With a new month comes a new Briefing. But this being Easter weekend, instead of turning to the subject of our next issue, I thought it would be good to stop and reflect on why Jesus' resurrection makes a difference to our lives.

Here is Phillip Jensen and Greg Clarke on what the resurrection achieved:

Resting at the core of Christian faith is the doctrine of the resurrection. We evangelicals defend this doctrine energetically against all manner of attacks. No, Jesus didn't just swoon. No, he didn't merely live on spiritually in the hearts of his followers. No, his body wasn't stolen by tomb raiders. And, no, he wasn't pulled down off the cross and replaced by someone who looked like him, as some Muslims teach.

But having defended the historical truth of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, we often stop there. Rarely do we explore the meaning of the resurrection for our lives here and now, nor do we see its immense implications for how we understand the future.

Furthermore, we sometimes use the resurrection to try to prove certain things that it does not in fact prove—as we will see. In these two articles, we will outline the ‘cash value’ of the resurrection—the way it changes and directs history, the future and our everyday lives. But before launching into those deep waters, picture the following encounter between Grace, the earnest Christian, eager to share her faith with Samantha, a thoughtful but unbelieving work colleague. They have discussed Christianity a number of times before.

[Grace and Samantha enjoy a sandwich together over lunch in the park.]

Samantha: Grace, I've been meaning to ask you how come you are so sure that Jesus is God?

[Grace frantically runs through in her head everything she can remember from her Josh McDowell reading as a teenager.]

Grace: We-ell, to start with, he did a lot of miracles which you can't really explain.

Samantha: But we can probably explain them now with science.

Grace: Um, maybe some of them, but he rose from the dead, didn't he? Explain that!

Samantha: Okay, yes, but even if you believe that happened, it doesn't prove he's God.

Grace: [with a touch of sarcasm] Really? How many human beings do you know who have come back from the dead?

Samantha: Well, let's see, there was Lazarus, and Jairus's daughter, and that boy who fell asleep while Paul was preaching—what was his name? —oh, yes, Eutychus, and …

Grace: [not pleased] I see you have been reading ...

Samantha: Yep, and then there's people today who ‘die’ for a while, but then are resuscitated. And no-one claims that they are God. So why do you make such a fuss about Jesus' resurrection?

Grace: I'll tell you later, Samantha, it's time to go back to work.

One thing that Samantha understands but that Grace is still struggling with is that the resurrection does not prove that Jesus is God. The New Testament certainly never uses it in this way.

What does the resurrection demonstrate, then? The New Testament provides us with many answers that are worthy of prolonged reflection. Here are three of them.

Read the rest of the article online (2,873 words).

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