The Resurrection of Christ

Matthew 28:1-10,16-17

HAVE YOU EVER HAD DOUBTS ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE BIBLE OR IN YOUR FAITH? HAVE YOU EVER DOUBTED OR WONDERED ABOUT THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE RESURRECTION?

“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me…Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted” (Matthew 28:1-10,16-17). 

If you’ve ever had any doubt about the resurrection of Christ then let me allay your fears. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most reliably attested event in history. Jesus did not rise as a spirit, or as a metaphor. Jesus rose from the dead in the same body in which he lived and was crucified. His resurrection is a model and example of another resurrection to take place in the future—ours. First, let’s begin with a little background. 

1. Background on resurrection
   

In general, resurrection in the Bible refers to several things. The resurrection of people who have died in the past, the resurrection of Jesus never to die again, and the resurrection of Christians in the future to glory. The Bible also refers to the unrighteous in the future who will be raised and eternally condemned. Lastly, the resurrection is used to describe the new life we have in Christ. 

Though the idea of a bodily resurrection appears in the Old Testament it was not widely taught. The mosaic covenant concentrated mostly on the nation of Israel rather than the individual. Therefore, it was only mentioned a few times. The nations around Israel held to a resurrection belief, but not in the same way as Israel.

A fuller concept of resurrection as reward for the righteous didn’t become popular in Israel until the intermediate 400-year period represented between Malachi and Matthew. The Apocryphal literature had an influence on the doctrine of the resurrection, though the Jews did not regard the apocrypha as inspired works. 

In Jesus’ time, the two main religious bodies were the Pharisees, who held to a doctrine of resurrection, and the Sadducees, who believed spiritual things were a myth and that there was no resurrection. Jesus very directly declared the Sadducees’ beliefs wrong in Mark 12:27. 

The first chronological mention of the resurrection of Christ is found in I Corinthians 15:3-7 by Paul as it was written before the Gospels were written. 

The resurrection of Christ is the central doctrine of Christianity, without it, our faith is meaningless. If there is no resurrection, then Paul says we are still in our sins, and we have no hope for eternity. The truthfulness and reliability of Christianity stands or falls on the bodily resurrection of Christ.

1. Old Testament examples of resurrection
   1. Elijah raised a boy (I Kings 17:18-24).
   2. Elisha raised the shunamite’s son (II Kings 4:18-27).
      
2. New Testament examples of resurrection
   1. Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:35-43).
   2. Jesus raised Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
   3. Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42). 
   4. Jesus also instructed his disciples to raise the dead in Matthew 10:8.
      

HOW IS JESUS’ RESURRECTION DIFFERENT FROM THESE RESURRECTIONS?

1. Jesus’ resurrection was different; he rose never to die again (Romans 6:9).
   
   1. The previous resurrections were best termed resuscitations. A resuscitation is when a person who has died for any length of period is brought back to life by medical or miraculous means. But they would eventually die again. But not Jesus. Additionally, they are not raised like Jesus.
      
      Each of the Bible’s resuscitations happened through human agency. Prophets or apostles were used to raise them, or Jesus raised them. But Jesus was raised without human agency. Jesus said, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again.No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17-18).
      
      Jesus’ resurrection body was also different from all other resurrections.
      
   2. Jesus’ resurrection body was glorified
      
      1. He could appear suddenly without using a door. Notice that Jesus appeared in a room without using the door. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).
         
      2. He could change his appearance as on the Emmaus road. “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:15-16). This may mean he could change his appearance.
         
      3. His appearances in Revelation include descriptions of fire and glowing metal (Revelation 1:14-15). Descriptions of the resurrected Jesus were similar to appearances of God and angels in the Old Testament. He was clearly set apart from being a mere man. His appearances struck fear into the hearts of witnesses, but he would quickly calm them. Jesus said his resurrection body would have the same glory as the Father. In his high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed the following, “Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (John 17:5).
         
