A Hope That Pierces the Darkness

by Rob Genin

We are in the month leading up to Easter, a great opportunity to reflect on the life, suffering, and hope of Jesus. The apostle Paul understood that the message of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was extraordinary. Many ordinary religious people of his day argued that the Christian way of life was a good way to live, even if there is no resurrection (and so might many say today). To such people, Paul wrote in the clearest terms:

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? … For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:12,16-22)

Paul confronts those who were trying to make the message about Jesus more “reasonable.” He makes it clear that a physical, bodily resurrection is essential to everything Christianity teaches. Without it, Christians are throwing their lives away and are to be pitied. Christianity calls men to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the life to come. Such a sacrifice is not worth it, unless there is life to come.

I recently read Dostoyevsky’s classic work, The Idiot. It is a tragic story of a man who is truly good and gracious towards all, but in the end comes to ruin and saves no one by his goodness. This novel asks the question – “If Jesus came back to Russia (circa the mid 1800’s), how would He be received?” It was a bleak answer. I was sad after finishing the novel’s final page. Then I reflected: only a hope that goes as deep as the resurrection can touch the despair and evil one encounters in The Idiot– and in all of life.

Would Jesus be welcomed today? Would he look like a madman, even an idiot, to those who are confident and comfortable in their predetermined categories and plans? Would they mock him, or even kill him again? We cannot answer for the world – we must answer for ourselves. However, Jesus offers more hope than Prince Myshkin (the main character in The Idiot), for Jesus not only has the will to do what is good, He also has the power to carry it out.

Dostoyevsky’s question is important. Our offices, schools, and world are full of real evil. We confront darkness within our own hearts. Christianity looks straight into the most painful and frightening places and offers real hope: forgiveness for sin, the transforming work of God’s Holy Spirit, and resurrection from the dead. We should not expect an easy path if we follow Jesus, but we also have an amazing promise: “everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:3-4)