There's an urban legend about the University of Chicago Divinity School. Each year it is said they have what is called "Baptist Day." On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every "Baptist Day" the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center. One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich. Dr.Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours proving that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if there were any questions.

After about 30 seconds, an old, dark skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium."Docta' Tillich, 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 eating it.

"Docta Tillich.. CRUNCH, MUNCH "My question is a simple question, ...CRUNCH, MUNCH..."Now, I ain't never read them books you read ..CRUNCH, MUNCH..."and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek

...CRUNCH, MUNCH ..." I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger

...CRUNCH, MUNCH...He finished the apple. "All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate, was it bitter or sweet?"

Dr. Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: "I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple." The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, "Neither have you tasted my Jesus."

The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.

Have you tasted Jesus? Please pass this on Saints! Jesus has risen... and he's coming back one day! Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

A MORE CONDENSED GENERIC VERSION GOES LIKE THIS:

Bob Allred tells the story about a country preacher who was listening to a seminary professor cast doubt on the core issues of the faith. When the professor finished his lecture, the elderly pastor got up, took an apple from his lunch bag and started eating it as he said, "Mr. Professor, I haven't read many of them books you quoted." Then he took another bite of the apple.

"Mr. Professor, I don't know much about the great thinkers you mentioned," as he took still another bite of his apple.

"Mr. Professor, I admit I haven't studied the Bible like you have," as he finished his apple and dropped it back in the bag.

"I was just wondering, this apple that I just ate, was it sour or sweet?"

The Professor responded, "How could I know? I haven't tasted your apple."

To which the old preacher replied, "With all due respect, sir, I was just wondering if you had ever had a taste of my Jesus?"

The blind man says "Whether or not the cure was approved by the FDA, I once was blind, but now I see. You all argue and explain all you want, but that's enough for me."