A minister friend of mine is in the habit of hosting Wednesday night dinners for a small group of friends at his home. The dinners are centered around theological discussions and often get very interesting. At a recent gathering one of the participants confessed that he did not believe in the resurrection of Christ because he thought of it as a Christian contrivance that takes away from the efficacy of the cross, which he sees as the defining event in Christianity. The ensuing conversation centered around the idea that the resurrection is inseparable from the cross and may only be understood in the context of the cross.
The resurrection contains the singular truth of the power and life of Christianity while, paradoxically being completely counter to the previous existing reality of death. As Walter Brueggemann says, “… it is the ultimate act of prophetic energizing in which a new history is initiated.” The new history of Christ’s followers began at the empty tomb and was re-emphasized at every one of his post-resurrection appearances. Then the new history was energized at Pentecost and is experienced afresh with every act of Christian kindness since then to now.
I believe in the resurrection simply due to the number of times I have seen people “die” and been “raised again” through life’s most difficult events – a divorce, a job loss, the loss of a parent or child. In fact, the resurrection needs the crucifixion and death if only to emphasize the new life. The authors of the New Testament tell us repeatedly that there can’t be a resurrection unless there is a first a death. From a strictly human perspective this is not something that we want (see Peter’s rebuke of Christ and Christ’s rebuke of Peter) but it is necessary to manifest divine power. When a wealthy magnate builds another building or launches another revolutionary product we see the power of man in action – not the power of God. But when someone like Nelson Mandela rises from the depths of a prison cell after years of incarceration to become the leader of South Africa, God is explicitly indicated. So the power of God is expressly shown in death and subsequent and attached resurrection.
The resurrection contains the singular truth of the power and life of Christianity while, paradoxically being completely counter to the previous existing reality of death. As Walter Brueggemann says, “… it is the ultimate act of prophetic energizing in which a new history is initiated.” The new history of Christ’s followers began at the empty tomb and was re-emphasized at every one of his post-resurrection appearances. Then the new history was energized at Pentecost and is experienced afresh with every act of Christian kindness since then to now.
I believe in the resurrection simply due to the number of times I have seen people “die” and been “raised again” through life’s most difficult events – a divorce, a job loss, the loss of a parent or child. In fact, the resurrection needs the crucifixion and death if only to emphasize the new life. The authors of the New Testament tell us repeatedly that there can’t be a resurrection unless there is a first a death. From a strictly human perspective this is not something that we want (see Peter’s rebuke of Christ and Christ’s rebuke of Peter) but it is necessary to manifest divine power. When a wealthy magnate builds another building or launches another revolutionary product we see the power of man in action – not the power of God. But when someone like Nelson Mandela rises from the depths of a prison cell after years of incarceration to become the leader of South Africa, God is explicitly indicated. So the power of God is expressly shown in death and subsequent and attached resurrection.