Raised?

Did Jesus really rise from the dead? If so, what are the implications of this truth?

In Raised?: Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection, Jonathan Dodson and Brad Watson invite readers to explore their doubts about the resurrection in order they may more fully believe. The book was developed to be a resource for the church as well as a help to unbelievers.

Doubt from the Beginning

As Dodson (pastor of Austin City Life Church in Austin, Texas, and founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship) and Watson (pastor of Bread&Wine Communities in Portland, Oregon) tackle common doubts associated with the resurrection, they draw readers to a place where they can relate with those who first heard news of this doubted event. After all, we are not the first people in history to doubt the resurrection. Every first-century person would have scoffed at the notion of a bodily resurrection before the end of time. As Dodson writes, “Both Jews and Greeks living at the time of Christ would have found the resurrection of Jesus implausible. Both groups would have scratched their heads and wondered how in the world anyone would come up with such a crazy idea.”

Specifically looking at first-century Jews, the authors claim the idea of an individual person being raised from the dead (rather than all humanity) would have been completely unthinkable. (This is not entirely the case, though, since Herod the tetrarch believed Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead [see Matt. 14]. While an individual resurrection wasn’t a commonly accepted claim, it wasn’t beyond the realm of belief either.)

Heart of the Gospel

The resurrection lies at the heart of the gospel. In fact, if we desire to be faithful when we present the gospel, we must include a testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Dodson and Watson explain the historical effects of the resurrection by following the course of the gospel. Starting with creation and the fall, they explain the world’s need for redemption. As they follow the history of Israel, the need for a Savior becomes even clearer as they detail the people’s inability to save themselves. Only through the death and resurrection of Jesus can true redemption from sin be found.

Power of His Resurrection

In Philippians 2:10, the apostle Paul expresses his desire to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection. But what exactly is the power of the resurrection to those who believe? In Watson’s survey of the gospel’s implications, the power of the resurrection is explained as a new authority under Christ, a new identity in Christ, and a new mission for Christ. This power launches a new reality in which we can risk everything, knowing that what truly matters can never be lost. Because of the resurrection we can give, celebrate, and serve without reservation. Our hope, after all, is not in this world.

While Raised? helps answer many questions concerning the resurrection, I’m afraid it falls short in answering the questions of those presently suffering. It’s true that the resurrection enables us to serve and gives us hope for the future. But what does it mean for the woman torn by the pain of divorce or the man whose aging body is unable to work and provide for his family?

Although we have a new authority under Christ, the deeper reality isn’t simply that we serve a new master but that we’re sheltered under the wings of the One who has authority over death. If Christ truly conquered the grave, then he has the power to restore a broken heart and heal a pain-racked body. He is the author of life and the giver of new life.

God displayed his power in creation but even more so in the resurrection. He demonstrated that not only is he able to make something out of nothing, he is able to make the dead alive again. Here is the hope for a broken and hurting world today: God is in the business of restoring and healing. He came to give life in abundance—on earth as well as in the life to come (John 10:10).

Raised? is a fantastic resource for those on the outskirts of Christianity looking in and wondering what it’s all about. Dodson and Watson’s simple writing style reaches out to and opens doors for those who’ve never wrestled with the gospel implications of the resurrection. And though this book may not be the best resource for those seeking a more in-depth or apologetic treatment, it is a great place to start.