Articles
Jesus' Resurrection
When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign after He drove out the moneychangers from the temple, He replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). He was speaking of His resurrection (vv. 21-22).
When some scribes and Pharisees insisted on a sign in addition to the many miracles Jesus had already done, He told them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:29-40).
Jesus depicted His love for our souls as a good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18).
In these and many other references Jesus spoke of His resurrection from the dead. It was the ultimate proof that He was who He claimed to be (Romans 1:4). It was the ultimate proof of the Father’s approval of Him (Acts 3:13-15). It is our assurance that His atonement for us was accepted (1 Peter 3:18-22). It is the very basis of our hope (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). It is the proof that He will one day judge us (Acts 17:31). Indeed, Jesus’ resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity.
Salvation in a crucified and resurrected Christ was the message the apostles preached. They were eyewitnesses (Acts 1:8). They did not see Him emerge from the tomb, but they did see Him frequently afterward (Acts 1:3-8). In fact, apostleship required that one could give eyewitness testimony of the risen Lord (Acts 1:22).
How can we know that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead? First, there is the empty tomb. Resurrection is the only explanation of it that fits all the facts. Theories about mistaken identity, a moved or stolen body, or a planned resurrection hoax are not supported by the evidence.
The inability of Jesus’ enemies to produce any counterevidence also testifies to the reality of the resurrection. They bribed the tomb guards to lie about what happened (Matthew 28:11-15). Yet they could do nothing to stop the story that Jesus had risen. It is interesting that some time after the event, Gamaliel, a leader among the opponents of Christianity, had to admit the possibility that it was genuine (Acts 5:38-39).
Jesus’ bodily appearances following His resurrection prove its reality (1 Corinthians 15:3-11). Many people saw Him—on one occasion He appeared to a crowd of over 500! He ate and drank with the disciples to prove that it was no spirit they were seeing. He invited Thomas to examine His body to verify that it was He (John 20:26-29).
The changed character of the apostles evidences the resurrection. Prior to it, Peter was cowardly (Luke 22:54-62). He and the others met behind locked doors out of fear (John 20:19). But afterward they boldly defied the Sanhedrin’s order that they not preach the resurrection (Acts 4:18-21; 5:27-32). The apostles suffered because of their testimony, yet none ever recanted it.
The events of Pentecost proved Jesus’ resurrection. The apostles spoke in tongues when the Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:1-4). That fulfilled Joel’s prophecy, which meant it was the last days. That, in turn, meant Jesus had taken His place on the throne. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:33).
The Lord’s church, the Lord’s day, the Lord’s Supper, baptism—these by their very existence and significance testify in their own way of the resurrection of the Christ.
Salvation is available only in the risen Christ (Acts 4:10-12). It requires that we believe that God raised Him from the dead and confess Him as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). The believer is then immersed into Jesus’ death and raised with Him to a new life (Romans 6:3-4). Are you alive with Christ?
