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 give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise."
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary had gone to look at the grave, When suddenly a great earthquake occurred. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and seated himself upon it. read more. His appearance was as dazzling as lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow; And, in their terror of him, the men on guard trembled violently and became like dead men. But the angel, addressing the women, said; "You need not be afraid. I now that it is Jesus, who was crucified, for whom you are looking. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said he would. Come, and see the place where he was lying; And then go quickly and say to him disciples 'He has risen from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Remember, I have told you." On this they left the tomb quickly, in awe and great joy, and ran to tell the news to the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Welcome!" he said. The women went up to him, and clasped his feet, bowing to the ground before him. Then Jesus said to them:
Suddenly Jesus met them. "Welcome!" he said. The women went up to him, and clasped his feet, bowing to the ground before him. Then Jesus said to them: "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee, and they shall see me there."
So they and the Councillors met and, after holding a consultation, gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, And told them to say that his disciples came in the night, and stole him while they were asleep; read more. "And should this matter come before the Governor," they added, "we will satisfy him, and see that you have nothing to fear."
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to meet him; And, when they saw him, they bowed to the ground before him; although some felt doubtful. read more. Then Jesus came up, and spoke to them thus: "All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the Faith of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, And teaching them to lay to heart all the commands that I have given you; and, remember, I myself am with you every day until the close of the age."
As they were going down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to any one, till after the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead.
Joseph, having bought a linen sheet, took Jesus down, and wound the sheet round him, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock; and then rolled a stone up against the entrance of the tomb.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some spices, so that they might go and anoint the body of Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, after sunrise. read more. They were saying to one another: "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" But, on looking up, they saw that the stone had already been rolled back; it was a very large one. Going into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on their right, in a white robe, and they were dismayed; But he said to them: "Do not be dismayed; you are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified; he has risen, he is not here! Look! Here is the place where they laid him. But go, and say to his disciples and to Peter 'He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.'" They went out, and fled from the tomb, for they were trembling and bewildered; and they did not say a word to any one, for they were frightened; After his rising again, early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first of all to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and told the news to those who had been with him and who were now in sorrow and tears; Yet even they, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe it. Afterwards, altered in appearance, he made himself known to two of them, as they were walking, on their way into the country. They also went and told the rest, but they did not believe even them. Later on, he made himself known to the Eleven themselves as they were at a meal, and reproached them with their want of faith and their stubbornness, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead. Then he said to them: "Go into all the world, and proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who refuses to believe will be condemned. Moreover these signs shall attend those who believe. In my Name they shall drive out demons; they shall speak with 'tongues'; They shall take up serpents in their hands; and, if they drink any poison, it shall not hurt them; they will place their hands on sick people and they shall recover." So the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God.
They will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again."
But very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, taking with them the spices that they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb; read more. And, on going into it, they could not find the body [of the Lord Jesus]. While they were at a loss to account for this, all at once two men stood beside them, in dazzling clothing. But, when in their fear the women bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them: "Why are you looking among the dead for him who is living? [He is not here; but he has risen.] Remember how he spoke to you before he left Galilee-- How he said that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of wicked men, and be crucified, and rise again on the third day." Then they remembered the words of Jesus, And, on returning from the tomb, they told all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. There were Mary of Magdala, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James. The other women, too, spoke about this to the Apostles. What they said seemed to the Apostles mere nonsense, and they did not believe them.
It happened that very day that two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem, Talking together, as they went, about all that had just taken place. read more. While they were talking about these things and discussing them, Jesus himself came up and went on their way with them; But their eyes were blinded so that they could not recognize him. "What is this that you are saying to each other as you walk along?" Jesus asked. They stopped, with sad looks on their faces, And then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Jesus: "Are you staying by yourself at Jerusalem, that you have not heard of the things that have happened there within the last few days?" "What things do you mean?" asked Jesus. "Why, about Jesus of Nazareth," they answered, "who, in the eyes of God and all the people, was a Prophet, whose power was felt in both his words and actions; And how the Chief Priests and our leading men gave him up to be sentenced to death, and afterwards crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the Destined Deliverer of Israel; yes, and besides all this, it is now three days since these things occurred. And what is more, some of the women among us have greatly astonished us. They went to the tomb at daybreak And, not finding the body of Jesus there, came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he was alive. So some of our number went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said; but they did not see Jesus." Then Jesus said to them: "O foolish men, slow to accept all that the Prophets have said! Was not the Christ bound to undergo this suffering before entering upon his Glory?" Then, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them all through the Scriptures the passages that referred to himself. When they got near the village to which they were walking, Jesus appeared to be going further; But they pressed him not to do so. "Stay with us," they said, "for it is getting towards evening, and the sun in already low." So Jesus went in to stay with them. After he had taken his place at table with them, he took the bread and said the blessing, and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him; but he disappeared from their sight. "How our hearts glowed," the disciples said to each other, "while he was talking to us on the road, and when he explained the Scriptures to us!" Then they immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and their companions all together,
Then they immediately got up and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and their companions all together, Who told them that the Master had really risen, and had appeared to Simon.
