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The resurrection of Christ, which we commemorate during the season of Easter, changed the fabric of reality and has repercussions for our lives today.

For most people today, Easter is a long weekend spent with friends and family.

But as British journalist Peter Hitchens once pointed out, the first Easter contains the most dangerous ideas in human history. Here are 10 of them:

1) The first Easter shows that we are worse than we imagined…

We, modern people, love to think of ourselves as ‘good people’, especially when comparing ourselves to rapists, robbers, and dictators.

But on that first Easter, Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross. He did it because it was the only way to reconcile sinful, rebellious humanity to a Holy God (Matthews 26:39). All our self-esteem training can’t change this awful reality: we all fall short of God’s perfect standards. (Romans 3:23)

2) … But we are more loved than we could ever hope

Despite being worse than we imagined, that first Easter proved God’s love for us.

A love that doesn’t paper over our worst features: but a love that sees us at our worst, and gives us His best.

‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Romans 5:8)

3) Our identity is ultimately given to us, not something we invent

We live in the age of authenticity, where our inner feelings determine our identity.

But in the final analysis, our inner feelings are not who we really are. Our ultimate identity is that of God’s image-bearers, albeit fallen and rebellious. On that first Easter, Jesus opened up the door to a mind-blowing new identity: sons and daughters of the living God. (Galatians 4:4-7)

4) Judgement Day is coming (and has already begun)

On that first Easter, Jesus’ tomb was empty.

He rose from the dead, just as He promised. He’s now at God’s right hand, ruling the universe, and will one day return to Judge everyone in it (Acts 17:31). Including us.

But for those in Christ Jesus, we’ve already passed through judgement, from death to life. (Colossians 3:1-4)

5) The universe is not meaningless chaos

Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is Who He says He is:
God’s appointed King, Who made the world, and rules the world (Matthew 28:18).

Thus, our universe is not random chaos (and never was). It’s under Jesus’ rule.

6) Life is about God’s Story, not our story

Disney is wrong: life is not ultimately about following our dreams, and doing whatever turns us on.

God is unfolding His story for the universe. He’s the Hero. And our job is to get on board with Him.

After all, it’s the best story ever told.

7) Life has intrinsic meaning

Modern people believe that we make up our own meaning.

That might work in the short term, as long as you don’t think too deeply about life and your upcoming death. But Jesus’ resurrection shows that life has purpose: a purpose that can see you through the darkest valleys of depression and despair.

8) Death is not the end

Death is not an impenetrable brick wall that ends our existence.

Yes, it’s awful, but for those in Christ, it’s a mere speed hump to eternal glory. And yet, for those who reject Christ, it’s the doorway to despair unending.

9) Justice will prevail… but only at the end

The arc of human history doesn’t bend toward justice (with apologies to Martin Luther King Jr).

Rather, it’s the story of man’s inhumanity toward man. And yet, the first Easter proves that justice will prevail — but only at the end, when Jesus returns to judge.

10) Morality is not something we make up, but something we’re accountable to

Many in the West think that morality is arbitrary, like road rules.

We make it up, because at the end of the day, the universe has no moral order (or so we’re told). But Jesus’s resurrection proves there’s a moral order to the universe, to which we’re all accountable.

This leaves us with a question: how are we going to respond to history’s most dangerous event?

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Originally published at AkosBalogh.com. Photo by Ivan Samkov.