Chapter Seven

GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD

THE EASTER EXPERIENCE

- The concept of life after death and resurrection was part of Jewish religious belief by the time of Jesus.
- The disciples' Easter experience must be understood within this Jewish framework.
- The exact nature of the disciples' Easter experience is uncertain: whether they saw, heard, or touched the risen
Jesus, or if it was a vision, dream, or interior experience.
- The New Testament describes complex and mysterious events where Jesus appears and disappears, and is not
immediately recognized by those closest to him.
- Some scripture, like Mark 16:12, suggests that Jesus "appeared in another form," indicating something different
about the experience.
 Scholarly Perspectives:
Skeptical View: Some scholars view the Resurrection as a subjective experience for the disciples, where
Jesus’ personality struck them in a new way, leading to the belief that he lives on. This perspective sees the
Resurrection as a product of faith, happening to the disciples, not to Jesus.
Mainstream Views:
 Reginald Fuller: Describes the resurrection appearances as visionary experiences of light combined
with revelatory meaning, not open to neutral verification, but revealing Jesus' eschatological and
christological significance.
 James M. Robinson: Suggests a similar experience of blinding light, based on Paul's conversion in
Acts.
 Dermot Lane: Interprets the resurrection as an imaginative reaction to a transcendent, visual experience
that gave rise to new insight, questioning the literal physical characteristics of the risen Jesus.
 Edward Schillebeeckx: Sees the Easter experience as a gracious gift of conversion through Jesus,
emphasizing that Jesus himself is the source of the experience, making it not merely subjective.
 Roger Haight: Argues that the core experience is the belief that Jesus lives in God's glory, an
experience accessible to all Christians, though grounded in the historical knowledge shared by the first
disciples.
- Ben F. Meyer distinguishes between the disciples' Easter experience, which was personal and not shared, and the
truth of that experience, which was shared and fixed in formulas for belief and confession.

TH EASTER TRADITION
- The Easter tradition in the New Testament has two main components:
 Easter kerygma (proclamation): The core message of Jesus' resurrection.
 Easter stories: Narratives recounting the events surrounding Jesus' resurrection.
THE EASTER LANGUAGE
Early Christian Beliefs and Language:
 The concept of resurrection was part of Jewish imagination, but the earliest language to describe Jesus' new
life included "exaltation" rather than just "resurrection."
 Some scholars suggest that the early kerygma (Q community) focused more on Jesus' presence and the
Parousia rather than the explicit Resurrection.
Exaltation Language:
 “Exaltation” describes Jesus being raised from the dead and enthroned at God's right hand (e.g., Acts 2:33,
Philippians 2:8-9).
 Exaltation is mentioned in various New Testament texts and often combined with resurrection language
(e.g., Romans 1:4).
 In the Fourth Gospel, exaltation involves both the cross and ascension to the Father.
Resurrection Language:
 The most common way to express Jesus' transition from death to life is through resurrection language,
using terms like “egeirein” (to awaken) and “anastanai” (to arise).
 Resurrection is portrayed as God’s action, validating Jesus’ life and ministry (e.g., Romans 4:25).
 Metaphorically, resurrection is described as awakening from sleep, emphasizing the mysterious nature of
Jesus' new life.
Metaphorical and Eschatological Language:
 Jesus’ resurrection is an eschatological event where he now exists in a divine dimension beyond time and
space.
 Paul's attempt to explain the nature of a spiritual body to the Corinthians results in using paradoxical
language, highlighting the contradiction inherent in the term "spiritual body."
 The term "sōma pneumatikon" signifies not the physical substance of the body but the divine dimension in
which it exists. It reflects a profound transformation beyond the material world's constraints.
Transmission of the Easter Message:
 The Easter message of Jesus' new life was communicated through both the Easter kerygma and Easter
stories.

THE EASTER KERYGMA

 The Easter Kerygma represents short, formulaic expressions of belief in the resurrection of THE EASTER
KERYGMA
 The Easter Kerygma represents short, formulaic expressions of belief in the resurrection of Jesus.
 deriving originally from early Christian preaching or liturgy.
 dates from the earliest days of the church, thus if predates the Gospels and even the letters of Paul.
 one of the most important examples of the Easter kerygma appears at the end of the first letter to the
Corinthians.
 it may originate in the community of Antioch in the thirties.
 Is a powerful and concise statement of the core belief in the resurrection of Jesus, which has been control to
Christian faith since its earliest days.
 is not a description of the disciples Easter experience, but a binding testimony to their Easter faith. It states
the belief of the early communities that Jesus has been raised and that there are witness.

EXAMPLES OF EASTER KERYGMA

This is Jesus God has raised up, and we are his witness. Exalted at God's right hand, he first received the promised
Holy Spirit from the father, then poured the spirit out on us.
- Acts 2:32-33
Therefore let the whole house of Israel know beyond any doubt that God has made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus
whom you crucified
- Acts 2:36
Thus may a season of refreshment be granted to you by the Lord when he send you Jesus, already designated as your
Messiah.
-Acts 3:20
The God of our father has raised up Jesus whom you put to death, hanging him on a tree. He whom God has exalted
at his right hand as ruler and savior is to bring repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
- Acts 5:30-31
The gospel concerning his Son, who has descended from David according to the flesh but what made Son of God in
power according to the spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead.
-Rom 1:3-4
If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you
will be saved.
-Rom 10-9
The Lord has been raised.... He has appeared to Simon.
- Luke 24:34

THE EASTER STORIES

 The Easter stories are a collection of narratives about the events surrounding Jesus' resurrection
 more elaborate and detailed, featuring dialogue, vivid description, and a focus on specific people, places
and events.
TWO TYPES OF EASTER STORIES
1. Tomb Stories
 focuses on the discovery of the empty tomb
 originated in Jerusalem
2. Appearance Stories
 focuses on Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection.
 Originated in Galilee
 The stories don't always agree with the Easter kerygma, for example, the women and especially Mary
Magdalene play a significant role in some of the stories.

EX. OF TOMB STORIES FROM THE GOSPELS

Mark 16:1-8
 This is the oldest Easter story.
 It only includes the discovery of the empty tomb, not any appearances of Jesus.
 The women at the tomb in Jerusalem are told by a young man that Jesus is going to Galilee, where they will
see him.
 According to Kasper, the tradition of the empty tomb is an ancient one but not an historical account of its
discovery.
  It represents a narrative that was the basis of a cultic ceremony used by the Jerusalem Christian community
to honor the tomb of Jesus.
 The tradition celebrating the empty tomb would make no sense if the tomb had not been empty.
Matthew's Gospel
 Matthew's Gospel expands on Mark's.
 It includes a story of Jesus appearing to the women on their way home from the tomb, another empty tomb
story involving the bribing of the guards, and an appearance to the
Luke's Gospel
 Luke, because of the literary and theological structuring of his two-volume work, transposes the
appearances to Jerusalem and its environs.
 They include the women at the tomb, with the additional detail of Peter running to the tomb, the story of
the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, an appearance to the eleven and others gathered in Jerusalem, and
a brief ascension account.
John's Gospel
 John's account is quite different from those of the Synoptics.
 Chapter 20, set in Jerusalem, has the stories of Mary Magdalene finding the tomb empty, and the
appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the disciples. Eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee.

REFLECTION ON EASTER FAITH

Historical Event or the product of Faith?
 Rudolph Bultman - the Resurrection is “ not an event of past history with a self evident meaning.” He sees it
as a “ mythical event pure and simple” used by the early Christians to ground their understanding of Christ as
the basis of their new and authentic existence.
 For Willi Marxsen, it means that the “cause” of Jesus goes on. “ For him , “ the miracle is the birth of faith.”
 Kasper says that the resurrection has a historical dimension in that it happened to the crucified Jesus of
Nazareth, but even this is even qualified language.
 In talking resurrection it is important to avoid two extremes:
1. The resurrection should not be understood as an “objective”, “this Worldly event”.
 The witness testify to their experience of the risen Jesus; they did not see the resurrection itself. The
resurrection is a “transhistorical event” one that takes place by definition on the other side of death.

 The Easter stories suggest this ; the disciples’ experience of the risen Jesus was very different from their
previous experience of him. Their initial reaction is hesitation, incredulity, fear, even doubt.

2. It would be a mistake to reduce the resurrection to a purely subjective event

 The Easter experience of the disciples is more than a mystical experience of the transcendent God; it is
extremely personal process in which Jesus discloses himself as present in a new way.

 Dermont Lane speaks of it as a “transforming experience”. “Those who had followed Jesus in faith come to
recognize him in a different way as risen in light of their transforming experience of his new, real,
personal presence”
 Kasper uses the category “ Revelation” which he sees as “ an entirely personal process which consist of Christ
making a person his own.
 Paul on the other hand uses the word “Revelation ( Apocalypsis) describe his own coming to know the risen
Jesus, speaking of God who “ was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles
( Gal 1:1-16)
If the resurrection is neither a purely objective, "already-out-there-now real" event, nor a subjective event, then how
should we think of it?
 The Resurrection is properly an eschatological event, that is a real event, but one that takes place on the other
side of space and time, death and history. Jesus lives now fully in God's future; his new, eschatological mode
of existence is radically different from that of his earthly life.
 In a felicitous phrase, Kasper says that through "Jesus' Resurrection and Exaltation a 'piece of the world'
finally reached God and was finally accepted by God."

Is "Faith" Necessary to Perceive the Risen Jesus?

A careful reading of the Easter stories shows that the disciples' Easter experience does not take away their freedom
or compel their belief. In all the appearance stories, there is a stress on their initial non-recognition, confusion,
doubt, and fear.
 Kenan Osborne observes that according to the New Testament, "belief in the resurrection of Jesus is not an
easy matter, either in the case of the disciples or in the case of the early Jesus communities generally."

 The cumulative effect of these stories is to suggest that the disciples' coming to believe in Jesus' new life was
more a gradual process than an instant recognition, compelling belief. He disclosed himself to his own; they
had to allow grace to lead them to faith.

 Osborne uses the category of "religious experience" as the category that describes their response to the "act
of God in their lives," bringing them to believe in the resurrection event.

 Haight speaks of the "transcendent character" of the Resurrection; "it is known as a revelatory religious
experience and not in an empirical, historical perception or an objective inference from such an event."

Even more, the risen Jesus manifested himself to his friends and disciples, to those who loved him and had opened
their hearts to them, those who had a relationship with him. In other words, he appeared to those who had "faith" in
its fundamental sense as an openness to God, however partial. And they had to respond in faith. Those whose hearts
were closed could not recognize the risen Jesus; he could not appear to them.

Presence, Empowerment, and Mission

 The Easter stories suggest that those to whom Jesus appeared were touched and changed. In other words, the
Easter experience of the disciples was transformative. From a theological perspective, the disciples experienced
forgiveness, acceptance, love, and empowerment.
 Certainly the male disciples who had deserted Jesus in his hour of need were burdened with guilt. They had
abandoned their teacher, one they had followed and loved. But Jesus greets them with a blessing of peace
(Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 21, 26). They are forgiven. Those who have seen the risen Jesus are missioned to
bring the Good News to the resurrection of others.
 The origin of the word "apostle" is apostolos means literally "one who has been sent."
 Mary Magdalene is sent to bring the Good News to the apostles and was known as the "apostle of the apostles"
(apostola apostolorum) from the early centuries of the Church.
 The transforming encounters with the risen Jesus are associated with encounters with the Lord in the Church,
encounters the later Church would call sacramental.
 The presence of Jesus is associated with the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins (John 20:22) and with the
meal that the church would call Eucharist (Luke 24:30-35) .
 The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), represents a narrative account of at
least one of the ways the community of disciples came to recognize the risen Jesus as present among them.
 The fellowship meal became the locus for the risen Lord's self-disclosure to his own. Certainly the centrality of
the Eucharistic meal in the gathering of the ekklēsia from the beginning as well as for the Church today that
 continues to recognize and encounter the risen Jesus in the breaking of the bread is supportive of this
hypothesis.

CONCLUSION
 The concept of resurrection entered Jewish tradition later and by Jesus' time was tied to eschatology (end
times and salvation).
 Christian preaching began with the disciples' Easter experience, rooted in their conviction that Jesus was
raised.
 The Easter kerygma (proclamation) provides no specific details but asserts that Jesus' resurrection is a
central belief.
 The Easter stories are not historical accounts but expressions of early Christian faith and testimony.
 The resurrection is an eschatological event, an act of God beyond death and history, marked by the empty
tomb and faith in the Church.
 Jesus appeared to those who loved him, transforming their understanding and sending them to spread
God’s message of new life.
 The resurrection shows that faithful lives, like Jesus’, are brought back into God’s love, which is stronger
than death.

GROUP MEMBERS:

LEXIN JAZZ MONTAYRE

 The Easter Experience
 The Easter Tradition
 The Easter Language
 Conclusion

CHRESTINE KATE VERZANO

 The Easter Kerygma
 The Easter Stories

JOEREN BASTASA
 Reflection on Easter Faith
o Historical events of the product of faith
o Is "faith" necessary to perceive the risen Jesus?
 Present, Empowerment, and Mission
In this chapter, we explore one of the most central events in Christianity—the resurrection of
Jesus. After his death, the disciples were confused and filled with fear, unsure of what to do
next. Some even left Jerusalem, disappointed that Jesus had not fulfilled their hopes of
redeeming Israel. However, their despair turned to belief when they experienced the risen
Jesus in a new and unexpected form. This belief in Jesus' resurrection became the foundation of
the Christian faith and continues to be a key part of Christian teachings today.

One of the first aspects to understand is the "Easter experience" that the disciples had. By the
time Jesus lived, many Jews already believed in life after death and resurrection. This means
they thought that even after someone died, they could come back to life.

- **Understanding the Disciples' Experience**: To really understand what the disciples felt on
Easter, we need to consider their Jewish background and beliefs. Their experiences were
influenced by what they already believed about life, death, and resurrection.

- **Uncertainty of the Experience**: It’s unclear exactly what the disciples experienced. Did
they really see, hear, or touch the risen Jesus? Or was it more like a dream or vision? This
uncertainty shows that their experience might have been different for each person.

- **Mysterious Events**: The New Testament describes strange occurrences where Jesus
appears and disappears. Sometimes, people who were very close to him didn’t recognize him
right away, adding to the mystery of what happened.

Let’s break down the different scholarly opinions regarding the disciples’ experiences after Jesus'
resurrection and their significance. Each scholar provides a unique perspective that helps us understand
the complexity of these experiences.

1. Skeptical View
Subjective Experience: Some scholars argue that the Resurrection was not a physical event but rather a
deeply personal experience for the disciples. They believe that after Jesus’ death, his personality and
teachings impacted the disciples in such a powerful way that they felt he was still with them in spirit.

Faith Product: From this perspective, the Resurrection is seen as something that happened **to the
disciples**—a product of their faith and belief. They didn’t necessarily see Jesus physically; instead, they
interpreted their feelings and experiences as evidence that he lived on. This view suggests that the belief
in the resurrection stemmed from the disciples’ emotional and spiritual reactions, rather than an actual
event where Jesus rose from the dead.

2. Mainstream Views

Most mainstream scholars reject the idea that the resurrection is solely subjective and instead offer
more complex interpretations.

- **Mainstream Views**:

- **Reginald Fuller**: Fuller suggests that the experiences the disciples had were like visions filled with
light and special meaning. He believes these experiences cannot be checked or proven like a scientific
fact, but they helped the disciples understand who Jesus was in a deeper way.

- **James M. Robinson**: Robinson has a similar view and suggests that the experience of light the
disciples had is comparable to Paul’s dramatic change in faith, which is described in the book of Acts.

