Reference: Resurrection of Christ
Easton
one of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1Co 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps 16 (Ac 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Mt 20:19; Mr 9:9; 14:28; Lu 18:33; Joh 2:19-22).
The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, also, in their public teaching largely insist upon it. 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 sepulchre alone. This is recorded at length only by John (Joh 20:11-18), and alluded to by Mark (Mr 16:9-11).
(2.) To certain women, "the other Mary," Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulchre. Matthew (Mt 28:1-10) alone gives an account of this. (Comp. Mr 16:1-8; Lu 24:1-11.)
(3.) To Simon Peter alone on the day of the resurrection. (See Lu 24:34; 1Co 15:5.)
(4.) To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection, recorded fully only by Luke (Lu 24:13-35. Comp. Mr 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 (Joh 20:19-24).
(6.) To the disciples again (Thomas being present) at Jerusalem (Mr 16:14-18; Lu 24:33-40; Joh 20:26-28. See also 1Co 15:5).
(7.) To the disciples when fishing at the Sea of Galilee. Of this appearance also John (Joh 21:1-23) alone gives an account.
(8.) To the eleven, and above 500 brethren at once, at an appointed place in Galilee (1Co 15:6; comp. Mt 28:16-20).
(9.) To James, but under what circumstances we are not informed (1Co 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" (Mr 16:19; Lu 24:50-52; Ac 1:4-10).
It is worthy of note that it is distinctly related that on most of these occasions our Lord afforded his disciples the amplest opportunity of testing the fact of his resurrection. He conversed with them face to face. They touched him (Mt 28:9; Lu 24:39; Joh 20:27), and he ate bread with them (Lu 24:42-43; Joh 21:12-13).
(11.) In addition to the above, mention might be made of Christ's manifestation of himself to Paul at Damascus, who speaks of it as an appearance of the risen Saviour (Ac 9:3-9,17; 1Co 15:8; 9:1).
It is implied in the words of Luke (Ac 1:3) that there may have been other appearances of which we have no record.
The resurrection is spoken of as the act (1) of God the Father (Ps 16:10; Ac 2:24; 3:15; Ro 8:11; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12; Heb 13:20); (2) of Christ himself (Joh 2:19; 10:18); and (3) of the Holy Spirit (1Pe 3:18).
The resurrection is a public testimony of Christ's release from his undertaking as surety, and an evidence of the Father's acceptance of his work of redemption. It is a victory over death and the grave for all his followers.
The importance of Christ's resurrection will be seen when we consider that if he rose the gospel is true, and if he rose not it is false. His resurrection from the dead makes it manifest that his sacrifice was accepted. Our justification was secured by his obedience to the death, and therefore he was raised from the dead (Ro 4:25). His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for our sins, that his sacrifice was accepted as a satisfaction to divine justice, and his blood a ransom for sinners. It is also a pledge and an earnest of the resurrection of all believers (Ro 8:11; 1Co 6:14; 15:47-49; Php 3:21; 1Jo 3:2). As he lives, they shall live also.
It proved him to be the Son of God, inasmuch as it authenticated all his claims (Joh 2:19; 10:17). "If Christ did not rise, the whole scheme of redemption is a failure, and all the predictions and anticipations of its glorious results for time and for eternity, for men and for angels of every rank and order, are proved to be chimeras. 'But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.' Therefore the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation. The kingdom of darkness has been overthrown, Satan has fallen as lightning from heaven, and the triumph of truth over error, of good over evil, of happiness over misery is for ever secured." Hodge.
With reference to the report which the Roman soldiers were bribed (Mt 28:12-14) to circulate concerning Christ's resurrection, "his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept," Matthew Henry in his "Commentary," under John 20:1-10, fittingly remarks, "The grave-clothes in which Christ had been buried were found in very good order, which serves for an evidence that his body was not 'stolen away while men slept.' Robbers of tombs have been known to take away 'the clothes' and leave the body; but none ever took away 'the body' and left the clothes, especially when they were 'fine linen' and new (Mr 15:46). Any one would rather choose to carry a dead body in its clothes than naked. Or if they that were supposed to have stolen it would have left the grave-clothes behind, yet it cannot be supposed they would find leisure to 'fold up the linen.'"