Who told them that the Master had really risen, and had appeared to Simon.
Who told them that the Master had really risen, and had appeared to Simon. So they also related what had happened during their walk, and how they had recognized Jesus at the Breaking of the Bread.
So they also related what had happened during their walk, and how they had recognized Jesus at the Breaking of the Bread. While they were still talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, [and said "Peace be with you."] read more. In their terror and alarm they thought they saw a spirit, But Jesus said to them: "Why are you so startled? and why do doubts arise in you minds? Look at my hands and my feet, and you will know that it is I. Feel me, and look at me, for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see that I have."
Look at my hands and my feet, and you will know that it is I. Feel me, and look at me, for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see that I have." [After saying this he showed them his hands and his feet.]
They handed him a piece of broiled fish, And he took it and ate it before their eyes.
After this, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and there raised his hands and blessed them. As he was in the act of blessing them, he left them [and was carried up into Heaven.] read more. They [bowed to the ground before him and] returned to Jerusalem full of joy;
"Destroy this temple," was his answer, "and I will raise it in three days."
"Destroy this temple," was his answer, "and I will raise it in three days."
"Destroy this temple," was his answer, "and I will raise it in three days." "This Temple," replied the Jews, "has been forty-six years in building, and are you going to 'raise it in three days'?" read more. But Jesus was speaking of his body as a temple. Afterwards, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the passage of Scripture, and the words which Jesus had spoken.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life- -to receive it again. No one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father."
Meanwhile Mary was standing close outside the tomb, weeping. Still weeping, she leant forward into the tomb, And perceived two angels clothed in white sitting there, where the body of Jesus had been lying, one where the head and the other where the feet had been. read more. "Why are you weeping?" asked the angels. "They have taken my Master away," she answered, "and I do not know where they have laid him." After saying this, she turned round, and looked at Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. "Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" he asked. Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary answered: "If it was you, Sir, who carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away myself." "Mary!" said Jesus. She turned round, and exclaimed in Hebrew: "Rabboni!" (or, as we should say, 'Teacher'). "Do not hold me," Jesus said; "for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my Brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God." Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Master, and that he had said this to her. In the evening of the same day--the first day of the week-- after the doors of the room, in which the disciples were, had been shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said: "Peace be with you"; After which he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Master. Again Jesus said to them: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me as his Messenger, so I am sending you." After saying this, he breathed on them, and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit; If you remit any one's sins, they have been remitted; and, if you retain them, they have been retained." But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called 'The Twin,' was not with them when Jesus came;
A week later the disciples were again in the house, and Thomas with them. After the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas: "Place your finger here, and look at my hands; and place your hand here, and put it into my side; and do not refuse to believe, but believe."
Then he said to Thomas: "Place your finger here, and look at my hands; and place your hand here, and put it into my side; and do not refuse to believe, but believe." And Thomas exclaimed: "My Master, and my God!"
Later on, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. It was in this way:--Simon Peter, Thomas, who was called 'The Twin,' Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebediah's sons, and two other disciples of Jesus, were together, when Simon Peter said: read more. "I am going fishing." "We will come with you," said the others. They went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. Just as day was breaking, Jesus came and stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was he. "My children," he said, "have you anything to eat?" "No," they answered. "Cast your net to the right of the boat," he said, "and you will find fish." So they cast the net, and now they could not haul it in on account of the quantity of fish. Upon this the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: "It is the Master!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he fastened his coat round him (for he had taken it off), and threw himself into the Sea. But the rest of the disciples came in the boat (for they were only about a hundred yards from shore), dragging the net full of fish. When they had come ashore, they found a charcoal fire ready, with some fish already on it, and some bread as well. "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught," said Jesus. So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net ashore full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and yet, although there were so many, the net had not been torn. And Jesus said to them: "Come and breakfast." Not one of the disciples ventured to ask him who he was, knowing that it was the Master.
