Alive - by Dave Smith

Dave Smith invites us on a journey of discovery to explore the most significant event in history
and how it can change our lives. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead changes
everything. It transformed people then and has been transforming people in every generation
since. With stories and reflections, and unpacking the eyewitness accounts preserved for us,
Dave shows us, in winsome and engaging ways, how we can be transformed too.
Bishop Ric Thorpe Bishop of Islington
There’s no greater claim than that someone has defeated death. If it’s true, hope stands tall
over our suffering and pain. Dave Smith unpacks this hope in a tangible way. Historically
grounded and personally inspiring; theologically deep and practically relevant, this book will
help you come alive in a new way.
Dr Andrew Ollerton Author of The Bible Course (Bible Society)
The message of Easter has never been more relevant than it is today. In Alive we have the
opportunity to grasp afresh the heart of the Christian faith. I wholeheartedly commend this
important book.
Dr Amy Orr-Ewing Honorary lecturer, School of Divinity, University of Aberdeen
This book is a must-read for anyone enquiring on the purpose of life. Showing how Jesus
transformed the lives of those he met, Dave also provides the reader with the opportunity to
get the keys to a life of purpose, peace, freedom, love and hope through practical steps and
insights.
Roy Crowne HOPE Together president
We live in a world that daily shows us evidence of its brokenness. We see it in our nations, our
families and in our lives. And yet, like a sharp ray of light piercing the darkness, the message
of this book brings hope to all who seek to go beyond merely existing, to truly living. With clarity
of truth, practical wisdom and spiritual guidance, David Smith shows us the true source of life,
the joy of truly living and the steps to take to truly be alive.
Tope Koleoso Senior pastor, Jubilee Church London
Dave and Karen Smith are inspiring examples of humble, faithful and visionary leadership. We
all have much to learn from them. I am so glad Dave has written this book.
Nicky Gumbel Alpha chaplain
Meeting the resurrected Jesus changes lives – this book will enable that introduction. Whether
you need to re-meet Jesus afresh or you’ve never met him, reading this book could change
your life.

Dr Rachel Jordan-Wolf Executive director HOPE Together
Alive is a must-read for anyone who feels like they are just going through the motions in this
modern word. In his compelling, honest and inspiring book, David Smith provides insight for
how to really live life to its full. Surrounded by social media, multiple channel TV and constant
noise, these pages provide a guide to understanding what is really important, to be able to
focus on the truth. A truth that sets us free to be the people God created us to be. To be and to
live, truly alive. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Justyn Rees Larcome CEO The Recovery Course
This resource will be helpful to those who might be exploring faith and to those who have been
Christians for a long time. Dave unpacks some key passages from the Bible with helpful
insights and illustrations, sharing from his own personal experience and leading the reader on
a journey of deeper understanding of what it could mean to be ‘fully alive’ both now and into the
future. The reader is invited to be curious, and much space is provided to ask honest and real
questions of both the biblical texts and how they might apply personally. I commend this book
to anyone with a desire to be more fully alive.
John Wright National director, Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland
I am so thankful for the leadership and ministry of Dave and Karen Smith. At the core of the
Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus. In Alive, Dave masterfully uses personal
experience, historical facts alongside powerful insights from the scriptures to stir up desire in
the heart of the reader to encounter the risen Jesus either for the first time or all over again.
This book will be a blessing to you.
James Aladiran Founder, Prayer Storm
Dr Dave Smith has penned another great book (how does he do it?), encouraging the reader
to live ALIVE! All too often, it can feel like life itself has betrayed us. Good memories and bad
‘forgetteries’ can cause us to lose sight of the great moments in life and focus on the
hardships and challenges we may have faced over the years. Numbness can ensue, and
appreciation for life fades. Alive is a practical guide to living with energy, vitality and purpose.
It’s a must-read for those who want to live ‘fully alive’!
Pastor Glyn Barrett Senior pastor !Audacious Church, national leader Assemblies of God
Great Britain, Empowered 21 Western Europe chair
Many people know that life just isn’t working – but don’t really know why or how to fix it. They
also have a sense that there is more to this world than meets the eye. This book provides
great insight as to what’s really going on and how to take steps towards living a life that
actually works and that really matters. A life that can authentically be described as peaceful

and fulfilled. A life where it’s possible to smile at the future, knowing that the past is forgiven,
the present makes sense and the future is secure. Read this book with an open mind and an
open heart.
Ness Wilson Pioneer UK leader
In a cultural moment where all kinds of people are becoming curious again about Jesus, Alive
takes us on a deep dive into the reality and transformative power of the resurrection life that
Jesus promises to all who would open their heart to him. This accessible and engaging book
will help many receive that new life and begin a journey that empowers them not just to
survive, but to flourish and thrive as they discover their God-given purpose.
Chris Cartwright General superintendent, Elim Pentecostal Churches
Dr Dave Smith can be found on social media as follows:
drdavesmithuk
drdavesmithuk
drdavesmithuk

Copyright © Dave Smith 2024
First published in 2024 by Hope Together, The Basement Office, 2 Fournier St, E1 6QE
hopetogether.org.uk
This book was created and produced in partnership by Hope Publishing and KingsGate Community Church.
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ISBN: 978-1-7393628-8-1
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I want to say a huge thanks to a number of people. First, to Roy Crowne and Rachel
Jordan-Wolf (HOPE UK), Andrew Ollerton (Bible Society) and Jasmine Allen (KingsGate
UK), who have been instrumental in helping to shape this project. Secondly, I’d like to
thank leaders from within KingsGate who, on many occasions, have helped me sharpen
the content: notably Galia Ben-Israel, Chris and Annabel Sharman, Martha French,
Simon Deeks and Josh Gardiner. Thirdly, I’d like to thank Claire Musters, who has
provided excellent editorial guidance in helping to finish this book!
Finally, I want to give special thanks to my wife, Karen, for her wonderful, loyal love over
38 years of marriage, and to our amazing church family at KingsGate Church, who
continue to demonstrate how the resurrected Jesus transforms lives today.

INTRODUCTION
FULLY ALIVE
I wonder if you can remember a time when you felt particularly alive?
One example springs to mind for me, because it was when I was
writing a draft of this book! I was enjoying a three-week break in a
beautiful apartment in Plettenberg Bay on the Western Cape (South
Africa). It was January, so summer there. The days were long, the
weather was generally sunny and warm, and the setting was
stunning. Walking barefoot along the sandy beaches, exploring the
surrounding countryside, eating good food and having plenty of time
to pray, study, meditate and write seemed like an oasis – I felt
spiritually, emotionally and physically alive.
But life is not always so idyllic. Several months later I’m writing
again, while grieving the very recent loss of my dear mum. You might
be experiencing a similarly challenging situation or season – whether
it be the death of a loved one, the breakdown of a relationship,
pressure at work or the loss of work, an acute sense of
disappointment, a paralysing fear or a severe sense of failure – all of
which can leave you feeling anything but fully alive.
But feeling ‘dead’ or ‘alive’ is not just circumstantial. It’s possible to
still thrive in tough times, and it’s possible to feel dissatisfied even
when outwardly life is relatively easy. Take Justin Bieber, for
example, someone with so much going for him, who posted on his

Instagram a while back: ‘You wake up one day and you’re unhappy
and you have all this success in the world, but you’re just like: Well,
what is this worth if I’m still feeling empty inside?’ Such feelings of
emptiness are not a celebrity problem, they are a human problem,
which can be amplified by FOMO – the fear of missing out. Social
media fuels this even more: seeing people’s ‘highlight reels’ can lead
to us often feeling as if we’re missing out and someone is having a
better time than us.
All of this can be very wearying and can leave us feeling very
unfulfilled. Hence, there is in every one of us a longing to experience a
better, fuller life. This leads to the first key question that we’ll be
exploring throughout this book: How can you and I experience a
better, fuller life right now?
FULLY ALIVE NOW
A key focus of this book will be looking at five basic longings that we
as humans need to have satisfied, if we’re going to feel ‘fully alive’.
These are the need to experience true love, hope, peace, freedom
and purpose. Imagine how much richer your life would be if:
• instead of living with a sense of rejection, insecurity or a lack of
self-worth, you knew at a deep level what it was to be completely
and unconditionally loved.
• instead of being weighed down by past disappointments, you were
filled with a new sense of hope.
• instead of feeling overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, you
experienced a tremendous sense of peace.

• instead of being burdened by guilt, shame and failure, you enjoyed
a new sense of freedom.
• instead of living without a real and clear sense of meaning, you
found and fulfilled your true life purpose.
Wouldn’t that make you feel more ‘fully alive’?
Where can we go to find these all-important qualities? A few years
ago, while researching in order to write a previous book on the whole
subject of wellbeing, 1 I came across a particular field known as
‘positive psychology’, which is the science and study of life’s positive
qualities. It examines human thoughts, feelings and behaviour, with a
focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, building the good in life
instead of simply repairing the bad. Barbara Fredrickson, in her book
Positivity, provides a good summary of this, highlighting the
importance of cultivating ‘Ten Forms of Positivity’: joy, gratitude,
serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe and love. 2
There’s much that we can learn from this approach. It has been
scientifically proven, for example, that if we consciously cultivate a
sense of gratitude, we’re more likely to feel better about ourselves
and our lives in general. 3 More broadly, seeking to improve our
mental and emotional wellbeing through adopting certain practices, or
receiving the wise input of others, is clearly a good thing.
But this isn’t the full answer. The problem with adopting a purely
psychological approach is that, while it may help propel us to be
‘successful’ in certain areas of our lives, we can end up still feeling
ultimately unfulfilled. No matter how many self-help books we read,
holidays we go on, relational boundaries we put in place, we still end
up unsatisfied.
You don’t have to subscribe to a particular faith to believe that

eyond our physical and psychological selves there is a deeper part
of us, sometimes described as ‘spiritual’. The rising number of books
and films with a supernatural theme, and the increase of mindfulness
practices with a spiritual dimension, highlights a growing awareness
of this ‘other’ part of us. And because we’re integrated beings, being
spiritually ‘well’ is key to helping us experience wellbeing in every
other area of our lives. That’s why a central focus of this book is to
explore how we can come ‘alive’ and be ‘fully alive’ spiritually.
But we mustn’t stop there. Even if we do somehow manage to enjoy
greater dimensions of love, hope, peace, freedom and purpose, we
live in an imperfect world, with imperfect people (including ourselves),
which means that not all our desires will be satisfied all of the time.
As CS Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia has highlighted,
this lack of ultimate satisfaction in this life and in this current world
points to the fact that we were made for another life and another
world. 4 So, it’s insufficient for us to simply look at what it means for
us to be fully alive now. Rather, we need to explore a second key
question that ultimately has even longer-lasting consequences: Is
there such a thing as life after death and, if so, what will that be
like?
ALIVE AFTER DEATH
As a child, I don’t remember giving too much thought to death and
what happens, if anything, beyond that. Then when I was 16, my
beloved grandfather unexpectedly died. Aside from having to deal
with new, unpredictable feelings of bereavement at his loss, I also
had to cope with my first funeral. I still remember driving up to the
crematorium in north London and noticing as we arrived ‘smoke’ going
up (from a previous funeral). It all felt very dark and disturbing.

Death can be such an uncomfortable subject. We may not like to
think about it much, but it’s a fact we all must face. This fear of death
is, in part, predicated on the fact that as human beings we
instinctively view life as precious. Most of us value our physical health
and do all we can to preserve it for as long as we can. Legally we
seek to protect life: there are the severest of penalties for those who
take other people’s lives. Nevertheless, at some point in our lives we
will all cease to breathe. At this point, we are no longer alive;
physically, we are simply dead.
So, the question is, what, if anything, happens to us beyond death?
This may not be something that you have considered much, or it may
be a topic that you have given much thought to. It’s better for us to
think about it now before it’s too late!
Let’s consider some of the most widely held beliefs about what
happens after death. 5
1. Complete annihilation This is the belief that there is no such thing
as life after death. We live, we die and that’s it.
2. Reincarnation This is the idea that we’ll somehow come back in
another life form. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs: from
Hinduism, to various forms of New Age philosophy through to a
popular nature-religion, where it is believed at death one is absorbed
into the wider world.
3. Ghosts and spiritism This is the belief that we can somehow
contact those who have died, as they live on in a spirit world and that
we, too, will end up as spirits that live in this way. This can include a
sense of ongoing ‘connection’ with close relatives or even with famous
celebrities, like Elvis.

4. A future life in heaven Widely associated with Christianity and
Christian teaching, this fourth view is that we will go to heaven when
we die. Broadly speaking this ‘Christian’ view of a future life in heaven
centres on the belief that when we die physically, our inner selves
don’t die but go to heaven to be with God.
For me, from childhood I have been aware that there is a ‘nonmaterial’
part of me and that in some way I will somehow continue to
exist beyond physical death; hence I’ve never been inclined to believe
in annihilation. I could also never really get my head around
reincarnation – the idea of coming back in another life form seemed
strange and unappealing. And while I’ve always been open to the
possibility of non-material spiritual beings, the idea of somehow
contacting the dead felt a potentially dangerous way of dabbling with
‘the dark side’, so I’ve never contemplated it. Growing up, I took
some degree of comfort in the ‘Christian’ view of the afterlife: heaven.
I never really thought deeply about what this would look like, nor
about how I could really be sure that I was going there. But it felt the
most likely and comforting option and infinitely preferable than its
alternative, hell.
But what if none of the four popular beliefs are true – or the whole
truth? What if the reality is far more wonderful? What if rather than
death being the end of our existence, it is somehow the doorway into
a new kind of life which is, as CS Lewis suggests, the fulfilment of all
our deepest longings in this life?
One of the key themes of this book is that there is such a thing as
being alive after death, which starts with something akin to the fourth
view – that we will spiritually ‘go to heaven when we die’ – but ends
with something far greater: a new physical existence in a newly
remade world. 6

The core premise of this book and the conviction of billions of
people throughout history is that the answer to the questions of how
we can come fully alive now and for eternity, is found by answering a
third question: Did Jesus Christ come alive again after death and
is he still alive and able to transform our lives both now and
forever?
JESUS IS ALIVE
You may immediately be thinking: why bother with Jesus and how
does what happened to him have any relevance for my life today?
The first answer is because of who Jesus is and what he claimed to
be. Here are a couple of his famous sayings, focusing on his power
to give us life in all its fullness: ‘I have come that they might have life,
and have it to the full’ (John, 10:10). Or as another translation puts it:
‘I came so that they can have real and eternal life, more and better
life than they ever dreamed of’ (John 10:10, The Message). Then,
notice how he promises us the prospect of being fully alive beyond
death: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me
will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me
will never die’ (John 11:25–26).
These are stunning claims, but are only relevant and true if Jesus
himself rose from the dead and is alive today. There’s a story of a
wife and her continually grumpy husband who were on a holiday in
Jerusalem. While they were there, the husband died. The undertaker
told the wife, ‘You can ship him home for £5,000 or you can bury him
here in the Holy Land for only £150.’ The woman thought about it for
a minute, then decided she would have him shipped home. The
mortician asked the woman, ‘Why would you spend £5,000 to ship
your husband home when he could be buried here in Jerusalem for

only £150?’ The wife replied, ‘Long ago a man died here, was buried
here and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can’t take that
chance.’ 7
This funny story makes a serious point: that nearly 2,000 years ago
there was a historical figure called Jesus of Nazareth, who lived a
remarkable life, died on a Roman cross and was buried in a tomb in
Jerusalem. Yet three days later, on what’s sometimes called the first
Easter, his body was absent from the tomb, and he began to appear
to hundreds of people – very much alive again.
So, do people still believe in the resurrection of Jesus, especially in
the increasingly secularised West? A recent survey of UK adults
revealed that:
• 16 per cent of UK adults agreed with this statement: ‘I believe the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead happened word-for-word as
described in the Bible.’
• 29 per cent resonated with: ‘I believe in the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead, but the story in the Bible contains some content
which should not be taken literally.’ (The total between these two
groups is therefore a remarkable 45 per cent.)
• 41 per cent self-identified with: ‘I do not believe in the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead.’
• 14 per cent were in the ‘don’t know’ category. 8
Whatever your views right now, my earnest hope is that this book will
be helpful and relevant for you.
First, if you identify with the 16 per cent who still hold to the biblical
account of the resurrection, then there is still a hugely important
journey of discovery for you!

If you identify more with the 29 per cent who believe in the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead but don’t believe in the literal
biblical record of this, then I hope that us going back to the original
manuscripts will help you gain greater confidence in the accuracy and
authenticity of the Gospel stories, as well as appreciate more fully
the stunning relevance of the resurrection.
I am mindful that you may be reading this currently as one of a
significant number who either ‘don’t know’ or currently ‘do not believe’
in the resurrection. Hence, for your sake, I want to start with a
historical approach. The best source material for exploring the
historicity of the resurrection is found in what are known as the four
Gospels (Matthew, Mark, 9 Luke and John), the book of Acts and 1
Corinthians 15. 10
Minimal facts of the resurrection
One of the most helpful starting points is to consider certain
‘minimal facts’, which most scholars, sceptical and sympathetic,
agree upon. 11 Although there’s some variance as to what those
facts are, here’s what’s agreed upon by most, even though two
of them (marked by*) are less universally attested by critical
scholars:
1. Jesus Christ was a real historical figure, whose life and
teaching still impacts much of Western civilisation today. He
also did ‘works’ that he and his followers considered to be
miraculous and pointed to him somehow being a special agent
from God; and he made ‘predictions’ concerning his forthcoming
death and resurrection.
2. Jesus Christ died by crucifixion.

3. On the first Easter morning, the body of Jesus was absent
from the tomb where he had been laid.*
4. Jesus’ disciples began to have experiences that they thought
were appearances of the risen Jesus.
5. One of the greatest opponents of Christianity, Saul of
Tarsus, had a similar experience that transformed him into
being one of the new faith’s greatest proponents.
6. Jesus appeared to his half-brother James, who as a result
became not just a follower, but a leader of the church in
Jerusalem.*
7. The disciples not only lived the rest of their lives for their new
belief in the resurrection, but many of them were martyred for
their convictions. The broader impact was that, within a few
centuries, Christianity went from a small Jewish sect to
becoming the predominant faith in the Roman Empire. 12
If you would like to start by considering in more detail the evidence
for the historicity of Jesus, you can turn to the section at the back
entitled ‘Historical sources about Jesus’ (Appendix A). If you would
like to explore more about the background concerning Jesus’ life and
death, as well as a summary of the evidence concerning the empty
tomb and Jesus’ appearances to his disciples, you can turn to the
appendix at the back entitled ‘Historical facts about Jesus’ (Appendix
B). Jesus’ appearing to his brother James and the longer-term impact
on the disciples 13 are outside of the confines of this book, but there
are plenty of resources available if you want to explore these more
fully. 14

ABOUT THIS BOOK
Whether you’re someone who would consider yourself a seeker or an
explorer, a nominal Christian or a fully committed Christian, hopefully
this brief overview, together with the further information, will give you
a firm foundation for us to build on. Our focus in the rest of the book
will be on six of the key appearances of Jesus (two of them in one
chapter). As you read the original source material, bear in mind that
while they were first written to give us evidence for the resurrection,
they also show us how Jesus uniquely transformed the lives of all
who met him – filling them with new love, hope, peace, freedom and
purpose. As author and preacher Tim Keller highlighted: ‘Jesus
recognized temperamental differences and met each person at their
point of need...He gives everyone what they need when they need
it…What Jesus is telling us all is this: “I know you individually. Your
path is going to be your own. It’s not necessarily going to be like that
of the person next to you. I want you to follow not them but me.”’ 15
The main difference is that whereas the first-century witnesses saw,
heard and sometimes touched Jesus physically, we now experience
him spiritually – through the real, unseen person of the Holy Spirit,
who comes to fill us with the loving presence and power of God.
The great news is that if Jesus is still alive, he can transform our
lives today – filling us with all that we need to live life to the full: with a
love that is greater than our insecurities; with a hope that is greater
than our disappointments; with a peace that is greater than our fears;
with a freedom that is greater than our failures and with a purpose
that infuses our lives with real meaning.
As well as the primary focus on how Jesus being alive can help us
become more fully alive now, we’ll also keep in the background our

second question of how Jesus’ resurrection impacts upon our future
beyond death. Although the Gospel stories don’t major on this
question, we’ll see how the very nature of Jesus’ own resurrection
existence contains clues about what our post-mortem life might be
like, too. Then in the final chapter, through the lens of Paul’s
magnificent resurrection passage in 1 Corinthians 15, we’ll get a
clearer picture of our own glorious future, too!
So, as you read these dramatic stories, I want to encourage you
not only to open yourself up to receiving new information, but to
experiencing life transformation. Wherever you are at today, I want to
invite you to come on this journey. Rather than rushing through each
section, I deliberately invite you to pause and reflect, in the hope that
this book will not only inform your thinking but will change your life!

