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.'"
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and shall deliver him to the Gentiles, to insult, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall rise again.
NOW after the eve of the sabbath, as the light was dawning, towards the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen had come, and the other Mary, to view the sepulchre. And, lo! there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. read more. His aspect was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards shook, and became as dead men. Then the angel addressing them, said to the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus who was crucified. He is not here: he is risen, as he said. Come hither, behold the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and, lo! he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear, and great joy; and ran to carry the tidings to his disciples. And as they were going to tell the disciples, then behold Jesus met them saying, Hail! And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
And as they were going to tell the disciples, then behold Jesus met them saying, Hail! And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then saith Jesus to them, Be not affrighted: go, tell my disciples that they go into Galilee, there shall they see me.
And being assembled with the elders, and having held a council, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, Report, that his disciples coming by night stole him away, while you were asleep. read more. And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and preserve you harmless.
Then the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain, where Jesus had ordered them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him. Still some doubted. read more. Then Jesus approaching, spake to them, saying, All power is given me in heaven and upon earth. Go therefore, make disciples among all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo! I am with you at all times even to the end of the world. Amen.
And as they were coming down from the mountain, he strictly charged them, that they should tell no man what they had seen, till after the Son of man should have arisen from the dead.
And having bought a wrapper of fine linen, and taken him down, he wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a sepulchre, which was hewn out of a rock; and rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre.
AND when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, purchased aromatics, that they might come, and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the sepulchre, as the sun was rising. read more. And said among themselves, Who will roll away for us the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And looking again, they saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was vastly large. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting at the right hand, clothed in a white robe; and they were greatly terrified. But he saith unto them, Be not affrighted, ye seek Jesus the Nazarean, who was crucified; he is risen, he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples, and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he told you. And they going out hastily, fled from the sepulchre, for trembling and astonishment had seized them: and they said not a word to any person, for they were affrighted. Now being arisen early, on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. She going, told it to those who had been with him, as they were wailing and weeping. And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, gave no credit to her. Then after this, he was manifested under another form, to two of them as they were walking, and going into the country. And they came back and told the news to the rest; neither did they believe them. Afterwards he shewed himself to the eleven, as they were sitting at table, and upbraided them for their infidelity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow those that believe: in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly potion, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover health. Then the Lord, after having thus spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
and after scourging, shall slay him: and the third day he shall rise again.
NOW on the first day of the week, at the earliest dawn of day, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the aromatics which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. read more. And on entering, found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were in the greatest perplexity concerning this matter, then behold, two men stood by them in refulgent garments: and when they were exceedingly terrified, and inclined their face to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? he is not here; he is risen: remember how he spoke to you, while he was yet in Galilee, saying, That the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his declarations, and returning from the sepulchre, told all these things to the eleven, and to the rest. Now there were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the other women who were with them, that told these things to the apostles. And their declarations seemed in their view as a mere fancy, and they gave them no credence.
And behold, two of them were going the same day to a village, distant about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, called Emmaus. And they were conversing with each other, concerning all those things which had happened. read more. And it came to pass, as they were conversing together, and talking the matter over, even Jesus himself drew near, and walked on with them. But their eyes were under a restraint, that they might not discover him. And he said unto them, What are these discourses that ye interchange among you, as ye are walking, and bear such a face of dejection? Then one of them, named Cleopas, answering said, Art thou the only sojourner at Jerusalem, who hath not known the singular events of those days? And he said to them, Of what sort? and they said to him, Those which relate to Jesus the Nazarean, who was a man, a prophet, mighty in word and deed before God and all the people: and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to a sentence of death, and crucified him. But we had entertained hopes that this was the person who should have redeemed Israel: and ah! besides all these things, to-day concludes that third day since these things were done. And indeed, certain women belonging to us exceedingly amazed us who were very early at the sepulchre; and not finding his body, came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who told them that he was alive. And some of those who were with us went to the sepulchre, and found every thing just as the women had said: but him they did not see. And he said unto them, O ye void of understanding, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Messiah to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning from Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them in all the scriptures, the things relating to himself. And they drew nigh to the village, whither they were going: and he was proceeding on, as if going farther. And they warmly pressed him, saying, Stay with us: for the evening draws on, and the day declines. And he went in to stay with them. And it came to pass, when he was sitting down at table with them, taking up a loaf, he blessed it, and breaking, distributed it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he became invisible to them. And they said to each other, Did not our hearts burn within us, as he talked with us on the road, and as he distinctly opened to us the scriptures? And rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them crowded together,
And rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them crowded together, saying, The Lord is risen assuredly, and hath appeared to Simon.
