Today, many Christian celebrate the resurrection of Jesus - so that the divine but mortal Man was born again in an everlasting divine body - and the promise that those who want resurrection - who believe and follow Jesus - can have the same gift.
By not thinking, by pretending that beliefs do not have consequences, Modern Man usually does not want Resurrection. Many claim to be 'satisfied' with mortal life; and regard it as childish, selfish and greedy to want 'more'.
But eternal life is not 'more' than mortal life; it is something utterly different.
This qualitative distinction between death and life used to be so obvious as not to require explanation, even to the simplest mind; but Modern Man has so fragmented his thinking that he can deny anything which he doubts - and he can be induced to doubt everything.
There is no possible coherence when thoughts are regarded as detached units, confined to a detached brain. More - there is no self; so Resurrection is incomprehensible; since after the body has died there is nothing to resurrect...
In such a world, the gift of Jesus is not so much denied as incomprehensible; not so much denied as unwanted. When life is experienced as intrinsically meaningless, why should anyone want it to persist eternally? Why should anyone want an everlasting body?
Most would prefer a painless transition from this mortal life to extinction, annihilation - and this is a technological/ managerial problem - not a matter of religion. If they want eternal life, they reject eternal consciousness - so, at most, will be yearning for a painless, preferably blissful, but unconscious eternity of spiritual dissolution or assimilation (it doesn't make any perceptible difference which).
This is the absolute negation of Love - and it is the norm.
Christianity is for those who want what Jesus offers. It is possible, it is perhaps likely, that these will be a minority of Modern Men: and that this minority will be a small one.
We can reflect on some words of the Apostle Paul, inspirationally done into some of the greatest prose to which English has attained.
1 Corinthians. 15
[12] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
[13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
[14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
[15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
[16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
[19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
[20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
[21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
[22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
[24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
[25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
[26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
[27] For he hath put all things under his feet.
[35] But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
[36] Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
[37] And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
[38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ...