CHAPTER ONE
TRANSFORMED BY LOVE

At 2.20pm, 5 April 1982, I ‘fell in love’! I’d had similar things happen
before. Several years previously, when I was about 11, I had a
childhood infatuation with a pretty girl who never became aware of
my ‘love’. Once I hit early teens these romantic experiences became
more frequent, leading to a more serious relationship – one that I was
not emotionally or psychology ready for – which resulted in an
inevitable break-up that led to much heartache and tears on both
sides. But this time in 1982, it was somehow different. I was now 18,
waiting in a queue at Heathrow Airport when I saw this 19-year-old
girl called Karen – and, for me at least, it was ‘love’ at first sight! It
turned out that we were flying to the same destination. We soon
began a whirlwind romance, with all its highs and lows, before I
ended up asking her to marry me – and thankfully she said yes.
Nearly four decades of marriage later, not only do we still enjoy our
romance, but our love has broadened and deepened – to include a
faithful friendship, a long-term partnership in parenting,
grandparenting and ministry, and a love for each other that,
notwithstanding our significant differences and human frailties (mine
particularly!), is characterised by a deep sense of care for each
other’s wellbeing.
Six months after that meeting at Heathrow, I had another encounter
that had an even greater transforming impact on my life. I had just
gone to university, and even though I was enjoying myself, was ‘in
love’, had met some great friends and was looking forward to my
studies and my life ahead, I was aware that there was still something
missing – like a hole in my soul. No matter how many substitutes I
had tried to fill it with, I was conscious of an inner emptiness. All that
began to change when I accepted the invitation of some college
friends to attend a large church in the centre of Oxford. During the

singing of the final hymn, I became aware of the loving presence of
God right there with me, inviting me to open my life to him. Then,
after several months of an internal battle, I finally surrendered,
prayed a prayer and invited the risen Jesus Christ to come into my
life by his Spirit. Immediately I felt like I’d come truly alive, for the first
time in my life, and experienced a new sense of peace, joy and of
being deeply and unconditionally loved.
Your story will be different to mine, but one thing we have in
common is that we all need to know and experience ‘real’ love.
Drawing on recent research, psychologist Barbara Frederickson
writes: ‘What you long for is love. Whether you’re single or not,
whether you spend your days largely in isolation or steadily
surrounded by the buzz of conversation, love is the nutrient that your
cells crave: true positivity-charged connection with other living
beings...Love…not only feels great but is also life-giving, an
indispensable source of energy, sustenance, and health.’ 1 Put simply,
love is the first characteristic we need to be and feel fully alive.
The question is, what kind of love? This is where our English word
for ‘love’ has its limitations. So, when I say, ‘I love golf’ it’s not on the
same level as saying to one of our girls, ‘I love you and am so thrilled
that you are my daughter.’ There’s a difference, too, between
romantic love, the comradeship and accepting love of friends and the
self-sacrificing love of a stranger to someone in need. Put simply, we
need more words for love than we have at our disposal. It’s been
said that the Arctic peoples have ‘fifty-two names for snow because it
was important to them: there ought to be as many for love’. 2
One of the languages that contains a more sophisticated vocabulary
for love is ancient Greek, the language in which the New Testament
was written. 3 So, for example, the Greek word ‘eros’ was primarily

used to refer to romantic or sexual love. In its right context ‘eros’ is
essentially a good thing – a gift from God that is to be enjoyed. The
problem is that we’re imperfect human beings and so we can tend to
make a real mess of it. A bit like giving a child a powerful car to drive,
we often aren’t safe enough to handle the potency of this kind of love.
When betrayal and break-ups take place, the collateral damage can
be massive, leaving a trail of rejection and brokenness that impacts
many. And what of those who never end up fully experiencing such
romantic or sexual love – either through circumstance or choice –
does that mean they are somehow not loved or loving and they miss
out on a fundamental aspect of love? Significantly, the main character
of this book, Jesus Christ, was celibate and yet was the most truly
fulfilled and ‘alive’ person in history.
Like many, Jesus experienced a second type of ‘love’, covered by
the Greek word ‘philia’, which can be translated as ‘friendship’. It has
been proven time and again that having a few close friends is a key
factor to us enjoying security and flourishing as human beings. 4 There
are, though, limits to this kind of love, too, since even the best of
friends and closest of family relationships can disappoint and no
human being, however good, can ultimately meet our deepest love
needs.
There is, however, one perfect love that is available to us all: the
love of God. To describe this ‘love’ the early Christians primarily
chose another Greek word, ‘agape’, and filled it with new meaning. 5
Sometimes ‘agape’ can be used more broadly to simply mean ‘to
regard with affection’, but very often it describes a particular kind of
unconditional, sacrificial love that is focused on meeting the needs of
the other person. This self-giving love is at the centre of the famous
passage, frequently used at weddings: ‘love is patient, love is kind…

love never fails’, before concluding that of the three great virtues of
‘faith, hope and love…the greatest of these is love’ (1 Corinthians
13:13). This ‘agape’ love is not something that we can simply
generate from within ourselves, but ultimately comes from God
himself who ‘is love’ (1 John 4:8).
The Scriptures are so full of this theme that St Augustine observed:
‘The whole Bible does nothing but tell of God’s love.’ 6
PAUSE AND PONDER
As you look at your life, what has your experience of love
been like? Can you identify with the descriptions of
different types of love? Have you ever known or sensed the
presence of God’s love in your life?
In this chapter we are going to be looking at one of the most beautiful
stories of love in human literature – the story of Mary Magdalene –at
the heart of which is her experiencing the real ‘agape’ love of God
through Jesus Christ.
So, who was Mary and what can we learn from her about
experiencing God’s love in our own lives?
THE FREEING POWER OF LOVE
Mary was an ‘unlikely candidate’ for the love of God. That is, unless
you know what God is really like!
Hers was a popular Jewish name, so in their typical accuracy, the
Gospel writers distinguished between her and other ‘Marys’, including
Mary, Jesus’ mother, by calling her ‘Mary Magdalene’ – most likely
because she came from the ancient Galilean fishing community of
Magdala. Mary Magdalene has become one of the most well-known

and controversial biblical characters in the Bible. 7 However, if we go
back to the original New Testament texts, the only thing we can be
sure of is that Mary from Magdala was someone who was delivered
from ‘seven demons’ when she met Jesus (see Luke 8:2, Mark 16:9).
We don’t have any more details, but the clear indication is that before
she met Jesus, Mary was trapped and lost in darkness, a prisoner to
this evil. It would have governed her life and meant that she was
never completely in control of herself or able to be the person she
was meant to be. (You and I don’t have to experience what Mary did,
to know what it means to feel trapped or oppressed.) So how did
Jesus respond? With an ‘agape’ love; instead of shunning this
awkward woman with her dark problems, he searched her out and
set her free.
With this newfound freedom, Mary also gained a new purpose and
a new community. She was accepted into the followers of Jesus,
given dignity and position. She was most likely a woman of some
means as she, along with other women, helped to materially support
Jesus and his disciples (Luke 8:3). Mary loved Jesus as the centre of
her world, not the ‘eros’ kind of love between a man and a woman but
an ‘agape’ love between the Son of God and a human being. 8 Mary
Magdalene came alive, because she had experienced true love by
meeting Jesus.
This story of being beloved reminds me of a much-loved childhood
teddy bear, called Horace, who belonged to my younger brother! On
one occasion we were on a family holiday, my brother was about two
and Horace went missing, leading to a several hours long, all-out
search of the house and grounds, only to find the missing bear hiding
in a teapot! Horace wasn’t valuable because he was particularly
loveable – in fact he was rather smelly and worn – but his worth

came from the fact that someone loved him greatly. Like Mary, you
and I have great worth – not so much because of who we are
(although each of us is made in the image of God), but because of
who Jesus is and because of his great love for us. As with Mary, if
we’re lost, he goes on an all-out search until he finds us. And, we
could add, he sent Christ to die for our sins, and forgive, free and
transform us.
This is not just something to know about intellectually, but rather
something to experience on a deeply emotional, psychological and
indeed spiritual level. Becoming a Christian is just the beginning of a
journey where we can be increasingly transformed by the power of
God’s love. His love can be known with certainty and be the reality
we build our whole lives on.
PAUSE AND PONDER
How do you respond to the thought that there is a God who
loves you unconditionally, and that he sent his Son, Jesus
Christ, to reveal that love to you and set you free?
THE SEEMING ‘ABSENCE’ OF
LOVE
I am sure we have all experienced times or seasons when it seems
as if God is absent. It may be that you’ve never known God or
experienced his loving presence with you. Or it may be, like countless
followers of Jesus, you’ve experienced a season of spiritual dryness
when God seemed partially or fully absent. If so, Mary’s experience,
even though unique (witnessing first-hand the death and burial of
Jesus) and short-lived (lasting only three days) – has something to

teach us about the seeming absence of the Lord.
We can only imagine the deep sense of grief and shock that Mary
felt as she woke up on that first Easter Sunday morning. While she
had probably heard Jesus speak ahead of time of the sufferings he
would endure, she was most likely traumatised by the memories of
seeing him tortured and crucified. That, along with the terrible finality
of it all, as she saw him being buried in the tomb (Matthew 27:55–
61), would have left a huge hole as she experienced the awful
absence of the One whose love had so transformed her. Yet Mary’s
love for Jesus caused her to act anyway. She (along with some other
women disciples) 9 decided, out of love, to go and anoint Jesus’ body.
We read about this in John 20.
BIBLE EXTRACT: THE EMPTY TOMB
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary
Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed
from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other
disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of
the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’
3
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running,
but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent
over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
6
Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the
tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had
been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place,
separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the
tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not
understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then
the disciples went back to where they were staying.
(John 20:1–10)

The fact that Mary set out ‘while it was still dark’ is not simply a
reference to the fact that it was early in the morning, but that Mary
was in a dark place – of utter grief, despair and aloneness. 10 Yet by
the time she arrived at the tomb, not only had the literal darkness of
the night disappeared with the rising of the early morning sun (see
Mark 16:2), but, to her surprise, the large heavy stone across the
entrance to the tomb had been rolled away, and the light had begun
to shine into the darkness where Jesus’ dead body should have been.
Although not initially evident to Mary, or to us as readers, the picture
is that somehow light is triumphing over darkness, and that life has
won over death – in such a way that it can transform our lives now.
This gives us confidence that one day we can, like Jesus, experience
life beyond the grave!
It took Mary a while to grasp what had happened. Rather than
thinking that Jesus was alive, she ran to the male disciples, telling
them that the authorities had taken Jesus’ body away. This led to
another ‘pursuit of love’ as Peter and ‘the disciple Jesus loved’
responded immediately, by running to the tomb, perhaps significantly
with the disciple that ‘Jesus loved’ winning the race. It’s as if we are
being told that love wins the day! Then both men went into the tomb.
This whole incident adds to our understanding concerning the
importance of the ‘empty tomb’ (fact three in the ‘minimal facts of the
resurrection’ in the introduction) as a vital piece of evidence for the
resurrection of Jesus.
Convincing proofs concerning the
empty tomb
The witness of Mary In a male-dominated culture, where the

testimony of female witnesses would not have been accepted in
court, it is both surprising and significant that John and the other
Gospel writers record the fact that it was Mary – along with the
other women 11 – who was the first to witness the empty tomb
and (as we shall see), the first to encounter the risen Jesus
himself. This low view of women in first-century Mediterranean
society means that it’s highly unlikely that the early Christians
would have invented a story where women were given such
prominence. 12
The stone was rolled away Given that the tomb was heavily
guarded by soldiers and would have weighed one to two
tonnes, it begs the question: ‘Who moved the stone?’
The eyewitness account of John Although there’s some
debate about who wrote John’s Gospel, much of church
tradition and many biblical scholars contend that it was written
by John, the beloved disciple, and that this account of the visit
to the tomb is therefore autobiographical. This would explain
why John, unlike the other Gospel writers, gives us details of
the not-quite-empty tomb.
The presence and positioning of the grave clothes This is
vital evidence. If the body had been stolen, the thieves would
not have left the clothes, since they were the most valuable
part. Yet Jesus’ body was gone, but the grave clothes were left
lying there, not even unwrapped, like a collapsed chrysalis.
Moreover, the head cloth or turban was placed to one side. All
this reads as if coming from John’s eyewitness testimony.
The surprise of Jesus’ followers It’s clear that neither Mary
nor the two disciples were expecting the resurrection. Even

though we read how the ‘other disciple…saw and believed’,
John quickly points out that ‘they still did not understand from
Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead’ (John 20:9). 13
(For more on the evidence for the empty tomb, see Appendix
B: Historical facts about Jesus.)
The evidence laid out here all points to the fact that the body of Jesus
was no longer in the tomb on that first Easter morning. None of this
‘proves’ that Jesus was alive – but it does raise the question of what
had happened to him.
THE AMAZING PRESENCE OF
LOVE
We find out what happened to Jesus as we read the next part of the
story in John 20:11–18.
BIBLE EXTRACT: JESUS APPEARS TO MARY
MAGDALENE
11
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to
look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’
body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her,
‘Woman, why are you crying?’
‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they
have put him.’ 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,
but she did not realise that it was Jesus.
15
He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking
for?’
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him
away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’

16
Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’
She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which
means ‘Teacher’).
17
Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the
Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my
Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’
18
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the
Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.
(John 20:11–18)
This is one of the highpoints of the whole biblical narrative: the
moment when the risen Jesus Christ first appeared to a human being.
The fact that it was to Mary Magdalene, someone who had had a
chequered past, emphasises what we see throughout the Bible and
especially in the ministry of Jesus: that God priorities the poor, the
marginalised, the broken. As Jesus himself said, ‘It is not the healthy
who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners’ (Mark 2:17).
It’s also very significant that Jesus first appeared to a woman,
rather than his male disciples. This is remarkable, not just as
evidence of the truthfulness of the Gospel accounts, but as a stunning
affirmation of women in the male-dominated culture of the firstcentury
Roman and Jewish world. The question is: why was Mary
first? In part, it seems simply because she was the most devoted –
being the first to go to the tomb, and the last to leave the garden –
highlighting a broader principle through Scripture that if we seek the
Lord, we will find him.
We now come to the most dramatic part of this most moving of
stories. Initially, Mary missed the signs: first the appearance of two
angels and secondly of Jesus himself, who she mistook for the

gardener. This may partly have been because Jesus, though the
same, was somehow different. But it may also be that Mary’s sense
of grief blinded her to the fact that the One she was grieving over
was standing there, alive from the dead! We can be like Mary – so
consumed with our own feelings, or dominated by the circumstances
that we’re facing, that we miss the fact that Jesus really is alive and
wants to meet with us – not just during the most distressing of life’s
circumstances, but also when things seem fine.
So, how will we respond to Jesus? As I look back at the earlier part
of my life I can recall times when, with hindsight, I see that God was
trying to get my attention, yet I chose to ignore his invitation. The
difference between these times and my experience when I was 19,
was that I first said ‘yes’ to the invitation of friends to go to that first
church service and then to a Christian camp to explore further, which
was where I finally invited Christ to come into my life. Since that time,
I have continued to say ‘yes’ to responding to God’s ongoing invitation
to experience an ever-deepening knowledge of him and his wonderful
love.
PAUSE AND PONDER
How about you? If you’re not yet a Christian, or someone
who no longer follows Jesus, what could a ‘next step’ be
for you? If you are a Christian, what would it look like to
develop your relationship with the Lord, spending more
time with him in personal devotions and collective worship
and being open to his ‘loving intervention’ in your daily life?
To return to the story: in a moment of high drama, Jesus took the
initiative to reveal himself with one simple word: ‘Mary’.

What’s clear is that this was not a spiritual vision or a hallucination.
Jesus wasn’t ‘shining’ like an angel. Moreover, this encounter was
totally unexpected and unsolicited and when it did take place it
involved voice recognition and physical presence. In summary, this
was a meeting with the same Jesus that Mary had come to know and
love, who three days earlier she’d seen die on the cross and be laid
in this tomb. The difference was that he was now raised to life, in a
new resurrection body, loving her once again.
Stepping back, we see that Mary’s life was transformed because
she had experienced true love by meeting Jesus. Throughout history,
multitudes – from the severely damaged like Mary, to the outwardly
successful, but inwardly empty – can say their lives have been
transformed by receiving the perfect love of God, through
encountering the risen Jesus Christ.
What’s particularly significant for us today, is that Mary’s recognition
didn’t come through seeing Jesus physically, but as she heard him call
her name. This sets a pattern for future encounters. So, today, we
won’t ‘see’ Jesus physically alive (until he returns) but we can and will
‘hear’ his voice as he speaks to us – not audibly as with Mary – but
by his Holy Spirit.
I find this so encouraging – knowing that God knows me intimately,
loves me personally and calls me by name, is central to my ongoing
journey of wholeness and freedom. He knows your name, too, and
wants to call you to himself – either for the first time, or into a deeper
knowledge of himself.
This reminds me of the story of a young woman who is part of our
church congregation. Growing up in a broken and violent home, her
whole world fell apart when she was only four years old. She
discovered that her dad had left, and he has not been seen or heard

from since. By the time she was a young teenager, though outwardly
popular, she was still inwardly broken, regularly crying herself to
sleep, and overwhelmed with the sense that her dad didn’t love her
enough to stay or return. To mask the pain, she sought other people’s
approval, and started excessive underage drinking.
During this season, despite her mum becoming a Christian, she
hated church and had become intellectually convinced that the
Christian faith was untrue. All this began to change when she was
invited to a youth meeting. There, for the first time in her life, she
sensed God speaking to her and recalls how at that moment
‘everything I didn’t believe about God was blown out of the water’.
She immediately began a ‘scientific’ exploration to see if Christianity
could be true, and whether God was indeed good, kind and loving as
Christians claimed. She read the Bible, beginning with John’s Gospel.
As she did, she realised that this ‘all adds up – that there is a God
who knows us better than we know ourselves’. One morning she
decided to say yes to the risen Jesus and give her life to him. From
that moment the healing process began, as God ‘showed himself as
a loving Father who was present all along’. This journey has continued
through her teens into her 20s: ‘Not only does he know about my
childhood, my present, my future, he knows my name. His love has
just completely redefined everything.’
PAUSE AND PONDER
How do you respond to the thought that Jesus is not only
alive but is interested in you – that he knows your name,
wants to reveal himself to you and show his unconditional
love to you?

THE ETERNAL DIMENSION OF
LOVE
One of the greatest thrills of being a Christian is knowing that since
death is not the end, God’s love doesn’t end with death either.
This is implicit in the final part of Mary’s encounter with the risen
Jesus. Mary’s immediate response to seeing him was to cling on to
him physically, which prompted the following response from him: ‘Do
not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go
instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father
and your Father, to my God and your God”’ (John 20:17).
The reference to Jesus ‘ascending’, points to an event that was yet
to take place – 40 days later – when the risen Jesus physically went
back to heaven to be with his Father God, where he is now reigning
until his return at the end of history.
In this interaction, Jesus was redefining the relationship between
himself and his disciples, then and now. Instead of continuing to relate
to Jesus physically, as he was about to go to heaven, he was
ushering in a new relationship between his followers and between his
and their Father. This meant that, through the Holy Spirit, he would
from then on be able to relate to each and every person throughout
the rest of history. 14
Moreover, this relationship continues beyond the grave. The broader
teaching of the New Testament is that Christians who die are not
separated from God, but spiritually go into his presence. Then, when
Jesus returns, they will be physically raised up with him, and reunited
with fellow believers in a loving family, forever!
As the apostle Paul later dramatically concluded: ‘None of this fazes
us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing –

nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or
low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us
and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has
embraced us’ (Romans 8:37–39, The Message).
PAUSE AND PONDER
How do you respond to the idea that God can be your
Father – and that if you are a Christian, nothing can
separate you from his love for you in Christ?
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF
LOVE
So, what can we learn from Mary’s encounter with the transforming
power of Jesus’ love? And how can we, too, come ‘alive’, as we
encounter his risen presence today?
First, we can know, as Mary did, a new sense of our God-given
identity. Prior to meeting Jesus, it’s highly likely that Mary’s identity
would have been dominated by a sense of oppression, which would
have had a massively damaging effect on her core identity. That was,
until she met Jesus and was set free by his liberating love. She went
from being dominated by darkness to becoming a follower of the light
of the world. This was dramatically reaffirmed in the ‘light’ of that first
Easter morning, as she saw and then recognised her beloved, now
alive again, loving her, affirming her identity and calling her by name!
This can be true for all of us, too. As John later writes in one of his
letters: 15 ‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (1 John
3:1). Put simply, the key to you and me knowing our identity, is to

know how much, in Christ, we are ‘loved’.
This directly impacts on our need for belonging too. Again, Mary’s
pre-conversion state may well have caused her to withdraw from
‘normal’ human society, with others probably choosing to withdraw
from her, too. All that changed when she met Jesus and became
included as a valued member of his discipling community. This was
stunningly reaffirmed in the garden, where Jesus not only redefined
her relationship with him, but by implication with the other male
disciples – now ‘brothers’, with Jesus as her ‘older brother’ and God
as their Father.
The same can be true for us. When we come to know Jesus, we
get welcomed into the family of God, his Father and our Father. The
primary hallmark of this new spiritual community is to love and be
loved. And it’s only when we know how loved we are (by God), that
we can love others in a faithful, sacrificial way. Hence, the love of
God is not only the key to transforming our own lives, but all our
relationships, too!
This leads to our ultimate purpose. For Mary, having encountered
the love of Jesus, she dedicated her life to loving and serving him and
helping him reach others with his love. Clearly a woman of some
means, she chose to use some of her wealth to support Jesus and
his life-changing, world-changing ministry. After the resurrection, her
loving service was broadened, as she was given the huge privilege of
being the first to proclaim the good news that Jesus was alive. This is
remarkable: a previously broken, ostracised woman was tasked with
being the first to tell the male disciples the news that would shape the
rest of history!
So, too for us, we’re called to love God and to let his love overflow
from our hearts to other people, with our actions and with our words.

This is what makes life truly worth living! As one author puts it: ‘To live
is to let love well up and stream through us the beat, pulse and
rhythm of our lives, connecting us to ourselves, our neighbours, the
whole family of earth’s creatures and God, the alpha and omega of
love…Loving is of the essence of being human, the connective tissue
of reality, the oxygen of life.’ 16
PAUSE AND PONDER
As we conclude this chapter, take a few moments to
consider how clear you are in your sense of identity,
purpose and belonging. You might like to, in your own
words, ask the Lord to reveal his love to you in a deep or
deeper way. Invite him to fill or re-fill you with his love in
such a way that you can begin to live a life of love –
transforming your relationships with others both near and
far.

FURTHER REFLECTION
1. In the light of different kinds of love, how do you respond to the
idea that there is a God who loves you – deeply, unconditionally and
sacrificially?
2. How convincing did you find the facts concerning the empty tomb?
3. Were there any aspects of Jesus’ appearance to Mary that
particularly spoke to you? If so, why?
4. How does this chapter increase your expectancy about the
possibility of meeting Jesus right now, as he met with Mary back
then?
5. How might your life be different if you were to experience God’s
perfect love, either for the first time or in a deeper way?

CHAPTER TWO
SURPRISED BY HOPE

It was a day not to be forgotten in Premier League history.
Manchester City hadn’t reached the top point of English football for
44 years, having been overshadowed by their arch rivals Manchester
United for many painful decades. But on this day, 13 May 2012, all
City had to do was beat the bottom side Queens Park Rangers. If
Man Utd won, and City were to lose or draw, the unthinkable would
happen, again! And, with minutes to go, the unthinkable was
happening. Manchester United had won their match and, as they
entered the last six minutes of extra time, City were losing 2-1. For
many City fans the sense of crushing disappointment was too much
to bear, and they began leaving the stadium. But then a glimmer of
hope surfaced, as they heard a loud cheer from the stadium – City
had equalised to make the score 2-2. Then, with only seconds
remaining, the City striker Sergio Aguero scored, and the final whistle
was blown – City had won with a final score of 3-2. The TV
commentator famously shouted ‘Agueroooo!’, the stadium erupted
and the fans outside joined in the delirious celebrations (some
undoubtedly conflicted that they had left early). For others, it wasn’t
until they got home that they heard the news: their team had won but
they had missed the action.
I still remember the emotional rollercoaster of going from initial
optimism, to utter despair to exhilarating joy! A trivial illustration, but
one that sets up our theme for this chapter – a journey from hope lost
to hope restored.
So, what is hope and why is it so important? Here are a few quotes
describing hope from famous historical figures.
The great 19th-century Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky: ‘To live
without hope is to cease to live.’

