In this Easter episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and reflects on why Easter stands at the very center of the Christian faith. While many churches may not follow the traditional rhythms of the Christian calendar, nearly all Christians celebrate Easter, and for good reason. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the entire Christian story collapses. The resurrection is the lynchpin of our faith and the event that explains why Christianity exists at all. 

Drawing on insights from N. T. Wright, Derek explores the historical shock of the resurrection in the first-century Jewish world. In the time of Jesus, people believed resurrection would happen at the end of history not in the middle of it. That is why the empty tomb and the appearances of the risen Jesus stunned even his closest followers. As the apostle Paul insists in 1 Corinthians 15, if Christ has not been raised, then Christian preaching and faith are meaningless. 

The resurrection also reshapes Christian hope. Easter is not simply about life after death. It is about God’s promise of new creation. Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, God will one day raise his people and renew the whole world. The Christian hope is not escape from creation but the restoration of creation. Because resurrection is our future, what we do in the present matters. Our bodies matter. God’s creation matters. Easter proclaims that death has been defeated and that one day God will make all things new. 

Books Mentioned 

• The Resurrection of the Son of God — N. T. Wright 
• Surprised by Hope — N. T. Wright 

Scriptures Mentioned 

• John 11:23–24 
• 1 Corinthians 15:12–14 

 
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Order Derek's new Bible Study Series, God in the Neighborhood: 
Book 1: Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us || https://amzn.to/42jSZAs 
Book 2: Crucifixion: 8 Lessons on How God Saves Us || https://amzn.to/459bNUk 
Book 3: Resurrection: 8 Lessons on How God Restores Us || https://amzn.to/40T0sp0 

Learn more about Derek’s work as a pastor and author: https://derekvreeland.com 

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