Ryan MacDonald is a pretty impressive, if rather unusual guy. Ryan is one of just three Brits who have made the short list of those wanting to take part in the ‘Mars One Project’. From what I understand, if finally selected, Ryan will not leave earth until 2031 and he will never return: it’s a one way ticket! Now that’s both impressive and very brave.

Listening to Ryan on Radio 4 the other day got me thinking about a book I came across a few years ago. Written by the equally brave Kate Adie it is aptly entitled “Into Danger”. In it she talks about people who seem attracted to danger in general, but especially those professions which mean people have to put their lives in danger on a regular basis. In writing it she met up with such amazing characters as “stunts people”, a 96 year old who has been bitten by poisonous snakes countless times in the quest for effective vaccines, and Sadam Hussein’s food taster (who readily admitted that it was not the career path he would have chosen)

I was particularly struck by the conversation she had with a bomb disposal expert who told her that when an incident commander turned up to deal with a dangerous device he announces his presence with the words “I am Felix”.

Now I don’t think I would ever want to be “Felix” or even part of his team. It’s a pretty scary, if vitally necessary work, and we ought to thank God for those who serve us in this way. Thankfully we don’t hear of too many fatalities. I guess very few if any bomb disposal experts turn up for work expecting to die.

Unlike Jesus!

If you read the opening chapter of Mark’s Gospel you will see that Jesus claimed to be the rightful King of Israel. And that was a pretty explosive claim given the fact that the King at the time was Herod who was notorious for his brutality. Caesar Augustus (another man you would not want to cross) was quoted as saying that he would rather be Herod’s pig than his son.

Herod seems to have been a very insecure man who reacted to threats, whether actual or perceived, in one way only: with violence.

Jesus knew that whatever the initial response to His exciting message and His miraculous ministry that the crowds would soon tire of His focus on their spiritual needs and His unwillingness to use force.

He was looking for a change of heart not a change of regime and He knew that this would mean disappointment, rejection and ultimately crucifixion. And that’s exactly what happened. He ended up dying the death of a slave or convicted terrorist, rejected by His people and all-but abandoned by His friends. Unlike your normal bomb disposal expert He was not just prepared to die, He knew it was inevitable.

But strangely enough the historical evidence shows that He didn’t die despairingly. In fact the reverse is true. He died confidently convinced that God would not allow evil to have the last word. He died believing God would raise Him to life again.

But did He? That’s a question we’d all do well to ask. In fact I don’t think we can ever ask a more important question we could ever ask. For if He did come back to life there’s hope for us all, but if He didn’t then millions of people need to be told they are living a lie and that many of them are dying for it too.

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]