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But today we must make much more sophisticated distinctions as we striving to understand this extraordinary mystery.
•	Was the resurrection of Jesus “real” like the resurrections in our emergency rooms, except the period without life signs was days rather than minutes or hours? If so, then the resurrected Jesus is hardly unique?
•	Was the resurrection of Jesus “real” like the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11), who, since he had been in the tomb for days and stank, was undoubtedly dead in every way known to us? And five other scripture accounts of miraculous resurrections (NT: Lk7 & Mt9; and OT: 1Kg17, 2K4, & 2K13) are presumably in the same category. If so, then the resurrection of Jesus is hardly unique.
•	Was the resurrection of Jesus back to his former “real” life or did he rise to eternal life, a “real” but new and different life?
•	Was the resurrection of Jesus a religious myth, a very “real” religious reality for believers, generally understood by non-believers as metaphors.