IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESURRECTION
LUKE 24
“RESURRECTION IN THE 1ST CENTURY MEANT SOMEONE PHYSICALLY, THOROUGHLY DEAD BECOMING PHYSICALLY, THOROUGHLY ALIVE AGAIN, NOT SIMPLY SURVIVING OR ENTERING INTO A PURELY SPIRITUAL WORLD. RESURRECTION DENOTED A NEW EMBODIED LIFE WHICH WOULD FOLLOW WHATEVER LIFE AFTER DEATH THERE MIGHT BE – THE RESURRECTION WAS BY DEFINITION NOT THE EXISTENCE INTO WHICH SOMEONE MIGHT GO IMMEDIATELY UPON DEATH IT WAS NOT A DISEMBODIED HEAVENLY LIFE, IT IS WAS A FURTHER STAGE BEYOND ALL THAT, NOT A DESCRIPTION OR REDEFINITION OF DEATH – IT WAS DEATH’S REVERSAL.”
NT WRIGHT
“CHRISTIANITY IN ITS VERY ESSENCE IS A RESURRECTION RELIGION. THE CONCEPT OF RESURRECTION LIES AT IT’S VERY HEART, IF YOU REMOVE IT CHRISTIANITY IS DESTROYED.”
JN R STOTT
“SOMETIME PEOPLE APPROACH ME AND SAY, I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THIS ASPECT OF CHRISTIAN TEACHING, I LIKE THIS PART OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF BUT I DON'T THINK I CAN ACCEPT THAT PART. I USUALLY RESPOND, IF JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD THEN YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT ALL HE SAID, IF HE DIDN’T RISE FROM THE DEAD THEN WHY WORRY ABOUT ANY OF WHAT HE SAID. THE ISSUES ON WHICH EVERYTHING HANGS IS NOT WHETHER YOU LIKE HIS TEACHING BUT WHETHER OR NOT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.”
TIM KELLER
I CORINTHIANS 15:12-20
LET’S FLESH OUT LUKE 24,
THE RESURRECTION AND THE SKEPTICS,
Vv.1-6
Vv.9-11
Vv.36-39
THE RESURRECTION AND THE DREAMER,
Vv.13-21
“THE MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION IS THAT THIS PRESENT WORLD MATTERS, THAT THE PROBLEMS AND THE PAIN OF THIS PRESENT WORLD MATTER, THE LIVING GOD HAS MADE A BRIDGE HEAD INTO THE PRESENT WORLD AND HIS HEALING AND ALL HIS CONQUERING LOVE AND IN THE NAME OF HIS LOVE, ALL EVIL, ALL INJUSTICES AND ALL PAIN OF THE PRESENT WORLD MUST NOW BE ADDRESSED WITH THE NEWS THAT HEALINGS, JUSTICE AND LOVE HAVE WON THE DAY.”
NT WRIGHT
THE RESURRECTION MEANS CHRIST IS THE FIRST FRUIT OF A NEW CREATION,
Vv.27-32
OUR RESPONSE HISTORICALLY,
COMMUNION
BAPTISM
MISSIONS