Archbishop Desmond Tutu: ‘Hope is being able to see that there is
light despite all of the darkness.’
Lord Alfred Tennyson: ‘Hope smiles from the threshold of the year
to come, whispering “It will be happier.”’ 1
Put simply, hope is essential for us being and feeling fully alive. But,
like the word ‘love’, there are different ways that the word ‘hope’ is
understood and used.
Firstly, there is a vague hope, typified in rather bland statements
such: ‘I hope it doesn’t rain today’; ‘I hope Man City keep on winning
titles!’; ‘I hope the economy will recover.’
Secondly, there’s what could be called optimistic hope, which is
characterised by a generally positive view of life and the future. On
one level, there’s nothing wrong with having a positive outlook on life.
The problem, though, is when it clouds our judgment about the reality
of situations, even giving a false sense of hope.
The danger of this kind of optimism, or wishful thinking, was brought
home to me many years ago when reading Jim Collins’ business
book, Good to Great. In one chapter Collins talks about ‘The
Stockdale Paradox’. The name refers to Admiral Jim Stockdale, who
was the highest-ranking United States military officer in the ‘Hanoi
Hilton’ prisoner-of-war camp during the height of the Vietnam War.
Tortured over 20 times during his eight-year imprisonment from 1965
to 1973, Stockdale lived out the war without any prisoner’s rights, no
set release date and no certainty as to whether he would even
survive to see his family again. Stockdale recounted: ‘I never doubted
not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end
and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in
retrospect, I would not trade.’ Yet whereas he survived, there was a

group that didn’t survive: ‘The optimists. Oh, they were the ones who
said, “We’re going to be out by Christmas.” And Christmas would
come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, “We’re going to be
out by Easter.” And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And
then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they
died of a broken heart.’ 2
Instead of optimism, Stockdale was contending for a different kind
of hope, a resilient hope – a hope that didn’t give up its
expectations, while facing the brutal facts of reality. This third type of
hope is something championed by experts in positive psychology. In
the words of Barbara Fredrickson, this ‘hope sustains you. It keeps
you from collapsing into despair…It inspires you to plan for a better
future.’ 3
One of the leading exponents of resilient hope is psychologist Shane
J Lopez. In his bestselling book, Making Hope Happen he
emphasises that this type of hope combines two core beliefs: ‘the
future will be better than the present’ and ‘I have the power to make it
so’. ‘This way of thinking about the future differs from its weak
cousins, such as wishing and the various kind of unrealistic “positive
thinking” that are touted in popular culture.’ They all share a positive
vision for the future, but resilient hope differs in that it personally
connects us to that future ‘through our own efforts’. 4 Lopez’s model of
hope combines three things:
• The importance of goals, of having a clear picture of a preferred
future.
• An understanding of agency, the recognition that we have the power
to move towards that future.
• An appreciation of pathways, recognising that there are various

ways to achieve that goal.
This realistic hope has been proven to increase work productivity,
overall wellbeing, physical health and even life expectancy. 5
I have certainly found this perspective an inspiring and helpful
corrective to the wishful thinking of mere optimistic hope. Yet, there
are still limits to this kind of hope. For instance, there are some
situations that are simply impossible to overcome through our own
efforts, as they are outside of our control. And, no matter how much
we hope for and see in this life, ultimately life has a seemingly
hopeless ending in death.
The great news, though, is that the resurrection of Jesus turns
death from a hopeless end into an endless hope. In the words of one
of the first witnesses of the resurrection: ‘Praise be to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us
new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or
fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are
shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is
ready to be revealed in the last time’ (1 Peter 1:3–5, my emphasis).
Here, the New Testament writer outlines a fourth kind of hope –
living hope.
It is important to note the key differences between this and the
model on which Lopez develops his theme of resilient hope. Firstly,
living hope does have a sense of a goal – but not a human goal,
based on our own desires. Rather, it is a future planned by God both
in this life and in the life to come – hence the emphasis on our
‘inheritance’. Secondly, living hope also has agency, but one that is
without all the limitations. Instead of just seeing us as the agency –
and the focus on us having ‘the power to make it so’ – it focuses on

an all-loving, all-powerful God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Finally, living hope does have a perspective that includes pathways,
but based on a deep sense of trust that ultimately God is sovereign
over the outcome and that even if we get something wrong, he can
and will providentially work our mistakes into his divine plan. As
Romans 8:28 puts it: ‘And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.’
Unlike the uncertainty of popular hope and the limitations of
psychological hope, this Christian hope provides a sure and certain
confidence about the future, even when life is tough. One of the
favourite symbols of the early Christians was an anchor – often
turned into the shape of a cross – which was a symbol of the hope
that they had in Jesus. This kept them steady and gave them
confidence even as they faced storms of plagues, famine and
persecution. It’s the same today: when other forms of hope fail in the
face of major internal and external storms we can receive a living
hope in Jesus. This hope of a better future gives us a new confidence
to face life’s challenges. In the words of the writer to the Hebrews:
‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure’
(Hebrews 6:19).
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a moment to review the four different kinds of hope –
vague hope, optimistic hope, resilient hope and living hope.
Which of these do you have the tendency to gravitate
towards?
The following prayer from the Bible is my prayer for you
right now: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and

peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13).
A JOURNEY OF HOPE LOST AND
RESTORED
One of the best examples of hope lost and restored is the wonderful
story of the risen Jesus meeting two of his followers on the road to
Emmaus.
BIBLE EXTRACT: ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
13
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus,
about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other
about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these
things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with
them; 16 but they were kept from recognising him.
17
He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas,
asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know
the things that have happened there in these days?’
19
‘What things?’ he asked.
‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in
word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our
rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21
but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In
addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early
this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they
had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our
companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said,
but they did not see Jesus.’

25
He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that
the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these
things and then enter his glory?’ 27 And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures
concerning himself.
28
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus
continued on as if he were going further. 29 But they urged him strongly,
‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he
went in to stay with them.
30
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke
it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they
recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each
other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on
the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’
33
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the
Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, ‘It is true!
The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ 35 Then the two told what
had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when
he broke the bread.
(Luke 24:13–35)
Obviously this unique encounter with the resurrected Jesus only
happened once in history, and yet it still has much to teach us today.
It’s one of the most beautifully constructed narratives in the Bible,
forming the centrepiece of Luke’s masterful resurrection chapter (24).
Having presented his own version of the morning visits to the empty
tomb (24:1–12), Luke then takes us forward to the events of the
afternoon of that same first Easter Sunday. Two of Jesus’ disciples
were travelling ‘to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem’ (v13). The direction is significant. Jerusalem was where
Jesus was not only crucified, but also where the empty tomb now lay.

A bit like the Man City fans who couldn’t cope with the prospect of
defeat, these two disciples were heading away from the scene of the
action – no doubt thinking it was the place of defeat, when it was
actually the scene of a great victory!
So, who were these two followers of Jesus? We know that one
was called Cleopas (v18), and the other is unnamed. Since they were
going ‘home’ (vv28–29), it is possible that the other one was Cleopas’
wife, Mary, who is mentioned in all four Gospels as being present at
the crucifixion. 6 The fact that Jesus chose to appear to these two
Emmaus travellers seems significant. If this were a made-up incident,
the writer, Luke, would most likely have not bothered with this
encounter, but instead have gone straight to Jesus’ appearing to the
more well-known core group of Jesus’ disciples (which took place
later, as we shall see in the next chapter). Furthermore, the
‘ordinariness’ of this couple, like the women before them, highlights
that this story is a wonderful picture of how Jesus comes alongside
ordinary people throughout history, offering them (and us) a sure and
ultimate hope.
Initially, the two travellers failed to recognise Jesus as he joined
them on the journey (Luke 24:14–16). There are different possible
reasons why this may have happened. It may partly be, as with Mary
Magdalene, that it was because the risen Jesus somehow looked
different. Yet the phrase ‘kept from’ indicates some power at work. It
has been suggested by biblical commentators that it was Satan (the
devil/the evil one) who kept them spiritually blind, or even God
himself. 7 But as we shall see, it was also the attitude of the disciples
themselves that caused a partial blindness or blurring of their spiritual
vision. (We can be like these two disciples; our attitude can blind us,
too.)

By the end of the journey, their ‘eyes’ were opened to the risen
Jesus, their hope was restored and they headed back in the right
direction to Jerusalem, to tell the Eleven what had just happened.
So, what can we learn from this journey of hope lost and restored?
The central message is that because Jesus is alive and is present
with us by the Holy Spirit, we can still encounter him today. However,
for our hope to be restored both now and eternally, there are three
things we need to do, much like these Emmaus travellers did.
1. OPEN OUR HEARTS: JESUS MEETS US IN
OUR DISAPPOINTMENT
Disappointment can be crushing. Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor of
Auschwitz and Dachau and author of Man’s Search for Meaning,
described how hope was the single most important factor in surviving
the Nazi death camps. He tells of how one prisoner lost hope, ‘he lost
his spiritual hold’ and ‘simply curled up and died’. 8 Proverbs 13:12
states it succinctly: ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’
I’m sure, like me, you can relate to times when hope deferred has
made your heart sick – you may be experiencing that in your life right
now. In this broken world, things don’t always work out as we hope.
It may be that you were hoping for a loved one’s health to improve,
only for them to a receive terminal diagnosis; or you were hoping for
a relationship to be restored, only for that situation to get worse.
Perhaps you were hoping to get a ‘dream’ job you applied for, only to
get rejected. If so, know that Jesus not only knows and cares, but he
wants to meet with you right where you are – just as he did with the
travellers on the Emmaus Road.
In a scene of huge irony, Jesus joined the travellers on their journey
and initiated a conversation, where they openly expressed how

disappointed they were that Jesus had failed in his mission – not
realising that they were conversing with him! Once he asked them
what they were talking about, they described how Jesus had
captivated their hearts, only to be killed, revealing: ‘we had hoped
that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel’ (v21).
Notice, first, that they didn’t try to hide their despair and
bewilderment. Faced with the question from a ‘stranger’ they allowed
their feelings to show: ‘they stood still, their faces downcast’ and
spoke openly of their acute sense of disappointment using the telling
phrase, ‘we had hoped’. Secondly, Jesus wasn’t repelled by their
pain. In fact, if we look more broadly at the Bible, God seems to
specialise in meeting people at the point of their greatest struggles.
The psalms – many of them known as psalms of lament – are filled
with the psalmists’ expressions of their great turmoil and often end
with a sense of comfort and fresh hope that God has heard their cry.
PAUSE AND PONDER
If you are feeling disappointed – even with God – don’t hide
your hurt and confusion. Don’t try to hold yourself
together. Be honest before God, open your heart to him
and invite him to speak to you.
Back to the reasons for these travellers’ sense of distress. They
were probably in shock. We don’t know which, if any, of the actual
events of the trial, scourging and crucifixion that these two witnessed.
However, as Jews in a Roman world, and as followers of Jesus, they
would have been painfully aware of the brutality of what Jesus had
suffered. They were also experiencing a crushing sense of
disappointment, as the One they had thought was their national

deliverer had just suffered the most shameful death possible. What
they failed to grasp at the time, but soon did, was that it was
because of Jesus’ death that true spiritual deliverance was now
available, not just for Israel, but for the whole world. In the moment,
their disappointment blinded them to the reality of the fact that the
risen Jesus was there right with them.
Part of the problem was that the disciples’ fixation with how they
thought God would work caused them to overlook the possibility that
God was intending to work in another, far better way. This can
happen to us today too. We can expect God to do a certain thing in a
particular way so are blind to the far better solution he is outworking.
One example of this that stands out for me relates to our attempt to
get land for a church building. Having spent considerable time and
money preparing to purchase a six-acre site for our growing church
congregation in Peterborough, we proceeded to get planning
permission. However, when we went before the city planning
committee, much to my dismay, we lost our application on a 4-3 vote.
As I came out of the town hall, feeling much aggrieved and hugely
disappointed, I immediately sensed God speaking to me, letting me
know that this was his overruling. The fact that I didn’t hide my
disappointment and God met me in that disappointment, meant that I
came out of that potentially crushing loss with a fresh seed of hope in
my heart.
Having ‘let go’ of the original site we’d been pursuing and having
helped navigate the congregation through a collective sense of
disappointment, a few months later we identified another site, this
time 12.4 acres – more than double the size and in a better location.
After a further process of preparation, which included gaining the
support of the chief executive of the city council, the Member of

Parliament and the opposition candidate, we went back to the
planning committee and this time won our new application on a
unanimous 9-0 vote! We had been disappointed by the loss of the
first application, but it had been God’s way of outworking his bigger,
better plan.
Now of course not every circumstance works out so well. Life is full
of setbacks; those situations that we had ‘hoped’ would turn out
differently. This is where an eternal perspective, an ‘alive beyond
death’ hope is so helpful. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr: ‘We
must accept finite disappointment…but we must never lose infinite
hope.’ 9 PAUSE AND PONDER
What are the dreams you had hoped for? Don’t give up on
them; rather, commit them to the Lord. Ask for his grace to
persevere and for his plan to unfold in the right time.
Don’t allow your sense of disappointment to prevent you
from expecting God to work in your life. Is it possible that
your desire to see God moving in a particular way has
blinded you to the possibility that he might be doing so in
some other way?
2. OPEN OUR BIBLES: GOD SPEAKS TO US
THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES
What’s remarkable about this story is what didn’t happen: Jesus
didn’t appear with a display of his splendour, announcing his
triumphant resurrection. Rather, he came in a very ordinary way – as
a ‘stranger’, as one who simply walked and talked with these two
disciples. This is in direct contrast to, for example, the later account

of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–9). As
Christian leader and author Pete Greig points out: ‘for every person
who encounters Christ dramatically on the Damascus road with
blinding lights and a booming voice, hundreds more meet him slowly
and quietly, incognito on the Emmaus road, through friendship,
Scripture and conversation’. 10
The conversation moved on to the travellers expressing their doubts
concerning Jesus’ resurrection (to the risen Jesus himself!). Clearly,
despite reports of an empty tomb and angels declaring that Jesus
was alive, they still didn’t believe in the resurrection, let alone
recognise the fact that he was there with them on the Emmaus Road!
Hence, Jesus’ response: ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to
believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have
to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ (vv25–26). Notice, he
didn’t suddenly reveal who he was but rather unpacked what the Old
Testament Scriptures say about him: ‘And beginning with Moses, and
all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the
Scriptures concerning himself’ (v27, my emphasis).
This is so significant, not just for the disciples then, but for us today.
While we don’t have the opportunity to physically ‘see’ Jesus alive, we
have not only the same Old Testament Scriptures that the first
disciples did, but we now have the wonderful benefit of the
eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, recorded
for us in the New Testament. Just like he did with the Emmaus
travellers, Jesus will reveal himself to us through the Scriptures.
If this is true, we can expect that this will apply not just to the start
of our spiritual journey, but to our ongoing journey with him. I know
that for me, and for countless Christians throughout the ages, daily
Bible reading (reflecting on what has been read, and then following

this up with prayerful application), has been a primary source of
revelation and transformation, as Jesus increasingly makes himself
known through the ever-present Holy Spirit.
For the two disciples Jesus travelled with, it seems it was the
Scriptures that impacted them deeply. As soon as their eyes had
been opened to recognise him, they commented on what had
happened as he had taught them from the Bible: ‘Were not our hearts
burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the
Scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24:32).
PAUSE AND PONDER
What’s your attitude to the Bible? Have you ever read it? If
not, it can be helpful to start with the Gospels – Matthew,
Mark, Luke or John – to gain an understanding of Jesus’
life, death and resurrection, before dipping into the wider
biblical story. To gain an overview of both the Old and New
Testaments you could try a Bible-reading plan that provides
a passage from each for every day of the year (such as
Bible in One Year by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel).
There are also many Bible apps available today, including
YouVersion, which includes many Bible plans as well as a
‘verse for the day’.
If you are someone who currently does read the Bible, can I
encourage you to read it with greater expectancy – allowing God to
speak to you and reveal Jesus to you? Consider starting a journal
and write down what you sense God is saying to you. 11
3. OPEN OUR LIVES: JESUS COMES WHERE

HE’S WELCOMED
Despite Jesus being on the journey with the two disciples on the
Emmaus Road and him taking the time to unpack the Scriptures that
revealed more about himself, they still could have missed him. And so
can we!
Put simply, the climax of the Emmaus story may not have happened
if the disciples hadn’t taken the next step. As the journey was
reaching its conclusion, Jesus seemed to indicate that he intended to
continue on without them: ‘But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us,
for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay
with them’ (v29). This is hugely significant, because it was only after
they urged him to stay that he went on to reveal himself to them.
Duncan Bannatyne, one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs,
and known as one who spent 10 years on the TV series Dragons’
Den, has written movingly of his own encounter with and response to
an experience with the presence of God:
the tears came at about ten that night...I began to get the feeling
that I wasn’t alone. It was there that God said hello. I felt I was
being told, ‘You’ve arrived, join the faith, be a Christian, this is it.’
I stood there, stunned, considering the offer and thinking about
what it would mean…I knew I wanted to...carry on doing all the
things I wasn’t proud of. So I said, ‘No, I’m not ready.’ And God
said okay and disappeared. 12
How many people have had similar opportunities, but have turned
Christ down and missed their moment of destiny?
In his famous painting The Light of the World, Holman Hunt depicts
the risen Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a lantern,
knocking on a closed door with rusty hinges and overgrown with ivy.

The text behind the painting is Revelation 3:20: ‘Here I am! I stand at
the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I
will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.’ Significantly,
there’s no handle on the door – because the handle is on the inside.
Moreover, there’s a sense of the urgency of the moment – as Jesus’
feet are already turning away and the sky reveals that dawn has
nearly come. This highlights the need for us all to open our hearts to
Jesus, while we still have the opportunity. 13
PAUSE AND PONDER
The truth is that Jesus comes knocking on each of our
doors. The question is, have we ‘opened the door’ yet?
Have you opened it yet? If not, then I want to invite you to
pray and invite him in. You may want to use the prayer in
Appendix C.
Revelation 3:20 was originally addressed to those who
were already Christians, highlighting that ‘opening the
door’ is not just a one-off event. Rather, the Christian life
really is a journey of ongoing openness and increasing
revelation. Moreover, God doesn’t just want to come into
the hallway, but into every room of our lives! Do you need
to open yourself up to the presence of the living Christ in a
fresh way today?
We conclude our journey of lost hope being restored by looking at the
very moment when the eyes of the two disciples were fully and finally
opened: ‘When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave
thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were
opened and they recognised him’ (vv30–31).

Presumably there was something about the way Jesus took the
bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them, that reminded the
two disciples of previous communal meals that Jesus presided over,
or of the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:15–16). There are also echoes
of the Lord’s Supper – something that Christians have celebrated
throughout history. There is of course no mention of Jesus’ body
being given, and no reference to wine in the Emmaus story, but the
links are sufficient to encourage Jesus’ followers to take communion
both ‘in church’ and in the context of meals ‘around the table’. As we
do so, we can expect the risen Jesus to still appear to us – now by
his Spirit.
SHARING THE JOY OF
RESTORED HOPE
Like the Manchester City fans who had left the stadium, turned
around and managed to get back in again to celebrate, so this story
ends with a wonderful turning around! Having encountered the risen
Jesus, and having had their hope restored, these two Emmaus
disciples headed back the way they had just come, to Jerusalem, the
scene of the great events of the last three days. There they searched
out the apostles, to tell them the good news of what they’d seen and
heard (vv33–34). But before they got an opportunity to tell their news,
they were told about a similar appearance to Simon Peter. Hope that
had been lost had now been restored – something that was
confirmed when Jesus suddenly and dramatically appeared to the
disciples as a group, which is the subject of the next chapter.
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL

Luke 24 focuses primarily on the immediate impact of Jesus’
appearances to his disciples, but the chapter (and the whole Gospel)
ends with Jesus being ‘taken up into heaven’ (v51). In his second
volume, the book of Acts, Luke describes Jesus’ ascension in a bit
more detail, concluding with two angels reassuring the watching
disciples: ‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into
heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into
heaven’ (Acts 1:11). Luke doesn’t unpack this, but what’s clear is he –
like the other writers of the New Testament – focused on a future
hope that is not centred on us going to heaven when we die to be
with Jesus, but rather on Jesus returning (bodily) from heaven to
earth.
This has huge implications for our understanding of what it means to
be ‘alive after death’ – something which we began to explore in the
introduction. Rather than the three ‘popular’ alternatives of
annihilation, reincarnation and spiritism or a ‘Christian’ focus on just
‘going to heaven when we die’, the hope of Christianity is based on
the physical resurrection of Jesus. The great hope of Christianity is
that one day, Jesus will return and all his followers (dead or alive),
will be somehow resurrected to enjoy eternal life in a new bodily
existence in a new, perfect world!
PAUSE AND PONDER
As you think about what happens when we die, you might
like to revisit the four alternatives that were mentioned in
the introduction – annihilation, reincarnation, spiritism and
going to heaven. Now take some time to ponder the living
hope that is based on the resurrection of Jesus and the
promise of a far greater future with him.

FURTHER REFLECTION
1. Take a moment to review the four different kinds of hope again.
Which of these ‘hopes’ – vague hope, optimistic hope, resilient hope,
living hope – most accurately describes what you’re currently
experiencing?
2. When you hear the word ‘disappointment’, what situations most
quickly spring to mind? How does the prospect of knowing that Jesus
wants to meet you in your disappointment make you feel?
3. What do you think of the Bible? Have you ever experienced Jesus
speaking to you from the Bible? If so, what happened?
4. What did you make of the Duncan Bannatyne story? How do you
respond to the idea that we have to welcome Jesus into our lives?
5. What’s your current view of what happens after death? How does
the biblical hope of a future resurrection make you feel?

CHAPTER THREE
FILLED WITH PEACE

The longing for inner peace is universal, and is another vital element
of feeling truly alive. I share that longing. How about you? The
problem is that, like a wet bar of soap, it can be quite elusive; no
sooner than we’ve begun to grasp a sense of tranquillity, it can all too
easily slip away. Many of us, I’m sure, can identify with U2’s iconic
refrain: ‘I still haven’t found what I’m looking for’.
A lack of inner peace is indeed widespread, including in relatively
prosperous societies. According to a 2018 survey from the Mental
Health Foundation: 74 per cent of UK adults had felt so stressed at
some point over the previous year that they felt overwhelmed or
unable to cope; 32 per cent of adults said they had experienced
suicidal feelings; and 16 per cent of adults said they had self-harmed
due to stress. 1 These statistics predated the Covid-19 pandemic,
during which many health professionals and cultural commentators
began to warn of a mental health pandemic coming on the back of the
medical health pandemic.
There appears, in some quarters, to have been a reduction in
anxiety levels since the pandemic, yet other factors such as a costof-living
crisis and ongoing pressures at work are increasingly
impacting on people’s sense of inner peace and wellbeing. So, for
example in the UK in 2023, a workplace health report indicated that
53 per cent of men and 65 per cent of women were experiencing
symptoms of anxiety and that 50 per cent of men and 60 per cent of
women were suffering from some form of depression. 2 Moreover,
young people seem to be being particularly impacted, with one in five
children and young people in England suffering from a probable
mental disorder in 2023. 3 Even if that’s not something that you
currently identify with, we all have seasons in our lives when we
experience external and internal pressures, which can cause varying

degrees of unhealthy fear or anxiety.
Unsurprisingly, therefore, many solutions are being offered to help
deal with these problems – as indicated by the rising popularity of
going ‘off grid’, ‘digital detox holidays’ and workplace wellbeing
policies. Some of these may help, but they’re insufficient to deal with
the root causes of our deep-seated fear and anxiety. So, the key
question is: how can we find the real peace that we all long for?
First, we need to realise that true peace, if it’s going to be deep and
lasting, needs to be approached holistically. In a Peanuts cartoon,
Lucy expressed her frustration to Charlie Brown: ‘I hate everything. I
hate everybody. I hate the whole, wide world!’ Surprised, Charlie
Brown replied, ‘But I thought you had inner peace.’ ‘I do have inner
peace,’ Lucy retorted. ‘But I still have outer obnoxiousness!’ 4 Put
simply, we can’t afford just to focus narrowly on what we may call
‘inner peace’. Rather, we need to recognise that the lack of peace or
wellbeing in one area of our life can have a huge impact on many
other areas – be that physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally,
financially and/or vocationally.
Like a dashboard on a car with various dials (see following
diagram), we need to attend to each area of our lives if we are to
enjoy ‘true peace’.

