As the Lenten season comes to a close, Christians around the world turn their attention to remember Christ’s death (Good Friday) and celebrate his resurrection (Easter). Without both, and belief in the historicity of both, the Christian faith would seem to have little meaning. With belief in both, there lies hope and a full understanding of God’s love for us.
In the midst of my sophomore and junior years in high school, I intellectually wrestled with Christ’s divinity trying to make sense of a faith that I was blessed to inherit from my parents. I had my doubts less about Christ’s crucifixion but more with his resurrection. But in my mind, without resurrection, Jesus Christ was simply a man, a great teacher, but not divine. Through reason and faith, I made a choice to believe that Christ fulfilled what He said and rose from the dead offering each one of us hope on – and beyond – planet earth.
As a teenager, two authors helped me on that journey:
- C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity
- Josh McDowell – More Than a Carpenter
I’m envious of people who have more faith than I do. I tend to be like Thomas the Apostle in Carvaggio’s painting needing to place my fingers in Christ’s crucifixion wounds. And today, I continue on a similar path using the mind God gave me to think through my faith – as I balance faith with reason. To those on the same journey (perhaps skeptical), or who are starting the journey for the first time, I recommend two books:
- Lee Strobel – The Case for Christ or The Case for Easter
- Tim Keller – The Reason for God
Or if you want to go right to the Source, read what some of the Christ’s disciples had to say in their own words:
- Gospel of Matthew 27-28
- Gospel of Mark 15-16
- Gospel of Luke 23-24
- Gospel of John 19-20
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Happy Easter!
Steve O'Neil
Head of School
