Ever since I came across Rebecca McLaughlin’s excellent book ‘Confronting Christianity’ I’ve been following her work. This short book follows on from her previous ‘Is Christmas Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World's Most Famous Story, published in 2021 and reviewed by Paul Luckraft on this website.
If you’re looking for a snappy, witty, clever book to give away to someone on the back of Easter, this one comes highly recommended. It ties together various strands in a brief 64 pages, where McLaughlin engages with modern Biblical scholarship (you’ll find quotes from the likes of Bart Ehrman and Richard Bauckham), has lots of cultural references (from Netflix’s The Good Place to James Bond to Harry Potter) and then closes with an evangelist’s plea to readers to find out for themselves if Jesus truly is ’the resurrection and the life,’ and what that might mean for them.
Whilst primarily focused around the Easter story, McLaughlin also covers other areas of apologetics in 4 chapters:
- Is Jesus’ Life Historical?
- Is Jesus’ Death Ethical?
- Is Jesus’ Resurrection Credible?
- Is Jesus’ Offer Desirable?
Beginning with the validity of eye-witness accounts and supposed gospel contradictions in chapter 1, to the message of the cross and a winsome articulation of Christ’s atoning sacrifice in chapter 2, leading on to ‘4 Exhibits’ of the credibility of the resurrection in chapter 3 (this I found to be extremely helpful in summarising some of the key claims made in support of the resurrection).
Chapter 4 considers Jesus’ ‘unbelievable’ statement “that relationship with Him is what it means to be alive” (p55), before concluding with an invitation to not only consider the details and apologetics, but the heart of Jesus for humanity.
Chapter 3 I found to be extremely helpful in summarising some of the key claims made in support of the resurrection.
An excellent wee book that reminds Christians that Jesus really did rise from the dead and that it's the best news ever! It’s shortness means you can read it in one sitting and then give it away to someone who you believe is interested in the Christian faith.
‘Is Easter Unbelievable’ is published by The Good Book Company, and is available from 10ofthose for £2.51 (plus p&p).
Brian Macleod is a Church of Scotland Minister based in the Highlands. He is married with 3 young daughters.