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and hand him over to the heathen to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised to life."
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. And there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and went and rolled the stone back and sat upon it. read more. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow. The men on guard trembled with fear of him, and became like dead men. And the angel said to the women, "You need not be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen, as he said he would do. Come and see the place where he was lying. Now go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and is going back to Galilee before you. You will see him there.' Now I have given you my message." And they hurried away from the tomb frightened and yet overjoyed, and ran to tell the news to his disciples. And Jesus himself met them, and said, "Good morning!" And they went up to him and clasped his feet, and bowed to the ground before him.
And Jesus himself met them, and said, "Good morning!" And they went up to him and clasped his feet, and bowed to the ground before him. Jesus said to them, "You need not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee and they will see me there."
And they got together and consulted with the elders, and gave the soldiers a large sum of money, and said to them, "Tell people that his disciples came in the night and stole him away while you were asleep. read more. And if news of it reaches the governor, we will satisfy him, and see that you do not get into trouble."
And the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. There they saw him and bowed down before him, though some were in doubt about it. read more. And Jesus came up to them and said, "Full authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the heathen, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands that I have given you. I will always be with you, to the very close of the age."
As they were going down the mountain, he cautioned them to let no one know what they had seen, until the Son of Man should rise from the dead.
But after I am raised to life again I will go back to Galilee before you."
And he bought a linen sheet and took him down from the cross and wrapped him in the sheet, and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the doorway of the tomb.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary, James's mother, and Salome bought spices, in order to go and anoint him. Then very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, when the sun had just risen. read more. And they said to one another, "Who will roll the stone back from the doorway of the tomb for us?" And they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled back, for it was very large. And when they went into the tomb they saw a young man in a white robe sitting at the right, and they were utterly amazed. But he said to them, "You must not be amazed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here. See! This is where they laid him. But go and say to his disciples and to Peter, 'He is going before you to Galilee; you will see him there, just as he told you.' " And they fled out of the tomb, for they were all trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing about it to anyone, for they were afraid to do so. AN ANCIENT APPENDIX But they reported briefly to Peter and his companions all they had been told. And afterward Jesus himself sent out by them from the east to the west the sacred and incorruptible message of eternal salvation. \b ANOTHER ANCIENT APPENDIX Now after he had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven evil spirits. She went and told it to his old companions, while they were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they would not believe it. Afterward he showed himself in a different form to two of them as they were walking along, on their way into the country. They went back and told the rest, but they would not believe them. Still later he appeared to the Eleven themselves when they were at table, and reproached them for their obstinacy and want of faith, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead. And he said to them, "Go to the whole world and proclaim the good news to all the creation. He who believes it and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe it will be condemned. And signs like these will attend those who believe: with my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in foreign tongues; they will take snakes in their hands, and if they drink poison it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well." So the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was caught up into heaven and took his seat at God's right hand.
and they will flog him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise again."
but on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking spices they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, read more. and when they went inside they could not find the body. They were in great perplexity over this, when suddenly two men in dazzling clothing stood beside them. The women were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look among the dead for him who is alive? Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, when he said that the Son of Man must be handed over to wicked men and be crucified and rise again on the third day." Then they remembered his words, and they went back from the tomb and told all this to the eleven and all the rest. They were Mary of Magdala and Joanna and Mary, James's mother; and the other women also told this to the apostles. But the story seemed to them to be nonsense and they would not believe them.
That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all these things that had happened. read more. And as they were talking and discussing them, Jesus himself came up and went with them, but they were prevented from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is all this that you are discussing with each other on your way?" They stopped sadly, and one of them named Cleopas said to him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know what has happened there lately?" And he said, "What is it?" They said to him, "About Jesus of Nazareth, who in the eyes of God and of all the people was a prophet mighty in deed and word, and how the high priests and our leading men gave him up to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. But we were hoping that he was to be the deliverer of Israel. Why, besides all this, it is three days since it happened. But some women of our number have astounded us. They went to the tomb early this morning and could not find his body, but came back and said that they had actually seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Then some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said, but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "How foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have said! Did not the Christ have to suffer thus before entering upon his glory?" And he began with Moses and all the prophets and explained to them the passages all through the Scriptures that referred to himself. When they reached the village to which they were going, he acted as though he were going on, but they urged him not to, and said, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. And when he took his place with them at table, he took the bread and blessed it and broke it in pieces and handed it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew him, and he vanished from them. And they said to each other, "Did not our hearts glow when he was talking to us on the road, and was explaining the Scriptures to us?" And they got up immediately and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and their party all together,
And they got up immediately and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and their party all together, and learned from them that the Master had really risen and had been seen by Simon.
