Snap Shot
Resurrection, as defined in the New Testament, means “a standing up again, that is (literally) a resurrection from death” (Strongs). In tandem with the vicarious sacrifice of His death, Christ’s resurrection is a primary doctrine of the Gospel and it is a future hope of every believer.
The Uniqueness of Christ’s Resurrection
The Scripture records several resurrections from the dead:
1. the son of the widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17–24);
2. the Shunamite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:17–27);
3. the man who was laid on the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:21);
4. Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:22–43);
5. the young man of Nain (Luke 7:11–17);
6. Lazarus (John 11);
7. Tabitha (Acts 9:36–43);
8. and Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12).
However, these all were raised with mortal bodies and would face death again. But not so with Christ, He was raised with an immortal, glorified body, to be alive forevermore.
“We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Romans 6:9 ESV).
In fact, it was Jesus’ own testimony to the fact of His resurrection, early in His earthly ministry, that ultimately played a part in His death.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2:19-21 ESV);
“Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, ‘This man said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days’” (Matthew 26:59-61 ESV).
The resurrection of Jesus Christ also affirmed all that He claimed to be: The Son of God.
“And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4 ESV).
Truthfully, the only sign the Lord offered to the question of His divinity was the sign of Jonah:
“But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40 ESV).
Of course the interesting twist to the sign is that Jonah was in the whale’s belly before he witnessed to Nineveh; whereas, the Lord witnessed first and then went into the heart of the earth.
A Fundamental Part of the Gospel…
Christ’s resurrection became the cornerstone of the early church’s preaching, beginning with Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost:
“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32 ESV);
and continuing with the Apostle Paul,
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV).
…And the Basis of the Believer’s Hope
In faith in God
“Who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:21 ESV).
In the forgiveness of sins
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 ESV).
In a future everlasting life
“Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (2 Corinthians 4:14 ESV).
Resurrection Times Two
Jesus said there would be definitively two resurrections:
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29 ESV).
However, the just and unjust resurrections are not simultaneous:
The just: “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6 ESV).
The unjust: “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15 ESV).
Conclusion
Jesus Christ rose from the grave and gave a promise to all those who believe in Him:
