"The Resurrection of Jesus Christ" (W. Ross Hastings)

TITLE: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Exploring Its Theological Significance and Ongoing Relevance
AUTHOR: W. Ross Hastings
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (208 pages).
 

The Resurrection of Christ is the single most important reason for the Christian faith. Paul even says that without the Resurrection, our faith would have been in vain. Thankfully, because of the bodily resurrection of Jesus on the third day, not only do we have reason to hope for a better tomorrow in Christ, we are called to share this good news with all around us. Besides these expressions of hope and joy, what else can we learn about the theological significance of the greatest event on earth? A lot, says theologian and professor Ross Hastings. Readers can find how this truth is unpacked in this book that not only talks about but does so in an illuminating style. He addresses some questions arising out of this great salvation event:

• What is the theological significance of the resurrection?
• What is the historicity of the resurrection?
• How did the resurrection transform the early disciples?
• What has the resurrection got to do with salvation?
• What does the resurrection mean to participate in a community of Christ?
• What can the resurrection inform us about our calling and vocation?
• What is the relationship between Christ's resurrection and the bodily resurrection of believers?
• How does the resurrection declare Christ's supremacy?
• What can we learn from this resurrection event about creation?
• What about the second coming of Jesus?

"Living the Resurrection" (Eugene Peterson)

TITLE: Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in Everyday Life
AUTHOR: Eugene Peterson
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2020, (160 pages).

Eugene Peterson is one of the most loved authors in the evangelical world. What makes him most readable is his creative use of words and how he crafts ideas together in a manner that helps us see ordinary things in extraordinary ways. Most of all, he is Bible-centered. He is what I call a word-smith, and a teacher of the Word of God. What is the book about? It's about the resurrection of Jesus. Here, Peterson shows us at least three things that help us incorporate the reality of the resurrection into the reality of our present lives.

First, he helps us take a closer look at the particular aspects of Jesus' resurrection. Beginning with the gospel narratives of "wonder, astonishment, surprise," there is a sense that the resurrection is beyond our biggest imagination. All four gospels give a unique perspective about the state of wonder. Matthew's narrative looks at the women's perspective that reveals the shift from wonder to worship. Mark shows us how the women were stunned beyond words. Luke gives us a sense of awe and confusion rolled into one. John invites us to see and to be thoughtful about the truth being revealed. Pointing out six references to the common fear, and helps us see the difference between human fear and holy fear. Peterson gives us the biblical perspective of holy fear: fear of the Lord. In doing so, he shows us the beauty of heavenly encounters that transcend human paranoia. How do we connect from earth to heaven? How do we comprehend the meaning of the resurrection? Simply put: It all starts with wonder. Refuse to let our human intelligence and desire for control interfere with the working of the Holy Spirit. He shows us five ways to do that. We should not be afraid of mystery but be open to God showing us the beauty of the resurrection. After all, he describes life on earth as "not a vacation paradise" but a "war zone."

"A Glorious Dark" (A. J. Swoboda)

TITLE: A Glorious Dark: Finding Hope in the Tension between Belief and Experience
AUTHOR: A. J. Swoboda
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015, (240 pages).

Many books have been written about Good Friday or Crucifixion Day. With the revival movement, there are even more about the Resurrection and the glorification of Jesus who rose on the third day. Like many projects in life, beginning enthusiastically is easier. Reaping the fruits of diligence toward the end is also relatively easy. It is at the middle that people are most vulnerable to emotional struggles and mental toggles between hope and despair; optimism and pessimism; faith and doubt. Using the Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday story, Professor A. J. Swoboda talks about the obscure and less noticeable day in the middle: Saturday. How many believers know about this silent and somber day which Swoboda calls “A Glorious Dark?” We know what happened on Good Friday and the Resurrection Day. What about that Saturday where people’s faith seemed to be “sleeping in?” The key point the author tries to make is that God meets us most profoundly at the tensions that we felt most acutely. It is when the reality of the world and the beliefs we have do not seem to match up that God will show up. It is another way of saying that when the journey seems darker, our capacity to anticipate God’s movement is sharpened.

"Raised?" (Jonathan Dodson and Brad Watson)

TITLE: Raised?: Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection
AUTHOR: Jonathan Dodson and Brad Watson
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014, (112 pages).

