Another objection to the Christian faith is the thought that something that happened such a long time ago can’t have any possible relevance for life today. In other words, the past is of little or no consequence - what is all-important is the here and now. On the face of it, this can sound quite plausible; after all, we do live in a fast-moving, ever-changing world. Think of computer technology for instance – around 12 years ago, a 486 speed computer was the most advanced personal computer one could buy. Since then the computer revolution has seen the emergence of classes of computers such as Pentium I, II, III, IV and so on – in other words, in just 12 years, the face of computing has changed out of all recognition. Today, the life expectancy of any computer system is relatively short, often being counted in months, rather than years! The point of this is that it is true that we live in an ever-changing world (as the world of computing illustrates), but is it valid to suggest that what has happened in the past is irrelevant for us today?

In a nutshell, I believe the answer has to be no, principally speaking, because the present in which we live has been shaped by events of the past. For example, if either of the two world wars in the first half of the 20th century had had different outcomes, we would all live in a very different world (in fact some of us mightn’t even exist). Likewise if it wasn’t for the founding of the NHS some 60 years ago, we wouldn’t have access to free hospital care today. Consider too the effect that Thomas Edison’s discoveries such as the electric light and electricity have had in the world; also the invention of the automobile - if we say the past is irrelevant, then we need to ask ourselves where would we be without these advances. Even more crucial to ask is would we want to live without them now?

In the same way, when we look at history, we discover that there is one person – one individual who stands head and shoulders above all others. As someone once wrote about him: This person was born…[ A Bucket of Surprises p92 ‘One Solitary Life’]…as that one solitary life.

A bold claim some might say, yet, as we discovered a few weeks ago, there is more concrete, historical evidence for the life of Jesus than any other historical figure. His life was one that has all the hallmarks of greatness – his teaching has never been surpassed – he fulfilled loads of ancient prophecies – he loved all people, especially those on the fringe of society. But it is his resurrection from the dead that sets him apart from all of history’s other great leaders.

That’s fine, but some might say, how can we know that the resurrection is true?

Some 80 years ago, there lived a man who, philosophically speaking, was a self-confessed skeptic (and by skeptic, I mean a person who doubts that there is any good evidence for believing in something). He was a well educated Englishman; a lawyer by profession, and had been greatly influenced by German skeptics, Oxford professor Matthew Arnold, and by Dr. Thomas Huxley ----all of whom openly denied the Bible was true or even that miracles were possible. He was also a man whom you would definitely not find in church on a Sunday, let alone any other time because he too, like his heroes, doubted Christianity.

So one day, using his training and understanding of law, he set out to disprove the historic Christian belief that Jesus was raised from the dead, and beginning with the last seven days of Jesus’ earthly life, he started to write a book about this. Listen to what he writes in his introduction:

‘It seemed to me that if I could come at the truth why this man died a cruel death at the hands of the Roman Power, how He Himself regards the matter, and especially how He behaved under the test, I should be very near to the true solution of the problem. Such, briefly, was the purpose of the book, which I had planned. I wanted to take this Last Phrase of the life of Jesus, with all its quick and pulsating drama, its sharp, clear-cut background of antiquity, and its tremendous psychological and human interest – to strip it of its overgrowth of primitive beliefs and dogmatic suppositions, and to see this supremely great Person as He really was.’

However, things didn't turn out like he'd planned - the result being he changed his opinion. Who was this person? A man called Frank Morison (and if you’ve never read his book, ‘Who moved the stone? – can I encourage you too). You see, Frank realised that there is a credible body of evidence, which demonstrates that Jesus did rise from the dead. In other words, we can be sure that the validity of Christianity – the validity of what we believe rests firmly on historical fact and not on blind faith, as some people like to think.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that the Christian church was not born on the basis of Jesus’ life and teachings. Instead the Christian church was born as a result of His resurrection. So, if the resurrection is true, then we need to take the person of Jesus seriously and the things he said about himself. So what are some of these things?

Here are a few from John’s Gospel:

In John 8:12 we read, Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not go around in darkness but will have the light of life’. Here Jesus is telling us that he brings light into a world of darkness – a world of disorientation. If we choose to follow him - the light, then He is able to illuminate our thoughts and feelings, so as to help us see and understand more clearly.

In John 10:9 we read, Jesus said ‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.’ Here, Jesus describes himself as the gate or the door (in other words) through which we find access to life. In this statement, Jesus is addressing one of the fundamental needs that we as humans have – and that is understanding what it means to be human. Only in Jesus, can we truly begin to understand what humanity is all about. Only by entering the gate can we also find our way to God.

In John 10:14 we read: Jesus said ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.’ Also, in Matthew and Luke, we have the parable of the lost sheep where the shepherd goes out in search of just one lost sheep. What these passages tell us is that not only does Jesus know each person individually by name, but that He cares for each of us too. The truth is, as the good shepherd, Jesus searches out each and every person – even if they are confused, hurting, feeling overlooked or abandoned, those who are willing to respond to Jesus can experience wholeness and a loving care unlike anything the world may offer.

In John 11:25 Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.’ What Jesus is telling us here is that his love for each one of us is stronger than death. Yes, our bodies my die in this earthly age, but our true selves will never die because His love reaches beyond death into eternal life. And so, by placing ones trust and lives in Jesus’ hands, we can be assured of living forever with our Saviour, Lord and King.

Think also of our reading today from John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

A verse that speaks for itself – not just into 1st century AD, but also into today’s 21st century; because while it is true that today’s society is different to the 1st century in many ways, what remains constant – what remains the same are humanity’s needs, concerns, hopes, fears, sense of purpose and identity in life and so on – all of these are present in each and every generation. Whether it is Thomas the doubter; Paul, the former great persecutor of the early church; the hundreds of unnamed witnesses to the resurrection; Frank Morison; you or me, we all share the same needs, and so, if Jesus met Thomas and Paul at their point of need, then it is also true for us.

The question is, will we allow Jesus to transform our lives as He has for countless millions over 2000 years? Will we acknowledge Jesus as the way, the truth and the life? - Because if we do, it will turn our lives upside down and inside out and we will discover that what happened 2000 years ago is profoundly relevant for us today. Are we prepared for this? What will your response be?