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 hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise from the grave."
At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came down to see the sepulcher, when lo! There had been a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, and gone and rolled away the stone, and was sitting upon it. read more. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. The guards trembled for fear of him, and became like dead men. But to the women the angel said: "You need have no fear, for I know that you are seeking Jesus, the Crucified One. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Master was lying! And go quickly and tell his disciples. 'He is risen from the dead; he goes before you into Galilee; you will see him there.' Remember, I have told you." On this they ran quickly from the sepulcher, in fear and great joy, to tell the news to his disciples. And behold! Jesus himself met them, saying, "All hail!" And they went up to him and clasped his feet and worshiped him.
And behold! Jesus himself met them, saying, "All hail!" And they went up to him and clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them. "Fear not! Go tell my brothers to depart into Galilee, and they will see men there."
And when they had met with the elders and conferred together, they heavily bribed the soldiers and told them to say, "His disciples came by night and stole him away, while we were asleep." read more. "If this should reach the Governor's ears," they said, "we will satisfy him and screen you from punishment."
But the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. read more. And Jesus came forward to them and spoke to them, saying. "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe every command which I have given you. and lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
As they came down the mountain he strictly forbade them to narrate to any one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead.
So Joseph bought him a sheet, and took Jesus down, wound him in the sheet, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock, and then rolled a stone against the opening of the tomb;
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices in order to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb as the sun was rising; read more. and they kept saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" But then as they looked up they saw that the stone, which was a very large one, was already rolled away; and upon entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe. They were terrified, but he said to them. "Do not be terrified! You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified? He is risen; he is not here. See, the place where they laid him! But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "'He is going before you into Galilee, where you will see him, as he told you.'" So they went out, and ran from the tomb, for they were trembling and amazed; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid??9 Now after his resurrection, early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons.
She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But they, although they heard that he was living and had been seen by her did not believe it. read more. After this he appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking on their way into the country. They too went, and told the others; but they did not believe them, either. Afterward he appeared to the Eleven themselves, as they were eating, and reproached them for their lack of faith, and stubborn hearts, because they disbelieved those who had seen him risen. And he said to them. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves shall be condemned. Moreover these signs shall follow those who believe. They shall drive out demons in my name; they shall speak with new tongues in foreign languages; they shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any poison it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
"and they will scourge and kill him; and the third day he will rise again."
On the Sabbath Day they rested in obedience to the commandment, but in the deep dawn of the first day of the week they took the spices which they had prepared, and came to the tomb. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, read more. and on entering they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were still perplexed over this, it happened that the two men stood near them in dazzling raiment. They were terrified, and bowed down their faces to the ground, but the men said to them. "Why are you seeking him who lives among the dead? "He is not here; he is risen. Do you remember how he told you when he was still in Galilee that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and to rise on the third day?" Then they recollected his words, and turning away from the tomb they told all this to the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and the rest of the women who were telling all this to the apostles. But the whole story seemed to them but an idle tale; and they disbelieved the women.
On that same day two of his disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking together about all these events, read more. and as they talked and discussed matter, Jesus himself drew near and began walking beside them. But their eyes continued to be held that they should not recognize him even for an instant, And he said to them, "What words are these that you are exchanging one with another, as you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. And one of them named Cleopas, answered him, "Do you sojourn alone in Jerusalem, that you do not know what things have been happening there these days?" "What kind of things?" he answered. And they said: "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; "and how our high priest and ruler delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him. "But we were hoping that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this is the third day since these things happened. "Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They went to his tomb at daybreak, "and found that his body was not there; then they came and told us that besides they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. "Thereupon some of our own party to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said, but him they did not see." "O foolish men," said Jesus, "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! "Behooved it not the Christ to suffer thus, and then to enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he interpreted all the passages concerning himself. When they drew near to the village to which they are were going, he appeared to be going farther. But they urged him to stay with them, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. But as he sat down with them, and took bread, and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight. "Were not our hearts burning within us," they said to each other, "while we were talking with him on the way, and he was opening to us the scriptures?" So they rose and returned to Jerusalem that very hour, and found the Eleven and the others all met together,
So they rose and returned to Jerusalem that very hour, and found the Eleven and the others all met together, saying, "The Lord is really risen, and has appeared to Simon!"
saying, "The Lord is really risen, and has appeared to Simon!"
saying, "The Lord is really risen, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they began to tell what happened on the road, and he was known to them when he broke the bread.
Then they began to tell what happened on the road, and he was known to them when he broke the bread. While they were yet speaking he stood among them and said, "Peace be to you!" read more. They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. And he said to them. "Why are you disturbed? And why do questions rise in your hearts? "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I! Feel me and see; for a ghost has not flesh and blood as I have."
"Look at my hands and my feet. It is I! Feel me and see; for a ghost has not flesh and blood as I have." Then he showed them his hands and feet.
So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
And he led them out until they were over against Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it happened that while he was blessing them, that he parted from them and was carried into heaven. read more. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
"Destroy this temple," answered Jesus, "and in three days I will raise it up."
"Destroy this temple," answered Jesus, "and in three days I will raise it up."
"Destroy this temple," answered Jesus, "and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews retorted, "This Temple took forty-six years to build, and will you 'raise it in three days'?" read more. But he was speaking about the temple of his body; and when the disciples recalled what he had said, after he had been raised from the dead, they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
"The Father loves me for this, because I am laying down my life that I may take it again. "No man is taking it away from me. I am laying it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father."