      4. He could fly. “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).
         
         And Acts 1:9, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
         
   3. Our resurrection bodies will be like his which implies that we may have at least some of the same abilities that Jesus has. Romans 6:5 says, “We shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
      
      Philippians 3:21 is the most clear statement of this, “[He] will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.”

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE RESURRECTION IS A LEGITIMATE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE?

2. The resurrection of Christ and believers was predicted
   
   1. By the prophets and psalms
      
      1. Isaiah 26:19, “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!” Also see Isaiah 53:10.
         
         Psalm 16:10, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” Also see Job 19:25-27 and Daniel 12:2.
         
   2. By Jesus
      
      1. Luke 9:22, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Also, in Mark 8:31, Luke 18:33.
         
         1. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus’ teaching on his resurrection might be considered vague. But as time went by he spoke of it more directly and clearly.
            
3. How the Resurrection was presented
   
   1. The women’s testimony
      
      1. They saw the empty tomb and angels, but they were terrified (Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:1-7, Luke 24:1-12).
         
   2. Peter’s sermon
      
      1. After shaming a crowd for being part of Jesus’ murder (Acts 2:23), Peter spoke boldly of Jesus’ resurrection, so much so that they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
         
   3. Paul’s testimony
      
      1. Paul wrote the earliest account of the resurrection in I Corinthians 15:3-8, “ 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, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
         
      2. Throughout his ministry he taught on the reality of the resurrection. He even used it as a defense when in legal custody (Acts 23:6).
         
   4. The written testimony in the Gospels
      1. The greatest accounts of Jesus’ resurrection appear in the four gospels, with John’s resurrection accounts being the longest at two chapters. In all of them there are witnesses to the empty tomb (the women, Peter and John), and then Jesus appears privately to the disciples in Jerusalem and Galilee.
         

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE RESURRECTION IS A FACT, THAT IT IS TRUE?

4. The facts of the resurrection
   
   1. The empty tomb (even Jesus’ enemies recognized the empty tomb in Matthew 28).
      
      1. One theory against the resurrection is that the Jewish leaders may have stolen the body of Jesus to frustrate the disciple’s plans. But, if the Jewish leaders had stolen the body, then they could have produced it to counter the preaching of the disciples. That did not happen.
         
   2. The eyewitness testimony. The disciples spent the rest of their lives telling people about the resurrection of Jesus at great peril to themselves. All of them faced imprisonment, physical abuse, and horrible, painful murders as a result of their preaching. All but one were brutally murdered by their opponents.
      
   3. The shroud
      
      1. Consider what Peter and John saw when they looked into the tomb. If he was missing, wrappings and all, they might have believed that someone stole the body. However, it’s more likely that Jesus rose through the wrappings, leaving the shroud still in a wrapped state in the shape of his body. That could only be explained by a miraculous resurrection!
         
   4. The soldiers at the tomb witnessed something extraordinary.  Matthew 28 records, “An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4). The Roman guards were witnesses to this miraculous event. But when bribed, they lied about the resurrection (Matthew 28:11-15).
      
5. The witnesses of the resurrection
   1. The women
   2. The disciples
   3. The 500 (I Corinthians 15:6). 
   4. Jesus’ brother James (I Corinthians 15:7)—didn’t believe at first (John 7:5), but later. If Jesus wasn’t raised, why would James worship his brother?
   5. Paul
      1. Jesus’ appearance to Paul happened on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3-7) and at a later time (I Corinthians 15:8). 
      2. Paul said he received his gospel directly from Jesus (Galatians 1:12).
         
   6. “Ten different appearances of our risen Lord are recorded in the New Testament. They may be arranged as follows:
      
      1. To Mary Magdalene at the sepulcher alone. This is recorded at length only by John (20:11–18), and alluded to by Mark (16:9–11).
         
      2. To certain women, “the other Mary,” Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulcher. Matthew (28:1–10) alone gives an account of this. (Comp. Mark 16:1–8, and Luke 24:1–11.)
         
      3. To Simon Peter alone on the day of the resurrection. (See Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5.)
         
      4. To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection, recorded fully only by Luke (24:13–35. Comp. Mark 16:12, 13).
         