saying, The Lord is risen assuredly, and hath appeared to Simon.
saying, The Lord is risen assuredly, and hath appeared to Simon. Then these recounted what had passed on the road, and how he was known to them by the breaking of the bread.
Then these recounted what had passed on the road, and how he was known to them by the breaking of the bread. While they were relating these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you! read more. But terrified and affrighted, they thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, Why are ye under such agitation of mind? and why do reasonings arise in your hearts? look upon my hands and my feet, that it is my very self: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
look upon my hands and my feet, that it is my very self: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And thus speaking, he exposed to them his hands and his feet.
Then they gave him a part of a broiled fish, and a piece of honey-comb. And receiving it, he did eat in their presence.
And he led them without [the city] as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. And it came to pass, as he pronounced the benediction upon them, he was parted from them, and taken up into heaven. read more. And they, after paying him their adorations, returned to Jerusalem with vast joy:
Jesus answered and said to them, Pull down this temple, and in three days I will rear it up again.
Jesus answered and said to them, Pull down this temple, and in three days I will rear it up again.
Jesus answered and said to them, Pull down this temple, and in three days I will rear it up again. Then said the Jews, This temple has been forty-six years in building, and canst thou rear it up in three days? read more. Now he had spoken with reference to the temple of his own body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had spoken thus unto them; and they believed the scriptures, and the word which Jesus had spoken.
Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment I have received from my Father.
But Mary stood at the sepulchre, without, weeping: as therefore she wept, she bent forward towards the sepulchre. And saw two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. read more. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And as she thus spoke, she turned about, and beheld Jesus standing by, and knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to her, Woman, why art thou weeping? whom art thou seeking? She, supposing that it was the gardener, said to him, Sir, if thou hast carried him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith to her, Mary! Starting round, she said to him, Rabboni! that is, Master! Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and tell them, I am ascending to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalen cometh declaring to the disciples, that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things to her. When the evening therefore was come, on the same first day of the week, and the doors being fastened where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be to you. And thus speaking, he shewed them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore spake to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And so speaking, he breathed on them, and said, Receive the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins soever ye retain, they are retained. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, the twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
And eight days after, his disciples were again within, and Thomas with them: Jesus cometh, though the doors were fastened, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Afterwards he spake to Thomas, Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and take thy hand, and thrust into my side: and be not incredulous, but a believer.
Afterwards he spake to Thomas, Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and take thy hand, and thrust into my side: and be not incredulous, but a believer. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God!
AFTER these things Jesus again shewed himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he appeared in the following manner: Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, the twin, and Nathaniel who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of the disciples were together. read more. Simon Peter said to them, I am going a-fishing. They say to him, We too will go with thee. They went out, and got on board the vessel immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood upon the beach: yet the disciples had not discovered that it was Jesus. Then saith Jesus unto them, My youths, have ye any thing eatable? They answered him, No. Then he said to them, Shoot the net on the right side of the vessel, and ye shall find fish. They shot it therefore, and now they were not able to drag it in from the quantity of fishes. Then said that disciple whom Jesus loved to Peter, It is the Lord! Then Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat round him, (for he was stripped,) and threw himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in the little vessel, (for they were not far from land, only about two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with the fishes. When therefore they were come to land, they saw a fire laid, and a fish upon it, and a loaf. Jesus saith to them, Bring some of the fish which ye have just caught. Simon Peter went aboard, and drew the net to land full of large fishes, to the number of a hundred and fifty-three: and though they were so many, yet was not the net rent. Jesus saith to them, Come, dine. Now not one of the disciples dared inquire, Who art thou? conscious that it was the Lord.
