This reminds us that the Gospel is about facts. At the time Paul wrote those words there were many still alive who were witnesses to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was as if Paul was encouraging his readers to check the Scriptures and to find those eye-witnesses for themselves.

However, this month we will also be reminded of something else from the Apostle Paul. Sadly, there are many each year who consider the Gospel message as foolish.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

In these verses we see that God, in His wisdom, saves people through the message of Christ crucified. But frequently those who are wise and influential in the world’s eyes cannot see God’s wisdom. So we are not to be surprised this Easter by media coverage that misses the point of Easter. Equally, we are to expect reports of those who will dismiss, question and even mock God’s plan of salvation through His Son.

Why do so many not see Easter as Good News? Because it is “veiled” to them.

The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The tragedy is that so many people only focus on this age. People concentrate on the “here and now”. Many will be pleased of a couple of extra days off work at Easter, but will completely miss the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The god of this age prevents people thinking about the things of eternity. Consequently there are those who are blinded from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. They do not see Jesus’ death and resurrection as Good News or the acts of God’s anointed King.

But we are also reminded that this should not cause us to lose heart.

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5).

God removes this blindness as we preach Jesus Christ as Lord. The Easter message is the way God opens blind eyes and brings people to faith.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

The God who said “Let there be light” has made His light of Gospel truth shine in our hearts. Just as God brought light to our blindness, He can do it for others. The creation power that turned darkness to light can still transform people today.

This serves as an enormous reminder to continue preaching Christ crucified, risen and reigning as Lord. It is also a reminder this Easter to pray that God’s light would shine in the hearts of those who see the Easter message as foolish or irrelevant.