The University of Chicago Divinity School holds an annual "special lecture day" in its Theology Center Auditorium which is open to the general public and during which each attendee is allowed to bring a sack lunch and eat while listening to one of the "greatest minds" [invited by the University] lecture on some scholarly topic.
One particular year [according to the story], the famous theologian, Dr. Paul Tillich, gave a lengthy lecture in which he tried to "prove" that Jesus' resurrection is false and unfounded. He quoted from book after book, and cited various scholarly works. He then concluded that according to the "respected authorities and experts", there is no such thing as Jesus' resurrection historically, therefore, the traditional belief of the church is groundless, mere emotional "mumbo-jumbo" because it is based on "just a relationship with a risen Jesus", who, in fact, "never rose from the dead in any literal sense".
He then asked the audience if there were any questions. After several seconds, an elderly, dark-skinned man with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up.
"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 munching on it. "Doctor Tillich..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "I have a simple question..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "I have never read those books you've read and quoted from..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "...and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Hebrew or Greek like you and your fellow scholars..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "...and I know nothing about Niebuhr and Heidegger..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...and he finished the apple...] "...All I want to know is: this apple I just ate...was it sour or sweet?"
Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in a typical exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question since I have not tasted your apple."
The man dropped the apple core into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich, and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus, have you?"
The more than 1,000 people in attendance that day could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted into applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.
Have you tasted Jesus?
One particular year [according to the story], the famous theologian, Dr. Paul Tillich, gave a lengthy lecture in which he tried to "prove" that Jesus' resurrection is false and unfounded. He quoted from book after book, and cited various scholarly works. He then concluded that according to the "respected authorities and experts", there is no such thing as Jesus' resurrection historically, therefore, the traditional belief of the church is groundless, mere emotional "mumbo-jumbo" because it is based on "just a relationship with a risen Jesus", who, in fact, "never rose from the dead in any literal sense".
He then asked the audience if there were any questions. After several seconds, an elderly, dark-skinned man with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up.
"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 munching on it. "Doctor Tillich..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "I have a simple question..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "I have never read those books you've read and quoted from..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "...and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Hebrew or Greek like you and your fellow scholars..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...] "...and I know nothing about Niebuhr and Heidegger..." [CRUNCH, MUNCH...and he finished the apple...] "...All I want to know is: this apple I just ate...was it sour or sweet?"
Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in a typical exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question since I have not tasted your apple."
The man dropped the apple core into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich, and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus, have you?"
The more than 1,000 people in attendance that day could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted into applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.
Have you tasted Jesus?
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