For example, it may be that as you look at the dials on your
‘wellbeing dashboard’ there are several warning lights on: you are
conscious, perhaps, of feeling frantic, battling with anxiety, trying to
gain a greater sense of control over besetting problems, wanting to
escape, overindulging in certain ‘pleasures’ or overworking. As
mentioned previously, I have written about this extensively and have
helped develop a whole course around this approach. 5
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a moment to consider how you are doing. Are there
warning lights flashing on your ‘wellbeing dashboard’ right
now?
At the outset, it’s worth acknowledging that there are more resources
on this whole subject than ever before, including (at the time of
writing) more than 120 million videos on YouTube and many

estselling books focusing on various approaches to wellbeing and
wellness. The problem is that there is so much material that it can be
difficult to decide which sources are the most helpful and trustworthy.
Given what we’ve already seen in the previous chapter, it’s clear
that there is one go-to source that gives the best, most
comprehensive overview of all areas of our wellbeing: the Bible. For
example, the Hebrew word shalom, normally translated as ‘peace’,
carries the idea of ‘wellbeing in every area of life’, and appears more
than 250 times in the Old Testament. Its Greek equivalent word,
eirene, which is also usually translated as ‘peace’, appears in the
New Testament more than 90 times. 6
Significantly, three of these instances of eirene occur in just seven
verses of John’s Gospel (20:19–26). Before we look at the specifics,
it is important that we look briefly at the wider story of God’s plan for
our lives and how it fulfils our need for true peace. This will help,
whether you’re someone just checking Christianity out, or whether
you’ve been on a journey with Jesus for a long time.
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU TO
ENJOY PEACE
As I outlined in God’s Plan for Your Wellbeing, the Bible presents
different stages in God’s plan for, and active involvement in, our
peace and wellbeing, represented in the following diagram.

True peace was at the heart of God’s original Creation. In the first
two chapters of the book of Genesis, we see the first human beings
(Adam and Eve), made in the image of God, designed for relationship
with him and one another, enjoying perfect peace and wellbeing in the
idyllic setting of the Garden of Eden. Within that setting, every need
they had was supplied – physical, emotional, spiritual, relational,
material and vocational. It must have been utter bliss to live without
any fear or worry over how those needs would be met.
During what is described in the Bible as the Fall, humans turned
their backs on their Creator, marring their relationship with him and
with each other. As a result, they lost the original peace they had
been given. Their work became hard, and suffering and death
entered the earth (see Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Ever since those
first human beings turned away from the source of true wellbeing,
humanity has continued to do so – and the devastating consequences
have continued.
Thank God that he didn’t leave things there. Rather, he made a
covenant with a man called Abram and his descendants, which meant
they enjoyed a measure of peace and wellbeing as they believed and
walked in God’s ways (see Genesis 12–15). Throughout the Old
Testament we can see that the people of God had moments when

they walked with him well, enjoying this shalom. Even so, those
moments were just a snapshot of what people would experience
when the promised Saviour arrived – the Prince of Peace, whose
arrival was spoken of many centuries before it happened by the
prophet Isaiah (see Isaiah 9:6).
This was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, the Prince of Peace –
who during his earthly ministry went around doing good and bringing
peace and wellbeing to all who were oppressed (see Acts 10:38).
Just prior to his sufferings, Jesus twice gave his closest followers
the promise of peace:
• ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you
as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid’ (John 14:27).
• ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world’ (John 16:33).
We will return to the rest of the diagram at the end of the chapter,
where we will briefly consider the glorious prospect of perfect peace
and wellbeing in the age to come. Our central focus is first to look at
how Jesus came to bring us peace in this life.
PAUSE AND PONDER
Find somewhere where you can be quiet and slowly read
the words of Jesus (John 14:27, 16:33) again several times.
As you do, imagine that he is speaking these words to you
personally. You may like to release any areas of anxiety or
fear, by placing your palms face down and imagine you are
giving your burdens to the Lord. Then, when you feel a

sense of release, turn your palms up and ask him to fill you
with his peace and presence.
Having made stunning promises of peace during his life, Jesus then
secured this peace for all time through his death and resurrection
(see Romans 4:24–5:1). This was made evident on that first Easter
Sunday evening, as described in John 20:19–23.
BIBLE EXTRACT: JESUS APPEARS TO HIS
DISCIPLES
19
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were
together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus
came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ 20 After he
said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were
overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21
Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am
sending you.’ 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the
Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you
do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’
(John 20:19–23)
Significantly, this was the first of Jesus’ post-resurrection
appearances to the disciples as a whole group, and the first words
that he spoke to his disciples were ‘peace be with you’. While this
was a conventional greeting of the time, and is still in use today
(shalom aleichem), 7 the fact that these were his very first words
after his resurrection to his gathered disciples, and he said the same
thing not once, but twice, indicates that something deeper was going
on. He was freeing them from the negatives of guilt, fear and anxiety,
before filling them with a positive vision for the future. In other words,
the risen Jesus alone can provide the holistic wellbeing that we all

need and long for.
THE PEACE THAT FREES AND
FILLS US
In his first proclamation of peace, Jesus had the express purpose of
freeing the disciples from their paralysing fear (shown by the fact
they were huddled together with the doors locked – see vv19–20).
FREED FROM FEAR
When our oldest daughter, Emily, was very little she would sometimes
wake up sounding distressed. We would go into her room to find her
standing in her cot and she would be saying, ‘Noise, noise!’ To this
day I still don’t know whether the ‘noise’ that she was troubled by
was real (external) or imagined (internal). But we would go to her,
pick her up and speak reassuring words to her and almost instantly
she would become peaceful, we would lay her down and she would
go back to sleep.
I trust you’d agree that there’s often a lot of ‘noise’ in life that can
cause us fear and distress. Sometimes that noise is external. This
can be global or national events such as wars, famines, pandemics or
recessions. Or it may be personal or family troubles such as ill-health,
relational difficulties, financial pressures or bereavement. But there is
also internal noise that we must deal with. Sometimes this is
triggered by our external circumstances. Other times, though, it is
caused by inner fears and anxieties that are irrational and rooted in
our own upbringing, psychological make-up or life experiences. Such
fears can be summarised in the acrostic False Evidence Appearing
Real.
Now of course not all fear is bad – sometimes it’s an appropriate

esponse to a perceived threat or potentially dangerous situation that
enables us to respond correctly, releasing adrenaline when we need
it. But there are many unhealthy fears that can rob us of our peace
and can become a prison that we can’t break free from. Whatever
the sources of fear and anxiety, the result is that we often struggle to
enjoy deep peace and wellbeing.
How can we get free from paralysing fear and anxiety? The answer
is not found by looking within (as is often suggested), nor by looking
without (trying to find peace in the affirmation of others) but by turning
to the one who is, by his very nature, the source of all peace. Just
like our daughter’s fears were dissipated by the presence of
someone who loved her, who was bigger and stronger than her, so
you and I can be freed by the presence of one who loves us
unconditionally and who wants to come to us, to calm our worries and
free us from our fears: Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
This was the experience of the disciples as they encountered the
risen Jesus on the first Easter Sunday evening. Bear in mind what
they had just experienced. During the previous week, they’d
witnessed their teacher unjustly tried, cruelly tortured and brutally
crucified. They may also have been in a state of guilt that most of
them had abandoned Jesus even before he got to the cross
(Matthew 26:56). What’s clear from our John 20 passage is that they
were overcome with an overriding feeling of fear. Their leader had
been killed: were they going to be next? Hence Jesus’ first words to
them – ‘Peace be with you’ – were clearly intended to reassure his
grieving, shocked and fearful disciples that everything was now OK,
that he was with them, risen from the dead and in charge.
To deal with their fear, Jesus gave his startled disciples ‘solid’ proof
that he was alive, showing them his hands and side (v20). In the

parallel account in Luke’s Gospel, the disciples were frightened,
thinking Jesus was a ghost, to which Jesus replied: ‘Look at my
hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does
not have flesh and bones, as you see I have’ (Luke 24:39). As I
commented in 40 Days with Jesus, he was saying, in effect: ‘“It’s me.
See the nail prints here. This was the price I paid for you to be free.
But it’s really me. You’re not looking at a ghost. You’re not looking at
a vision. You’re not dreaming. Touch me. It’s really me. I’m back.”’
When they still struggled to believe, Jesus asked for something to eat
and they gave him ‘“a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in
their presence” (Luke 24:42–43). How wonderfully real and tangible:
“You think I’m a ghost! Give me a piece of fish to eat!”’ 8 So, this
resurrected Jesus was clearly the same ‘physical’ Jesus; yet at the
same time he was somehow different, able to just ‘appear’ in a room
where the doors were locked.
The risen Prince of Peace offered the peace of God to the disciples
back then, and he does the same to all of us now! As I shared in
Chapter One, the very moment that I opened my life to the risen
Jesus, he came in and brought me a peace that I had never imagined
was possible. As I look back now, I realise that this was because for
the first time in my life, because of my acceptance of what Jesus had
done for me through the cross and resurrection, I was finally ‘at
peace’ with God. This in turn resulted in an inner peace, a peace with
myself that I had never experienced before and, in turn, overflowed
into a much greater sense of peace and harmony in my relationships
with others. I also experienced an immediate sense of joy.
FILLED WITH A PEACEFUL JOY
There’s a clear link between peace and joy. Romans 14:17 highlights
that ‘the kingdom of God is…righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy

Spirit.’ The word ‘righteousness’ can be translated as ‘right standing’.
It’s only when we know this right standing with God that we can
experience true peace, which in turn is fundamental if we’re to
experience real joy.
Unsurprisingly, once the disciples realised that this person in the
room was the once-crucified and now fully alive Jesus, proclaiming
‘peace’ to them, they were filled with joy. Hence, we read: ‘The
disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord’ (v20). Their grief
and sense of defeat had turned into overwhelming joy. In the words of
one scholar: ‘Joy is the basic mood of Easter.’ 9
There’s a big difference between the ‘joy’ that the disciples
experienced here, and that is mentioned throughout the Bible, and
how we often view ‘happiness’ today. Now, there is nothing wrong
with happiness: who doesn’t want to be happy?! The problem is that
happiness is essentially based on our mood and circumstances,
which can go up and down based on everything from the weather
through to whether we have had enough sleep or whether our sports
team is winning! And even when we seem to achieve what we set out
to, lasting happiness is still elusive.
Biblical joy, on the other hand, is dependent on something much
deeper than our circumstances or feelings. It comes from meeting the
risen Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This ‘joy of
the Lord’ is not dictated by outside influences, and it also has many
wonderful benefits, impacting not just our spiritual and emotional
state, but our physical health, strength and wellbeing too (see
Nehemiah 8:10). As Proverbs 17:22 makes clear: ‘A joyful heart is
good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones’ (ESVUK).
THE PEACE THAT EMPOWERS US

‘Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I
am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit”’ (John 20:21–22).
The effect of Jesus’ appearance among the disciples and his double
proclamation of peace was two-fold. Firstly, their world was changed
as he spoke peace to them, freeing them from fear and filling them
with joy. Then, as he spoke peace to them for a second time, he
commissioned them and filled them with the Spirit, to go and change
the world in his name. This is the same for us today: Jesus
transforms us by his living presence, and then calls us to be those
who transform others!
Having the right purpose in life is an essential component for us to
be fully alive; so much so that we’ll be picking up this theme in the
next chapter and then majoring on it in the final chapter. For now, let
me emphasise the link between peace and purpose. I don’t know
about you, but the more I am at peace with God and with myself, the
more able I am to discern the big picture and the smaller details of
my life purpose in a way that is hopefully honouring to Jesus, fulfilling
to me and helpful to others.
As we’ll explore over the next couple of chapters, we all have a
specific purpose that is unique to us. However, all true followers of
Christ also have a general and over-arching purpose that should
undergird our own individual life calling. Jesus highlights this in these
stunning words: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (John
20:21). The language here is striking: the mission of Jesus and the
mission of the disciples are depicted as one mission. Just as the
Father sent Jesus, Jesus was now sending his people – to bring a
message of hope and healing to a broken world. What an incredible
calling!

To fulfil this new purpose, we must receive the Holy Spirit – a real,
unseen person who comes to fill us with the presence and power of
God. Many years ago, I unknowingly filled up my wife’s diesel car
with petrol. It wasn’t until I tried to leave the forecourt that I realised
there was a problem. The ensuing cost and disruption of getting a
mechanic out to drain the tank (and the lively conversation when I got
home) taught me a valuable lesson! Just as we need enough – and
the right kind of – fuel to drive our cars, so we need the right kind of
power to fulfil our life purpose. We see this in Jesus’ encounter with
his disciples. Having commissioned them, He immediately ‘breathed
on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”’ (v22).
We have come to the crux of what it means to be fully alive: which
is to be filled with the presence of the fully alive Jesus, through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Firstly, this involves us experiencing new life
through a new birth – something John already emphasised earlier in
his Gospel (see John 3:3–7). Secondly, this involves a new power to
take this new life to those around us. Central to this is sharing a
message that involves the forgiveness of sins: ‘If you forgive anyone’s
sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not
forgiven’ (John 20:23). As we can see from the parallel text in Luke
24, the role of the Church is not focused on deciding who will and
who won’t be forgiven, but rather to go and preach the good news,
which includes the promise of forgiveness of sins. To those who
repent and believe, there is forgiveness. Yet those who reject the
good news will sadly stay in their sins and therefore not be forgiven:
a fact that only highlights the importance of the task ahead.
FAITH: THE KEY TO INCREASING
PEACE AND WELLBEING

Let’s take some time to really consider how we can receive Jesus,
the Prince of Peace as well as the corresponding new freedom, joy,
purpose and power that he alone can bring. Unlike the disciples, we
weren’t in that upper room, so we don’t have Jesus physically with us
– inviting us to see his hands and side and watch him eating before
us. The way we receive today is through faith; by simply believing in
the risen Jesus.
The word ‘believe’ was clearly John’s primary concern in the next
part of the story, as it appears six times – including in the summary
verse for the whole Gospel, where he emphasised that he had only
selected a few of the many miraculous signs that Jesus performed:
‘But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’
(John 20:31, my emphasis). It’s important to recognise that this is
referring to more than just intellectual assent, and even more than
trust in Jesus (although that’s vital), but rather a commitment of our
whole lives to him.
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take some time to reflect on and respond to what you’ve
just read. Invite the Prince of Peace to fill you with new joy,
purpose and power. If you’ve not yet been ‘born again’
through a confession of belief in Jesus, his death and
resurrection, I would encourage you to take your first step
of faith and invite him to come into your life (you may like to
utilise the prayer in Appendix C). If you’ve not yet received
the power of the Spirit, ask the Lord to fill you.
Right now, you may be struggling to believe. If so, then the next

encounter may be of special encouragement to you. It concerns a
man, famously known as ‘Doubting Thomas’. He has gone down in
history as the man who missed the meeting when Jesus first
appeared to his disciples as a whole group!
BIBLE EXTRACT: JESUS APPEARS TO THOMAS
24
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not
with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him,
‘We have seen the Lord!’
But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my
finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not
believe.’
26
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was
with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among
them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your
finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.
Stop doubting and believe.’
28
Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
29
Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed;
blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’
(John 20:24–29)
We don’t know why Thomas was absent. Maybe he was even more
fearful and disappointed than the rest of the disciples. The other ten
were at least prepared to gather, albeit in fear behind locked doors.
But Thomas? Whatever the reasons for his absence we can only
imagine how he must have felt at the reports of the others. Did he
feel guilty at missing this encounter? Did he suffer from FOMO? What
is clear is that Thomas was not going to believe the resurrection of a
once-dead Jesus based on second-hand evidence. Rather, he
demanded first-hand, sensory proof before he would believe.

On the one hand this seems reasonable enough. After all, dead
people generally do not rise! But there may have been something in
Thomas’ personality that made it especially hard for him to believe.
You may be able to identify with Thomas. Perhaps you are
someone who has lots of questions. There are different types of
questions. Those that are genuinely honest and explorative are tunnel
questions: the deeper you go through a tunnel, the nearer the light
you get. Questions that are cynical, destructive, or negative,
however, are like going into a cave. The deeper you go down, the
darker it gets. Cave questions are not so much trying to find answers
to difficult questions but rather an attempt to hide from the truth. 10 It
is important to consider whether our questions come from a true
desire to discover the truth, or a means of deflecting it.
Thomas was a genuine questioner. And Jesus, who loved Thomas,
graciously gave him the answers he sought. 11 In one of the most
dramatic accounts in the Bible we read how Jesus responded to
Thomas’ doubts (vv26–29).
So, what can we learn from this remarkable incident? It’s worth
noting that Jesus didn’t appear to Thomas when he was on his own
(which of course he could have done), but rather when the disciples
were gathered again. Almost all the described resurrection
appearances were to groups of people, which is a powerful counter
to the suggestion that the disciples were simply hallucinating. Maybe
this was why Jesus appeared to Thomas with the other disciples.
Had he appeared to him on his own, Thomas, with his potential for
questioning, may have always wondered whether he was making it
up. The fact that there were many other witnesses helped secure his
faith – and ours as a result. It’s also a further encouragement for
Christians to gather. Jesus obviously likes showing up (now by his

Spirit) when his followers are meeting together.
Moreover, this incident is a particularly instructive lesson on the
different types of faith. There is the Thomas-like faith, which needs to
see before it will believe. Having clearly ‘overheard’ Thomas’
comments concerning his need to ‘see’ and ‘touch’, Jesus very
specifically invited him to touch the physical wounds from his
crucifixion. In 1602 in his painting The Incredulity of Saint Thomas,
Caravaggio tried to imagine the scene and painted the hand of Christ
guiding the hand of Thomas into the wound on his side. There is,
however, no evidence from the biblical text that Thomas actually
touched Jesus – he didn’t need to. Seeing the crucified Jesus
standing before him was enough! In that moment Thomas’
expressions of doubt turned to a cry of faith: ‘My Lord and my God!’
This is one of the strongest affirmations of Jesus’ divinity. As one
commentator puts it: ‘from the furnace of his doubt emerges the
finest confession of Jesus found in the New Testament’. 12 You may be
left thinking: ‘Well, that was great for Thomas: he had a physical
encounter with the resurrected Jesus. What about me?’ Jesus
addressed this concern directly. Rather than commending Thomas for
his declaration of faith and worship, he pointedly said, ‘Because you
have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed’ (v29).
So how do we believe without seeing? Not with a ‘blind’ leap of
faith; but rather by examining the evidence of those who did witness
the ministry of Jesus, the empty tomb and his post-resurrection bodily
appearances. Peter, who would have been in the room at that
moment of Jesus’ declaration to Thomas, wrote to Christians
sometime later, summarising the joy available to all who exercise this
kind of faith: ‘Though you have not seen him [Jesus], you love him;

and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are
filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the
end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls’ (1 Peter 1:8–9).
So, be encouraged! To believe without seeing is the kind of faith
that truly pleases God. Such faith brings joy today and great hope for
tomorrow! It also brings us an increasing peace. Once we ourselves
have this peace, we have a secure foundation for pursuing peace in
our own relationships as well as becoming agents of peace and
reconciliation in the wider world – which is the calling Jesus has for
his Church.
PERFECT PEACE AND
WELLBEING IN THE AGE TO
COME
To reflect on the latter part of the timeline showing the stages of
God’s plan for our lives, it may be helpful to start with an illustration
from the Second World War. Just as on ‘D-Day’, 6 June 1944, the
allies successfully established a bridgehead in northern France,
ensuring Hitler’s eventual defeat, so through his life, death and
resurrection, Jesus won the decisive battle in history, ushering in the

prospect of our long-lost peace and wellbeing being restored.
However, just as it took another eleven months of bloody fighting to
liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny and for the ‘VE-Day’ celebrations
to take place (8 May 1945), so we’re still in the in-between times,
waiting for Jesus’ Second Coming and the manifestation of his
complete victory and our complete peace and wellbeing. In the
meantime, we often have to ‘fight’ for peace, both in our own lives,
our relationships and in the wider world – contending for justice and
shalom, in Jesus’ name.
But when Jesus returns, what celebrations will we enjoy! Just as the
first two chapters of the Bible began with a picture of the original
shalom in the Garden of Eden, so the last two chapters of the Bible
conclude with a beautiful picture of how the Lord will come to live with
his people, and of how the ‘new’ heavens and the ‘new’ earth will be
filled with a sense of perfect peace and wellbeing. On that day: ‘He’ll
wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good – tears gone,
crying gone, pain gone…[God will say], “Look! I’m making everything
new”’ (Revelation 21:4–5, The Message).
I don’t know how God will bring this all about, but I find this
description so encouraging! When I look at all the suffering, injustice
and pain in this current world, I like to imagine what the perfect new
world will be like – where tears, pain, poverty, suffering, sickness,
isolation and death will be no more, and where we will finally
experience perfect peace and wellbeing, forever! It inspires me to
press forward for an increase of peace in my own life and in the lives
of those around me today.

FURTHER REFLECTION
1. Take another look at the wellbeing dashboard. Which area(s) –
physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, financial and vocational – do
you most need help with?
2. How do you respond to the idea that it is God who has the best
plan for your complete peace and wellbeing?
3. How does the evidence of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples
strengthen your confidence in his resurrection? Do you have any
questions or doubts?
4. Since Jesus is alive, where do you need him to increase your
peace?
5. How do you respond to the idea that one day there will be a new
world where we will enjoy perfect peace and wellbeing, forever?

CHAPTER FOUR
LIVING IN FREEDOM

Whether it be William Wallace (Mel Gibson in Braveheart)
passionately crying ‘Freedom’ or Nelson Mandela’s painstakingly
detailed account of his Long Walk to Freedom, 1 freedom is one of
the central longings of the human heart. So much so that many have
made it their life mission to free others from different forms of
oppression – whether it be modern-day slavery, racial injustice,
domestic abuse, extreme poverty or institutional corruption. These
freedom movements are all extremely important. There is, however, a
universal need for freedom that impacts every single one of us,
whatever our domestic, cultural, socio-economic or political
circumstances: it’s the need be free on the inside.
So, let me start by asking you some questions:
• Do you need to be freed from a sense of frustration concerning
your present work or role in life?
• Do you need to be freed from a sense of failure concerning things
that have happened in your past?
• Do you need to be freed from a sense of futility concerning what
lies ahead in your future?
History is full of people who have overcome frustration, failure and
futility to achieve their life’s mission. Here’s a list of the frustration and
failure one famous historical (American) figure faced (can you guess
who it was?):
• Lost their job in 1832.
• Defeated for state legislature in 1832.
• Failed in business in 1833.
• Elected to state legislature in 1834.

