life to Him?
