What is it like?
God gives to us the same energy, strength and power that he used to raise Jesus from the dead.
I remember a time when I was speaking at a conference for church leaders. I had been speaking for several hours each day. Eventually we reached the tea break. I felt completely exhausted and drained. I went into the pastor’s study and picked up a copy of Eugene Peterson’s translation of the New Testament. I happened to open it at Ephesians 1:19–20: ‘The utter extravagance of his work in us who trust in him –endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death’.
In this passage, John emphasises that Jesus had truly died. When he had ‘completed’ (John 19:28a) the job he had been given to do, thereby fulfilling the scripture (v.28b), he cried out, ‘ “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit’ (v.30).
Death by crucifixion could be sped up by breaking the person’s legs. In Jesus’ case, this was not necessary, as he was already dead (v.33). ‘Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water’ (v.34). At death the clot and serum of the blood separates, and this would look like blood and water. John provides good medical evidence that Jesus was truly dead.
It may be that there were already people at the time arguing that Jesus did not really die, but only seemed to. This view came to be known as docetism. Mohammed was influenced by docetic views. The Quran states, ‘They did not kill him, neither did they crucify him; it only seemed to be so’ (Sura 4:157).
As against this view, John emphasises that Jesus really did die – he gives the physiological evidence. He also shows that Jesus’ death was in accordance with the will of God revealed in Scripture. ‘These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced” ’ (John 19:36–37).
The body of Jesus was wrapped in linen cloths and seventy-five pounds (34 kg) of spices. If anyone had removed the body, surely they would have removed the lot. No thief would have left the only items of value. Jesus certainly could not have taken the grave clothes off himself (humanly-speaking). Yet the disciples found ‘the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself’ (vv.6–7, MSG).
William Temple, the great Archbishop of Canterbury, points out that the language used is extraordinarily vivid, and ‘such as no invention would devise, no freak of imagination conjure up.’
On this evidence, it is hardly surprising that when the disciples saw, they believed (20:8). At this stage no one had even seen the risen Jesus. Yet the evidence of the state of the tomb and the absence of Jesus’ body was enough in itself to convince them of the resurrection.
When the New Testament speaks of God’s love, the focus is the cross. When the New Testament speaks of God’s energy, power and strength, the focus is the resurrection (Ephesians 1:19–20). We rightly think of power belonging to God. Yet we so easily forget that God’s power is also ‘for us who believe’ (v.19).
As Ben Cantelon’s song The Same Power puts it:
‘There is power in his name,
for the stone was rolled away,
mountains bow down before,
Jesus Christ our risen Lord.
Mighty Saviour,
lifted high
king forever,
Jesus Christ,
crowned in glory
raised to life
The same power lives in us.’
1. Thank You for putting me in an environment that varies a lot, because I get to meet different people every time.
2. Thank You for the art of food. It is amazing how You have blessed people with this talent to create one.
3. Thank You for giving me eyes to appreciate photos.
