Easter 2023

John 11:25–27 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Luke 24:45–47 ESV

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

C. Strands of Old Testament Promise and Jesus’ Resurrection

Eternality of Great David’s Greater Son (2 Sam 7:13; 1 Chr 17:11–14) Reign of the Son at God’s Right Hand (Psa 110; Acts 2) Danielic Son of Man (Dan 7; Matt 26)

B. First Century believers were not dupes 1. They understood the stakes if not historically true (1 Cor 15:12-19, 32)

2. They understood that others rejected the evidence (Matt 28:11-15)

3. They knew of those who doubted (Matt 28:17; John 20:24-29)

4. They presented testimony evidence (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-29; Acts 1:3, 22; 10:40-41; 13:30-31; 1 Cor 15:3ff.)

5. They were aware of the opposition they would face in proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 4:2; 5:29-33; 17:18, 32; 23:6-8; 24:20-21; 26:22-23)

(1 Corinthians 15:12-58)

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

VI. Some Theological Implications of Jesus’ Resurrection

A. Christ’s resurrection is proof of his status as Son of God (Rom 1:4; John 10:18), and it assures his lordship over all (Rom. 14:9).

B. Jesus’ resurrection indicates the power of God (Eph 1:20), a power which even avails to believers (cf. 2 Cor 1:9).

C. Jesus’ resurrection provides the basis for his exaltation to the right hand of God as the firstborn from the dead and head over all things (Eph 1:20–23; Col 1:18), and thus it also provides the basis for the ministries Jesus performs in the Father’s presence (e.g., Rom 8:34).

D. By his death, resurrection, and exaltation, Jesus has proven himself the victor (Rev 5:5) over sin and death (1 Cor 15:20–28, 51–57), over the godless powers and authorities (Col. 2:15; 1 Pet 3:21–22), and over Satan (John 12:31–32; Acts 26:18; Heb 2:14–15; 1 John 3:8; Rev 12:10–11).

E. Belief in Jesus’ resurrection is necessary to salvation (Rom 10:9), and hence it is an inherent part of the Gospel (1 Cor 15:3-8; 2 Tim 2:8).

F. Jesus’ resurrection is the basis for the believer being born again (1 Pet 1:3–4), which provides the context for Christian hope.

G. Jesus’ resurrection provides salvation (1 Pet 1:3; 3:21; Eph 2:5–6; Col 2:12–13) and even justification (Rom 4:24-25).

H. Even in this life, believers are in union with the resurrected Christ (Col 2:12), and thus we are released from slavery to sin in order to bear fruit (Rom 6:4-11; 7:4; cf. Col. 3:1ff.). We also (in some mysterious way) are already seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6).

I. The resurrected Jesus will return bodily to the earth in order to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rev. 1:18).

J. Jesus’ resurrection is the basis for the resurrection of believers, and thus it provides our hope of resurrection life (John 11:25-26; Acts 4:2; Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 6:14; 15:20-23; 2 Cor 4:14; 1 Thess 4:14).

j. and the resurrection for non-believers (John 5:28-29). The scope of the resurrection is universal

K. Jesus’ resurrection illustrates what the “spiritual bodies” will be like in the resurrection of believers (1 Cor 15:42-49).

L. The resurrection of Jesus illustrates how our bodies are an inherent part of God’s creational design for us (Gen 1:26–28; Luke 24:39; John 20:24–28). What we do in our bodies matters

Ways of explaining the resurrection without a miracle

He only was passed out - ignores witnesses from Christians and Romans who were trained executioners.

Jesus’ body was stolen or bought by disciples

capital crime to fail at protecting the dead body

their attitude was not one of energy but despair and disbelief.

When they were persecuted, one of them would have cracked

12 out of 12 would not have died for a lie that got them absolutely nothing except for pain and torture

The Disciples hallucinated

people have hallucinations one by one, not 500 at a time

Romans could simply show the body to prove them wrong

Today most people avoid the issues or critique the gospel accounts

What does the Resurrection mean

It proves that Jesus is all that he said he is

Jesus is priest

the penalty for sin was exhausted on him

unlike the bulls and goats he rises afterwards

Proves that Jesus is King

defeats enemies

protected them from the danger of sin and death

provided welfare of eternal life

Matthew Links Crucifixion and Resurrection scenes

shaking: the earth shook and the rocks split when Jesus died. When jesus rises there was a great earthquake - the guards are also quaking (same Greek word) external earthquake and internal earthquake

the women beheld the Crucifixion, the behold the tomb

thematic theme of fear. The guards and the women were afraid. only the women are told not the fear - the guards are right in fearing

joy mixed with fear

Accomplished what the Jewish authorities feared would happen. The disciples forgot that Jesus said he would rise but the authorities remembered. The guards feared that the body would be stolen. They make the tomb as secure as they know how

Why is it necessary that Jesus raised from the dead?

Why is it important that the tomb is empty.

Historocity of the event

The same body was not there, it was walking around and speaking to people. it was living.

The resurrection Body is also different. It is...

imperishable

1 cor 15:42-43.

continuity - seed to plant

discontinuity - plant not seed

glory instead of dishonor

power instead of weakness

glorious

lowly bodies like glorious bodies (Phil 3:21)

like the resurrection body of the Lord Jesus

we experience shame

we deface our bodies with sin

spiritual

not immaterial

spiritual/material - material dominated by the Holy Spirit. transformed by the Spirit to be fitting for the coming age.

immortal