Resurrection, of Jesus Christ

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is of central importance to the NT. It affirms the divinity of Jesus Christ, marks the words and deeds of his ministry with God's seal of approval and opens the way to the future resurrection of believers.

Jesus Christ's resurrection was foreshadowed in the OT

In Abraham and Isaac: Genesis 22:5; Hebrews 11:19; Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:10; Matthew 12:40

Jesus Christ's resurrection was predicted

In the OT

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 See also Isaiah 53:11; Hosea 6:2; Luke 24:45–46; Acts 2:25–31, Acts 13:35; Psalm 16:8–11; Acts 13:34, Acts 26:22–23

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

By Jesus Christ himself

Matthew 16:21 parallels Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22 See also Matthew 17:9 parallel Mark 9:9; Matthew 20:18–19 parallels Mark 10:32–34, Luke 18:31–33; Matthew 26:32 parallel Mark 14:28; John 2:19–21

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Jesus Christ's resurrection was anticipated by the raising of the dead

In the OT

Hebrews 11:35 None of the OT or NT miracles are true resurrections. Those raised resumed life as before, their bodies unchanged. Resurrection for Jesus Christ and therefore for his people means a changed body and permanent life in glory. This is the “better resurrection”. See also 1 Kings 17:22; 2 Kings 4:35, 2 Kings 13:21

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

In the miracles of Jesus Christ

Luke 7:22 parallel Matthew 11:4–5 See also Matthew 9:23–25 parallel Mark 5:38–42; Matthew 27:52–53; Luke 7:14–15; John 11:43–44

So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

The sequence of events in Jesus Christ's resurrection

It was preceded by suffering and death

Philippians 2:8–9 See also John 19:28–33; Hebrews 2:9

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,

It took place on the first day of the week

John 20:1–2 parallels Matthew 28:1–2, Mark 16:2–4, Luke 24:1–3

It was announced by angels

Matthew 28:5–6 parallels Mark 16:5–6, Luke 24:4–6 See also Luke 24:23; 1 Timothy 3:16

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.

The disciples were reluctant to believe it

Luke 24:25–26 See also Mark 16:13–14; Luke 24:11; John 20:24–25

Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

The disciples saw the evidence and were ultimately convinced

John 2:22 See also Luke 24:33–35; John 20:8, John 20:18, John 20:26–28; Acts 2:32, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33

After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

The risen Christ appeared to many people

Acts 1:3 Matthew 28:16–17; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:50–52; John 20:19–23, John 20:26–31, John 21:1–2; Acts 1:9–11; Mark 16:9; John 20:11–18; Luke 24:13–15 to two on the Emmaus road; Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Acts 9:3–5 parallels Acts 22:6–8, Acts 26:12–15; 1 Corinthians 15:8; Acts 10:39–41; 1 Corinthians 15:6 to over 500 people; 1 Corinthians 15:7 to James

After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

The resurrection was followed by Jesus Christ's entry into glory

Romans 8:34 See also 1 Corinthians 15:24–29; Ephesians 1:18–21; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 1:18

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God— and He is interceding for us.

Jesus Christ's resurrection body was spiritual but not ghostly

Luke 24:37–39 See also John 20:27; Acts 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Philippians 3:21

But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit. “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see — for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”