• Sweetheart died in 1835.
• Had a nervous breakdown in 1836.
• Defeated for Speaker in 1838.
• Defeated for nomination for Congress in 1843.
• Elected to Congress in 1846.
• Lost re-nomination in 1848.
• Rejected for land officer in 1849.
• Defeated for US Senate in 1854.
• Defeated for nomination for vice president in 1856.
• Defeated again for US Senate in 1858.
• Elected president in 1860. 2
Abraham Lincoln overcame more than his fair share of setbacks,
before fulfilling his destiny to become what many people consider to
be one of the greatest US presidents. He successfully won the civil
war, which was largely fought in the cause of a ‘freedom’ movement –
the ending of slavery.
Overcoming frustration, failure and futility is central to the story of
another hugely influential historical figure, the first-century Christian
leader, Simon Peter. His birth name was Simon, son of Jonah. He
grew up around the Sea of Galilee, became a fisherman and was first
introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. At that moment, Jesus
gave him the nickname ‘Peter’, which means ‘rock’ or stone (John
1:41–42).
Then came a defining moment: Peter had been out fishing all night
(the best time to fish) and had caught nothing. Having got into Peter’s
boat, Jesus instructed Peter to throw out his nets into the deep,
resulting in such a huge catch of fish that both his and his partners’
boats begin to sink. Peter’s response was to fall to his knees and
declare: ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ But Jesus didn’t

leave Peter; rather, he made this declaration: ‘Don’t be afraid; from
now on you will fish for people.’ Then Peter and his partners, James
and John, ‘pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed
him’ (Luke 5:8–11). Peter was then chosen to be one of Jesus’ 12
closest disciples, even part of an inner core of three, and quickly
became the spokesperson for the group.
Jesus clearly believed in Simon Peter and his future call in a way
that he himself didn’t yet do so, speaking a word of new identity over
him (‘rock’) before Simon Peter consistently demonstrated any ‘rocklike’
qualities. While Peter was more aware of his sinfulness and
failings, Jesus was thinking of his future destiny.
This is so important and so powerful. It’s well known that words of
affirmation from an authority figure can be key to individuals achieving
great things in life. Sadly, the reverse is also true: demeaning words
can damage.
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a moment to consider what words have been spoken
over you that have helped shape you, either for good or for
bad. If there are any particularly negative words that you
know have had a hold over you, ask Jesus to break the
power of them in his name, to remove their impact from
your life.
Peter’s road to freedom was very much a journey, in which he
vacillated between moments of great boldness and brilliance, and
moments of great fear and folly! His life descended to a particular low
point in the events leading up to the crucifixion, when he denied even
knowing Jesus out of fear (see below). It’s often been said that the

est predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Imagine being
part of an HR department of a company, tasked with finding a future
CEO to take over the business from a retiring leader. You’re going
through a so-far very mixed CV, when you read a summary of the
person’s most recent events and underlying character traits:
• Prone to massively over-promise Responding to Jesus’
declaration that all the disciples would desert him, Peter replied:
‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’ But Jesus knew
better and made this painful declaration: ‘Truly, I tell you…this very
night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’
Undeterred, Peter said to him, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will
never disown you!’ (Matthew 26:33–35).
• Tendency to sleep on the job at the most critical moments
While Jesus was praying agonising prayers in the Garden of
Gethsemane, Peter, along with the other disciples, kept falling
asleep, leading to this rebuke: ‘Simon…are you asleep? Couldn’t
you keep watch for one hour?’ (Mark 14:37) – evidently not!
• Gets violent under pressure When a detachment of soldiers and
officials from the religious leaders arrived with Judas to arrest
Jesus, Peter struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his
right ear! I can only imagine the response of the disciples: ‘Even for
you, Peter, that’s going too far!’ Jesus of course rebuked him and
then healed the man’s ear (John 18:10–11; Luke 22:51).
• Capitulates under fear of public opinion Worst of all, while
waiting during Jesus’ trial, Peter was questioned about his
association with his master. Three times he denied he even knew
him. He began to ‘call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t

know the man!”’ And immediately the rooster crowed for the third
time. ‘Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before
the cock crows, you will disown me three times.”’ Then, in one of
the saddest verses in the Bible, we read: ‘And he went outside and
wept bitterly’ (Matthew 26:74–75).
• Deserts the ship when it’s sinking Unlike the women followers
and ‘the disciple whom [Jesus] loved’, Peter was conspicuously
absent at the crucifixion (John 19:25–27).
Wow! What a list of failures. Would you pick this man for a key
leadership role?! And yet, stunningly, just over 50 days later, he stood
up in Jerusalem to tell a huge crowd that the Jesus that they had
crucified was now alive from the dead and was their true Messiah
and Lord (Acts 2:14–41). The results of this sermon were some of
the most ‘successful’ in Church history: 3,000 people became
followers of Jesus and were added to this new church, of which Peter
was initially its main leader. And this was not a one-off: for the next
few years Peter stood out as a bold, courageous leader who
performed mighty miracles – even raising the dead (like his master) –
and steadfastly refused to compromise his newfound integrity, even
under persecution. He went on to truly become the ‘rock’ that Jesus
had foretold, and is today known, alongside Paul, as one of the two
key foundational leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ.
So, what led to this most dramatic of transformations? And how did
Peter not only recover from such a dramatic litany of failures, but
begin to exemplify a wonderful track record of strength and success?
Two factors stand out. The first is that Peter met the resurrected
Jesus. In fact, Peter’s transformation is surely one of the greatest
pieces of evidence for the historicity of the resurrection. It’s

completely implausible to think that Peter could have changed so
completely without him being utterly convinced that the same Lord
who he had betrayed and who had been killed on the cross on Good
Friday, was alive again on Easter Sunday.
It seems as if Jesus particularly went out of his way to convince
Peter. We know from a couple of references that on the first Easter,
sometime after Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene and the
women followers, he appeared to Peter individually (Luke 24:34; 1
Corinthians 15:5). Jesus then appeared to Peter a second time, this
time with the other disciples on the evening of that same day, and
then a third time, a week later when he interacted with Thomas (the
subject of the previous chapter).
But Jesus wasn’t finished. This brings us to the second defining
explanation for Peter’s transformation: which was that Jesus went to
great lengths to personally free Peter from any sense of guilt
and shame for his past failure. You may have been reading about
Peter and thinking that you, too, have struggled with failure. Maybe
you aren’t sure whether you will ever be able to be free from the
crippling hold it has on you. Please take encouragement from Peter’s
story and know that Jesus is here for you too, and is longing to help
you. As I said in my book 40 Days with Jesus, I truly believe that,
with him, ‘Your future is greater than your failure; the call is greater
than the fall!’ 3
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a moment to consider these words: ‘Your future is
greater than your failure.’ Why not ask the Lord to free you
to live out your future with him?

FREEDOM FROM PRESENT
FRUSTRATION
Can you recall a time when, despite your best efforts, things just
weren’t working? A particular season of my life comes to mind. We’d
moved as a young family from Oxford to Peterborough to start the
local church that we now lead. There were lots of pressures –
including living in a brand-new city, with very little disposable income.
Karen was at home raising our young girls; I was holding down a
teaching job, trying to finish my doctorate as well as helping with the
family. Most challenging of all, we were trying to get the new church
established. I remember the extreme sense of discouragement and
the pain of feeling like I was failing, badly. I prayed to God, offering
my resignation, which he didn’t accept!
As I look back it’s evident that, tough as it was, this was a crucial
season of what I call root work rather than fruit work, when, despite
a lack of outward growth, we were learning to put deep roots down
into God, into his Word and growing in our conviction that he had
indeed called us. In fact, those acute feelings of frustration and failure
helped produce in me a growing sense that my goal was not to try to
make things happen in my own strength, but to depend on the Lord
and his wisdom and power. This is a journey that I’m still on decades
later!
All of us face struggles and challenges in life. Right now, you may
be very aware of a sense of frustration and failure – or may have a
vague feeling that something’s not right, but you can’t seem to identify
why. If so, there are at least three key lessons from the first part of
the story in John 21, which we are going to look at now.
BIBLE EXTRACT: THE MIRACULOUS CATCH OF

FISH
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.
It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus),
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other
disciples were together. 3 ‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them,
and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the
boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not
realise that it was Jesus.
5
He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’
‘No,’ they answered.
6
He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find
some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the
large number of fish.
7
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As
soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer
garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8
The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for
they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed,
they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10
Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ 11 So
Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It
was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12
Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples
dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came,
took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This
was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was
raised from the dead.
(John 21:1–14)
1. JESUS IS ALIVE AND WILLING TO HELP

We’re not told exactly when this incident took place, just that it
involved seven of Jesus’ disciples. At the start of the passage we are
told that they had gone fishing. Why? Not, as some suggest, because
they were failing to follow through on Jesus’ commission, but simply
to make a living. Fishing was what they had done before Jesus called
them, so they went back to what they knew. The fact that Jesus
appeared to them in this context highlights that his presence is with us
in the ordinary aspects of life, such as our work. 4
This is a remarkable parallel to the incident that we saw take place
earlier in Jesus’ ministry in Luke 5. Despite doing what he was trained
to do, and fishing when he should have done (at night), Peter and the
others still caught nothing. As I wrote in 40 Days with Jesus: ‘Their
struggle, failure and subsequent frustration, like ours, is part of being
human in a fallen world, living with limitations and frustrations!’ 5
What I love about this story, though, is that Jesus didn’t remain
aloof, disappointed and repelled by their human struggle and failure.
Rather, he moved towards it. We read how: ‘Early in the morning,
Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realise that it was
Jesus’ (v4). This has echoes of the previous appearances to Mary
and the Emmaus disciples: Jesus was present, but initially the
disciples didn’t recognise him – again clearly indicating that although it
was the same Jesus, he clearly looked different in his postresurrection
state.
Whether it was the first-century disciples by the Sea of Galilee, or
us in our 21st-century relationships and responsibilities, the
application is clear: we can’t and don’t need to carry on struggling
with our own ingenuity or resources. Rather, we can turn to Jesus,
who is alive and present, ready and willing to help us!

PAUSE AND PONDER
If you are currently in a situation where you are
experiencing failure, or just feel stuck and need a
breakthrough, take the opportunity to turn to Jesus.
2. WE MUST RESPOND TO HIS
INSTRUCTIONS
This can be hard. This is in part due to our natural human
independence: we like to do things our way! It’s also because we
don’t have Jesus physically present, speaking to us with an audible
voice, so we can sometimes struggle to discern if it truly is him
speaking to us and what he’s saying. This passage gives us lots of
encouragement, though.
From the outset, we see that Jesus initiated the conversation: ‘He
called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No”, they
answered’ (v5). The word for ‘friends’ here can be translated literally
as ‘children’ or ‘lads’ – a term of great endearment and affection.
Jesus questioned them about the fish, not because he didn’t know the
answer, but rather because of his desire to engage them (and us) in
conversation.
Interestingly, the disciples didn’t seem to be offended by this
question from a ‘stranger’, but, even more remarkably, they acted on
his suggestion. Maybe it was the memory of the previous miracle,
perhaps there was something compelling about the way the stranger
spoke or maybe they were just desperate and willing to try anything!
The fact is that they acted, with stunning results as, ‘they were
unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish’ (v6).
What’s not clear is how the fish got there: whether they were already

there, and Jesus ‘knew’ this, or whether he commanded the fish to
jump in, and they obeyed! What is clear, though, is that this illustration
shows us that Jesus is willing and able to help us, no matter what
sphere of life or circumstance we find ourselves in: ‘He knows more
about the fish than the fishermen! He knows more about accountancy
than the accountant, more about business than the businessman,
more about parenting than parents, more about teaching than
teachers, and more about reaching people with the gospel than we
do. Moreover, He is not just able; He is willing, alive and present with
us by His Spirit, ready to help us in every area of our life and
ministry…even if we don’t recognise Him fully.’ 6
So, how are we to respond? Firstly, by believing that he’s present
with us, and that he wants to speak to us. Secondly, by trusting that
we will hear and recognise his voice. Thirdly, by acting on his
instructions. Before we act, though, it’s important to learn to discern
that it is the Lord, and not our own imagination or some other ‘voice’
speaking to us. There is much that’s been written on this very
important topic, but, for now, it’s worth summarising some of the main
ways that we can hear God’s voice.
A primary way is through the Bible. This is, as we’ve seen in
chapter two, because the Bible is not just a book written by various
human authors, but a book that is divinely inspired (see 2 Timothy
3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21). The more time we spend reading and
reflecting on the Bible, the more we become familiar with God’s
character and his ways. This means that we’re more likely to be able
to ‘tune in’ to what he’s saying and ‘tune out’ any so-called
‘revelations’ that are obviously in conflict with what he has already
said through the Scriptures.
But as well as God speaking through the general counsel of the

Bible, he also speaks specifically to us from the Bible. This means
that at any given moment the Spirit can take a particular passage,
verse, phrase or word from the Scriptures and apply it into our own
lives and situations, often bringing a word of promise or a word of
instruction through it.
Another way that God speaks is through a ‘still small voice’ (1 Kings
19:12, King James Version). These whispers or promptings often
come in the form of simple little instructions, like ‘cast the net’, ‘speak
to that person’, ‘forgive that friend’ etc. We should always test such
promptings against the broader revelation of Scripture and can enlist
the help of mature fellow Christians and leaders. What’s clear from
this story is that when we – like the disciples – act on a genuine
word, promise or instruction from the Lord, the results can be
miraculous – from catching nothing, to catching so much that we
won’t be able to haul the nets in!
PAUSE AND PONDER
How do you respond to the idea of God speaking to you?
Have you tried to hear God’s voice but have struggled?
Maybe that’s because you have been expecting something
dramatic and audible, when God is trying to speak to you
through the Bible and in a ‘still small voice’.
3. MOVE ON FROM THE MIRACLE TO MEET
THE MIRACLE-MAKER
Miracles are wonderful, but there’s something much greater: meeting
the miracle-maker! It was after the miraculous catch of fish that the
disciples recognised Jesus: ‘Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said
to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It’s

the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment round him…and jumped into
the water’ (v7). It’s worth noting that the original Greek for ‘it is the
Lord’, literally means ‘the Lord is’. This has similar overtones to
Thomas’ cry of ‘my Lord and my God’ (20:28), again acknowledging
the divine identity of Jesus. 7 Then, notice how Peter responded
immediately, not allowing the shame of his past failure to hold him
back. No matter what we’ve done or not done, we too must run to
Jesus rather than from him and watch what he will do!
Once the disciples arrived at the shore, they discovered Jesus
doing something wonderfully ordinary: cooking fish for breakfast! He
asked the disciples to bring fish and then invited them to eat. This is a
beautiful picture of how tender, personal and practical the risen Jesus
is. Here, the one who had only recently died to pay for the sins of the
world and risen in triumph over the powers of sin and death, was now
focused on serving breakfast to his tired and hungry disciples! By
looking after their practical needs, Jesus was also providing a safe
relational space in which he could address the deeper psychological
and spiritual needs of Simon Peter, which we will focus on for the rest
of this chapter.
PAUSE AND PONDER
As you think about this wonderful breakfast by the beach,
consider the fact that the risen Jesus is calling you to come
and spend time with him. Let that incredible truth truly sink
in.
FREEDOM FROM PAST FAILURE
We will all fail in life many times! While we cannot avoid failure, it’s

vital that we don’t let it stop us from moving forward into a better
future. Right now, you may be living in the consequences of past
failure and have wondered whether you can ever get beyond it. I’ve
got some great news for you: not only does Jesus help us in our
present frustration, but he also comes to free us from our past
failures.
This is what he did for Simon Peter. One can only imagine how
deeply Peter must have been affected by his three-fold denial of
Jesus. It was not likely something that would have simply mended
itself or ‘got better over time’. No, he needed the freedom and
forgiveness that only Jesus could bring.
BIBLE EXTRACT: JESUS REINSTATES PETER
15
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of
John, do you love me more than these?’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
16
Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
17
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love
me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were
younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you
are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.’ 19 Jesus said this to indicate
the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,
‘Follow me!’
20
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following
them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper

and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) 21 When Peter saw
him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’
22
Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that
to you? You must follow me.’ 23 Because of this, the rumour spread among
the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that
he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I
return, what is that to you?’
(John 21:15–23)
Jesus began by helping Peter to face up to what had happened. He
did this utilising both symbols and words. For example, Jesus had
been cooking fish on a fire of burning coals (literally a ‘charcoal fire’).
The only other place that this word is used in the New Testament is
earlier in John’s Gospel when Peter warmed himself by the ‘charcoal
fire’ – and then denied Jesus (John 18:18). Also, Jesus seemed to
have deliberately addressed him as ‘Simon, son of John’ – not Peter,
the ‘rock’ – highlighting his failure to act in a ‘rock-like’ way. Finally,
Jesus asked Peter the same question in three slightly different ways
– ‘do you love me?’ – as a reminder of how Peter had denied him
three times. No wonder Peter ‘was hurt’.
Now, it’s important to realise that Jesus wasn’t being deliberately
‘hurtful’: he was not reminding Peter of his past failure to make him
feel worse, but to help him get better! If you’ve ever received
counselling, as I have, you’ll be aware that buried pain doesn’t just go
away – it stays there, often largely hidden, causing internal damage
and ready to pop again when we least expect it. Hence the
importance of facing up to what’s gone on, especially in the care of
an experienced counsellor – even if that can seem especially painful
at the time. Just as Alcoholics Anonymous start by helping an
alcoholic face the facts of their addiction, so Jesus helped Peter to

‘own’ the problem. Outwardly, Peter seemed to be doing fine. The
risen Jesus had already appeared to him, and Peter was the first in
this encounter to jump out of the boat and run to him. So on the
surface, at least, it seems Peter still felt ‘positive’ about his
relationship with Jesus. But Jesus is the most skilled ‘heart surgeon’
that there is. He knew that Peter needed to face up to who he was
and what he had done and to deal with any self-deception so that he
could be fully healed and restored, rather than carrying the problem
with him into his future.
Jesus’ method was to ask searching questions – in fact the same
basic question, framed slightly differently three times: ‘Do you love
me’? The first time he said: ‘Do you love me more than these?’ The
‘more than these’ could have meant more than fishing, more than the
other disciples or even ‘Do you love me more than they do?’ There is
no way of knowing for certain. What we can be sure of is that Jesus
went straight to the heart of the matter: ‘Peter, the reason you denied
me was a love issue – you loved self, your reputation, what others
thought of you – more than you loved me.’ 8 Jesus knew that for Peter
to both experience full forgiveness and freedom from his past failure
and be ready for future service, he had to deal with his heart issue.
Like Peter, God has a plan for our lives. He made us, and sent
Christ to restore us, from both the damage done to us, but also the
damage we have done to ourselves. This process starts when we
come to Christ. In his letter to first-century Christians, the now fully
restored Peter wrote: ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1 Peter
1:3). The transformation is so dramatic it’s described as a ‘new birth’.
Then, as we allow the indwelling Christ to progressively restore us,

we experience increasing levels of freedom, even seeing God work
‘negative’ past experiences for our good and for his glory.
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. The name
means ‘golden joinery’ and the process involves mending a broken
piece using lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum, making it
arguably more valuable than the original was. This image of mending
and restoring something broken so that it is more beautiful and
valuable than before is a great reflection of what Jesus does in our
lives. As author Andrew Ollerton has described it: ‘The risen Jesus is
the master of Kintsugi. His sacrificial love is the golden resin. Jesus
takes what’s broken and puts it back together again in such a way
that it becomes more valuable than before. So let’s not hide our
brokenness from him. Instead, let’s hand the pieces to the risen
Jesus and see what he can do.’ 9
PAUSE AND PONDER
Are you still living in the grip of past failure? Are there
areas of brokenness in your life? Take some time to invite
the risen Jesus to forgive you, free you and restore you.
FREEDOM FROM FUTURE
FUTILITY
The freedom that Jesus offers us is fully comprehensive: covering
freedom from present frustration, freedom from past failure and
freedom from future futility!
As you look to your future, what do you see? In the days following
his denial, Peter’s future looked futile. Certainly, there seemed no
likelihood of him fulfilling the destiny that Jesus had for him – to be a

ock on which he would build his Church. Yet God had other ideas,
giving Peter a second chance (or was it a 50th chance?!). Jesus not
only forgave him and freed him; he did so with the ultimate purpose of
restoring and recommissioning him. Having three times questioned
Peter’s love and received his response, ‘you know that I love you’,
Jesus gave him a three-fold commission: ‘feed my lambs…take care
of my sheep…feed my sheep’ (John 21:15–17).
With hindsight we can look back and see the effectiveness of this
restoration and recommissioning. The early chapters of the book of
Acts show Peter as the stand-out leader of the early Church.
Moreover, his story of restoration and recommissioning can be of
great encouragement to us today. After all, who of us have not failed
or fallen in some way? Yet none of us are outside the reach of God’s
restoring love and grace!
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a moment to thank God that he has a great plan for
your life. If you feel like you’ve lost (or never experienced) a
sense of his destiny for you, invite him to come in and
restore and recommission you.
FREEDOM FROM COMPARISON
Before we leave the story of Peter, there’s one last amazing truth to
glean: God wants to free us from the trap of comparison. Comparing
ourselves with others is a sure way of ensuring that we will fail to fulfil
our unique destiny. Comparison takes our eyes off our own calling
and can lead to either prideful superiority or an insecurity whereby we
waste emotional energy, wishing we were running someone else’s

ace. In the age of social media, falling into this comparison trap has
become a whole lot easier!
But comparison is an age-old human problem. Having just
experienced a wonderful moment of restoration and recommissioning,
Peter gets distracted by comparing his own future with that of ‘the
disciple whom Jesus loved’. On one level this is entirely
understandable, given what Jesus told him about his own future:
‘“when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else
will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said
this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.
Then he said to him, “Follow me!”’ (vv18–19). The reference to
Peter’s hands being stretched out probably alluded to his martyrdom
through crucifixion, which history bears out.
I don’t know about you, but I would have wanted to know as many
details as possible – as well as whether there was any possible way
of avoiding it! However, Peter immediately fell into the comparison
trap: ‘Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was
following them…When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about
him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return,
what is that to you? You must follow me”’ (vv20–22).
Jesus’ simple question, ‘what is that to you?’ followed by a simple
exhortation ‘you must follow me’ is life-changing advice that will help
you and I avoid the comparison trap. Over the years, I’ve found that
the number one way for me to not compare myself with others is to
get a clear understanding of my own unique calling and pathway and
ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to live this out daily. This is something
that requires considerable effort, and will also necessitate others
helping us, but the results are worth it. (We’ll explore this more in
Chapter Five.)

Peter clearly took Jesus’ advice to heart. As already indicated, the
early chapters of Acts show him successfully exercising his own
unique leadership role, empowered by the Holy Spirit – the latter part
of his life is a great picture of someone who has been freed from
failure, frustration and futility.
In order to grasp Peter’s journey to full freedom it’s important to
note his relationship with significant others that he was called to
partner with. So, for example, his main companion in the early
chapters of Acts was John. In other words, Peter moved from seeing
John as someone to compare himself to, to working alongside him as
a true companion – together they saw a crippled beggar walk, and
together they were arrested for speaking about Jesus before being
released and returning to their own company (see Acts 3–4). One of
the keys to us fulfilling our destiny is to work together with others.
That’s one of the reasons why the Church is described as a ‘body’,
with each of its members having different functions (see 1 Corinthians
12:12–26). Together we complement each other’s strengths and
cover each other’s weakness; together we will see great things
accomplished in and through us that will bring blessing to many
others, and glory to Jesus!
PAUSE AND PONDER
Is comparison something you struggle with? If so, thank
God for your uniqueness and ask him to set you free from
comparing yourself to others. Take some time to thank him
that you are ‘one of a kind’, uniquely created to fulfill your
calling.
FOREVER FREE!

