I have often jested that Heaven has a poor marketing department. Jesus’ saving actions were “publicity poor” and many of the most important events, like His birth and Resurrection, were almost completely hidden. If I were God (and aren’t you glad I’m not!) I would ride down on a lightning bolt while the whole world marveled. And when I rose from the dead, I’d have put up the ancient equivalent of a Jumbotron so that everyone could watch as I gloriously stepped forth and sent word out to round up my enemies. At the very least I would have said “Ta Da!”
Somehow I thought of all that as I watched the commercial below. Imagine that the ad is focused not on a soccer match but on the tomb as the stone rolls back, light pours out, and Jesus emerges. Instead of the announcer yelling “Goal!” he could yell “Alive!” or “Like a Boss!”
Enjoy the commercial.
(I have written more seriously on the hidden quality of the resurrection here: Why was the Resurrection such a hidden event?.)
If I were God (and aren’t you glad I’m not!) I would ride down on a lightning bolt while the whole world marveled. And when I rose from the dead, I’d have put up the ancient equivalent of a Jumbotron so that everyone could watch as I gloriously stepped forth and sent word out to round up my enemies. At the very least I would have said “Ta Da!”
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You mean like God did with Pharaoh and Egypt at the original Passover? Even with the “shock and awe,” big-screen epic approach of the ten plagues, still people found reasons to not believe, to excuse it all away — including God’s own people.
Meanwhile, the Resurrection having happened 2000 years ago (by human reckoning of time), still today we would have to rely upon what other people claimed happened. And who would believe such a preposterous story? Only those who are open to it in the first place. They don’t need some over-the-top production. They recognize God in a little newborn baby even.
Of course Bender I speak in jest here.
Am I glad, am not GOD either for I would show myself with full power and regalia to those who detested me and show them who I am. But of course, GOD has a better way, because HE wants those who have true faith in their hearts to accept HIM in HIS humblest self and history will prove HIM right. How come this supposedly obscure MAN is still, even after 2000 years, is the focus of controversy all over the world such that HIS Teachings are being obtusely disregarded by the unfaithful yet continuesly cut into the hearts of men? What say you world? In an instant HE can crush you with HIS Finger yet HE is not that way. Who or what are you, world, compared to My SAVIOR, LORD of lords and KING of kings, JESUS CHRIST? YHWH EL GIBOR!
Msgr.
There is one more group of individuals who likely witnessed the Resurrection and are rarely given mention. I thought of this after reading your Resurrection post from a year ago. An old book of meditations I like to use on the mysteries of the Rosary also mentions the soldiers who Pilate orders to guard the tomb after the chief priests and Pharisees complain to him in Matthew 27:62-66. This Rosary meditation book suggests that those Roman soldiers were indeed the very first witnesses of the Resurrection and probably fled the tomb in fear. We never hear mention of them again in the gospels, but one can only imagine what their reaction was. We don’t even know how many of them there were, but we can assume that they were non-believers. The shock and awe that they experienced at dawn on Easter might have translated into new faith for some of them, but we don’t know. Perhaps St. Longinus was not the only convert among the soldiers present at the crucifixion.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that imposter said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore order the sepulchre to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the sepulchre secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.