There are many non-Christians who readily doubt the reality of the Resurrection. Some Christians too but do not make it so pronounced. They simply choose to shove the doubts under the carpet and deal with them on another day. Working collaboratively, two pastors have come together to author a book that addresses the doubts of both believers and non-believers on the topic of the resurrection of Christ. Non-believers are urged not to be afraid to question because anything worth believing is first worth questioning, for the express purpose of finding the truth. Believers are encouraged not to settle for "pat proofs, emotional experiences, or duty-driven religion." Based on the premise that the Resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith, anyone seeking to know the truth will not fear questions to help one find out more. The authors believe so much in the historical fact of the Resurrection and the Truth of Jesus risen from the dead, that they have no fear about challenges. Challenges like:

• How can lowly man ever crucify a High God?
• Skeptical accounts of the Resurrection
• How can such a supernatural event happen in the natural world?
• Disputes over the afterlife
• If Jews and Greeks find the Resurrection "implausible" then, why not others?
• Was it a delusion?
• Are the witnesses then reliable?
• 
  

"Captivated" (Thabiti M. Anyabwile)

TITLE: Captivated: Beholding the Mystery of Jesus Death and Resurrection
AUTHOR: Thabiti M. Anyabwile
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014, (100 pages).

The Cross of Christ is the central symbol of Christianity. It can be seen in churches all over the world. Christians wear them. Bibles have them. Martyrs died for its cause. While the early Christians had been persecuted because of the Cross, modern people have treated the cross sometimes as a decoration around their neck rather than a declaration of faith. The Cross deserves a good hard look by anyone. We need to simply be captivated by it. Take a long look at Jesus. Come and see the work and deed of Jesus. Ask if there is more than one way to be save. If one says yes, one needs to ask why Jesus then has to die. If one says no, one will appreciate the death of Jesus even more. Think about it. If Jesus knows that there is more than one way to salvation, why in the first place does he bother to go to the cross? That will be most baffling. Unless of course, John 14:6 means exactly what it says. Anyabwile is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in the Grand Cayman Islands as well as a council member with the Gospel Coalition and has written a powerful little book to help readers be captivated by the mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection He does this with five key questions

First, he asks if "Is there is no Other Way?" This question ponders about the motivation for Jesus to go to the Cross to suffer and die. As he does so, he finds a profound understanding with regards to God identifying with humankind; the deep compassion of Christ; Jesus as a Mediator; Jesus making atonement for mankind; Jesus proving the righteousness of God; Jesus revealing the glory of God. When the Heavenly Father denies Jesus the request to take away the cup of suffering, He has a bigger reason in mind. The very fact that many of us struggle with the whole meaning of it all deserves a long hard look indeed.

Second, he asks the same question as Jesus: "Why Have You Forsaken Me?" It is a terrible thing to be left behind. It is even more terrible to be left behind by the one who loves you. Called the world's biggest abandonment, Anyabwile uses the lament in Scriptures to help plumb the depths of pain and despair. Asking the question helps us recognize that Jesus can fully and perfectly understand all of the world's loneliness and suffering.

Third, the death followed by the Resurrection of Christ turns death upon its head: "Where, O Death is Your Victory?" Come to think of it, death too can die. While death means the end of life, the resurrection wipes everything away be brings everlasting life. The author describes two kinds of death. A physical death that includes every person. A spiritual death that essentially means being cut off from God. It is the spiritual death that ought to arrest our bigger attention.

Fourth, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" is a constant reminder that life does not end with death. It begins with the resurrection. The redirection must happen so that we do not become too fixated on the cross until we forget that Jesus has resurrected from the dead. The cross is a symbol but the Resurrection proves Jesus is alive! It also redirects us from emotions to Scripture; from current events to God's providence; from law to Gospel; from grief to joy.

Finally, "Do you not know these things?" is a question that raises three key facts. Jesus has come in the flesh. Jesus is God's only Son. Jesus is Lord. These things form the key Christian Education that every believer needs to know.

I like the simplicity of this book that helps us be captivated by Jesus, the Cross, and the Resurrection. Questions have a way of helping us contemplate and meditate on the truths of the Christian faith. Anyabwile has given us a very clear and understandable book on the theology of the Cross and the Resurrection without heavy theological vocabulary.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Reformation Heritage Books and Cross-Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.