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 will deliver him up to the gentiles to mock, and scourge, and crucify; and on the third day he will rise again.
And the sabbath being over, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to view the sepulchre. And, lo! there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. read more. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers shook, and became as dead men. And the angel answering said to the women, Fear ye not; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for he hath risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he hath risen from the dead, and, lo! he is going before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him. Lo! I have told you. And they went away quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And lo! Jesus met them, saying, All hail! And they went up, and laid hold of his feet, and knelt down before him.
And lo! Jesus met them, saying, All hail! And they went up, and laid hold of his feet, and knelt down before him. Then Jesus saith to them, Be not afraid; go, tell my brethren to depart into Galilee, and there they shall see me.
And having assembled with the elders, and taken counsel together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, Say, His disciples came by night, and stole him away, while we slept. read more. And should the governor hear of this, we will persuade him, and make you secure.
And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, into the mountain, where Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him, they knelt down before him; but some doubted. read more. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All power was given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make all nations my disciples, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you. And, lo! I am with you always, unto the end of the world.
And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them to give no account of what they had seen to any one, till the Son of man should have risen from the dead.
And having bought fine linen, he took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a tomb which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone to the door of the tomb.
And when the sabbath was past, Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun. read more. And they said to one another, Who will roll away for us the stone from the door of the tomb? And looking up they see that the stone had been rolled back; for it was very large. And they entered the tomb, and saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. But he saith to them, Be not affrighted; ye seek Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified; he hath risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, that he is going before you into Galilee; there ye will see him, as he said to you. And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to any one; for they were terrified. {The remaining twelve verses, according to Tischendorf and others, made originally no part of Marks Gospel. As the passage was added very early, however, since it is referred to by Irenaeus in the latter part of the second century, it is here given, as an appendix.} [And having risen early, on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary the Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. She went and reported it to those who had been with him, who were mourning and weeping. And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, did not believe. After this, he manifested himself in another form to two of them as they walked, going into the country. And they went and reported it to the rest; and even them they did not believe. Afterward he manifested himself to the eleven themselves, as they were reclining at table, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the glad tidings to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized will be saved; but he that doth not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany believers: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then, the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of God;
and they will scourge him, and put him to death; and the third day he will rise again.
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb; read more. and on entering they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed about this, lo! two men stood by them in glittering apparel; and when they were terrified, and bowed their faces to the earth, the men said to them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but hath risen. Remember how be spoke to you while yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and rise again on the third day. And they remembered his words. And returning from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary the Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; and the other women with them told these things to the apostles. And these words seemed to them as an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
And lo! two of them were going the same day to a village called Emmaus, distant a hundred and sixty furlongs from Jerusalem. And they were conversing together about all those things which had taken place. read more. And it came to pass, while they were conversing and reasoning, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were restrained from knowing him. And he said to them, What discourse is this which ye have one with another, as ye are walking? And they stood sad. And one, whose name was Cleopas, answering said to him, Art thou the only sojourner in Jerusalem that doth not know the things which have come to pass there in these days? And he said to them, What things? And they said to him, The things relating to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we are hoping that it is he who is to redeem Israel; moreover, besides all this, it is the third day since these things were done. And furthermore certain women of our company have amazed us; for going early to the tomb, they did not find his body, and came, saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it to be as the women had said; but him they saw not. And he said to them, O dull of apprehension, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things, and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew near to the village whither they were going; and he made as though he would go further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to stay with them. And it came to pass, as he was at table with them, that he took the bread, and blessed it, and broke and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us on the way, while he opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, The Lord hath risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
saying, The Lord hath risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
saying, The Lord hath risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what had happened on the way, and how he became known to them in the breaking of the bread.
And they told what had happened on the way, and how he became known to them in the breaking of the bread. And while they were thus speaking, he himself stood in the midst of them. read more. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. And he said to them, Why are ye troubled? and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (...)
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish. And he took and ate it before them.
And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he parted from them. read more. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Fortysix years was this temple in building; and wilt thou raise it up in three days? read more. But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken.
On this account the Father loveth me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again; this charge I received from my Father.