Freedom is a journey – in the words of Mandela, more like a ‘long
walk to freedom’. I trust that as you and I encounter Jesus, and
experience an ongoing walk with the Spirit, that we’ll enjoy increasing
measures of freedom in this life. Ultimately, though, complete
freedom is only possible in the age to come. Then, and only then, will
we fully join with Jesus in his victory over death, enjoying a new life in
our new bodies on the new earth. In place of frustration, failure and
futility, there will be complete and everlasting freedom!

FURTHER REFLECTION
1. Are you struggling with frustration concerning your present
circumstances or season in life? If so, consider what it would mean if
you were to invite the ‘fully alive’ Jesus into those areas of frustration.
2. Are you struggling with a sense of failure concerning things that
have happened in the past? Do you feel that you can come to Jesus
with your guilt and shame? Why not invite him to forgive you and to
set you free?
3. Are you struggling with futility concerning your future? Ask God to
give you a fresh sense of destiny.
4. Are you struggling with comparison? Invite Jesus to give you a
new sense of your own uniqueness and to free you from all wrong
comparisons.
5. How does John 21 change your view of Jesus? Invite him to reveal
himself to you in new and greater ways.

CHAPTER FIVE
FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE

I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer. As a child I spent hours playing
football on my own, dreaming of playing for my favourite team – who
always won! Into my teens, I would occasionally dream of entering
politics and one day becoming prime minister. Thankfully, for
everyone’s sake (my own included), such dreams never came to
pass! With hindsight, though, I can see that underneath those youthful
dreams was a deeper longing for a true sense of purpose and
meaning, which for many years went unfulfilled.
What about you? Maybe your childhood dreams have come true or,
perhaps like me, you can reflect with thankfulness that they didn’t!
Maybe you have dreams in your heart right now that you’ve been
holding on to for a long time, but you’re unsure whether they are the
right ones or whether they will come to pass.
The Japanese have a word for this sense of purpose, this
‘something’ that gets us up in the morning – ikagai, which translates
literally as ‘a reason for being’. Knowing or becoming clear about our
life purpose is a critical part of what it means for us to be and feel
fully alive. As a few famous people have pointed out:
Winston Churchill: ‘It’s not enough to have lived. We should be
determined to live for something.’
Fyodor Dostoyevsky: ‘The mystery of human existence lies not in
just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.’
Mark Twain: ‘The two most important days in life are the day you
are born and the day you discover the reason why.’ 1
The reality is that to find and fulfil our life purpose is a life-long
journey.

LIVING WITH A LACK OF
PURPOSE
Sadly, we can often settle for less than a life that is fully fulfilled. To
live your whole life without finding or fulfilling your life purpose is
indeed a tragedy. Unsurprisingly, studies have shown that a lack of
purpose increases the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, poor
relationships and substance or alcohol abuse. In fact, a recent survey
showed that those with a low sense of purpose had a 2.4 times
higher risk of dying than those with a high sense of purpose. 2
This is nothing new. Living without a sense of purpose can lead to
what the writer of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes described
as a life that seems completely ‘meaningless’. Having tried everything
‘under the sun’ – intellectualism (the pursuit of knowledge), hedonism
(the pursuit of pleasure) and materialism (the pursuit of money and
possessions), the writer concluded that it is all ‘meaningless’
(Ecclesiastes 1:2).
LIVING WITH A MISGUIDED
PURPOSE
It’s one thing to live with no or little purpose; it’s another to live with a
misguided sense of purpose.
Imagine the following scene from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
The American rifle shooter Matt Emmons is one shot away from
winning the gold medal. He aims his rifle at the target, 50 metres
way, takes a deep breath, fires and hits the bullseye. The computer,
however, fails to register. Emmons shrugs, calls over the judges –
who shrug too. Was it the gun or the computer malfunctioning?

Neither – Emmons had hit the wrong target. He instantly dropped
from first place to eighth, from the gold medal to no medal.
This is a very poignant picture of what it’s like we when miss our
true purpose in life. We may be skilled in a particular area and feel
like we’re hitting the bullseye, but fail to ask the more important
question: are we aiming at the right target? 3
Part of the problem is that we can look for a sense of purpose in
the wrong place, which will invariably give us an inaccurate view of
who we truly are, and who we’re called to be.
There are two ‘wrong’ places to look. The first is by looking entirely
‘within ourselves’. Now a qualifier here – as we shall see later in the
chapter, there’s much that we can learn about our life purpose by
understanding ourselves better. Each one of us is a unique
combination of our gifts, passions, abilities, personality and life
experiences. The problem is that we’re flawed! The early Church
father, Saint Augustine, someone who pursued a wrong life purpose
for many years, described our natural human condition as being
‘Incurvatus In Se’ which is Latin for ‘curved in oneself’. In other words,
if we purely focus on discovering our purpose from within, and don’t
find a solution to our egocentricity, we will inevitably end up with a
misguided sense of purpose that will ultimately not fulfil us or help
those around us.
The second wrong source that we can be tempted to look to is
other people. Again, this is not all bad: we’re hard-wired from infancy
to ‘learn from others’. In fact, being inspired by good role models
from a distance, and being mentored by wise leaders close-up, is
necessary and essential to us finding and fulfilling our unique pathway.
The problem, though, as with looking within, is that all human beings
are imperfect. Hence, if we follow others too closely, we can end up

following their faults. There is, of course, the added danger that we
explored in the last chapter: falling into the comparison trap, leaving
us in a place of either pride or insecurity, and not free to fully pursue
our own unique life calling – something we’ll explore in more detail
later.
One of the more modern manifestations of a misguided sense of
purpose is the quest to be famous – with a survey indicating that 50
per cent of young adults said that a major life goal was to become
famous. 4 But fame doesn’t guarantee fulfilment! Listen to this
remarkable confession from Madonna: ‘My drive in life comes from a
fear of being mediocre. That is always pushing me. I push past one
spell of it and discover myself as a special human being but then I
feel I am still mediocre and uninteresting unless I do something else.
Because even though I have become somebody, I still have to prove
that I am somebody. My struggle has never ended and I guess it
never will.’ 5
All of which begs the question: ‘Is there more to life than this?’
DISCOVERING OUR TRUE
PURPOSE
So where do we begin? In his bestselling book, The Purpose Driven
Life, pastor Rick Warren begins his first chapter with these words:
It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than
your own personal fulfilment, your peace of mind, or even your
happiness. If you want to know why you were placed on this
planet, you must begin with God…You didn’t create yourself, so
there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created
for!…It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity,

our meaning, our purpose, our significance, our destiny. Every
other path leads to a dead end. 6
Justin Bieber expressed something similar. Having become a
Christian, he wrote a song entitled ‘Purpose’ in which he celebrates
the fact that it is God who now gives him his purpose each and every
day.
What Rick Warren, Justin Bieber and billions of others throughout
history have discovered is that the key to discovering our right
purpose in life is indeed to go to God our Creator.
PAUSE AND PONDER
On a scale of one to ten – if one is no sense of purpose and
ten is a clear and complete sense of purpose – where would
you place yourself? Depending on your answer, consider
this: how sure are you that your sense of purpose is the
right one?
So, how do we go on a journey of discovering our true life purpose?
There are three key things that we need to consider – all three of
which are related to the resurrection of Jesus. They are:
• A transformed motivation
• An eternal perspective
• A unique pathway.
All three are vital if we are to find and fulfil our God-given purpose.

One of the best examples of someone who ended up living his life in
the light of all three is Saul of Tarsus, better known as the apostle
Paul. (Saul was his Jewish name, while Paul was his Greek name,
derived from the Latin ‘Paulus’.) For the first part of his life, he was
driven by a very misguided sense of purpose, using his God-given
gifts but in a very destructive way. Then at a critical moment
(described in Acts 9), his life was completely, radically and eternally
changed by an encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to
Damascus.
His story, though unique, contains for us some wonderful lessons
concerning how we, like him, can truly be alive with purpose.

1. A TRANSFORMED MOTIVATION
Saul’s life could be described as a journey from unhealthy drivenness
to living the rest of his life with a healthy drive and a new motivation.
This was enabled by his being drawn to and transformed by the risen
Jesus.
Born to Jewish parents in around AD 5 in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia
(in modern-day Turkey), Saul possessed the coveted privilege of
being a Roman citizen. In about AD 10, Saul moved with his family to
Jerusalem and sometime between AD 15–20 he began an in-depth
study of the Hebrew Scriptures under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel.
By the time we first hear about Saul in the New Testament (Acts 7),
much had taken place. His contemporary, Jesus of Nazareth, had
been crucified in around AD 33. Yet within a year or two, thousands
of people had begun to gather in Jerusalem convinced of Jesus’
resurrection and worshipping him as Lord. As a result, they were
persecuted: some of them were imprisoned, and one of their number,
Stephen, was stoned to death. As Stephen was being killed, we read
how ‘witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named
Saul’ (Acts 7:58). The account continues: ‘And Saul approved of their
killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the
church…Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to
house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison’
(Acts 8:1,3). At the start of chapter 9 we read that Paul was still
intent on carrying out his threats (vv1–2). The reason for his
obsession seems clear: this new ‘sect’, which claimed that Jesus was
the Messiah and had been raised from the dead, was seen as a
direct threat to the faith of the Jewish forefathers. Put simply, Saul
was someone with a fanatical but misguided sense of purpose.
It seems, however, that Saul was not entirely comfortable with what

he was doing and where he was heading. Later recalling his
encounter on the Damascus Road, he recounts how the voice from
heaven said, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you
to kick against the goads’ (Acts 26:14b). A goad was a sharp stick
used to prod young oxen, and it seems as if Jesus had been prodding
and pursuing Saul. 7 We don’t know what those ‘goads’ were – maybe
Saul’s own internal doubts about his actions, perhaps intensified by
the shining example of the martyred Stephen. What seems evident,
though, is that Saul was not fully ‘at peace’ with the direction that his
life was taking.
I can certainly relate to this. Even though I didn’t fully encounter
Jesus until I was a student at the church in central Oxford, I can see
with hindsight that the Lord had been ‘prodding’ me for many years.
There was an overall sense of my conscience being alerted that much
of what I was doing and where I was heading was somehow ‘not
right’. There were also a few specific occasions when it was evident
that the Lord was trying to draw me to himself. One incident comes
to mind. I remember going as part of a church youth group to a
dramatic production of Saul’s story. I don’t remember the details,
other than it was in a central London theatre, and that at a particular
point during the dramatic presentation of the Damascus Road
encounter, I sensed the Lord somehow drawing me. Sadly, I didn’t
know how to respond, which led to several more years of wayward
living and wasted potential that was harmful to me – and to others.
PAUSE AND PONDER
Before we move on, take a moment to consider whether
you can relate to anything similar – either a general sense
of ‘conviction’, or specific instances when, with hindsight,

you may be aware of the Lord drawing you, trying to get
your attention – even very recently.
It’s one thing to be convicted of our need for Jesus, it’s another to
meet him in a way that completely transforms our whole life
motivation. This is what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus –
an incident of such significance that Luke, the author of the book of
Acts, recorded it three times, in Acts 9, 22 and 26. 8
BIBLE EXTRACT: SAUL’S CONVERSION
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the
Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to
the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged
to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to
Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say
to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’
5
‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.
‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 6 ‘Now get up and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’
7
The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the
sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he
opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into
Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink
anything.
10
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to
him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.
11
The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask
for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has
seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore

his sight.’
13
‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man
and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he
has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call
on your name.’
15
But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to
proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of
Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’
17
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on
Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on
the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see
again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 Immediately, something like
scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was
baptised, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
(Acts 9:1–19)
Before we examine the nature of this encounter, we need to debunk a
couple of myths. The first is that Saul was ‘knocked off his horse’,
something popularised by later religious painters like Caravaggio. 9
None of the New Testament accounts mention a horse (a donkey may
have been more likely), or him being knocked off any such animal!
Secondly, and far more importantly, is the fact that many detractors
of the resurrection suggest that Saul merely had a ‘spiritual’
encounter with Jesus, more like a ‘vision’ than an actual meeting with
the person himself. The evidence itself strongly suggests otherwise. If
we look at Acts 9, it indicates that there was an actual light from
heaven, so forceful that Saul fell to the ground, and there was an
actual voice that was heard not just by Saul but by his companions. In
Acts 22, this is brought out even more clearly as Paul recounted how
his companions ‘did not understand the voice of him who was
speaking to me’ (22:9b). Put simply, this was not just an impression

that was going on in his mind or heart; rather, Saul was engaged in a
real, audible two-way conversation with a real person who identified
himself as Jesus (in Acts 22:8, as ‘Jesus of Nazareth’).
But we don’t need to base our conclusions on this speculation,
rather we can go to Paul’s own words to establish the facts. 10
If we look at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, we see a very
simple but clear statement in 9:1: ‘Am I not an apostle? Have I not
seen Jesus our Lord?’ Paul was linking his claim to be an apostle to
the fact that he had clearly seen the risen Jesus.
This is backed up even more strongly by the evidence of 1
Corinthians 15, widely considered by both critics and proponents as
the most important resurrection document in the New Testament. 11
Having reaffirmed the key facts of the gospel – Jesus’ death for our
sins, his burial and his being raised on the day – Paul then
summarised many of the key resurrection appearances – to Peter,
‘the Twelve’, to a group of 500, to Jesus’ brother, James and then to
all the apostles, before concluding: ‘and last of all he appeared to me
also’ (1 Corinthians 15:8). In other words, just like he appeared to the
other witnesses – as the risen Lord – so Jesus appeared to Paul. 12
This is of huge significance. Whereas Mary, the Emmaus Road
travellers, Peter, John, Thomas and the rest of the Eleven disciples
were all friends of Jesus prior to the first Easter, Saul was an outright
opponent – a violent persecutor of the early Christians. This makes
his turnaround even more remarkable.
What’s different between our encounters now, and Saul’s encounter
then, is that whereas he encountered Jesus physically, we encounter
him spiritually. Moreover, while many people have and still do
experience the sudden dramatic turnaround that Saul did (that was
my experience), there are also many others who have still

encountered Jesus and been transformed by him, but their
experience has been less sudden and the change more gradual.
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a moment to consider where you are on your journey
with Jesus. If you have experienced a conversion in any
way, was that sudden or gradual? Whatever point you are
at, why not take a moment to pause and invite Jesus to
begin or continue his transformational process in your life?
The transformation of Saul’s whole motivation was clear from both his
life direction and his letters to the churches. On one occasion, when
writing to the church in Philippi, he summarised it this way: ‘For me to
live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21). Both phrases are
stunning in their power and simplicity. ‘To live is Christ’ is consistent
with what we see of his life from the moment of his conversion, that
he lived with a completely transformed motivation. But he didn’t stop
there. He also included the remarkable little phrase ‘to die is gain’,
which highlights the importance to him, and to us, of living our lives
with an eternal perspective, which is what we will turn our attention to
next.
2. AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Without an eternal perspective, life can ultimately seem meaningless.
What the ancient writer of Ecclesiastes and modern-day philosophies
have in common is the assertion that it’s possible to live our whole
lives simply ‘under the sun’ – a phrase repeated throughout
Ecclesiastes. To live ‘under the sun’ is code for living as if there is no
God, and no ultimate purpose in life. In the context of our study, it’s

living life as if there was no eternal life and no resurrection.
Eternity is a hard concept to grasp. If you think of your life duration
as represented by a rope, this current life is like the first metre, while
eternity is the rope going on without end! This brings us to one of the
key questions that we laid out in the introductory chapter: Is there
such a thing as life after death and, if so, what does that look
like? The resurrection of Jesus gives us some wonderful answers,
which we will look at now.
FREED FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH
Death is not something that we like to think about or talk about. But
the reality is that it’s there in the background all the time. One of the
founding fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, allegedly
quipped that there are only two things certain in life, death and
taxes. 13 The problem with death is that it’s not only inevitable but it all
seems so final, which can cast a big shadow over life.
That is…without Easter!
Growing up, I had a definite fear of death. When I became a
Christian all that changed. Feelings of dread were replaced with a
new assurance that death was not something to be afraid of, but
rather was a doorway to a better life. I can now identify with the
words of the world-famous preacher, Billy Graham, who once said,
‘Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you
believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just
have changed my address!’ 14
This is not just wishful thinking. Rather, through his physical death,
Jesus Christ took the ‘sting’ out of death. As the New Testament
writer to the Hebrews wonderfully summarises: ‘Since the children
are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh
and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death,

taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death, and
freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death’ (Hebrews
2:14–15, The Message).
Paul himself was so convinced of this truth that he could say: ‘I am
torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is
better by far’ (Philippians 1:23). In other words, death for the
Christian is not something to be feared but ultimately embraced.
Why? because death is not the end; rather, it’s the doorway into an
eternity with Christ.
These and other New Testament promises are the basis for the
alternative view of life after death that was highlighted in the
introduction. To understand this it’s helpful to see that the Bible talks
in various places about how we are not just physical beings –
sometimes describing us as having an inner and outer self (2
Corinthians 4:16–17), at other times talking about us being spirit, soul
and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). So, when a Christian dies
physically, they continue to exist (in their spirit-soul), and immediately
go to a place of rest and joy in the presence of Christ (Philippians
1:21–24). This eternal perspective helps us to live free from the fear
of death. But there’s so much more than this...
FILLED WITH THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION LIFE
In Paul’s great resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 he revealed
how we can live anticipating something far greater in the life to come.
Having started by reminding his hearers of the resurrection of Jesus,
Paul moved on to his primary concern, which was to show how Jesus’
resurrection is the guarantee and pattern for our future resurrection.
He starts by highlighting the negative implications of no resurrection,
summarising this in striking language: ‘If Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have

fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we hope in Christ,
we are of all people most to be pitied’ (1 Corinthians 15:17–19). Put
simply, Paul is saying that without the resurrection, the Christian faith
is robbed of its power and hope.
Thankfully, that’s not how things end. Rather, as Paul confidently
went on to assert: ‘But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Using agricultural imagery, Paul described Jesus’ resurrection as the
firstfruits of a great future harvest – the future resurrection of all
believers.
Elsewhere Paul summarised three key facts about the future: ‘But
our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from
there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to
bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so
that they will be like his glorious body’ (Philippians 3:20–21).
Notice the focus here on the return of Christ: ‘we eagerly await a
Saviour from there [heaven]’. I remember as a child watching the film
The Railway Children. A key theme running throughout is the fact that
the father of the family is falsely arrested on suspicion of being a spy.
The oldest child, Bobbie, becomes aware of this and seeks to work
for his return. The film reaches a tear-jerking climax as Bobbie
decides one day to go to the station platform where, through the
smoke from an incoming train, she sees her father who has just
alighted onto the platform after being exonerated and released from
prison. She runs to greet him shouting, ‘Daddy; my daddy!’ They
return home and the family are reunited.
As Christians we’re looking forward to a much more glorious reunion
when, at the end of history, Jesus will return in all his glory. In this
wonderful moment we will meet with him and be reunited with all

those who are still alive or have died ‘in Christ’.
I’ll never forget the day in August 2022, when my dad rang me in
floods of tears to say that mum had ‘gone’. Completely in shock, and
filled with deep grief, I told my wife, Karen, that I needed to go for a
walk to process the news. Within five minutes of leaving the house
these words came to my mind: ‘Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55). I immediately
knew this was the Lord speaking to me and reassuring me that my
mum – herself a Christian – was safe and would be part of the final
resurrection. It didn’t end my sense of loss, but it continues to bring
great comfort to me, whenever I think about her. This hope of future
resurrection means that, while we still grieve, in the words of Paul,
we ‘do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope’ (1
Thessalonians 4:13b).
Secondly, Paul highlights the great promise concerning the
resurrection of our bodies. This is our ultimate hope – not just
going to heaven ‘spiritually’ when we die but coming alive again
‘physically’ at Jesus’ return when ‘he will transform our lowly bodies
so that they will be like his glorious body’ (Philippians 3:21). This is
stunning. It doesn’t mean that we’ll all look like Jesus, a 33-year-old
Jewish male! Rather, our bodies will receive the same characteristics
as Jesus’ resurrection body. The language here is significant. Our
current bodies are described as ‘lowly’. We’re all too aware that no
matter whether we’re feeling physically strong and able, or are
suffering greatly with physical frailty, disability or pain, ultimately our
bodies now are still subject to decay, disease and death. Whereas at
the return of Jesus, we will, like him, receive glorious ‘new’
resurrection bodies.
Throughout the passages we’ve focused on, we have had glimpses

of what that this will look like. The resurrected Jesus was clearly the
same person, yet somehow different. His friends often struggled to
recognise him, yet he bore the crucifixion wounds. He walked through
locked doors and yet was present physically. He could be touched,
made a fire, cooked and ate fish on a beach – before finally
ascending (bodily) into heaven (see Acts 1:9–11). This gives us
something of a foretaste of the ‘reality’ of our future state, too – that
includes ‘real’ resurrection bodies, friendship and food! 15 The good
news is that whether we’re struggling physically or wonderfully
healthy, our best days truly lie ahead of us! As theologian and writer
Tom Wright has argued, we are not now shadows of our former
selves but shadows of our future selves, as we await our new bodies
that God has ready to give us at Christ’s return. 16
So, where will we live in these transformed physical bodies? The
answer according to the Bible is that, thirdly, we’ll dwell in a restored
Creation, something that is only possible ‘by the power that enables
him to bring everything under his control’ (Philippians 3:21).
Elsewhere this is described as ‘a new heaven and a new earth,
where righteousness dwells’ (2 Peter 3:13).
We know even less about what this restored Creation will be like
than we do about our resurrected bodies but, again, the implication is
that it will be somehow far more glorious or ‘weighty’ than our current
experience. In The Great Divorce, CS Lewis brilliantly depicts the
solid realities of the new creation, highlighting how we’re not going to
live in a ‘spiritualised’ heaven, but in a transformed, glorious, new
physical world. 17 Andrew Ollerton summarises: ‘The Bible helps us
imagine a flourishing future world far more solid and beautiful than
anything we can touch or taste here and now…divine beauty will
radiate from every plant and shrub and be manifest on every

mountain and beach.’ 18
Having this ‘eternal life perspective’ shaped the apostle Paul’s sense
of purpose. Time and again throughout his writings he talked about
fulfilling his calling in this life, in the light of the future resurrection.
Hence, for example, 1 Corinthians 15 ends not with a reminder of the
past event concerning the resurrection of Jesus, nor with the promise
of our future resurrection, but with a very concrete application to our
present life and calling: ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,
stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the
work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is
not in vain’ (1 Corinthians 15:58). In the light of the future
resurrection, our life work doesn’t end here in futility, but rather will
somehow be rewarded in eternity.
The fact that there will be both continuity and discontinuity between
this life and life in the age to come is of critical importance when it
comes to us finding and fulfilling our purpose. As has been pointed
out, our work in this life will only be partially successful. Recognising
this, yet knowing that somehow our earthly labours will find their
‘completion’ and fulfilment in the next life, will help us press on through
frustration and disappointment. Having an eternal perspective gives
us a sense that if we labouring ‘in the Lord’ we are working for an
ultimate purpose. 19
PAUSE AND PONDER
You might like to re-read the whole section on ‘An eternal
perspective’, before considering how such a perspective
might impact your purpose in the here and now.
3. DISCOVERING OUR UNIQUE LIFE

