CHAPTER IX

CONCLUSION

of Reuss

WE can hardly do better, in concluding our brief Testimony consideration of the Divinity of Christ, as established by the Resurrection, than quote the words of M. Reuss, one of the "higher critics," written in A.D. 1876 :

Apologetic (criticism).

may now spare itself the trouble of discussing seriously certain explanations derived in former days to get rid of the miracle (of the Resurrection), such as the supposition of a simple lethargy, from which Jesus recovered gradually; or that of a spectral illusion, organised by concealed leaders of the party, with the object of casting dust in the eyes of the Disciples; that of a lie, consciously circulated by the latter; and other similar suggestions, all as romancing, as they were singular; history and psychology, physiology and good taste, have long since condemned them. The expedient of reducing the fact to a simple myth breaks down, especially before the shortness of the time which elapsed between the event and the first preaching, and the recourse to

177

M

an illusion by way of vision is impossible, in face of the universality and strength of the conviction in the bosom of the Church. Even if no one of our Gospels had an immediate eye-witness to guarantee its story, there would remain the guarantee of St. Paul, whose affirmation can only be the reproduction of those of the personages whom he names. We may feel able to recognise that many things in this history are incomprehensible to us, that we shall never attain the power to render an account of the nature of the existence of the risen Jesus, that our reason is arrested at each step when it endeavours to conceive and reconcile the elements of the different narratives; nevertheless, this incontestable fact will always remain, that the Church, which has lasted for eighteen centuries, has been built on this foundation, that it is, therefore, so to speak, a living attestation of its reality, and that, in truth, it is she who has issued forth from the tomb of Christ, with whom, according to all probability, she would otherwise have remained interred for ever." "1

We have endeavoured to place before our readers, so far as our space and time will permit, some portion of the evidence which establishes the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

None but God could have raised Himself from

1 Histoire Evangelique, p. 701.

the dead. And Jesus had claimed the Godhead before His Crucifixion, and had foretold His Resurrection as a proof of His assertion. Now, had He not been God, then the Divinity in enabling Him to rise again would have been a witness to an untruth and an abettor in blasphemy, which is impossible. That He did so rise we have shown by numerous proofs taken alike from the circumstances under which the Christian Church came into existence, and from contemporary and immediately post-contemporary witnesses, as well as from an examination of the writings of the New Testament. That no step may remain unverified, we have in like manner established the reality of the existence and death of Jesus, and have adduced the evidence of Jewish and Pagan writers to those events. And as we have proceeded in our task, the various objections urged by Agnostics and Rationalists have been carefully considered and answers given, which we trust will be found of use in so serious a discussion. It has been our sincere desire and effort to deal with the whole subject in a fair and straightforward way; and to recognise the good faith, honour and learning of those from whom we differ; and to place their views honestly and without bias before our readers. If we have in any way done them the slightest injustice, it is at least unconsciously, and we shall

180

MESSIANIC PHILOSOPHY

ever be ready to acknowledge and remedy such injustice. Profoundly convinced ourselves of the Divinity of Jesus Christ, we seek in a loving spirit to give "a reason for the Faith that is in us," in the hope that it may be useful to others. Nothing is to be gained by bitterness and lack of charity; such a course is opposed to the Spirit of Him who was gentleness, love and tenderness to all around Him.

THE ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS LIMITED