The Historical Resurrection

With school being out next Friday for the celebration of Good Friday, today's chapel services functioned as DPCA's Easter chapels.  Mr. Erik Ritschard, our school administrator, presented at the elementary chapel and brought a video presentation to the secondary students in the afternoon.

The morning elementary chapel featured a condensed version of C.S. Lewis' story The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, specifically focusing on the scene in which Aslan the great Lion dies in place of the traitor, Edmund.  Susan and Lucy, Edmund's sisters, are overjoyed that Edmund is forgiven and rescued, but of course deeply distraught that Aslan must die.  And die he does, surrounded by his enemies and slain by the evil White Witch herself.  When he reappears the next morning, alive and whole, the girls are astonished and their joy overflows.

Mr. Ritschard reminded the students that although the story of Aslan is imaginary, it helps us think about the
very real occurrence of Jesus' death and resurrection.  We can't go visit the stone table in Narnia, but if we wanted to, we could actually go to Jerusalem and walk where Jesus walked.  We can see and smell and hear and experience the places in Jesus' resurrection story still today - because unlike Aslan's story, Jesus' rising from the grave is historical fact in a real place in the real world. 

Secondary chapel followed the same theme, using a video featuring Dr. N.T. Wright to explore the historical realities of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Christ.  Beginning long prior to the birth of Christ, Dr. Wright demonstrates that no comparable concept of resurrection existed prior to Jesus.  In a video rich with scenes from the Middle East, Jerusalem and the surrounding area, Dr. Wright goes on to explore the evidence that the resurrection of Christ occurred as the Bible states.  Just as in the elementary chapel, the secondary students were reminded that the Christian faith is not based on an imaginary story, but on actual historical events in real places in the real world.

As we celebrate the Easter season this year, it is both astonishing and encouraging to remember that those first, early Christians were simply giving testimony of things they had personally seen and experienced.  As we remember that they were reporting on actual events to which they were eyewitnesses, may our confidence in Christ's resurrection power and His work in our lives increase.

Readers wishing to view Dr. Wright's video for themselves may click here.