and learned from them that the Master had really risen and had been seen by Simon.
and learned from them that the Master had really risen and had been seen by Simon. And they told what had happened on the road, and how they had known him when he broke the bread in pieces.
And they told what had happened on the road, and how they had known him when he broke the bread in pieces. While they were still talking of these things, he himself stood among them. read more. They were startled and panic-stricken, and thought they saw a ghost. But he said to them, "Why are you so disturbed, and why do doubts arise in your minds? Look at my hands and feet, for it is I myself! Feel of me and see, for a ghost has not flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Look at my hands and feet, for it is I myself! Feel of me and see, for a ghost has not flesh and bones, as you see I have." OMITTED TEXT
And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before their eyes.
And he led them out as far as Bethany. Then he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And as he was blessing them, he parted from them. read more. And they went back with great joy to Jerusalem,
Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it in three days!"
Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it in three days!"
Jesus answered, "Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it in three days!" The Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary, and are you going to raise it in three days?" read more. But he was speaking of his body as the sanctuary. So afterward when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the passage of Scripture and what Jesus had said.
This is why the Father loves me, because I am giving my life, but giving it to take it back again. No one has taken it from me, but I am giving it of my own accord. I have power to give it, and I have power to take it back again. These are the orders I have received from my Father."
But Mary stood just outside the tomb, weeping. And as she wept she looked down into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had been, one at his head and one at his feet. read more. And they said to her, "Why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Master away, and I do not know where they have put him." As she said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was he. Jesus said to her, "Why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She, supposing that he was the gardener, said to him, "If it was you, sir, that carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away." "Mary!" said Jesus. She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" which means Master. Jesus said to her, "You must not cling to me, for I have not yet gone up to my Father, but go to my brothers and say to them that I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary of Magdala went and declared to the disciples, "I have seen the Master!" and she told them that he had said this to her. When it was evening on that first day after the Sabbath, and the doors of the house where the disciples met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came in and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you!" Then he showed them his hands and his side, and the disciples were full of joy at seeing the Master. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you! Just as my Father sent me forth so I now send you." As he said this he breathed upon them, and said, "Receive the holy Spirit! If you forgive any men's sins, they are forgiven them, and if you fix any men's sins upon them, they will remain fixed." But Thomas, one of the Twelve, who was called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came in.
A week after, the disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came in and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands, and take your hand and put it in my side, and be no longer unbelieving, but believe!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands, and take your hand and put it in my side, and be no longer unbelieving, but believe!" Thomas answered him, "My Master and my God!"
After this Jesus again showed himself to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and he did so in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael, of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together. read more. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, though the disciples did not know that it was he. So Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered, "No." "Throw your net in on the right of the boat," he said to them, "and you will find them." They did so, and they could not haul it in for the quantity of fish in it. Then the disciple who was dear to Jesus said to Peter, "It is the Master!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he put on his clothes, for he had taken them off, and sprang into the sea. The rest of the disciples followed in the boat, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards, dragging in the net full of fish. When they landed they saw a charcoal fire burning, with a fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." So Simon Peter got into the boat, and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them, and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was, for they knew it was the Master.
Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was, for they knew it was the Master. Jesus went and got the bread and gave it to them, and the fish also.
