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APOLOGETICS ABOUT THE RESURRECTIONI. The Resurrection ItselfNo human eye witnessed the most important fact of world history: Jesus’ resurrection. No human assistancewas needed to bring about that unique event. It stands immeasurably above the everyday and above the laws ofnature, so it can surprise no one that those who do not have the gift of faith and reject the possibility of miraclesdo everything in their power to deny the fact.Jesus’ resurrection is, after all, the centre of our faith; Paul emphasises: “If Christ has not been raised, then yourfaith is useless and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:17). Why? Because the resurrection is invoked in a veryspecial way to confirm the divinity of Christ’s mission and to recognise Him as Redeemer of the world. Forwhen the scribes and Pharisees disputed the authority of the divine Teacher and asked for a miraculous sign toprove that He acted in God’s name, He answered: “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but itwill receive no sign except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights inthe belly of the sea-monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Mt12:38f; Lk 11:29f).Christ’s other miracles opened people’s eyes, because no one had ever performed such miracles as He, andaccording to the predictions of the prophets the Messiah had to be an outstanding worker of wonders. ThereforeChrist appeals to His works and miracles (Jn 14:12). Yet these did not provide conclusive proof of HisMessianic mission, since other envoys of God had astonished their contemporaries with extraordinary deeds.The resurrection, invoked directly as the divine seal of Christ’s mission, is therefore the crown of all Hismiracles. If the resurrection is not certain, the whole edifice of our faith collapses into ruins; there can no longerbe any question of redemption or satisfaction for our sins. Paul rightly says: “If Christ has not been raised, youare s...
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Apologetics about the Resurrection
Apologetics about the resurrection