      5. To the ten disciples (Thomas being absent) and others “with them,” at Jerusalem on the evening of the resurrection day. One of the evangelists gives an account of this appearance, John (20:19–24).
         
      6. To the disciples again (Thomas being present) at Jerusalem (Mark 16:14–18; Luke 24:33–40; John 20:26–28. See also 1 Corinthians 15:5).
         
      7. To the disciples when fishing at the Sea of Galilee. Of this appearance also John (21:1–23) alone gives an account.
         
      8. To the eleven, and above 500 brethren at once, at an appointed place in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6; comp. Matt. 28:16–20).
         
      9. To James, but under what circumstances we are not informed (1 Corinthians 15:7).
         
      10. To the apostles immediately before the ascension. They accompanied him from Jerusalem to Mount Olivet, and there they saw him ascend “till a cloud received him out of their sight” (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50–52; Acts 1:4–10).” (1)

HOW DID THE RESURRECTION CHANGE THE DISCIPLE’S LIVES?

6. The responses to the resurrection
   
   1. Changed lives in the disciples.

1. From fear to faith, from weakness to courage.
   
   1. At Jesus’ arrest, the disciples fled (Matthew 26:56). When questioned, Peter denied him three times (Matthew 26:69-75). Before the resurrection, Jesus’ disciples hid in a house, fearing the authorities (John 20:19).
      
   2. After seeing the resurrected Jesus, the disciples became bold witnesses. They did not fear death or what the authorities could do to them (Acts 4:1-22, 5:17-42). They all endured horrible deaths when suffering. They were run through with the sword, beheaded, beaten to death, stabbed with a spear, hanged, crucified, and sawed in two while still alive. Yet, none of them recanted to end their suffering or save their lives.
      
2. Changed lives in the hearers of the gospel. Ministering to one another, giving up their possessions (Acts 4:32-47).
   
3. The results of the resurrection
   
   1. On the disciples—kept their testimony until death. They were not liars. Consider Chuck Colson’s testimony regarding the truthfulness of the apostles.

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”

7. On the world: transformed Rome and Europe. In Africa, 63% of people identify as Christian. In China, 10,000 people a day come to faith in Christ. Each year, all around the world, millions of people come to faith in Jesus Christ. And many suffer and die for their testimony.
   
8. On the church. There is no better explanation for its existence than the resurrection. It was squarely based on the teaching of Christ’s resurrection. It is the central reason why early Christians began their worship on Sunday instead of Saturday. Without the resurrection, there is no need for the church to exist.
   
9. On you
   
   1. You can’t be a Christian without believing in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. It is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. You cannot be saved without believing in the resurrection. “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).
      
      I John 2:23, “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”
      
   2. No matter what biblical issues you are dealing with, the resurrection is the most important. Many people have problems with some aspects of Christianity. They struggle with issues of,
      
      * Why is there suffering in the world if God is good?
      * Why is there an eternal hell?
      * Why does God seem so judgmental?
      * Why can’t I live my life the way I want to and still go to heaven?
      * If God exists, why doesn’t he make himself plainly known in modern times?
      
      However, the most important issue we should deal with is the resurrection of Christ. Did Jesus really rise from the dead, never to die again? If he did, then that means something. It means his death was unique, and that means something. It means his teachings are significant, and that means something. Once you come to terms with the resurrection, most other issues will begin to fall into place over time.
      
      1. The answer to suffering in the world is the suffering of Jesus (Hebrews 4:15, 5:8, 13:12).
         
      2. The resurrection is the defeat of suffering and the ushering in of new life, eternal life.
         

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THE RESURRECTION?

8. The benefits of the resurrection
   
   1. We are justified (Romans 4:25).
      
   2. We will be resurrected like he was. Romans 6:5-11 teaches this, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old selfwas crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set freefrom sin. Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
      
   3. Let these final words of scripture encourage you about your ultimate destiny. “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:16-18). 

(1) Easton, M. G. 1893. In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature, 581. New York: Harper & Brothers.