PATHWAY
So far we’ve established the importance of having a transformed
motivation and an eternal perspective. However, if we are to find and
fulfil our purpose, we also need to discover our own unique life
pathway.
To return to the image of the target: it’s important that we both hit the
right target and hit the bullseye on that target! Hitting the right target
is linked to what we’ve already covered, which concerns living in the
light of the resurrection of Jesus. In that respect, our overall life
purpose is very clear – pleasing God, serving others and making a
difference in the world for Jesus – knowing that we will be eternally

ewarded in the age to come. That is something we are all called to.
Hitting the bullseye is when we begin to recognise that we each have
our own unique calling in life – one that is different to anyone else’s.
A great example of someone who went on a journey of discovering
and fulfilling his specific life pathway is Eric Liddell, the hero of the
film Chariots of Fire. He was both an extremely gifted athlete and a
devoted follower of Jesus. Hence, when in the 1924 Olympics he
discovered that his favourite event, the 100-metre sprint, was to be
held on a Sunday, he courageously followed his conviction not to run
on the ‘Sabbath’. Instead, he went on to race in the midweek 400
metres, winning gold. Despite his incredible sporting talent, ultimately
he believed his calling lay in serving as a missionary in China. After
two decades there, he died at the age of 43 in a Japanese civilian
internment camp in 1945. 20
Others have been directed in a very different way. For example, the
Black Panther actress, Letitia Wright, has spoken of her journey: ‘I
needed to take a break from [acting], because I really idolized it. So I
came off from it and I went on a journey to discover my relationship
with God, and I became a Christian. It just really gave me so much
love and light within myself.’ 21 For her it wasn’t a change of career, as
it was after this point that she landed a lead role in Black Panther;
rather, it was a call to re-prioritise before continuing in the same job
but with a new inner motivation.
To return to Paul, Jesus revealed to him his unique life pathway – a
calling that centred around being sent to the Gentiles [non-Jews]: ‘I
will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am
sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are

sanctified by faith in me’ (Acts 26:17–18).
Faithful to this calling, Paul went on to spread the good news of
Jesus and planted churches from Syria to Turkey and from Greece to
Italy. His three missionary journeys displayed a remarkable sense of
power and courage in the cause of Christ, ending up (as he had been
before) in prison – this time at the heart of the empire, in Rome. But
Paul’s future legacy has in many ways been greater than his lifetime
achievements. He is credited with writing (or influencing) 13 of the 26
books of the New Testament and around half of the book of Acts is
written about him. Put simply, apart from Jesus, there has never been
a more important and influential leader in Christian history – someone
who, through his travels and his writings, had the single greatest
impact on the spread of early Christianity. As the good news
advanced and the Church grew, the world was forever changed! 22
You and I may not have same global, history-transforming impact,
but we are all called to make a significant difference with the one life
that we’ve been given.
The question is: how do we go about discovering our own unique life
pathway? There is so much that could be said about this, but here
are four pointers for you to consider. 23
• RECOGNISE YOUR UNIQUENESS
Put simply, there’s never going to be another you! Just as you have a
unique set of fingerprints, so you have a specific combination of: your
personality; your background; your life experiences; your passions
and your spiritual gifts, all of which makes you, you. One of the
freeing aspects of knowing this is that, while we can and should be
inspired by other people’s life journeys, we don’t need to fall into the
trap of comparing ourselves with others – something we explored in
Chapter Four.

• TAKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Most of us will have several roles and responsibilities in life – be that
with our family, our studies, our work, our community and our local
church. Rather than just focusing narrowly, for example, on your
‘career’, ensure that you consider your calling in the light of all these
different spheres.
• GO ON A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
While you may have some moments of sudden illumination, the reality
is that finding your unique life pathway is almost always a journey of
discovery. This often involves a combination of self-awareness,
experimentation and consultation with trusted ‘others’ – as well as
direct revelation from Jesus. Moreover, since we all change and
develop, and we go through different seasons throughout our
lifetimes, it’s highly likely that you may be fulfilling your vocation right
now, but, like Eric Liddell, may discover that you have a different or
even ultimate calling that lies somewhere else in the future.
• RECEIVE ONGOING GUIDANCE AND STRENGTH
In a fascinating comment following his summary of the postresurrection
appearances in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul wrote: ‘For I am
the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of
God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No,
I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that
was with me’ (vv9-10). The Message translation puts it this way: ‘It
was God giving the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it.’
In other words, Paul was saying that both his initial call and his
ongoing fulfilment of that call came from God, not from something he
worked up in his own strength. It’s the same for you and me. It’s not

just that we can meet with the risen Jesus in a life-transforming way
and receive his overall and specific direction for our lives. Rather,
because he is alive, we can also receive ongoing guidance and
strength through our relationship with him.
PAUSE AND PONDER
Take a few moments to look back over the four pointers for
finding and fulfilling your unique purpose. Consider what
steps you need to take to move forward in this journey.
If you’re not yet a Christian, why not take a moment to
invite the risen Jesus to come into your life, and to
empower you to fulfil his unique purpose for your life? You
might like to utilise the prayer in Appendix C.

FURTHER REFLECTION
1. Which of these three phrases most accurately describes your life
right now?
• Living with no purpose.
• Living with a misguided purpose.
• Living with the right purpose.
2. Reflecting on Saul’s encounter with the risen Jesus, how would you
describe your own experience of encountering Jesus in your life so
far?
3. What’s been your view of life after death up until this point? Did the
section on ‘an eternal perspective’ change that? Do you need to ask
the Lord to either free you from the fear of death, or fill you with the
hope of resurrection life?
4. Concerning your ‘unique life pathway’, what’s the one thing that you
could do next that would have the greatest impact on fulfilling your
purpose?
5. How has this whole chapter strengthened your faith in the risen
Jesus?

CONCLUSION
FULLY ALIVE, FOR THE
REST OF OUR LIVES
Throughout this book we’ve focused on how the resurrected Jesus
helps us feel ‘fully alive’ in this life, in the knowledge that we will
ultimately be most ‘fully alive’ when he returns. Wherever you are on
your spiritual journey right now, I hope that you have been
encouraged and challenged by what you have read, as well as
inspired to continue learning more about – and interacting with – the
risen Jesus. What follows are my three hopes for what you will
experience as your continue on this pathway.
MORE AWARENESS OF THE
TRANSFORMING PRESENCE OF
THE RISEN JESUS
I’ve already shared how I first met the risen Jesus, and how, for the
first time in my life, I knew that I’d become ‘fully alive’. Since that
time, I’ve continued to experience the presence of Jesus through the
Holy Spirit living in me and being with me. The more I spend time with
him the more I experience the love, hope, peace, freedom and
purpose that he alone can bring.
This is not unique to me. Just as the risen Jesus transformed the

lives of the first disciples, so he’s been changing the lives of
multitudes ever since, meeting them at their point of need.
So, for you, instead of being trapped by a sense of insecurity,
rejection and lack of self-worth, your greatest need may be to know
what it is to be unconditionally loved. In which case, just as Mary
Magdalene did, you too can encounter the healing love of Jesus, and
be transformed by encountering his risen presence.
Instead of being weighed down by past disappointments, your
greatest need may be to be filled with a new sense of hope. Like
the Emmaus travellers, you can experience the risen Jesus meeting
you in your disappointment, revealing himself to you through his Word
and his Spirit, and giving you a new sense of hope for the future.
Rather than feeling overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, your
greatest need may be to be filled with a new sense of peace. Like
the disciples in the upper room, you can receive the peace and
wellbeing that only the risen Jesus can bring – freeing you from fear,
filling you with joy and empowering you by his Spirit.
Instead of being burdened by guilt, shame and failure, your greatest
need may be to enjoy a new sense of freedom. In which case, like
Peter by the beach, you can encounter the miraculous presence and
restoring grace of Jesus, freeing you and filling you with new
expectancy for what lies ahead.
Rather than living without a real and clear sense of meaning, your
greatest need may to find and fulfil your true life purpose. Like
Paul, through an encounter with the risen Jesus, you too can find and
discover a new sense of motivation, perspective and direction that
enables you to live out your unique calling in life.
It may be that you still need to meet Jesus for the first time – in
which case I’d encourage you to open your life and invite him in (do

utilise the prayer of invitation that I have provided in Appendix C if you
would like to). Or perhaps you are now a Christian – I’d encourage
you to join me in this adventure of ongoing, life-transforming
encounters with Jesus. The great news is that it never gets dull or
predictable. Just as Jesus continually surprised the first disciples,
meeting them in different ways and contexts, so now he is able to
meet with us in new and various ways, in all circumstances and
seasons of our lives. So, let me encourage you to stay open to what
he wants to do!
MORE CONFIDENCE ABOUT A
GLORIOUS FUTURE LIFE BEYOND
THIS LIFE
As I briefly highlighted in the introduction, growing up, I believed in an
afterlife – one that was more ‘hopeful’ than annihilation, reincarnation
or some ‘ghostly’ existence. It centred on a rather vague belief in
going to heaven when we die, even though I wasn’t sure how or
whether I would go there!
When I became a Christian, this uncertainty was replaced by a
strong confidence: I knew that death wasn’t the end and that, as I
breathed my final breath, I would somehow spiritually go to heaven to
be with the Lord. I now realise that this is at best a partial
perspective, and not the great hope of the New Testament. While life
beyond death does start with the comforting prospect that Christians
who die will immediately go to be with Christ, this is just the
beginning. It’s like a temporary spiritual rest – while we wait for the
glorious hope of Christ’s return and of us being transformed into his
resurrection likeness.

One of the benefits of studying the post-resurrection appearances
of Jesus, is that it helps to give us a glimpse of our future state. As I
said in my book 40 Days with Jesus: ‘if we look at the risen Jesus,
we see the foretaste of a life that is not a disembodied, purely
spiritual existence, but rather a transformed physical life, with a
glorified, resurrected body, in the new heavens and on the new
earth!’ 1 That really will be living a life that is fully alive!
This is not make-believe. Rather, our present awareness of the
risen Jesus and our future confidence that we will be one day raised
(physically) with him is based on a historical event in the past.
MORE ASSURANCE OF THE
REALITY OF THE
RESURRECTION
I’ve been studying the resurrection for a long time. The more I study
and the more I consider the evidence, the more convinced I am that
nearly 2,000 years ago, on that first Easter Sunday, Jesus Christ
really did rise from the dead and therefore is alive today! As we’ve
seen, the evidence for the resurrection is very extensive – particularly
his absence from the tomb and his presence with the disciples. A
former chief justice of England, Lord Darling, concludes, ‘In its favour
as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and
negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world
could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true.’ 2
You may yet to be convinced. In which case I’d encourage you to
continue to read and reflect on this. I’ve enclosed some extra
materials in Appendices A and B, as well as some further resources
in the bibliography, which will hopefully help you.

Even if you are convinced in the reality of the resurrection, I hope
this book has helped you see more clearly the centrality of the
resurrection. Belief in the resurrection was the very cornerstone of
the faith and message of the early Christians, and it needs to be at
the heart of 21st-century life and faith, too.
PAUSE AND PONDER
I encourage you to take a few moments now to invite the
Lord to help you take the next steps in your spiritual
journey. Do remember to keep on asking in the coming
weeks, months and years too.

APPENDIX A: HISTORICAL
SOURCES ABOUT JESUS
Let’s briefly consider the historical evidence that we have for Jesus.
First, we have a few non-Christian sources. The Roman historian
Tacitus, writing around AD 115 about the fire of Rome, which took
place 50 years earlier, wrote about the early Christians: ‘Their name
comes from Christ, who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been
executed by Pontius Pilate. Suppressed for the moment, the deadly
superstition broke out again, not only in Judea, the land which
originated this evil, but also in the city of Rome.’ 1 Around the same
time, Pliny the Younger wrote to the emperor Trajan for a ruling on
whether to execute Christians living in Turkey who ‘worshipped Christ
as a god’. 2
A longer description is found in the writings of Josephus. In one of
his books, The Antiquities of the Jews (written around AD 95) he
refers to Jesus: ‘Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if
it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of surprising works,
a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew
over to him many of the Jews, and many of the Greeks. He was the
Messiah. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men
among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at
the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the
third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and then thousand
other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so
named for him, are not extinct to this day.’ 3
Although frequent questions have been raised as to whether this
passage in its entirety is authentic, many scholars still believe that the
core historical elements concerning Jesus, his character, his works,

his death under Pilate and his gathering many followers, were most
likely written by Josephus.
As helpful as these brief references are in establishing the historicity
of Jesus, our best source is of course the New Testament, especially
the accounts of what are known as the four Gospels – Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John. These relatively full accounts of Jesus’ life –
focused on his ministry years, sufferings and resurrection – were
written somewhere between AD 60–100, (with many scholars arguing
that the first three were all written by the mid-60s), remarkably close
to the date of Jesus’ death (AD 30 or 33) and far closer than was
normal in ancient history. 4
As to the genre of the Gospels, it’s now widely accepted by
scholars that they are ‘historical’ in the sense that each of the writers
was attempting to give an accurate account, based on different
sources, written and oral. Matthew and John were also most likely
eyewitnesses to many of the events. It’s also generally
acknowledged that the Gospels were written in the genre of ancient
biographies. As with any biography, each of the authors felt free to
select and arrange their accounts to fit their particular emphasis. 5
Hence, while agreed on the main and most important facts of the
empty tomb and the post-resurrection appearances, they differ in
some minor details. Rather than undermining the reliability of the
Gospel accounts, these supposed ‘discrepancies’ help support the
fact that they were based on different eyewitness accounts –
something that emphasises the authenticity of what we’ve been given.
In addition to the Gospels, we have the book of Acts (Luke’s
second volume), which provides an account of the growth and spread
of the Church after Jesus’ ascension, of which the preaching about
Jesus and his resurrection are central. We also have many letters

written to the new churches that sprang up, which either explicitly
major on, or simply assume, not just the existence of Jesus, but the
fact of his death and resurrection. Many of these letters were written
by the apostle Paul and are considered by scholars, both critical and
conservative, as particularly important sources: both because they
were written by a previous opponent and persecutor of Christianity,
and because they are considered very early, some dating from only
15–20 years after the events of the first Easter. As we’ve seen in
Chapter Five, one of the most important sections of these letters is 1
Corinthians 15. Finally, we have the last book of the Bible, Revelation,
which only makes sense in the light of the resurrection, reign and
future return of Christ.

APPENDIX B: HISTORICAL FACTS
ABOUT JESUS
Here’s a few background facts about Jesus. For those of you who
find a ‘factual’ approach a bit dry, think of it like a journey up a
mountain – starting with a climb up as we look at Jesus’ life, before
descending into a dark valley with Jesus’ sufferings and death, then
coming up again with the empty tomb, reaching a glorious and wide
summit with the post-resurrection appearances. (The journey then
continues the other side with the growth of the Church, in anticipation
of looking up to an even greater summit when Jesus comes again!)
FACT 1: JESUS WAS A REAL AND
EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEING
It’s important that we begin here. In a recent UK survey (2022), the
number of adults who believed that Jesus was a real human being fell
from 61 per cent in 2015 to only 54 per cent in 2022, with 28 per cent
considering him to have been a mythical or fictional character. 1 This
popular trend is at odds with historians, among whom there is almost
near universal scholarly agreement that Jesus Christ was a real
person who lived and walked in a real place (modern-day Israel), at a
real time in history. Moreover, there is similar agreement that there
was something quite extraordinary about Jesus.
Throughout history, Christians and non-Christians alike have
celebrated the uniqueness of Jesus:
Napoleon: ‘Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded
empires; but upon what did we rest the creation of our genius?
Upon force. Jesus Christ alone founded his empire upon love; and

at this hour millions of men would die for him.’ 2
HG Wells: ‘I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must
confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth
is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the
most dominant figure in all history.’ 3
The late Queen Elizabeth II: ‘Billions of people now follow his
[Jesus’] teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives. I
am one of them.’ 4
Scholars of all persuasions are generally agreed that there was
something extraordinary about Jesus’ character and teachings, as
well as the centrality of miracles during his ministry. While not proving
the later resurrection, the fact that Jesus did so many miracles –
including raising others from the dead – makes it more likely that if
anyone would have experienced resurrection, it would have been
someone like him.
This is coupled with another remarkable fact of Jesus’ life: his
fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. In fact, he fulfilled more than
300 prophecies (spoken by different voices over 400 years) –
including, for example, the fact that he would come from the line of
Jesse (Isaiah 11:1; Luke 3:23,32), that he would be born of a virgin
(Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26–35), in a place called Bethlehem (Micah 5:2;
Matthew 2:1). These prophecies about his birth were obviously
outside of his control! So, too, were the prophecies concerning his
death. A remarkable 29 Old Testament prophecies, from 1000–500
BC spoke of his betrayal, trial, crucifixion and burial. All of these were
fulfilled in one 24-hour time period. 5
Finally, it’s worth noting that as he was nearing the end of his
earthly ministry, Jesus made numerous direct and indirect references

to the fact he was about to suffer and rise again ‘on the third day’
(Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19). 6
If we put this together – Jesus’ extraordinary character, his
unparalleled teaching, his miraculous ministry, his fulfilment of
prophecy, his ‘predictions’ concerning his forthcoming sufferings and
resurrection, it’s evident we’re not talking about any first-century
Jewish man, but someone who was truly remarkable – someone who
was a most ‘likely candidate’ for something as unusual as being
raised from the dead!
FACT 2: JESUS DIED BY CRUCIFIXION
Many years ago, I watched Mel Gibson’s 2004 The Passion of the
Christ and found myself shaken by the brutality of his depiction of
Jesus’ sufferings and death on the cross. While criticised by some for
sensationalising the violence of those events, The Passion did at
least succeed in conveying to a modern audience something of the
real horror of this ancient method of execution. Significantly, our
English word ‘excruciating’ comes from the Latin ‘crux’, which means
cross. All the Gospel writers record in some detail the events
surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion. Perfected as a deterrent by the
Romans, crucifixion was an extremely cruel and painful form of death.
It was often preceded by torture – in Jesus’ case, he was brutally
scourged. To accentuate the shame, he was stripped naked. Once at
the site of crucifixion, his arms were held out wide, while large nails
were hammered through the wrists to attach him to a crossbeam,
which was then raised and slotted into a vertical post. His feet were
then nailed to the upright where he hung in agony for six hours before
dying, probably through asphyxiation. His body was then taken down
from the cross, wrapped in burial cloths and placed in a newly cut
tomb. The entrance was then closed by a one- to two-tonne stone

and Roman soldiers were placed to guard this tomb.
Notwithstanding the well-documented brutality of Roman execution
in non-Christian sources and the above clear evidence found in the
New Testament, some have still sought to question Jesus’ death on
the cross arguing, for example, that Jesus fainted rather than died,
and was mistakenly taken down by the Romans, before being buried
alive by his sympathisers! However, even critical scholars are united
in dismissing such spurious claims. Atheist Gerd Ludemann writes:
‘Jesus’ death as a consequence of crucifixion is indisputable.’ 7
Dominic Crossan, someone who doesn’t believe in the physical
resurrection of Jesus nevertheless concludes: there is not the
‘slightest doubt about the fact of Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius
Pilate’. 8
Sometime after the event, the apostles and authors of the New
Testament started speaking and writing about the victory and ‘glory’
of the cross, and of how Christ died a substitutionary death for our
sins, enabling us to be forgiven, justified, made new and given access
to a relationship with God. At the time, however, the cross would
have represented a great defeat. As has been summarised: ‘It is
difficult to see how the life of Jesus could have ended in a more
undignified, obscure and shameful manner. Those who watched the
crucifixion must have felt they were seeing the verdict of history or
God, on Jesus: the cross showed that He was either a fraud or fool
and certainly a failure and just possibly all three...Somehow, out of
this most unpromising story, a radical, explosive new religion of hope
and joy developed that swept everything before it. How on earth, we
have to ask, did that happen?’ 9
The answer is by considering what happened next.
FACT 3: JESUS WAS ABSENT FROM THE

TOMB
As we look at the accounts of the first ‘Easter Sunday’ morning we
begin to emerge from the gloom. The first ‘clue’ is that the women
disciples of Jesus went to anoint Jesus’ body but discovered that the
stone had been rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone. Although
differing in minor details, all four Gospel writers agreed on these key
facts. John, clearly writing from an eyewitness perspective, added an
additional fact that the grave clothes were still there, somehow laid to
one side (see Chapter One for more details). Significantly, in what’s
considered the most reliable, shorter ending of Mark’ s Gospel, Mark
clearly viewed the empty tomb as of such significance that he in
effect ended his account here, without seemingly needing to move on
to the post-resurrection appearances.
This unanimous Gospel evidence is convincing enough for most
scholars. However, since the empty tomb is a key indicator of the
physicality of the resurrection, some sceptics have tried to disprove
its historicity. One of the primary arguments put forward is that Jesus’
body was stolen by the authorities, robbers or the disciples. These
views have been widely discredited. If the authorities had stolen the
body, then once rumours of the resurrection began to circulate, it
would have suited them to simply show the body. If grave robbers
had stolen the body, it begs the question as to why did they just take
the corpse, leaving the only thing of real monetary value – the grave
clothes? So, what about the disciples? Did they steal the body and
then perpetuate the myth? This seems psychologically implausible. As
we have seen, the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ appearing to
them was one of shock and surprise – the last thing they were
expecting was a physical resurrection!
Equally unlikely is the suggestion that perhaps the women got the

wrong tomb. The Gospel writers are quite clear that Mary and the
others saw where Jesus was buried. If they had got the wrong tomb,
then surely those who had buried him, Joseph and Nicodemus, could
have corrected this. Perhaps most compelling is the fact that this all
took place in Jerusalem, where the Christian Church first exploded
into life: there is no evidence of the early Christians venerating the
tomb of their now dead leader, or of their opponents proving that he
was still in the tomb. Writer William Lane Craig puts forward ten
considerations for the empty tomb, which together provide ‘evidence
that the tomb of Jesus was actually found empty on Sunday morning
by a small group of his women followers. As a plain historical fact this
seems amply attested.’ He adds: ‘we know that most alternative
explanations for the empty tomb are more incredible than the
resurrection itself’. 10
FACT 4: JESUS ‘APPEARED’ TO HIS
DISCIPLES
The New Testament documents provide compelling evidence that,
starting on Easter Sunday morning and continuing for the next 40
days, hundreds of Jesus’ followers, on at least eleven separate
occasions, claimed to have seen him alive from the dead. One
scholar, Peter Williams, has summarised how Jesus appeared:
• In Judea and in Galilee
• In town and countryside
• Indoors and outdoors
• In the morning and the evening
• By prior appointment and without prior appointment
• Close and distant
• On a hill and by a lake

