Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Taste my Jesus

At the University of Chicago Divinity School each year they have whatis called 'Baptist Day.' On this day each one is to bring a lunch tobe eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every 'Baptist Day' theschool would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in thetheological education center. One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich. Dr.Tillich spoke for two andone-half hours proving that the resurrection of Jesus was false. Hequoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded thatsince there was no such thing as the historical resurrection thereligious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo,because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in factnever rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if therewere any questions. After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head ofshort-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium.'Docta Tillich, I got one question,' he said as all eyes turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eatingit. 'Docta Tillich.. CRUNCH, MUNCH 'My question is a simple question,...CRUNCH, MUNCH... 'Now, I ain't never read them books you read.. CRUNCH,MUNCH..' and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek...CRUNCH, MUNCH ...' I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger...CRUNCH,MUNCH... He finished the apple. 'All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate,. . . . . . was it bitter or sweet? Dr Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarlyfashion: 'I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven'ttasted your apple.' The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into hiscrumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, 'Neitherhave you tasted my Jesus.' The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. Theauditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform. Have you tasted Jesus? 'Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takesrefuge in Him. If you have, rejoice in the hope of the resurrectionthat your faith in Him brings.' Psalm 34:8!Please pass this on Saints! Jesus has risen... and He's coming back one day...

No comments: