Did the Resurrection Really Happen? by Timothy Paul Jones is the most recent installment in The Gospel Coalition’s Hard Questions series. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to read and review it far in advance of Easter so I can recommend to my church families, social media followers, and blog subscribers. It is a perfect resource to have at-the-ready for Easter service attendees, skeptical friends or family members, or simply for our own edification and encouragement.
About the Book
The Gospel Coalition’s Hard Questions series seeks to answer common but crucial questions about Christianity. These short booklets are written so as to be accessible to nonbelievers and those new to the faith, as well as edifying to more mature Christians. Did the Resurrection Really Happen? tackles the most significant question of our faith. Scripture itself testifies to the fact that if Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith is in vain.
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:14
In Did the Resurrection Really Happen?, pastor and professor Timothy Paul Jones offers historical and logical evidence for the veracity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Short enough to be read in an hour, this book yet contains profound insight. For example, one section includes a print of ancient graffiti that mocks Christians for worshiping a crucified Lord, which indicates the historical reality of Jesus, the shocking nature of his death, and the counterintuitive devotion of his followers.
While all readers are likely to find this booklet thought-provoking, it is not necessarily written for Christians who are already convinced of the resurrection. Rather, it addresses those who do not believe, those who remain skeptical, and those who are struggling with doubt. Jones opens the booklet by describing his experience as a college student wrestling with faith-shaking questions, thus establishing empathy with his intended readers. He then narrates how he diligently investigated his questions and took his time coming to conclusions. This approach is highly effective, showing that the author understands doubters but is also willing to accept the conclusions best supported by the evidence at hand. His belief is not blind but, rather, supported by carefully gathered and well-reasoned information.
Accordingly, Dr. Jones defines faith as “a disposition of confidence that includes evidence.”1 He then quotes Augustine:
“They are very much in error…who think that we believe in Christ without any proofs of Christ.” – Augustine
After sharing his experience with doubt and regained (and reinforced!) belief, Jones explains that all human beings live by faith in something. The question is not ultimately whether or not we will have faith but whether or not we will have faith in something that aligns with reality. Thus, it is crucial to determine whether or not the resurrection fits with reality.2
“Every human being lives by faith. The question is not whether we have faith. The question is how closely our faith fits with reality.” – Timothy Paul Jones
Tweet
The following sections walk through some of the most convincing cases for the reality of the resurrection. These include the uniqueness of Jesus among world mythologies, the existence of first-hand witnesses, the historical place and time in which the resurrection is said to have occurred, and the unwavering belief of early martyrs.
My Review & Recommendation
At only sixty pages, this booklet cannot go into much depth on each of these points, which Jones acknowledges. However, he does an excellent job of pointing readers to additional resources and avenues of research. A list of suggested books also helps compensate for this booklet’s brevity.
While it left me hungry for more information, the brevity of Did the Resurrection Really Happen? is also one of its greatest strengths. It is small enough to be passed out to church visitors, curious friends, or questioning family members without overwhelming them. I too often make the mistake of recommending enormous tomes to people who are only marginally curious about the subject at hand. This booklet, by contrast, is highly informative while also short enough that it stands a better chance of being read by its recipients. If you work in ministry, it may be worth purchasing a stack to keep at your church’s welcome center or perhaps to give away to attendees—new and old—on Easter morning.
Really the only part of this booklet that I did not wholeheartedly applaud was the author’s forced Taylor Swift reference. (If you read it, you’ll see what I mean.) There was nothing wrong with the reference. I simply did not find it to add any value as an illustration and felt that the author was maybe trying too hard to be relatable. This is a very minor critique, however, and will not at all stop me from recommending this resource.
Perhaps the most powerful part of this book for me personally was its conclusion. Dr. Jones addresses his readers with loving frankness, identifying their deep yearning for resurrection:
“Whether or not you think the resurrection of Jesus happened, there is a longing for resurrection inside you. You yearn for a world where all things are made right and new. You long for a realm where death no longer reigns. You may not want Jesus, but you want resurrection.”3
This conclusion powerful because it’s true—isn’t it? Don’t we all long to be made new? To wake up and have our creaky, achy bodies leap out of bed with complete capability? To look outside and see bright greens where there previously there were only dull grays? To be shiny, clean, fresh, energetic, and happy? To be really and fully and eternally alive?
The question of whether or not Jesus really rose again from the dead is not merely a question of a historical fact but of whether our deepest yearnings for new life can be fulfilled.
And as Did the Resurrection Really Happen? explains, the evidence is on the side of a beautiful, hopeful, “Yes.”
Purchase Information
If Did the Resurrection Really Happen? sounds interesting to you or you think it might prove helpful to someone in your life, you can purchase it using this link. You might also enjoy exploring other Hard Questions booklets such as:
- What Does Depression Mean for My Faith? by Kathryn Butler
- Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church? by Jeremy Linneman
- Is Christianity Good for the World? by Sharon James
- Does God Care about Gender Identity? by Samuel D. Ferguson
- Where is God in a World with so Much Evil? by Collin Hansen
- Does Science Make God Irrelevant? by Hans Madueme
As a gentle reminder, any purchases made using the links in my blog posts help cover the costs of running my blog and social media. That said, consider ordering a book and supporting my work in one fell swoop!
Note: I received a copy of Did the Resurrection Really Happen? from Crossway in exchange for an honest review.
Ryanne Molinari 