We’ve been following Jesus this Lent, and this week and it’s brought us here: to Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Resurrection Sunday.
As we get ready to remember Jesus death this evening, and the news of resurrection on Sunday, let me share two of my favorite quotes from theologians.
The first is from Karl Barth, the German theologian in the early 20th century. The story goes that Barth was teaching and a student asked him - Dr. Barth when were you saved?
Barth is said to have replied: "I was saved at 3 O’clock on a Friday afternoon, on a hill outside of Jerusalem in 33AD.” In a world that really believes our own actions are the most important ones, we can fall into that trap even with our faith. Tonight, we set our attention - and our faith - on the one who does all the work."
The second is from Jaroslav Pelikan, a renowned church historian who taught at Yale Divinity. He once summarized the significance of the resurrection like this:
If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is NOT risen, nothing else matters.
He was pointing out that the resurrection is the absolute foundation of Christianity; without it, faith is empty, and religion holds no ultimate value.