Jesus saith to them, Come, dine. Now not one of the disciples dared inquire, Who art thou? conscious that it was the Lord. Then Jesus cometh, and taketh the loaf, and distributed to them, and of the fish in like manner.
Then Jesus cometh, and taketh the loaf, and distributed to them, and of the fish in like manner. Now this was the third time Jesus had shewed himself to the disciples, after he rose from the dead. read more. When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him, Yes, Lord! thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith to him, Yes, Lord! thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said to him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee! Jesus saith to him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast a younger man, thou didst gird up thyself, and go about whithersoever thy choice led thee: but when thou shalt grow old, another person extending thy hands, shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This he told him, to intimate by what kind of death he should glorify God. And having thus spoken, he said to him, Follow me. Now Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also at the supper reclined on his bosom, and said, Lord, which is the person who betrayeth thee? Peter looking at him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what will become of this man? Jesus saith to him, If I will that he abide till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then this speech went forth among the disciples, as though this disciple was not to die: yet Jesus had not said to him, That he shall not die; but, If I will that he abide till I come, what is that to thee?
to whom also he had shewed himself alive, after he had suffered, by many infallible proofs, during forty days being frequently seen by them, and speaking of the things which relate to the kingdom of God: and assembling them together, commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye have heard from me. read more. For John indeed baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days after the present. They then accordingly assembling together, asked him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time reestablish the kingdom of Israel? But he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times and the seasons, which the Father hath reserved under his own authority. But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses for me, both in Jerusalem, and throughout all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the extremity of the earth. And as he was speaking these things, while they were looking upon him, he was taken up; and a cloud enveloping him hid him from their eyes. And as they looked up earnestly into the heaven, while he was passing, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: forasmuch as it was not possible that he should be held thereby.
whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: forasmuch as it was not possible that he should be held thereby. For David speaketh concerning him, "I have seen the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand, that I might not be shaken: read more. therefore is my heart full of joy, and my tongue hath exulted; and still shall my flesh also repose in hope, that thou wilt not leave my soul in the mansion of the dead, nor permit that Holy One of thine to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt fill me with delight by thy countenance."
but ye slew the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead: of which we are witnesses.
So advancing on his journey, he was drawing nigh to Damascus: and suddenly there shone around him a light from heaven: and falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? read more. Then said he, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting: It is difficult for thee to kick against the goads. And trembling and amazed he said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men who travelled with him stood astonished, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man. Then Paul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was three days seeing nothing, and did neither eat nor drink.
Then went Ananias, and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who was seen by thee in the way that thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest recover thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
who was delivered up for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
But if the Spirit of him who hath raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he who raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his indwelling Spirit in you.
But if the Spirit of him who hath raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he who raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his indwelling Spirit in you.
and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: afterwards he appeared before five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater number remain alive unto this hour, but some also are gone to rest. read more. Afterwards he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
and if Christ be not risen, vain indeed is our preaching, and vain also your faith.
which he displayed in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly regions,
who shall transform our body of humiliation, that it may be conformed to his body of glory, according to the effectual working of him who is able to subdue even all things to himself.
buried with him in baptism, in which also ye have been raised up together with him by faith, the energy of God, who raised him from the dead.
Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great pastor of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting testament,
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, put to death indeed in the flesh, but raised to life by 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
NOW after the eve of the sabbath, as the light was dawning, towards the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen had come, and the other Mary, to view the sepulchre.
AND when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, purchased aromatics, that they might come, and anoint him.
And that was the preparation-day, and the sabbath's twilight was approaching. Then the women also, his attendants, who had followed him out of Galilee, observed the sepulchre, and how his corpse was laid out. read more. And returning, they made preparation of aromatics and unguents; and they rested the sabbath-day, according to the commandment.
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him doth this man stand here sound in your presence.