Traditionally, most people believe that what propelled the Jesus movement was Jesus’ crucifixion was seen as a massive defeat, where his followers were ready to leave and give up on the hopes of a new kingdom, but then Jesus was resurrected and this resurrection was going to give Jesus’ followers another chance at experiencing the Kingdom of God. Aside from these traditional views, some theologians argue that there are other events that propelled the Jesus movement and caused its expansion. In the chapter by Richard Horsley, “The Power of the Crucifixion,” he argues that Jesus’ execution is actually what propelled the Jesus movement. While explaining why Horsley believes this event was the drive behind the movement and its expansion, he brings
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Wright argues in his chapter “Under New Management: Easter and Beyond” from Simply Jesus, that his only possible explanation for the rise of this movement is that even though Jesus was pronounced dead, he somehow mysteriously was physically found alive again. Wright points out that if we consider Jesus during his lifetime and then question the meaning of Easter, the answer to what propelled the Jesus movement is evident. This resurrection of Jesus was the actual beginning of the Kingdom of God and that a new creation was coming, through the power of love. This new way of live was going to consist of love, reconciliation, healing and hope, which are some things no other society had thought of trying. This was Jesus’ point exactly. Wright says, “Easter tells us that Jesus is himself the first part of new creation; his ascension tells us that he is now running it” (195). Wright describes four things that one must remember when considering the ascension of Jesus: heaven are earth are not far removed places from each other and that heaven can exist on earth, that heaven is the place where the world is run from, that this is the great reversal where God welcomes the oppressed and begins judgment of the oppressors and lastly that Jesus was profoundly trying to upstage Caesar Augustus and the Roman Empire. This ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Kingdom of God involve feelings of suffering, misunderstanding, violence and execution. Even in New Testament sources, suffering is a constant theme between the Jews and Jesus himself through redemptive suffering. Those who follow Jesus and his teachings about God’s kingdom, will experience both Spirit and suffering as a way to expand the Jesus movement. Overall, Wright believes that neither before, nor after the resurrection, but the resurrection itself and alone,
Wright argues in his chapter “Under New Management: Easter and Beyond” from Simply Jesus, that his only possible explanation for the rise of this movement is that even though Jesus was pronounced dead, he somehow mysteriously was physically found alive again. Wright points out that if we consider Jesus during his lifetime and then question the meaning of Easter, the answer to what propelled the Jesus movement is evident. This resurrection of Jesus was the actual beginning of the Kingdom of God and that a new creation was coming, through the power of love. This new way of live was going to consist of love, reconciliation, healing and hope, which are some things no other society had thought of trying. This was Jesus’ point exactly. Wright says, “Easter tells us that Jesus is himself the first part of new creation; his ascension tells us that he is now running it” (195). Wright describes four things that one must remember when considering the ascension of Jesus: heaven are earth are not far removed places from each other and that heaven can exist on earth, that heaven is the place where the world is run from, that this is the great reversal where God welcomes the oppressed and begins judgment of the oppressors and lastly that Jesus was profoundly trying to upstage Caesar Augustus and the Roman Empire. This ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Kingdom of God involve feelings of suffering, misunderstanding, violence and execution. Even in New Testament sources, suffering is a constant theme between the Jews and Jesus himself through redemptive suffering. Those who follow Jesus and his teachings about God’s kingdom, will experience both Spirit and suffering as a way to expand the Jesus movement. Overall, Wright believes that neither before, nor after the resurrection, but the resurrection itself and alone,