The King Has Died
If you've watched a TV, listened to a radio or read a newspaper in the past few days, you've likely heard of the sudden passing of pop star Michael Jackson (June 25, 2009). A professional singer since age 6, Jackson had been labelled the King of Pop, and is credited with bridging the gap between R&B and pop music.
The attention of fans, the press and celebrities focussed on Jackson will no doubt be comparable to that which was seen 32 years ago, when Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll died (August 16, 1977). The streets outside Graceland were lined with hundreds of thousands prior to his funeral.
Presley's death so struck the nation that President Carter declared:
Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable ...he burst on the scene with an impact that was unprecedented and will probably never be equaled. ...His following was immense, and he was a symbol to people the world over of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country1President Obama has chosen not to issue a public statement regarding Jackson's life or death.
On December 25, 2006, James Brown, titled the King of Funk, died, causing an outpouring of sorrow among fans of the R&B and soul musician. Among those in attendance at his funeral were former President Bill Clinton, and the aforementioned King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
The death of Princess Diana (August 31, 1997), devastated the world, bringing sorrow to millions. Her death has been memorialized in the popular remake of Elton John's "Candle In The Wind," otherwise titled, "Goodbye England's Rose." This memorial song is the biggest selling single of all-time.
Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, James Brown, Michael Jackson - all huge names - royalty in their respective walks of life. Heralded as kings and a princess, they caught the admiration of millions. Nonetheless, they are all dead and gone; their influence in this world has ceased. Solomon, the king of Israel wrote by inspiration of the Spirit:
“Jesus Christ is the King who has died that should capture our attention.”
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
They have each spent their time on the earth, did what they sought to do, and now approach the Lord, who will judge all (Hebrews 9:27). He, Jesus Christ, is the King who has died that should capture our attention. Multitudes were aware of His death almost 2,000 years ago, but unlike the mourning crowds for those mentioned above, it was an angry mob clamouring for Jesus to be put to death (Mark 15:13-14; John 19:6, 15). Luke describes the animal-like response of the crowd, as they, "...seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned." (Luke 23:48)
Having been crucified, Jesus' body was laid in a tomb. He, whom the people had just days before hailed as their king was now dead (Matthew 21:8-9; John 12:13-15). However, He was not just another in a long line of kings to have lived and died. Jesus would thereafter say of Himself:
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Revelation 1:18)
Jesus is the King who lived to serve others (Matthew 20:28), died to redeem others (Titus 2:14), and rose from the dead, giving the faithful the hope of heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). He did not come to entertain us or awe us with His talent; He came to save us from our sins.
I am not suggesting that it is wrong to acknowledge the talent, achievements or life of those who have died, but let's have a bit of perspective. When is the last time that CNN devoted the bulk of it's air time throughout a day to discuss the death (and resurrection) of Jesus Christ? When is the last time that the front page of a newspaper extolled the life and achievements of the Lord? It's bad enough that the media is so enthralled with rock icons and pay no attention to the Saviour of the world, but worse yet, when the average citizen is more concerned about the passing of a musician than the salvation provided by the Son of God.
1) The American Presidency Project
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
A visitor to our web site posed the following:
At the very heart of scripture there exists contradiction. The incarnation which claims that Jesus is both God and man is a statement of contradiction. I believe that he is both but I also believe that there is not rational way to explain this. Similarly a miracle is an event where God contradicts his own way of doing things. All of which is to say that the rule of contradiction as being a necessary precondition for truth (Aristotles 2nd law) is in fact not a necessary precondition for truth. For a more thorough examination of this observation see J.V. Dahms in his debate w Norman Geisler.
Response:
Thanks for your comments.
I am certainly not a philosopher, nor do I have any desire to delve into philosophy to any great degree (Colossians 2:8), but from what I understand, Aristotle gave three laws regarding logic:
- Law of identity (A is A);
- Law of non-contradiction (A is not non-A);
- Law of excluded middle (X is either A or non-A).
Aristotle made the statement,
It is impossible for the same thing at the same time to belong and not belong to the same thing at the same time and in the same respect.
Perhaps philosophers will care to dig deep into the meaning and application of Aristotle's words. I'll simply accept that something cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same respect. That seems to be a simple but accurate summary of non-contradiction.
Let us consider the claim that "at the very heart of scripture there exists contradiction." Is this so? Two examples are cited, the nature of Christ and the working of miracles. Do these constitute contradictions within the Bible?
If the Bible said that Jesus is man, and yet not man at the same time, then it would contradict. Equally, if it said that He is God, and yet not God at the same time, it would contradict. It says neither. Scripture tells us that Jesus is God (John 1:1). It also tells us that He is man (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 2:5). With no rational way to explain this, the questioner concludes that it is a contradiction. Instead, could it be that there are some things beyond our ability to completely understand? It is not that He is one thing and not tha at the same time - He maintained two forms of being, deity and humanity, at the same time. That may tax the brain, but it is not contradictory.
What about the working of miracles? The questioner says, "a miracle is an event where God contradicts his own way of doing things." Really? Read Genesis 1-2 and tell me that creation was not a miracle! I understand that God has set various systems in motion, from planetary orbits to reproductive ability in all creatures on the earth. Is it contradictory for God to set aside the processes which belong to Him for a time, so that He might perform a special work (ie. Abraham and Sarah conceiving in their old age; the Red Sea parting so that Israel crossed on dry land, etc.)? If God had said that these heavenly ordained processes of the universe could never be violated, then He would have contradicted Himself in violating them. He did not, and thus has not.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to a visitor submission.