This risen existence : the spirit of Easter

146 Pages·2015·2.567 MB·English

by  Gooder, Paula, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ

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Living in the power of the resurrection— o
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Although Easter is the most significant event in the Christian year,
we rarely take time to explore what it means in detail. So much
attention is given to Lent, yet the theology of resurrection is cen-
tral not only to what we believe about God and Jesus but to our
understanding of ourselves.
Following the pattern of her Advent book, The Meaning Is in the
Waiting, Paula Gooder leads us on a biblical exploration of the
resurrection accounts in each of the Gospels and in Paul’s writings,
as well as the account of the Ascension and coming of the Spirit at
t
Pentecost in Acts. h
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Arranged for daily reading through the seven weeks of Eastertide,
This Risen Existence opens with an extended reflection on ancient r
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and contemporary understandings of resurrection. Subsequent s
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chapters lead us on an exciting journey of discovery through the
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New Testament narratives in a quest to discover what resurrection

tells us about life after death, the end times, and what it actually e
means to be a Christian. x
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Paula Gooder is an honorary lecturer at the
University of Birmingham, Canon Theologian at
Birmingham Cathedral, a Reader in the Church
of England, and a member of General Synod.
She is the author of A Way through the Wilder-
ness (2009) and the best-selling Lent course,
Lentwise (2010), and is coauthor of the Pilgrim
course (2013).
Theology / Spirituality
This Risen Existence
Paula Gooder is a freelance writer and lecturer in bibli­
cal studies. She is Canon Theologian of Birmingham
Cathedral, a Reader in the Church of England, and a
member of General Synod.
Her numerous books include The Meaning is in the
Waiting: The Spirit of Advent (Canterbury Press), Lent­
wise: Spiritual Essentials for Real Life (Church House
Publishing), Exploring New Testament Greek: A Way In
(SCM Press), Searching for Meaning: An Intro duction
to Interpreting the New Testament (Westminster John
Knox) and A Way Through the Wilderness (Church
House Publishing).
She lives in Birmingham.

This Risen Existence
The Spirit of Easter
Paula Gooder
Fortress Press
Minneapolis
THIS RISEN EXISTENCE
The Spirit of Easter

Fortress Press Edition © 2015
Copyright © Paula Gooder 2012. All rights reserved. Except
for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of
this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior
written permission from the publisher. Visit http://www.
augsburgfortress.org/copyrights/ or write to Permissions,
Augsburg Fortress, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of
Christian Education of the National Council of the Church­
es of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.

Cover design: Laurie Ingram
Cover image © Jasmina007 / iStock
Author photo: Abha Thakor
Library of Congress Cataloging­in­Publication Data
Print ISBN: 978­1­4514­9806­6
eBook ISBN: 978­1­4514­9809­7

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum re­
quirements of American National Standard for Information
Sciences — Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materi­
als, ANSI Z329.48­1984.
Manufactured in the U.S.
contents
How to Use this Book ix
Introduction: Resurrection: A Reflection 1
1 Loose Ends: The Resurrection and Mark’s
Gospel 19
2 Dramatic Events: The Resurrection and
Matthew’s Gospel 28
3 On the Way: The Resurrection and Luke’s
Gospel 39
4 Lifted up: The Resurrection and John’s
Gospel 52
5 Life and Death: The Resurrection and the
Epistles 65
6 At the Right Hand of God: The Ascension 94
7 Spirit­filled Lives: Pentecost 110
Epilogue 126
Biblical Index 128
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For my dear friend Toni, who has,
on various occasions, been to me
the Spirit of Resurrection
when I needed it most.

how to use this book
This book is in some ways self­indulgent. Easter is
one of my favourite times of the year and resurrec­
tion one of the pillars of my faith. Yet many years I find
myself disappointed. We work our way through Lent,
reflecting deeply on issues of life and faith and, at last,
arrive at Easter Day, when so often we stop our study
and carry on as before. Many people read Lent books,
some of which explore Jesus’ journey to the cross but
then stop just before the resurrection or, occasionally,
mention the resurrection in their last chapter. I have for
many years longed for a book that would take me on a
journey through Easter to Ascension Day and Pentecost,
which would allow me to think more deeply and seriously
about what the resurrection means to me and the way in
which I live my life. (Such a book might also allow me to
rectify the fact that I never did quite finish that Lent book
I began six weeks ago!)
In the end, I decided that the only thing to do was to
write my own Easter book, which could accompany me
on a journey through the stories and ideas about resurrec­
tion we encounter in the Bible, and to ask what living a
resurrection life might mean. So this book is largely self­
indulgent, but I hope not entirely so. If you, like me, have
wanted to travel more deeply into what Jesus’ rising from
the dead really means, then I hope this book might be a
helpful companion on your journey.
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