IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN By Friar Fabian Dania, OP.

 INTRODUCTION 

The Christ events, that is, his birth, ministry, passion, death and resurrection, are undoubtedly the most significant events that have shaped and continue to shape the world’s history. This is most evident in the way we reckon events which have taken place in time; for we say 2500BC or 986AD. These bear a great significance and proof to the fact that there was a time when Christ’s bodily existence was expected (BC) and a time after which his bodily existence was manifested (AD). This time before his physical manifestation in the flesh was a time of expectation and preparation for that great manifestation which was to define history forever.

The coming of Christ in the flesh was not one which was to last forever, but one which was to open up a new reality for the human race, that is, the manifestation of a new covenant, a new life life, and a new creation, which had already been foretold (Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23; 3:18). This new reality was to be brought about through paschal mystery (that is, the passion, death and resurrection of Christ). Consequently, Christ had to die in order that you and I may be able to live in that new reality. However, his death, just like his short time of ministry on earth was not to last forever; he would again rise up and put life at its fullest (John 10:10), showing that his death was to bring life and manifest this new reality, so that all those who believe in him and are plunged into his death through baptism, may rise up as new creatures from the darkness of the grave, from the darkness of sin and from the darkness of hopeless reality.

This rising becomes a recreation of the world, with the 3-hour darkness which engulfed the land (Mat 27:45) and the 3-day darkness of the grave being the defining moments of this recreation. Consequently, if Christ had not risen, several anomalies would have been out lot, for he is the first born of all creation (Col. 1:15), the first to rise from the dead (Col. 1:18) and the restorer of life. There are several implications if Christ had not risen, some of these include:

1. God would have been a liar, and consequently, he would not be God, for he had ordained it that he would not abandon Christ to Hades (Ps 16:8-11)

2. Christ would have been just another false prophet whose words were never fulfilled (Acts 5:36-39). He rather spoke of his own death and resurrection and he fulfilled this (John 2:19)

3. On our own part, we would be miserable to have believed in falsehood, while the disciples and early preachers would be even more unfortunate to have preached falsehood and passed it on to our day (1 Cor 15). Consequently, it would be of no use to have believed in Christ.
   

4. The darkness which was brought upon creation by sin, since all had been subjected to futility (Rom 8:20), would have remained our lot, for the resurrection of Christ brought light and life to a world darkened by sin

5. Life itself would have been meaningless, hopeless and eternally ruled by evil, for even those who had died before the physical manifestation of Christ in the flesh, remained in futility and darkness, until Christ descended into the underworld to free the captive souls (1 Peter 3:18)

In conclusion, now that Christ has arisen for our justification and salvation, let us all, with one heart, render a fitting homage and praise to him; that is, the offering of our whole being to him, that we may live the exalted life of the resurrection. Let us realise that he has opened up for us, the way to eternity and that we will likewise rise with him if we hold on to the new way of life he has come to reveal to us.