4. Resurrection 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.
5. The 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.
6. There 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.
7. 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.
8. The Apostle Paul provides us
with the earliest testimony of
the resurrection – a whole
generation before Mark.
Paul lists witnesses he met to
whom Christ ‘made himself
visible.’
Paul relates a profession of
faith,; the gospels show a trend
toward legendary
embellishment.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. ‘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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
