Easter celebrates the miracle at core of Christianity

The resurrection of Jesus is the most central belief of Christianity, but also the hardest for many to accept. On this, the day before Jesus' resurrection is celebrated, I want to share with you the path I took to believing — a journey that began when I was 10 years old.

I had never seen a dead person before.

As I stood before my Grandpa George's open casket, I thought it really stunk that he and I would not eat caramel apples anymore, or stay up late watching wrestling on television, or dress up in matching overalls and boots to work in his woodshop. And I was angry at the dumb preacher who said death was a natural part of life that we should welcome like a friend.

My cousin, who was with me, leaned over and stuck a dollar bill into Grandpa's pocket, in case he needed to buy anything in heaven.

It was on that day I turned my back on church. In my mind, the God who killed my Grandpa George and wanted me to accept it was a jerk.

Seven years later, I met a pastor's lovely daughter. She gave me a Bible, which I tried a few times to read, but got bored with quickly. In college, most of my classes raised questions about the existence and nature of God. Needing to determine my own beliefs, I spent a few months reading the Bible, atheistic philosophers and teachers from various religions.

I was most intrigued by varying views on death and the afterlife. I found the Bible's perspective unique, teaching that God does not kill us. Rather, God is the living God and because we have all unplugged ourselves from God through sin, we have, in a sense, killed ourselves. I also came to see that God hates death as much as I hated the death of my Grandpa George.

As I studied various religions and philosophies, everything came down to Jesus. Did he live? Did he die? Did he resurrect to reconnect us to God? Is his teaching true? Jesus was completely unlike the other teachers I was studying. He repeatedly said he was sinless, the only God, and promised to rise from death to prove it. So, I carefully inspected the details surrounding his death.

Jesus was beaten by soldiers, nailed to a wooden cross he was forced to carry on his raw back, and crucified. Jesus was declared dead by a professional executioner, who ran a spear through his heart to ensure his death.

Jesus was put in 100 pounds of burial wrappings that would have suffocated him if he were not already dead. He was placed in a cold tomb without food, water or medical care.

The Bible said that three days later, Jesus rose to rescue us from death and repeatedly appeared to crowds of up to 500 people. Jesus also appeared to individuals who were unlikely to worship him as God. The doubting Thomas touched his crucifixion wounds, and Paul transformed from being a murderer of Christians to being murdered as a Christian pastor.

Additionally, Jesus' half-brothers James and Jude witnessed his resurrection, worshipped their brother as God, and became pastors who penned books of the Bible. Jesus' mother, Mary, also worshipped her risen son as God.

For many weeks, I wrestled with the incredible claim of Jesus' resurrection, realizing it was the most important decision I would ever make, one that — if true — could determine my life and my life after death. Yet until I discovered that numerous ancient non-Christian historians had verified Jesus' resurrection, I remained skeptical. Their testimony helped convince me, and it was then that I committed my life to following Jesus, his resurrection, for me, proving his claim to be the only God and only way to eternal life.

Ironically, today the pastor's daughter is my wife, and I am her pastor, preaching from the very Bible she bought me those many years ago. Tomorrow I will be speaking about the resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death at one of our five church services in Seattle.

One day I will die because I am a sinner. One day my wife and I will rise from death because of Jesus. On that day I will introduce her to my Grandpa George. Perhaps we'll eat caramel apples, watch wrestling with Jesus and find something to spend the dollar on. I hope to see you there.

Pastor Mark Driscoll is founder of the nondenominational Mars Hill Church in Ballard. He and four other columnists — the Rev. Patrick J. Howell, Rabbi Mark S. Glickman, the Rev. Patricia L. Hunter and Aziz Junejo — take turns writing for the Faith & Values page.