• To groups of men and groups of women
• To individuals and groups of up to 500
• Sitting, standing, walking
• Eating and always talking. 11
We’ve studied in some detail some of the main appearances of Jesus
to his disciples, which took place in the 40 days between his
resurrection and his ascension to heaven. There were other such
occasions, including one to more than 500 at one time (1 Corinthians
15:6). We’ve also explored the post-ascension appearance of Jesus
to Saul, especially significant because, as we’ve seen, Saul was
previously one of Jesus’ primary opponents. This, along with Jesus’
appearance to his sceptic half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15:7a),
has convinced even some sceptical scholars of the historicity of the
resurrection.
There have been, though, several sceptics who consider miraculous
intervention to be an impossibility and have therefore sought to come
up with alternative suggestions concerning what happened. Two of
the primary arguments are that:
• The disciples were deceivers who made this all up and invented the
story of both the empty tomb and the appearances.
• The disciples were sincere but mistaken – instead of seeing the
resurrected Jesus, they were subject to visions, psychological wishfulfilment
or hallucinations.
The first suggestion that the disciples made it all up is extremely
unlikely. Not least, as we have seen, if the early Christians had
wanted to make up a case for the resurrection, they wouldn’t have
had the women as the first witnesses since in the patriarchal culture

of the day, women’s testimonies were not considered valid in a court
of law!
The second suggestion is also highly implausible, given the variety
of times and circumstances of the encounters, not least the
unlikelihood of 500 people having the same hallucination at one.
Moreover, what seems clear is that one of the first reactions of the
early disciples when Jesus did appear was one of surprise. This was
totally predictable. As NT Wright has extensively pointed out, firstcentury
Jews either didn’t believe in resurrection, or were hoping for a
general resurrection of the righteous at the end of time. What they
were not expecting was the resurrection of a single individual in the
middle of history. 12
Furthermore, as we have seen through exploring the Gospel stories
themselves, there is what has been described as ‘the strangeness of
the risen Jesus’. Had the disciples invented these appearances, they
would most likely have chosen either ‘a dazzling heavenly figure or a
resuscitated corpse’. 13 Yet the resurrected Jesus was neither. On the
one hand he was clearly the same real ‘physical’ Jesus that had been
crucified: he had the marks on his body; he could be seen, touched
and could do ordinary things like cook and eat. Yet at the same time
he was somehow different: he often wasn’ t recognised at first and
had a body that could suddenly appear in a locked room and then
disappear.
Our final consideration concerns the sudden and remarkable spread
of the Christian faith, starting in Jerusalem and then eventually to the
whole Roman world. So convinced were many of these first apostolic
witnesses, that many of them were willing to die as martyrs for their
belief in the resurrection. This is different to contemporary examples:
‘Modern martyrs act solely out of their trust in beliefs passed along to

them by others. The apostles died for holding to their own testimony
that they had personally seen the risen Jesus. Contemporary martyrs
die for what they believe to be true. The disciples of Jesus suffered
and were willing to die for what they knew to be either true or false.’ 14
As writer William Lane Craig points out: ‘without a prior belief in the
resurrection of Jesus, the Christian Way could never have come into
being. The disciples would no doubt have remained defeated
men...The origin of the Christian Way therefore hinges on the belief of
the early disciples that God had raised Jesus from the dead.’ 15
Put simply, we cannot understand the explosive growth of
Christianity in the first few centuries, nor its continued expansion
throughout history, without considering the central tenet of the faith:
that on the first Easter, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is still
alive today. Just as he changed lives back then, he is still doing the
same today!

APPENDIX C: A PRAYER OF
INVITATION
You can use this prayer to invite Jesus to be Lord of your life:
Lord Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, that
you rose from the dead and that you are now alive. I admit my
need of you. I turn away from living my life my way. I invite you
to forgive me and come into my life, filling me with your love,
hope, peace, freedom and purpose through the power of your
Holy Spirit. I commit to follow you and your ways all the days of
my life. Amen.

ENDNOTES
INTRODUCTION: FULLY ALIVE
1 Dave Smith, God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing (Farnham: Waverley Abbey, 2020).
2 Barbara Fredrickson, Positivity (London: Oneworld, 2011) pp39–48.
3 Luke McKenna, Making Wellb eing Practical (Australia: UPP, 2019) pp45–48.
4 CS Lewis, Mere Christianity (London: HarperCollins, 2002) pp136–37.
5 Tom Wright gives a helpful summary of these in Surprised b y Hope (London: SPCK, 2011) p15.
6 Unpacked further in Tom Wright, Surprised b y Hope p53. Many years ago, I read NT Wright’s 800-plus page
work on The Resurrection of the Son of God (London: SPCK, 2003) and it completely changed my whole
perspective on our eternal future. Surprised b y Hope is a shorter, more accessible version, which contains
many of the key conclusions that he lays out in The Resurrection of the Son of God.
7 www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/3q39pd/a_man_his_wife_and_his_motherinlaw_went_on/ I’ve changed
the narrative, so that it’s the man who dies [Accessed December 2023].
8 HOPE Together and Partners, Talking Jesus Report 2022, p10.
9 The shorter ending of Mark (16:1–8) finishes with the empty tomb. The longer ending contains a summary of
some of the key appearances that we find in the other Gospels.
10 The significance of 1 Corinthians 15 as a source is considered in Chapter Five.
11 Robert B Stewart writes a useful summary article ‘On Habermas’s Minimal Facts Argument’ in W David Beck
and Michael R Licona, Raised on the Third Day (Bellingham, Washington: Lexham Press, 2020) pp1–14. Here
he looks at Gary Habermas’ ‘minimal facts’ method and concludes that Habermas ended up with four key
facts, which correspond to 2, 4, 5 and 6 on the list I have adopted. He highlights how Michael Licona later
dropped this to just three and excluded the appearance to James. Both Habermas and Licona designate the
empty tomb as a ‘Plus One’ fact.
12 Michael Licona unpacks this further in The Resurrection of Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 2010) on
pp468–469. In addition to the facts of Jesus’ death by crucifixion, the belief of the disciples that he rose and
appeared to them and Paul’s sudden transformation, Licona offers up four ‘second order’ facts: 1. the
conversion of James, 2. the empty tomb, 3. Jesus’ predictions of his death and resurrections and 4. that the
earlier apostles held that Jesus appeared in a bodily form.
13 Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus pp440–461 deals extensively with Jesus’ appearance to James.
14 Sean McDowell in ‘The Deaths of the Apostles and Belief in Jesus’ Resurrection’ does a careful treatment of
this subject in Beck and Licona, Raised on the Third Day pp179–199, concluding that while the apostles’ faith
does not prove Christianity, it shows the depth of their faith. As witnesses from the time of Jesus and the early
Church, they are therefore reliable as they were so sincere.
15 Tim Keller, Hope in Times of Fear (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2021) loc 1943–7 of 4064, Kindle ed.
CHAPTER ONE: TRANSFORMED BY LOVE
1 Barbara Frederickson, Love 2.0 (New York: Hudson Street Press, 2013) page 4 of 248, Kindle ed.
2 Margaret Atwood, Surfacing (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012) p166, from www.azquotes.com/quote/12471
[Accessed December 2023].
3 CS Lewis, The Four Loves (Glasgow: Collins, 1987) gives a helpful overview of how these various words were
used: ‘storge’ (affection), ‘philia’ (friendship), ‘eros’ and a fourth ‘love’, which he calls ‘charity’. While these
distinctions are often helpful, some biblical scholars have urged caution, since these words are also used
interchangeably. See DA Carson, The Message of John (Nottingham: Apollos, 1991 The Pillar New Testament
Commentary) pp676–77.
4 Arthur C Brooks, From Strength to Strength (London: Green Tree, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022). Chapter Six
of this book contains some excellent material on the importance and power of friendship.
5 Andrew Ollerton, The Bib le: A Story that Makes Sense of Life (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2020) loc 2643,
Kindle ed has some helpful thoughts on this.
6 Quoted in Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Bib le in One Year, Day 199, ‘How to Feel God’s Love for You’ online
version [Accessed January 2022].
7 Part of this more recent notoriety is due to Dan Brown’s bestselling book, The Da Vinci Code, where he claims
that Jesus was married to Mary, who bore him a child! Some of this is based on a creative and unique way of

einterpreting Da Vinci’s famous painting of ‘The Last Supper’, where Brown goes against centuries of art
history in suggesting that the person closest to Jesus was not John ‘the beloved disciple’ but Mary. While
Brown’s claim that Jesus’ having a child by Mary was ‘the greatest cover up in human history’ makes for a
good plotline, it has no historical basis, being completely absent in both ancient non-Christian and Christian
sources. Another myth that has grown up surrounding Mary (which has contributed to the more controversial
portrayals), is that she is the ‘immoral’ woman of Luke 7, out of which there developed a theory that she was a
repentant prostitute. Again, there is no actual evidence for this from the New Testament.
8 I am grateful to Rachel Jordan-Wolf (executive director of HOPE Together) for her insights on Mary.
9 The other Gospel writers Matthew, Mark and Luke all record that there were other women present. John,
writing later, chose to focus in on Mary Magdalene.
10 This symbolic nature of darkness is a theme that runs throughout John’s Gospel: see, for example, John 1:5,
3:19, 13:30.
11 Whereas John chose to highlight the role of Mary Magdalene, the other Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke
made clear that other women were with her, too.
12 Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 2010) pp349–55 gives a helpful
overview of the ‘women as eyewitnesses’.
13 For what this disciple ‘believed’ at this point, see David Ford, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Baker Academic, 2021) pp397–98.
14 I’m grateful to David Ford for his reflections on this in his book The Gospel of John p400.
15 I take the view that the author of John’s Gospel is the same person who wrote the letters of 1, 2 and 3 John –
something which is a topic of considerable scholarly debate!
16 James H Olthuis, The Beautiful Risk: A New Psychology of Loving and Being Loved (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan, 2001) p44, 69, op cit, David Benner, Surrender to Love page 71 of 101, Kindle ed.
CHAPTER TWO: SURPRISED BY HOPE
1 Quotes taken from www.goodreads.com [Accessed December 2023].
2 Jim Collins, Good to Great (London: Random House, 2001) pp83–85.
3 Barbara Frederickson, Positivity (London: Oneworld, 2011) p41.
4 Shane J Lopez, Making Hope Happen (New York: Aria, 2014) p18.
5 Shane J Lopez, Making Hope Happen, pp24–25.
6 John 19:25 refers to ‘Mary the wife of Clopas’ – likely the same person as Cleopas here.
7 John Nolland, Luke 18:35-24:53 (Dallas, Texas: Word Books, Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 35c) p1,201 and
Howard I Marshall, The Gospel of Luke (Exeter: Paternoster, The New International Greek Commentary, 1978)
p893.
8 Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning (original German, 1946; original English translation, 1959; Boston
Press, 2014) p69.
9 Aimee Pedretti, ‘Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. by Inspiring Hope in the Workplace, 20 January 2020,
trustmineral.com/culture/honoring-martin-luther-king-jr-inspiring-hope-workplace [Accessed December 2023].
10 Pete Greig, How to Hear God (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2022) page 12 of 252, Kindle ed.
11 If you want to explore this further see Dave Smith, God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing (Farnham: Waverley Abbey,
2020) p110–112.
12 Duncan Bannatyne, Anyone Can Do It (London: Orion, 2007) p231ff.
13 For more on this see Canon J.John, ‘The Light of the World, 24 May 2019, canonjjohn.com/2019/05/24/thelight-of-the-world/
[Accessed April 2023].
CHAPTER THREE: FILLED WITH PEACE
1 ‘Stressed nation: 74% of UK “overwhelmed or unable to cope” at some point the past year’, 14 May 2018,
rb.gy/fq5skf [Accessed September 2020].
2 The Workplace Health Report: 2023 championhealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/workplace-health-report-
2023.pdf [Accessed December 2023].
3 ‘One in five children and young people had a probable mental disorder in 2023’, 21 November 2023,
rb.gy/1hg61s [Accessed December 2023].
4 The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 17, 1983–1984, www.goodreads.com/review/show/303191744 [Accessed May
2023].
5 I originally used this diagram on page six of God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing (Farnham: Waverley Abbey, 2020).

The book is also the basis for a small group video series, ‘The Wellbeing Journey’ by HOPE UK and
KingsGate Community Church.
6 I talk about this in more detail in Dave Smith, God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing, p15.
7 DA Carson, The Gospel According to JOHN (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Apollos, 1991) p646.
8 Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus, pp58–59.
9 J Blank, Krisis (Freiburg: Lambertus, 1964), p178; op cit, B Milne, The Message of John (Leicester: IVP, 1993)
p298.
10 I originally made these observations in Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus, pp71–72.
11 An example of this is found in John 14:4–6.
12 Paul Beasley-Murray, The Message of the Resurrection (Nottingham: The Bible Speaks Today, IVP, 2000)
p102.
CHAPTER FOUR: LIVING IN FREEDOM
1 Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom (London: Abacus, 1995).
2 www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/education/failures.htm [Accessed December 2023].
3 Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus (Farnham: CWR, 2014) p80.
4 As David Ford explains in The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2021) pp418–19:
‘There is no hint of a negative judgment on them, and a positive view is that, just as Jesus has been present
in the enclosed, special Sunday gatherings in Jerusalem in John 20, so he is present in Galilee as the
disciples go to work and carry on ordinary life.’
5 Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus, p81.
6 Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus, p85.
7 I first read about these similarities in David Ford, The Gospel of John, p419.
8 Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus, p91.
9 Andrew Ollerton, The Bib le: A Story That Makes Sense of Life (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2020) page 211
of 323, Kindle ed.
CHAPTER FIVE: FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE
1 Quotes sourced from www.goodreads.com [Accessed December 2023].
2 ‘A sense of purpose helps you live longer’, 27 June 2019, www.clearvuehealth.com/b/purpose-longevityhealth/
[Accessed December 2023].
3 I shared this illustration in God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing (Farnham: Waverley Abbey, 2020) pp168–69.
4 I read about this in Nicky Gumbel, Bib le in One Year, Day 57.
5 Tim Keller, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness (Chorley: 10Publishing, 2012) pages 21–22, Kindle ed.
6 Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002) pp17–18.
7 John RW Stott, The Message of Acts (Leicester, IVP, 1990) pp171–72. Stott helpfully expands on what these
various ‘goads’ may have been.
8 If we examine the three accounts we see slight but significant differences in the retelling which can be
explained by Luke’s own creativity as an author, and by the fact that the accounts are told in three different
contexts: the first (Acts 9) is Luke’s narrative, the second (Acts 22) is Paul’s address before an angry crowd in
Jerusalem and the third was Paul testifying to King Agrippa (Acts 26).
9 Caravaggio, The Conversion of Saint Paul (1600–1601).
10 Scholars, particularly critical ones, tend to consider that what Paul directly says about himself in his letters is
to be treated as having stronger evidential value than what Luke says about Paul in Acts or where he even
quotes him. Aside from the importance of going directly to the source himself, there is a consensus that both
due to their early composition (no more than 15–25 years after the actual events) and to the fact that they are
written by a previous opponent, Paul’s letters are considered to be the most important source for the historicity
of the resurrection.
11 Not only is 1 Corinthians one of the earliest New Testament documents (written only 15–20 years after the
events of the first Easter), but 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 is widely considered to have been composed much earlier,
not by Paul himself, but by the early Church, maybe within months of Jesus’ death. This is clearly indicated
both by how Paul begins: ‘For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance’ and by the use of
phrases that are not found elsewhere in his writings: ‘that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, my
emphasis). Then follows a summary of some of the key post-resurrection appearances: to Cephas (Peter),

the Twelve, to ‘more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still
living’, then to James and ‘all of the apostles’ (15:5 7). The reference to the 500 is remarkable. Paul, is, in
effect, saying, ‘if you don’t believe go and speak to eyewitnesses’. So, too, is his mention of James, the halfbrother
of Jesus, who was most likely a sceptic who came to faith through an appearance of the risen Jesus
ending up as a key leader in the church in Jerusalem and someone who was eventually martyred for his faith.
As we saw in the introduction, this is one of the ‘minimal facts’ to be considered in relation to the historicity of
the resurrection.
12 How then do we account for the different type of Jesus’ appearance to Paul, in Acts, than to the disciples in
the four Gospels? In the latter, the emphasis is on the actual physical body and words of Jesus, and the
seeming ‘ordinariness’ of his appearance. Whereas in Acts 9, 22 and 26 there’s no mention of the body of
Jesus (at least explicitly); rather, there is a bright light and a voice. Some commentators have suggested that
Luke was deliberately describing things in a way that highlighted the links between Saul’s encounter and that
of other prophets and leaders in Israel’s history. It seems to me that the simplest explanation is due to the
different timing of these appearances. Jesus’ appearances to his disciples took place during the 40 days
while he was still on earth and before his ascension to heaven. Paul’s encounter took place with the risen and
ascended Jesus appearing to him somehow from heaven – hence the blinding light, rather than the focus on
Jesus’ form.
13 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_taxes_(idiom) [Accessed April 2023].
14 ‘What Billy Graham had to say about his homegoing’, 17 February 2020, billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-whatbilly-graham-had-to-say-about-his-homegoing/
[Accessed April 2023].
15 See Andrew Ollerton, The Bib le: A Story That Makes Sense of Life (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2020) page
287 of 323, Kindle ed.
16 Tom Wright, Surprised b y HOPE (London: SPCK, 2007) p166.
17 CS Lewis, The Great Divorce (London: Fount, 1977) p17.
18 Andrew Ollerton, The Bib le: A Story That Makes Sense of Life, page 283 of 323, Kindle ed.
19 Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavour (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2012) p30 has some excellent
thoughts on this whole subject.
20 I originally shared this in God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing, p171.
21 www.brainyquote.com/authors/letitia-wright-quotes [Accessed April 2023].
22 If you want a much fuller account of Paul’s life, see Tom Wright, Paul: A Biography (London: SPCK, 2017).
23 For more on this, see God’s Plan for Your Wellb eing – I have a whole ‘chapter’ on Vocational Wellbeing,
pp168–187.
CONCLUSION: FULLY ALIVE, FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES
1 Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus (Farnham: CWR, 2014) p59.
2 Quoted in Nicky Gumbel, Questions of Life (Eastbourne: Kingsway, 1993) p43.
APPENDIX A: HISTORICAL SOURCES ABOUT JESUS
1 Cited in Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 2010) p243.
2 Cited in Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus, p244.
3 For this quote, and a consideration of Josephus as a source, see Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus
pp235–44.
4 Peter Williams helpfully expands on this: ‘It is rarely appreciated that for us to have four Gospels about Jesus
is remarkable. That is an abundance of material to have about any individual of that period. In fact, even though
Jesus was on the periphery of the Roman Empire, we have as many early sources about his life and teaching
as we have about activities and conversations of Tiberias, emperor during Jesus’s public activities.’ Can We
Trust the Gospels? (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2018) p41.
5 Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus pp201 contains a useful summary of the scholarship on the
‘canonical Gospels’ as biographies.
APPENDIX B: HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT JESUS
1 HOPE Together and Partners, Talking Jesus Report, 2022, p8.
2 www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/210910.Napol_on_Bonaparte [Accessed December 2023].
3 apologetics315.com/2013/06/h-g-wells-on-the-historicity-of-jesus/ [Accessed December 2023].
4 https://theinwardturn.com/quotes-from-queen-elizabeth-ii/ [Accessed December 2023].
5 For more details on Jesus’ fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy, see Josh McDowell, The New Evidence that

Demands a Verdict (Nashville, Tennesse: Thomas Nelson, 1999) pp164–202.
6 Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 2010) pp284–302 gives extensive
treatment to the whole subject of Jesus’ predictions of his death and vindication/resurrection.
7 G Ludemann, The Resurrection of Christ: A Historical Inquiry (Amherst, New York: Prometheus, 2004) p20, op
cit, Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus, p311.
8 Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant (New York: HarperCollins,
1991) p375, op cit, Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus, p312.
9 Canon J.John, Foreword to Dave Smith, 40 Days with Jesus (Farnham: CWR, 2014) p7.
10 William Lane Craig, Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus
(Lewiston: New York, Edwin Mellen Press, 1989) p373.
11 Peter J Williams, Can We Trust the Gospels? (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2018) p134.
12 NT Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (London: SPCK, 2003) pp85–206 provides an extensive
survey of Old Testament and post-biblical Jewish views of resurrection.
13 Tim Keller, Hope in Times of Fear page 11 of 244, Kindle ed, cites John Polkinghorne, The Faith of a Physicist
(Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2016) p115.
14 Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus page 370 of 642, Kindle ed.
15 William Lane Craig, Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus
p407.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Beasley-Murray, Paul, The Message of the Resurrection (Nottingham: The Bible Speaks
Today, IVP, 2000)
Beck W, David and Licona, Michael R, Raised on the Third Day (Bellingham, Washington:
Lexham Press, 2020)
Benner, David G, Surrender to Love (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 2003)
Carson, DA, The Message of John (Nottingham: The Pillar New Testament Commentary,
Apollos, 1991)
Collins, Jim, Good to Great (London: Random House, 2001)
Craig, William Lane, Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the
Resurrection of Jesus (Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989)
Ford, David F, The Gospel of John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2021)
Frederickson, Barbara, Positivity (London: Oneworld, 2011)
Greig, Pete, How to Hear God, (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2022)
Keller, Timothy, Every Good Endeavour (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2012)
Keller, Timothy, Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter (London:
Hodder & Stoughton, 2021)
Lewis, CS, The Four Loves (Glasgow: Collins, 1987)
Lewis, CS, The Great Divorce (London: Fount, 1997)
Licona, Michael The Resurrection of Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 2010)
Lopez, Shane J, Making Hope Happen, (New York: Aria, 2014)
Milne, Bruce, The Message of John (Leicester: IVP, 1993)
Ollerton, Andrew, The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life (London: Hodder & Stoughton,
2020)
Packer, JI, Knowing God (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1993)
Smith, Dave, 40 Days with Jesus (Farnham: CWR, 2014)
Smith, Dave, God’s Plan for Your Wellbeing (Farnham: CWR, 2020)
Stott, John RW, The Message of Acts (Nottingham: The Bible Speaks Today, IVP, 1990)
Warren, Rick, The Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002)
Williams, Peter J, Can We Trust the Gospels? (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2018)
Wright, NT, The Resurrection of the Son of God (London: SPCK, 2003)
Wright, Tom, Luke for Everyone (London: SPCK, 2004)
Wright, Tom, Surprised by HOPE (London: SPCK, 2007)

FURTHER ALIVE
RESOURCES
Now you have read the book, you may be interested to know that
there are other resources available, including a five-part film series, a
youth film series, resources for the family, small group leaders’ guide
and more. Visit http://thealiveseries.com for further information.

THE WELLBEING JOURNEY
The Wellbeing Journey is a series exploring holistic wellness: body,
mind and spirit. It is based around key areas of wellbeing – physical,
emotional, spiritual, relational, financial and vocational and helps you
to discover God’s plan for your overall heath. Resources include a
film series, book and a small group leaders’ guide – visit
https://wellbeingjourney.org to find out more.