Jesus went and got the bread and gave it to them, and the fish also. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead. read more. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, are you more devoted to me than these others are?" Peter said to him, "Yes, Master, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Then feed my lambs!" Again Jesus said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, are you devoted to me?" He said to him, "Yes, Master, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Then be a shepherd to my sheep!" Jesus said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because the third time Jesus asked him if he loved him, and he answered, "Master, you know everything, you can see that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Then feed my sheep! I tell you, when you were young, you used to put on your own girdle and go where you pleased, but when you grow old, you will stretch our your hands and someone else will put a girdle on you and take you where you have no wish to go" He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter was to honor God; and after he had said it he said to Peter, "Follow me!" Peter turned and saw following them the disciple who was very dear to Jesus, who at the supper leaned back on Jesus' breast and said, "Master, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "But, Master, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "If I wish him to wait till I come, what does it matter to you? You must follow me." So the story spread among the brothers that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not tell him that he was not going to die; he said, "If I wish him to wait till I come, what does it matter to you?"
He had shown himself alive to them after he had suffered, in many convincing ways, appearing to them through forty days, and telling them about the Kingdom of God. And once when he ate with them, he instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised. "You have heard me speak of it," he said, read more. "for John baptized people in water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the holy Spirit." So those who were present asked him, "Master, is this the time when you are going to re-establish the kingdom for Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times and dates which the Father has fixed by his own authority, but you will be given power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem and all over Judea and Samaria and to the very ends of the earth." As he said this, he was caught up before their eyes and a cloud took him up from their sight. And while they were gazing after him into the sky, two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them,
But God set aside the pain of death and raised him up, for death could not control him.
But God set aside the pain of death and raised him up, for death could not control him. For David says of him, 'I constantly regarded the Lord before me, For he is at my right hand, so that I may not be displaced. read more. Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices, And my body will still live in hope. For you will not desert my soul in death, You will not let your Holy One be destroyed. You have made the ways of life known to me, And you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
and killed the very source of life. But God raised him from the dead, as we can testify.
But on his journey, as he was approaching Damascus, a sudden light flashed around him from heaven, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?" read more. "Who are you, sir?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," said the voice. "But get up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do." Saul's fellow-travelers stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could not see anyone. When he got up from the ground and opened his eyes he could see nothing. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus, and for three days he could not see, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias set out and went to the house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said to him, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit."
who was given up to death to make up for our offenses, and raised to life to make us upright.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead has taken possession of you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give your mortal bodies life through his Spirit that has taken possession of you.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead has taken possession of you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give your mortal bodies life through his Spirit that has taken possession of you.
and that he was seen by Cephas, and then by the Twelve. After that he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, although some of them have fallen asleep. read more. Then he was seen by James, then by all the apostles,
and if Christ was not raised, there is nothing in our message; there is nothing in our faith either,
he exerted in raising Christ from the dead, and seating him at his right hand in heaven,
He will make our poor bodies over to resemble his glorious body, by exerting the power he has to subject everything to himself.
when in your baptism you were buried with him, and raised to life with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead.
May God, the giver of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus who through the blood by which he ratified the everlasting agreement has become the great shepherd of the sheep,
For Christ himself died once for all, for sin, an upright man for unrighteous men, to bring us to God, and was physically put to death, but he was made alive in the Spirit.
Morish
This is the great central fact on the testimony of which the structure of Christianity has been reared. If Christ be not risen, there is no salvation, since sin would still be reigning by death in universal sway. But Christ, who was made sin, is risen and is at God's right hand, a manifest proof that atonement has been made, and that God's righteousness has been vindicated. The result has been the sending of the Spirit from the Father. Abundant evidence was given to the disciples that Christ was risen from the dead. He appeared again and again, ate in their presence, and gave opportunity for identification. Evidence of the fact was also borne to the Jews by the apostles in the power and by the gifts of the Spirit, Ac 4:10, confirming what they had themselves seen and heard and the testimony of the scriptures. The resurrection of Christ is the keystone of the faith of the Christian; at the same time it is the assurance on the part of God that He has appointed a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness. Hence it has a voice to all.
It has been asserted that the accounts given of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in the gospels are discordant and irreconcilable. This is not the case: it has been overlooked that Lu 23:54-56 refers to Friday evening, before the Sabbath, and Mt 28:1 refers to Saturday evening, after the Sabbath: the women return after viewing the sepulchre and finish their preparations, according to Mr 16:1.
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After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary, James's mother, and Salome bought spices, in order to go and anoint him.
It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was just beginning. The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was put there. read more. Then they went home, and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested in obedience to the commandment,
you and the people of Israel must all know that it is through the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that he stands here before you well.