I agree. Several different people have brought this concern up with Andrew—including myself. There is an overvaluation of the past at the expense of the present.

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection put into their historical context is a great and worthy task. It may elucidate the social and theological lives of people then, in the ancient world. But we are here today, in the late modern world. So, it seems the more relevant questions have to center on what Jesus’ life, death and resurrection mean to followers today. And it will have many varying meanings depending on the context in which it is articulated—be it suburban America or urban China or rural Africa.