Faith Fundamentals: The Cross and the Resurrection

Introduction

The identity of Jesus Christ is key, but the central event of the Christian faith is His death and resurrection. According to Paul, the resurrection ‘declared [Jesus] to be the Son of God in power’. The cross and the resurrection are the heartbeat of the Gospel, and without them we are ‘still dead in our sins’ and ‘the most pitied of all people’.

Today we’ll look at the signficance and evidence for both the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Cross

The four Gospels all tell us of the very real and historical events of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

They tell us that Jesus was arrested and first taken to the high priest for a ‘trial’.

Then He was sent to Pilate who believed Jesus to be innocent and tried to free him.

At some point Jesus was sent to King Herod who merely ‘played’ with Jesus before sending Him back to Pilate.

Eventually Pilate washed his hands of the whole thing and allowed Jesus to be crucified at the wish of the people.

Jesus was tortured, suffered, and eventually crucified where He died a very real death.

This is important to establish, because many religions and cults even to this day argue that Jesus didn’t really ‘die’.

Jesus was buried, and then on the third day He rose from the dead.

For all of their descriptions of these events, the Gospels are relatively quiet on the theological explanation of these events. This is where the rest of the New Testament comes in.

Paul in particular spent much of his writings explaining the significance of the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension and why it had to happen according to the Scriptures. The other writers of Scripture also chimed in.

As we read the Scriptures we start to see the atonement as a beautiful diamond that has to be seen from different angles to really appreciate it. This is why the writers of the New Testament use so many different terms when describing the atonement (credit: Mark Scott):

Justification (court term)

Propitation (temple term)

Redemption (market term)

Reconciliation (marriage term)

Sanctification (temple term)

Regeneration (cosmic term)

Adoption, Election, Calling (familial term)

Deification (theosis, or the process of becoming godlike)

One thing is crystal clear however: Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:11–12 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Sample passages on to consider about the atonement:

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Hebrews 9:26 “for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

1 John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Colossians 1:20–22 “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”

Romans 3:23–24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

2 Peter 1:3–4 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

Over the past 2000 years, there have been many attempts to ‘summarize’ or view the atonement and all of them have their pros and cons. Here is how I like to explain it:

The devil thought he could ‘corner’ God, by leading humanity into sin. I call this the ‘devil’s dilemma’. By convincing humanity to disobey God, he put God in a situation that on the surface appears He couldn’t get out of.

If God allowed humanity’s rebellion (evil) to go unpunished, He would be unjust, and his righteousness would be in real question.

On the other hand, if God did punish humanity, which He did (‘the wages of sin is death’), His love is also called into question: How can He really love his image-bearers and also allow them to die?

A basic ‘philosophy’ objection to God has been, ‘Why does God allow evil? Either He is not powerful enough to stop it, or if He is but doesn’t, then He is not truly good.’ But I think this is the wrong question being asked.

The question isn’t, ‘How can God be all-powerful and all-loving?’ but rather, ‘How can God be all-good and all-loving?’

God has shown time and time again that He has the power to destroy evil (i.e. the story of Noah’s flood). But he has also made it clear time and time again that He has immense patience for humanity and does not want to see anyone perish but would rather everyone repent and return to Him.

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

The answer to the ‘devil’s dilemma’ is the cross. God became fully human in Jesus Christ to save us. He died the death we deserved, took our sins upon himself, and began the process of redeeming not just us, but all of creation.

I also think of it like this: when humanity sinned, and the judgement of death was handed down, somebody had to take that judgement in order for the rest of us to avoid it.

In the movie National Treasure, the main character (Ben) find a huge treasure - but he had to steal the declaration of independence to do it. When the FBI agent asks Ben what he wants for the treasure, Ben simply says, ‘I’d really like to not go to jail.’ the agent responds, ‘Somebody’s gotta go to jail, Ben.’

It didn’t matter how great the treasure was (or how much ‘good’ we do) a crime was still committed (we’ve still sinned), and so somebody’s ‘gotta go to jail’ (‘the wages of sin is death’ and so somebody had to die).

The Resurrection

The cross only matters if the resurrection happened afterwards. A dead savior is no savior at all. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is arguably the most important tenant of our faith. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then everything else is useless.

So did Jesus rise from the dead? Yes! The Gospels all make this abundantly clear and that there were many witnesses, even ones who weren’t viewed as ‘credible’, like women.

Matthew 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met them [the women] and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”

Mark 16:5–8 “And entering the tomb, they [the women] saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

Luke 24:10–12 “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”

Luke 24:31–34 “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!””

Luke 24:36–42 “As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish,”

John 20:19–20 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

John 20:27–29 “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

Outside of the Gospels, the resurrection is also abundantly clear and why the disciples did what they did:

Acts 2:23–24 “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Acts 2:31–33 “he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”

Acts 3:13–15 “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”

Acts 4:10–12 “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Paul laid out many claims of the resurrection:

Acts 26:8 “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?”

Acts 26:22–23 “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.””

Acts 26:25–26 “But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.”

Romans 1:4 “and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,”

1 Corinthians 15:3–7 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Why I believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

History tells us that all twelve apostles plus Paul suffered gruesome and painful martyrdom for their belief in the risen Messiah.

I can see one or two people being crazy enough to go along with this…but not 12-13 men, not including the countless other witnesses who were even eager to die for this.

This also leads to the ‘miracle’ of the Church as a whole. The birth and rise of Christianity is just almost impossible without divine assistance and blessing. The idea that a crucified Jewish man from the backwoods of the Roman Empire could spawn any sort of following that would exist beyond his death and survive the countless persecution of the government and society only to eventually take over the entire Roman Empire and upend thousands of years of religion in less than 300 years and without the use of force. And it was all based on the belief of his resurrection from the dead - something that is so easy to disprove. To me, none of that could have happend unless it was true.

I also like the argument from St. Athanasius: just look at how much the world, and Christians in particular, have been transformed because of Jesus Christ. Add in the countless miracles that are performed in Christ’s name and an obvious question starts to arise: could a dead man do all that? No. Many great men have lived and died and even if their influence lasts beyond their deaths, they do not do the things Jesus has done.

Conclusion

The facts are plain and the truth is simple: Jesus Christ died on the cross for our salvation, and more than that He has risen from the dead. He is alive and reigning right now. He is the only person from whom we can find salvation. May all creation worship Him, amen!