- **Dermot Lane**: Lane thinks of the resurrection as an imaginative and emotional reaction to a
powerful experience that helped the disciples see things differently. He questions whether the risen
Jesus had physical features as he did before.
 - **Edward Schillebeeckx**: Schillebeeckx believes that the Easter experience was a gift that changed
the disciples. He emphasizes that the experience was deeply connected to Jesus himself, making it more
than just a feeling but a profound spiritual encounter.

- **Roger Haight**: Haight argues that the central belief is that Jesus lives on in God’s glory. He
believes this experience is something all Christians can understand, even though it was first grounded in
what the original disciples knew and believed. In other words, even though Christians today didn’t
witness the resurrection firsthand, their faith is based on the disciples' experience and testimony.

BEN F. Meyer: Meyer distinguishes between the **Easter experience itself**, which he believes could
not be fully shared or expressed, and the **truth of that experience**, which was communicated and
fixed in creeds and statements of belief. This means that while the original encounter with the risen
Jesus was unique and personal to the disciples, the understanding and significance of that experience
have been passed down and expressed in ways that others can understand and believe.

In summary, scholars provide a range of perspectives on the resurrection experiences of the disciples:

Skeptical View: Focuses on the subjective nature of the experiences, suggesting they were emotional
responses rather than physical encounters with Jesus.

Mainstream Views: Emphasize various forms of “visionary experiences”, transformative encounters,

and the profound meanings behind these events. They assert that the resurrection is a pivotal event that
shapes Christian belief and understanding.

Shared vs. Unshared Experience: Highlights the difference between the personal nature of the disciples'
experiences and the ways those experiences have been communicated through teachings and beliefs.

Understanding these perspectives helps us grasp the complexity of the Easter experience and its
significance for the development of Christian faith and theology.

________

The Easter tradition in the New Testament can be understood by looking at two key ideas: the Easter
*kerygma* (the proclamation of Jesus' resurrection) and the Easter stories. Understanding the
difference between these two can give us insight into what the disciples experienced after Jesus' death
and how early Christians understood this event.
Easter Language and Experience:

 The idea of resurrection (coming back to life after death) was already present in Jewish thought
before Jesus' time. But early Christians used different language to describe Jesus’ new life after
his death. While resurrection is a common way of expressing this, it wasn't the only term used.
In fact, early Christian communities, like the "Q" community, may not have explicitly mentioned
the resurrection in their teachings. Instead, they focused on the idea of Jesus being present in
Christian prophets and returning at the end of time (*Parousia*). Some of these communities
used words like "exaltation," meaning that Jesus was brought to life and given a special place of
honor next to God.

Exaltation Language:

Exaltation Describes Jesus’ Position with God:

*Explanation:* "Exaltation" means that Jesus, after being raised from the dead, was honored and given
a special place with God. The idea is that he now sits at the "right hand of God," which is a way of saying
he has a place of high importance and authority. This is mentioned in the book of Acts and also in
Philippians, where it says Jesus was "exalted" because he was obedient to God, even when it led to his
death on the cross.

Exaltation and Resurrection Are Often Linked:

*Explanation:* In many places in the New Testament, the idea of Jesus being exalted (honored by God)
is connected with his resurrection. The two concepts—Jesus being raised from the dead and then being
honored by God—are often talked about together. For example, in Romans 1:4, it says that Jesus was
declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection.

Exaltation in the Fourth Gospel (John’s Gospel):

Explanation: In the Gospel of John, the idea of exaltation includes both Jesus being lifted up on the cross
(his crucifixion) and then ascending to God after his resurrection. This means that his suffering and death
were part of his journey to be glorified and placed with God, emphasizing that both events are crucial to
understanding Jesus' complete transformation.
Resurrection Language:

1. **Resurrection Is the Most Common Way to Talk About Jesus’ New Life:**

*Explanation:* The most frequent way the New Testament talks about Jesus going from death to life is
with the word "resurrection." Two key terms are used: “egeirein,” which means "to awaken" or "to raise
up," and “anastanai,” which means "to arise" or "to stand up." These terms indicate that Jesus wasn’t
just brought back to life in the same way Lazarus was; instead, it emphasizes a deeper transformation to
a new kind of life.

