Denver Seminary

MANY READERS OF ENGAGE MAGAZINE WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF READING BIBLE VERSES IN CONTEXT, OBSERVING THE SURROUNDING VERSES, PARAGRAPHS, AND CHAPTERS—AND ULTIMATELY THE FULL STORY OF THE BIBLE. The same is true of Christian doctrine. Each doctrine can be rightly understood and applied only when considered in its proper relationship to other doctrines. This is certainly true when thinking about and living rightly in relation to the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Jesus' resurrection is best understood in relation to the Grand Narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Culmination. 1 For our purposes, we will think about the resurrection of Jesus in relation to three things: what came before, what is yet to come, and our lives today. WHAT CAME BEFORE There are two contexts in relation to which we can think about what came before the resurrection of Jesus: one larger and one more focused. First, the historical context for understanding the earthly life and work of Christ extends all the way back to Eden. With Adam in view, Paul teaches that "just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people" (Rom. 5:18). Through Adam came death. Through Jesus Christ comes life. Rightly understanding this juxtaposition of death and life is fundamental to rightly understanding the necessity and significance of the resurrection of Christ. Adam's deadly disobedience is often referred to as "the Fall." In response to the Fall, God promises to exercise judgment on human beings and strike down the Tempter (Gen. 3:14–15). God's promise to defeat the Tempter occupies a very small portion of the text of Genesis 3—only the latter part of v. 15. However, it is incalculable in its significance, for it is the first indication by God that there is hope beyond this "Fall." In the context of the Grand Narrative, the most important historical event prior to the incarnated life and death of Jesus Christ that helps us understand His resurrection is the human race's fall, through Adam, into sinful disobedience. Without the Fall, there would not have been the death-by-crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Second, we need to consider the more focused, immediate context—the earthly sojourn of the incarnate Son of God. What came before the Resurrection was the Incarnation, the sinless life, and the crucifixion-death and burial of Jesus. The connection of these events to the Resurrection may seem so obvious as not to need stating. However, there is wisdom in the worship liturgies of those churches who weekly repeat, "Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ has risen. Alleluia!" 2 In the Incarnation, we were blessed with a gift unique in all of history: God taking upon Himself full, genuine humanity. The Christ who was resurrected was genuine human being. In the sinless life He lived, we have an earthed model of genuine human being, a life lived in obedience to God the Father. And because of this sinless life, His death and resurrection are of nothing less than life-giving significance. In the death and burial of this incarnated, sinless God the Son, we have nothing less than the fulfillment of His unswerving obedience to God the Father. And it is this death—not a mere "swooning" or feigned death, but a death-by- crucifixion—from which He was resurrected. By considering what came before, we better understand that Jesus' resurrection was the resurrection of a human being from death. 3 "The resurrection is more than simply a confirmation of the status and identity of Jesus to a human audience," observed I. Howard Marshall. "It is also God's action which undoes what evil human beings and the devil sought to accomplish by putting Jesus to death." 4 By considering what is yet to come, we gain a better understanding of what it means that He was resurrected to life. 8 FALL 2018 MAKES YOU THINK 1 "Culmination" refers to those beliefs which are sometimes referred to as "eschatology" or "end times." Its use reflects the fact that these future events are integral to the unfolding story of God's work, which continues eternally forward. 2 Incorporating the hope of the Culmination, other similar proclamations include, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!" 3 Referring here only to the humanity of Jesus is neither to overlook or deny the fact that He was both human and divine. Rather, particularly in the context of following the narrative unfolding from His incarnation, it is important for us to firmly grasp that, just as it was an incarnated— thus, human—Jesus who died, so it was the human Jesus who was resurrected. 4 I. Howard Marshall, "Raised for Our Justification: The Saving Significance of the Resurrection of Christ," in Tough-Minded Christianity, ed. William A. Dembski and Thomas Schirrmacher (Nashville: B&H, 2008), 250.

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