Meanwhile, outside, Mary stood sobbing near the tomb. Still sobbing she stooped and looked into the tomb, and gazed at two angels in glistening white sitting, one at the head the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. read more. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She answered, "Because they have taken away my Master, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her. "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing that he was the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have borne him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away, myself." "Mary," said Jesus. She turned to him. "Rabboni!" she cried in Hebrew. That is to say, "Teacher." "Do not cling to me," said Jesus, "for I am not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, "'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Away went Mary Magdalene to the disciples with the tidings, "I have seen the Master!" and that he said these things to her. On the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, although the doors of the room where the disciples gathered had been locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and there he stood among them, saying. "Peace to you!" As he said this he showed them his hands and his side. Then were the disciple glad, when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again. "Peace to you. As my Father has sent me forth, I also now am sending you." When he had said this he breathed upon them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you remit any one's sins, they are remitted; if you retain them they are retained." But Thomas, one of the Twelve, who was called "The Twin." was not with them when Jesus came.
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood there among and said: "Peace to you!" Then to Thomas he said: "Place your finger here, and see my hands; and place your hand here, and thrust it into my side, and become not unbelieving, but believing."
Then to Thomas he said: "Place your finger here, and see my hands; and place your hand here, and thrust it into my side, and become not unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
After this Jesus showed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He showed himself as follows. There were together Simon Peter and Thomas, called "The Twin," and Nathanael, from Cana of Galilee, and the two sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. read more. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They answered him, "And we are going with you." So they went out and got into the boat, and throughout the night they caught nothing. But when day was dawning Jesus stood on the beach. The disciples, however, did not recognize that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, "Lads, you haven't any fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." And he said to them, "Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find." So they cast it, and now they could not haul it in for the multitude of fishes. Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" On hearing that it was the Lord, Simon Peter girt his fisher's coat about him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the water. The rest of the disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore??nly about a hundred yards??ragging in the net full of fish. When they got to the shore they beheld a charcoal fire ready laid, with fish on it, and some bread. "Bring some of the fish you have just caught," Jesus told them. So Simon Peter went and dragged the net to shore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; but for all this number the net was not torn. "Come and have breakfast," said Jesus to them. Not one of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" Knowing that it was the Lord.
"Come and have breakfast," said Jesus to them. Not one of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" Knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus went and took bread and gave it to them, and the fish also.
Jesus went and took bread and gave it to them, and the fish also. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from among the dead. read more. When they were through breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me." he answered. Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me." "Be a shepherd to my sheep," said Jesus. The third time Jesus asked him, "Am I really dear to you?" Peter was grieved because the third time he asked, "Am I really dear to you?" and he answered, "Master, you know all things, you know that you are dear to me." "Feed my sheep," said Jesus. "In solemn truth I tell you that when you were young, you used to put on your own girdle, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands for some one to gird you, and carry you where you do not wish to go." This he said to show by what kind of death Peter was to glorify God. After speaking thus, he said to him, "Follow me." Peter turned around and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following??e who at the supper leaned back upon his breast and said, "Lord, who is to betray you?" On catching sight of him, Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" "If I choose that he remain until I come," said Jesus, "what is that to you? Do you follow me." Accordingly the report spread among the brothers that this disciple should not die; but Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said, "If I choose that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"
After his sufferings he had also shown himself alive to them in many convincing manifestations, revealing himself to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And once when he was eating with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. "Of this," he said, "you have heard from me. read more. "For John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence." So, when they came together, they began to ask him, "Master, are you at this time about to restore the kingdom of Israel?" He answered. "It is not for you to know times and occasions which the Father has fixed in his own authority; "yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth." When he had said this, and while they were looking at him, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him up out of their sight. While they were gazing into the sky as he was going up, suddenly there were two men in white garments standing by them,
but God has raised him to life, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for death to hold him.
but God has raised him to life, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for death to hold him. For David says of him. "I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is at my right hand lest I be shaken. read more. "Therefore my heart is glad, my tongue exults, my very body also shall pitch its tent in hope. "For thou wilt not leave my soul in Hades, Nor give up thy Holy One to see corruption. "Thou hast made known to me the paths of life, Thou wilt fill me with gladness in thy presence.
"The Pioneer of Life you put to death. But God has raised him from the dead, and we are witnesses of that fact.
And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him. He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" read more. And he said, "Who are you Lord?" "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do." Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking.
And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
who was betrayed to death for our transgressions, and raised again to life for our justification.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from dead is dwelling in you, He who raised up Jesus from the dead is dwelling in you, He who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your dying bodily self live by his indwelling Spirit in your lives.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from dead is dwelling in you, He who raised up Jesus from the dead is dwelling in you, He who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your dying bodily self live by his indwelling Spirit in your lives.
and was seen by Cephas, and then by the Twelve. Afterward he was seen at one time by more than five hundred brethren, most of whom are still alive, but some are fallen asleep. read more. Then he was seen by James, then by all the apostles,
and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, and vain also is your faith.
which he exercised in raising Christ from the dead, and in seating him at his right hand in the heavenly heights,
who will change the fashion of the body of our abasement into the likeness of his glorious body by the energy with which he is able even to subject all things to himself.
when you were buried with him in baptism. In baptism also you were raised with him, through your faith in the energy of that God who raised him from the dead.
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of an eternal covenant,
because Christ also once for all suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but make alive in 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
At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came down to see the sepulcher, when lo!
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices in order to go and anoint him.
And it was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was near at hand. Then the women who had accompanied him out of Galilee followed after, and noted the tomb, and how his body was placed. read more. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.
"be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well.