2. **Resurrection Is God’s Action, Validating Jesus’ Life:**

*Explanation:* The resurrection is shown as something that **God** did for Jesus. It’s God's way of
confirming that Jesus’ life and mission were right and good. By raising Jesus from the dead, God gave
approval to everything Jesus did and taught. For example, in Romans 4:25, it says Jesus was raised for
our justification, meaning his resurrection proves his role in saving humanity.

3. **Resurrection as Awakening from Sleep:**

*Explanation:* The resurrection is sometimes described as if it were an awakening from sleep. This is a
metaphor, meaning it’s a symbolic way of talking about a deep mystery. Just like waking up from sleep
brings a person back to life, Jesus’ resurrection brought him into a new, transformed life beyond what
we can fully understand.

Metaphorical and Eschatological Language:

1. **Jesus' Resurrection as an Eschatological Event:**

*Explanation:* When we say Jesus' resurrection is an "eschatological event," it means it’s about the
ultimate future, beyond our regular experience of time and space. After his resurrection, Jesus entered
into a different kind of existence—one that's completely within God's realm, which is outside of the
physical world as we know it. He is now in a divine state, where the usual rules of time and space don’t
apply.

2. **Paul’s Paradoxical Language about the Spiritual Body:**

*Explanation:* In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he tries to explain what a "spiritual body" is. This idea
is tricky because it sounds like a contradiction: a "body" is something physical, while "spiritual" refers to
something non-physical. Paul uses this paradox to show that the risen body of Jesus is not like an
ordinary human body. It’s something beyond what we can fully describe, blending the physical with the
spiritual in a way we don’t usually understand.

3. **The Meaning of "Sōma Pneumatikon":**

*Explanation:* The Greek term "sōma pneumatikon" (spiritual body) doesn’t refer to the physical
material of a body, like bones or flesh. Instead, it refers to the state or realm in which this body exists.
After the resurrection, Jesus’ body exists in a completely different dimension, the divine dimension,
where it’s no longer bound by the physical limitations we experience. It’s a body, but it’s transformed
into something beyond the material world we know.

Transmission of the Easter Message:

1. **The Easter Message Spread Through Kerygma and Stories:**

*Explanation:* The message about Jesus' resurrection was passed down in two main ways. First,
through **kerygma**, which means preaching or proclaiming the message out loud to others. This was
a way to share the Good News that Jesus had risen and was alive in a new way. Second, the message
was shared through **Easter stories**, like those written in the Gospels, which gave more detailed
accounts of what happened after the resurrection. Both the preaching and the stories were important in
spreading the belief in Jesus' new life.

Conclusion

Explanation:

Late Jewish Tradition of Resurrection: The idea of resurrection in Jewish thought developed later,
particularly focused on the end times when God would bring salvation through the resurrection of the
dead.

Christian Faith and Resurrection: After Jesus' death, his disciples were convinced he had been
resurrected, a belief that became foundational for Christianity. This conviction is central to the message
of the New Testament, even though the details of their experience remain unclear.
Easter Kerygma's Role: The early Christian proclamation about the resurrection of Jesus wasn’t focused
on the specifics but was more of a confession of belief. The kerygma unified the early Christians in their
witness to Jesus’ resurrection.

Easter Stories as Testimonies of Faith: The resurrection stories in the Gospels are not meant to be
historical accounts but rather are written to inspire faith in others. They reflect the experience and belief
of the early Christian communities.

Resurrection as an Eschatological Event: The resurrection of Jesus is not simply a historical event; it is
seen as an act of God that transcends human history. It is part of God's plan for salvation and is marked
by faith, the empty tomb, and the testimony of the witnesses.

Transformation of Followers: Jesus’ resurrection was revealed to those who had opened their hearts to
him. This new form of encounter with the risen Jesus changed them, and they felt called to share God’s
message of hope and life with others.

God’s Love Stronger than Death: The resurrection does not promise that everyone will automatically be
raised. Instead, it emphasizes that faithful lives, like Jesus’, are embraced by God’s love, which triumphs
over death.