Eternal Life:Life After Death as a

Medical,Philosophical, and

Theological Question

The Resurrection of JesusOctober 26, 2014

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What are the difficulties people have with the resurrection of Jesus?

The resurrection of JesusDifficulty #1 - ResurrectionResurrection of the dead as an idea is largely

absent from the Hebrew Bible, and only surfaces in later apocalyptic literature. (Review: apocalypse)

The four Gospels never describe the resurrection event itself, because no one was present.

The New Testament speaks of the ‘raising up’ of Jesus as a work of God, rather than Jesus’ own act.

The later appearances of Jesus that are described in the Gospels were not for a wider public, but they were restricted to the followers of Jesus.

The resurrection of JesusDifficulty #2 – The Easter EventThe earliest Gospel written (Mark) describes

only what happened after the resurrection.The Gospel of Mark proclaims the message “He

is risen,” which the women at the tomb receive with terror and fear.

The account of the resurrection in Mark (and in the other three Gospels) are not documentary reports, but theological documents.

The Easter story, like the story of Christ’s birth, is not told in one Gospel, but is a combination of diverse and developed stories.

The resurrection of JesusDifficulty #3 – AccountsThere is a clear lack of agreement in the

Gospel accounts about what exactly happened.

Some resurrection appearances take place in Galilee, some in Jerusalem, some Easter morning, some Easter evening.

Later Gospels expand and alter the earlier account of Mark. Matthew and Mark have one angel at the tomb, Luke and John have two. John adds the story of Mary Magdalene, Peter’s race to the tomb, doubting Thomas.

Conclusion: What exactly do we believe?The diversity of accounts of the resurrection

in the four Gospels reflect diverse theological communities and editors.

The development of the Easter message is extremely complex.

The Apostle Paul provides uswith the earliest testimony ofthe resurrection – a wholegeneration before Mark.Paul lists witnesses he met to whom Christ ‘made himselfvisible.’Paul relates a profession of faith,; the gospels show a trendtoward legendary embellishment.

Testimonies, not Reports:What is the Essential Easter Message?

The Tomb – an empty tomb is not proof of the resurrection.

The Gospels use the empty tomb as an illustration, but Paul (again, predating the Gospels) makes no mention of it.

Christian faith in the resurrection does not depend on an empty tomb, but rather upon the encounters people had with the living Christ following his death.

Testimonies, not Reports:What is the Essential Easter Message?

History: The resurrection is not a historical event, it is a real event.

“Risen on the third day” is a theological, not a historical assertion. Three is a symbolic number in the Bible relating to completeness and finality.

The resurrection of Jesus was not a public event that was photographed or documented.

Testimonies, not Reports:What is the Essential Easter Message?

Faith in the resurrection means that resurrection is a real event, transcending the limits of our history.

Faith in the resurrection is also based upon the teachings of Jesus: His cause was considered lost by the disciples until God raised him and justified him.

Faith in the resurrection does not depend on the disciple’s faith – Jesus does not live because of their faith.

Jesus lives not because his resurrection is proclaimed. Jesus is proclaimed because he lives.

Testimonies, not Reports:What is the Essential Easter Message?

At its most basic, Christianity is the certainty that Jesus who died lives and that his followers will also live.

The Jesus movement which appeared to fail at his crucifixion, began anew and was successful because of eternal life.

Christianity begins with Easter. Without Easter, there is no Gospel, no church, no worship, no mission.

Resurrection Essentials:Christianity

‘Raising up’ and ‘resurrection’ are metaphorical terms and cannot be imagined.

Paul speaks of a ‘spirit body,’ a ‘body of glory’ from a body of flesh, of a plant from a seed.

He is not speaking of the Greek idea of immortality of the soul freed from the prison of the body.

Rising from death is not a return to ordinary life, but to a radically different, definitive eternal life.

Resurrection Essentials:Transformation

Jesus’ resurrection is completely different from all previous reports of raisings of the dead (like Lazarus).

Christ’s resurrection was not the temporary resuscitation of a corpse to a completely unchanged earthly life. Instead, Christians believe, through the resurrection, Jesus conquers death, and enters into a different heavenly life.

This heavenly life, promised to us through Jesus, is a wholly new relationship of a person with God.

Resurrection Essentials:Eternity

It is reasonable to trust the Creator who calls being out of non-being to call life out of death.

Resurrection faith involves a daily struggle against death. This death is not only biological death, but death in the form of absent relationships, powerlessness, apathy, etc. The resurrection of Jesus proclaims that all forms of death are defeated.

How does the resurrection of Jesus apply to us now?

November 2 “Between Heaven and Hell”

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