As a principled agnostic I cannot call myself a Christian, but it has never been lost on me that it was from Christianity that slavery ended and individual liberty arose. I thoroughly enjoyed this essay, Steve, and wish you the happiest Easter.
It truly was finished. Death was defeated and Satan has spent the succeeding two thousand years lying and gaslighting us that it wasn't so. We must never believe him. GK Chesterton is a treasure. Thank you for posting
To embellish is to diminish. How much that lesson is needed.
The end of history and a new creation. "It is finished." Interesting take on that climactic event in history. First fruits of that new creation to culminate in the Last Day.
When reading the Resurrection accounts in the Four Gospels, I often wonder if the words “Hold me not..” directed to Mary should perhaps be more rightly translated as: “Embrace me not…”
My tongue has not the words to express the joy and hope found not just in the four New Testament accounts; but the recounting of the appearance of the Risen Lord to his other sheep located somewhere in the Americas and recorded in The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11-18. I usually weep. I find 3 Nephi, chapter 17 especially tender. The halt, the blind, the lame, and those with any affliction were called forth one by one, and healed. Then the Risen Jesus took each child in the group one by one, blessed them, then in verse 23: “And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.
25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.”
Everything about the Jesus story is a paradox - from his birth and "parental" situation, to his collection of apostles, his version of messianic prophesy in contrast to what was expected, and then death and resurrection. Intellectuals like to bring insight to the complex. This story/faith defies intellectual insight beyond what Paul was able to discern.
Perhaps G.K. embraced the philosophy of 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread.'
As a principled agnostic I cannot call myself a Christian, but it has never been lost on me that it was from Christianity that slavery ended and individual liberty arose. I thoroughly enjoyed this essay, Steve, and wish you the happiest Easter.
It truly was finished. Death was defeated and Satan has spent the succeeding two thousand years lying and gaslighting us that it wasn't so. We must never believe him. GK Chesterton is a treasure. Thank you for posting
Thank you for posting this. 🙏🏼
To embellish is to diminish. How much that lesson is needed.
The end of history and a new creation. "It is finished." Interesting take on that climactic event in history. First fruits of that new creation to culminate in the Last Day.
He Lives! Happy Easter
Great stuff. Thanks.
When reading the Resurrection accounts in the Four Gospels, I often wonder if the words “Hold me not..” directed to Mary should perhaps be more rightly translated as: “Embrace me not…”
My tongue has not the words to express the joy and hope found not just in the four New Testament accounts; but the recounting of the appearance of the Risen Lord to his other sheep located somewhere in the Americas and recorded in The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11-18. I usually weep. I find 3 Nephi, chapter 17 especially tender. The halt, the blind, the lame, and those with any affliction were called forth one by one, and healed. Then the Risen Jesus took each child in the group one by one, blessed them, then in verse 23: “And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.
25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.”
Everything about the Jesus story is a paradox - from his birth and "parental" situation, to his collection of apostles, his version of messianic prophesy in contrast to what was expected, and then death and resurrection. Intellectuals like to bring insight to the complex. This story/faith defies intellectual insight beyond what Paul was able to discern.
Perhaps G.K. embraced the philosophy of 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread.'
Why G.K. Chesterton seldom wrote directly about the Easter Resurrection or salvation? There is no more to say.