But Mary was standing without by the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down into the tomb, and beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. read more. And they say to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? She saith to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Having said this, she turned back, and beheld Jesus standing; and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? whom dost thou seek? She, supposing that it was the gardener, saith to him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith to her, Mary! She turned and saith to him in Hebrew, Rabboni! Which signifieth, Teacher! Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. Mary the Magdalene cometh, bringing word to the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. When therefore it was evening on that day, which was the first day of the week, and the doors where the disciples were had been shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be to you! And having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. Then he said to them again, Peace be to you! As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. And having said this, he breathed on them, and saith to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whosever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; whosever ye retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
And after eight days the disciples were again within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you! Then he saith to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach forth thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
Then he saith to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach forth thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God!
After these things he manifested himself again to the disciples at the lake of Tiberias. And he manifested himself in this manner. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. read more. Simon Peter saith to them, I am going a fishing. They say to him, We also will go with thee. They set out and went into the boat, and on that night caught nothing. But when the morning was coming on, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith to them, Children, have ye any fish? They answered him, No. And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye will find. And they cast it, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of the fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith to Peter, It is the Lord. Simon Peter therefore, hearing that it was the Lord, girded on his outer garment, for he had on nothing but his under one, and threw himself into the lake. And the other disciples came in the boat, (for they were not far from land, only about two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with the fishes. When therefore they had come to land, they see a fire of coals there, and a fish lying thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter therefore went on board, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty three; and though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them, Come and breakfast. But no one of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus saith to them, Come and breakfast. But no one of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus cometh and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise.
Jesus cometh and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus manifested himself to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead. read more. So when they had breakfasted, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Tend my sheep. He saith to him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said to him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my sheep. Truly, truly do I say to thee, when thou wast young, thou didst gird thyself, and walk whither thou wouldst; but when thou hast grown old, thou wilt stretch forth thy hands, and another will gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This he said, signifying by what manner of death he was to glorify God. And having thus spoken, he saith to him, Follow me. Peter, turning round, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following,who also at supper leaned back on his breast, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and how will it be with him? Jesus saith to him, If it be my will that he remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me. This report therefore went abroad among the brethren, that this disciple was not to die. And yet Jesus did not say to him, He will not die; but, If it be my will that he remain till I come, what is it to thee?
to whom also he showed himself living, after he had suffered, by many sure proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And while in assembly with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for what had been promised by the Father, which [said he] ye heard from me; read more. for John indeed baptized with water, but ye will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence. They therefore, having come together, asked him, saying, Lord, art thou at this time about to restore the kingdom to Israel? But he said to them, It belongeth not to you to know times or seasons, which the Father appointed by his own authority. But ye will receive power when the Holy Spirit hath come upon you; and ye will be my witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth. And having thus spoken, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were looking earnestly into heaven as he went up, lo! two men stood by them in white apparel,
But God raised him up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
But God raised him up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. For David saith concerning him, "I saw the Lord always before me; because he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. read more. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue exulted; moreover also, my flesh shall dwell in hope; because thou wilt not abandon my soul to the underworld, nor wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Thou didst make known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of joy with thy countenance."
But the author of life ye killed; whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone around a him a light from heaven; and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? read more. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he answered, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the earth; but when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
And Ananias went away, and entered the house; and putting his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus who appeared to thee in the way thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayst receive sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
who was delivered up on account of our trespasses, and raised from the dead that we might be accepted as righteous.
But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he who raised up Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he who raised up Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. read more. After that, he appeared to James; then to all the apostles.
and if Christ hath not risen, then is our preaching vain, and vain also is your faith.
which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead; and seated him at his own right hand in the heavenly regions,
who will transform the body of our humiliation so that it shall be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working of the power with which he is able to subdue all things to himself.
having been buried with him in your baptism; in which also ye were raised to life with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead;
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of an everlasting covenant, even our Lord Jesus,
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous one for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but 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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And the sabbath being over, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to view the sepulchre.
And when the sabbath was past, Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
And it was the day of preparation, and the sabbath was now coming on. And the women also, who had come with him from Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid. read more. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and on the sabbath they rested, according to the commandment.
be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,by him doth this man stand here before you sound.