Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears

Author:Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Religion, Christian Life, General, Spirituality, Christology, Christian Theology
ISBN: 9781581349757
Publisher: Crossway
Published: 2008-01-31T22:00:00+00:00

// body: his disciples clung to his feet,8 Mary clung to him,9 and Thomas the doubter put his hand into the open spear hole in Jesus’ side.10 Jesus also appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, yet they were uncertain if he had truly physically risen from death. But Jesus was emphatic about his bodily resurrection and went out of his way to prove it: As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. It is also significant to note that no credible historical evidence from that period exists to validate any alternative explanation for Jesus’ resurrection other than his literal bodily resurrection. Mark’s Gospel account of the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion mentions the “high priest” without naming him.13 It can logically be inferred that Mark did not mention the high priest by name because he expected his readers to know of whom he was speaking. Since Caiaphas was high priest from a.d. 18–37, the latest possible date for the tradition is a.d. 37.14 This date is so close to the death of Jesus that there would have not been sufficient time for a “legend” of his resurrection to have developed. This proves that the biblical record of Jesus’ resurrection was penned while the eyewitnesses were still alive to verify the facts. His resurrection is not a mythical legend that developed long after the time of Jesus. In fact, John Rodgers, former dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, says, “This is the sort of data that historians of antiquity drool over.”

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Vintage Jesus

In 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, Paul says, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” This statement is widely accepted as the earliest church creed, which began circulating as early as a.d. 30–36, shortly after Jesus’ resurrection. Considering the early age of this creed, there was not sufficient time between the crucifixion and the creed for any legend about Jesus’ resurrection to accrue. In addition, the witnesses mentioned were still alive and available to be questioned about the facts surrounding the resurrection. The early date of this creed also proves that the church did not corrupt the truth about Jesus with fables and folklore like the resurrection. Rather,

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