Chaper 6 - The resurrection of Jesus

Chapter 6 – The resurrection of Jesus
The chapter deals with the whole idea behind the central message of Christianity the resurrection of Christ and the hope behind it. Rather than deal directly with the open of resurrection based on a resurrection of Jesus though Polkinghorne first deals with the idea that if Christianity is to be credible then first we need to examine whether the resurrection of Jesus itself is credible in light of 21st Century thinking.
On the whole this chapter puts forward an excellent case for the authenticity of a Christian resurrection using the inconsistencies of the accounts in favour of the possibility of resurrection. He explains that the one consistent feature of the resurrection accounts are that individuals found it difficult to recognise Jesus. There is also a degree of intimacy about the accounts and such a personal reflection would be one Polkinghorne suggests that people would be reluctant to share, I can empathise with this position and feel that it is a valid reason for any lack of detail in the appearance accounts.
The idea of an empty tombs is one which Polkinghorne suggests is fundamental in our faith and suggests that it was not an issue whether there was or was not an empty tomb that caused much debate in the early church, but how such a tomb had come to be.
I especially liked the way in which Polkinghorne uses the experience of an individual at the sacrament of Holy Communion to illustrate our own personal meeting with a living resurrected God.
John Wesley was convinced that the Communion table was a place where people could meet God and experience his forgiving nature. I feel that no where more so than during this sacrament do we offer God the opportunity to touch our hearts and minds to open the doors of our own tombs and walk into his light. This is for me one of the strongest examples of a resurrected Jesus that he meets with us and communes with us and although I appreciate that this may not be the experience for all Christians for me it is the truth I feel.