Raised with Christ 4
Death is a topic that people often seek to avoid. But Adrian Warnock in Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything reminds us that the biblical writers have no such reticence. ”By reminding us so forcefully of the problem of death, the Bible prepares us to fully appreciate the importance of the solution that resurrection offers.” It’s been a while since we looked at Raised with Christ – what with Easter, preaching through Hebrews on Sundays and a wife undergoing extensive chemotherapy. But time to get back into this important book. And we’ll resume by considering the following chapters:
Chapter Six: Glimpses of Resurrection?
Chapter Seven: Resurrection before the Cross
Our writer looks at the Old Testament witness of resurrection, but through New Testament eyes:
- Gen 3:15 is is taken as implying the resurrection of Jesus;
- Gen 5:24 (transformation of Enoch) – taken to show that God has a purpose for the physical body in eternity
- Ex 3:6 cf. Lk 20:37f. God is not the God of the dead, but the living
- Gen 22:5 cf. Heb 11:17-19 (Abraham and Isaac)
- Deut 32:39 – taken as implying resurrection
- Deut 34:5f (Moses’ death and later appearance at the Transfiguration
- Historical books (1 Sam 2:6; 2 Sam 12:23; Elijah and Elisha raising the dead)
- The Psalter; Job; the Prophets.
Adrian concludes chapter six noting that OT people did believe in God raising the dead.
I think that the OT case is overstated – for the OT saint, the future after physical death was not particularly clear – that came with progressive revelation in the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the apostles. There was a hope for the future, including resurrection (see Dan 12:2f) but clarity came with the Lord Jesus.
In chapter seven, our writer considers the 1st century world in Palestine. The Pharisees held to a physical resurrection; even King Herod (Matt 14:2)! But as Adrian states, there is “scarcely a more dramatic statement in the whole of Scripture” when Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus spoke about the resurrection and the afterlife in His parables and emphasised His impending death and resurrection to His disciples. Of course, they did not grasp the significance of His words until after His resurrection.
Adrian concludes: “The resurrection of Jesus is the key event in human history…”
Amen to that. The Lord Jesus is the author of life; the source of eternal life; and the One who will raise the dead at His return. The challenge of the absolute certainty of the resurrection is to be connected and in union with the One who is Life.