And Jesus said to them: "Come and breakfast." Not one of the disciples ventured to ask him who he was, knowing that it was the Master. Jesus went and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too.
Jesus went and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from the dead. read more. When breakfast was over, Jesus said to Simon Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others?" "Yes, Master," he answered, "you know that I am your friend." "Feed my lambs," said Jesus. Then, a second time, Jesus asked: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master," he answered, "you know that I am your friend." "Tend my sheep," said Jesus. The third time, Jesus said to him: "Simon, son of John, are you my friend?" Peter was hurt at his third question being 'Are you my friend?'; and exclaimed: "Master, you know everything! You can tell that I am your friend." "Feed my sheep," said Jesus. "In truth I tell you," he continued, "when you were young, you used to put on your own girdle, and walk wherever you wished; but, when you have grown old, you will have to stretch out your hands, while some one else puts on your girdle, and takes you where you do not wish." Jesus said this to show the death by which Peter was to honor God, and then he added: "Follow me." Peter turned round, and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following--the one who at the supper leant back on the Master's shoulder, and asked him who it was that would betray him. Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: "Master, what about this man?" "If it is my will that he should wait till I come," answered Jesus, "what has that to do with you? Follow me yourself." So the report spread among the Brethren that that disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said "If it is my will that he should wait till I come, what has that to do with you?"
With abundant proofs, he showed himself to them, still living, after his death; appearing to them from time to time during forty days, and speaking of all that related to the Kingdom of God. And once, when he had gathered them together, he charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the fulfillment of the Father's promise-- "that promise," he said, "of which you have heard me speak; read more. For, while John baptized with water, you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit before many days have passed." So, when the Apostles had met together, they asked Jesus this question--"Master, is this the time when you intend to re-establish the Kingdom for Israel?" His answer was: "It is not for you to know times or hours, for the Father has reserved these for his own decision; But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit shall have descended upon you, and shall be witnesses for me not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." No sooner had Jesus said this than he was caught up before their eyes, and a cloud received him from their sight. While they were still gazing up into the heavens, as he went, suddenly two men, clothed in white, stood beside them,
But God released him from the pangs of death and raised him to life, it being impossible for death to retain its hold upon him.
But God released him from the pangs of death and raised him to life, it being impossible for death to retain its hold upon him. Indeed it was to him that David was referring when he said-- 'I have had the Lord ever before my eyes, For he stands at my right hand, that I should not be disquieted. read more. Therefore my heart was cheered, and my tongue told its delight; Yes, even my body, too, will rest in hope; For you wilt not abandon my soul to the Place of Death, nor surrender me, your holy one, to undergo corruption. Thou have shown me the path to life, you wilt fill me with gladness in your presence.'
The very Guide to Life you put to death! But God raised him from the dead--and of that we are ourselves witnesses.
While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him-- "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" read more. "Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," the voice answered; "Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one. When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus; And for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands on Saul, said: "Saul, my Brother, I have been sent by the Lord--by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here--so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
For Jesus 'was given up to death to atone for our offences,' and was raised to life that we might be pronounced righteous.
And, if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives within you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give Life even to your mortal bodies, through his Spirit living within you.
And, if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives within you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give Life even to your mortal bodies, through his Spirit living within you.
And that he appeared to Kephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of our Brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have gone to their rest. read more. After that, he appeared to James, and then to all the Apostles.
And, if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without meaning, and our faith without meaning also!
The same mighty power was exerted upon the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and 'caused him to sit at his right hand' on high, exalting him above all Angels and Archangels of every rank,
Who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.
For in baptism you were buried with Christ; and in baptism you were also raised to Life with him, through your faith in the omnipotence of God, who raised him from the dead.
May God, the source of all peace, who brought back from the dead him who, 'by virtue of the blood that rendered valid the unchangeable Covenant, is the Great Shepherd of God's Sheep,' Jesus, our Lord--
For Christ himself died to atone for sins once for all--the good on behalf of the bad--that he might bring you to God; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering upon new Life.
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
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary had gone to look at the grave,
When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some spices, so that they might go and anoint the body of Jesus.
It was the Preparation Day, and just before the Sabbath began. The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how the body of Jesus was laid, read more. And then went home, and prepared spices and perfumes. During the Sabbath they rested, as directed by the commandment
Let me tell you all and all the people of Israel, that it is by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead--it is, I say, by his Name that this man stands here before you lame no longer.