Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead

Explaining Biblical Christianity

3-Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead

3-Pillars

Jesus is God in the Flesh

As we have discussed in the past Mark shows his authority and John declares His deity. Jesus had to be God to be the spotless lamb who would be slain for our sins.

Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus died a real death on the cross. He experienced the same pain and hardships we do in death. Hebrews 9:22 Says that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins to be forgiven. He prayed that though we no not what we do, that the Father would forgive us. Forgiveness has been satisfied by His blood and is offered freely to those who will accept his sacrifice. Jesus declared in John 19:30 “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Sin no longer holds prisoner those who would receive His forgiveness and walk in the newness of life.

Jesus was resurrected from the dead- Tonight we will talk about Jesus resurrection from the dead.

Pray

Introduction

Sir Norman Anderson was a legal scholar, missionary, and evangelical strategist whose work bridged Islamic jurisprudence and Christian apologetics with precision and clarity. He modernized colonial legal codes, taught Islamic law , and he advised governments on integrating Western legal frameworks. As a lay leader in the Church of England, he championed intellectually rigorous faith, writing on the resurrection and cultural engagement. His career reads like a systems designer’s dream—layered, byte-aligned, and annotated for impact across disciplines.

Here is what he says about the resurrection.

“Either the resurrection is infinitely more than a beautiful story, or else it is infinitely less.  If it is true, then it is the supreme fact of history, and to fail to adjust one’s life to its implications means irreparable loss.  If it is not true, if Christ has not risen, then Christianity is all a fraud foisted on the world by consummate liars – or at best, deluded simpletons.” -Sir Norman Anderson

Paul viewed the resurrection this way..

1 Corinthians 15:12–23 “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. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”

How do you view the resurrection?

Prediction – God's Plan

To understand the predictions of the resurrection, we must return to the beginning—Genesis. In six days, God created the heavens and the earth, forming Adam and Eve on the sixth day. Genesis 1:31 declares, “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” The garden was without sin.

In Genesis 2:15–17, God places Adam in Eden:

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”

But soon, the serpent—craftier than any beast—enters the garden. We know him as the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44). He tempts Eve to doubt God and eat from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:1–5). Genesis 3:6 records the moment:

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food… she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

Humanity fell from innocence to corruption. Sin entered the world, and everything changed. Genesis 3:7 says:

“The eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”

As was His custom, the Lord walked in the garden in the cool of the day. But Adam and Eve hid. Sin separates; guilt makes us cover up. Yet God calls out: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). Their sin was not outside His knowledge—nor is ours.

Adam responds in Genesis 3:10–13, confessing fear and blame. God addresses each party: the serpent, the woman, and the man. In Genesis 3:14–20, we see the consequences—but also a glimmer of hope.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

This is the protoevangelium—the first gospel. A child, the offspring of Eve, will come and crush the serpent’s head. The serpent, the devil, will strike his heel. This foreshadows Jesus, the Truth (John 14:6), who defeats lies with truth.

Satan wanted death, as God had warned: “In the day you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). For God to remain just, the penalty had to be paid. Satan challenged God: would He destroy His creation?

But God, rich in mercy, did something unexpected. He passed the immediate consequence onto an animal, covering Adam and Eve with its skin—atonement. He then removed them from the garden, preventing eternal death through the tree of life. Adam would live in a fallen world, separated from God, bearing the weight of sin.

Satan wanted swift judgment. But Exodus 34:6 reminds us:

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

God bruised Satan’s head—but what about the resurrection?

Genesis 3:15 continues: “You shall bruise his heel.” Consider the crucifixion: three nails, one body, hung on a tree. One nail pierced Jesus’ foot—His heel bruised. The agony was unimaginable. Yet even in Adam’s failure, God was preparing a way back through the blood of His Son. Grace—unmerited favor—was already at work.

If we trust Him and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, we are brought back into fellowship with Him.

Other Old Testament Foreshadowings of the Resurrection

– “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol…”Psalm 16:10

– “He shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days…”Isaiah 53:10–11

– “After two days he will revive us…”Hosea 6:2

– Abraham’s faith and Isaac’s near-sacrifice Genesis 22

– Three days in the belly of the fish Jonah 1:17

– “I know that my Redeemer lives…”Job 19:25–27

– “Many… shall awake, some to everlasting life…”Daniel 12:2

– A vivid picture of crucifixion Psalm 22

– “They will look on me, on him whom they have pierced…”Zechariah 12:10

Let’s now turn to the resurrection event itself.

Resurrection Event (Mark 16:1-8)

Mark 16:1–8 “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.’

Jewish custom said that dead bodies had to be delt with in a certain way. The Marys and Salome went to anoint him(Jesus)

“And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”

This was a valid question. The stone likely weighed in excess of 2000 pound and these were ladies who were going to the tomb.

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

This was an angel standing in dazzling apparel. They were bright in appearance, light like lighting. Luke 24:2)

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.”

I imagine they were afraid. They were perplexed and astonished. Where did Jesus dead body go? He is not here! He has been raised from the dead!

Evidence (John 20-21)

John 20 opens with Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb. Peter and John race to verify it, but it’s Mary who first encounters the risen Jesus—He calls her by name, and recognition dawns. That moment is a masterclass in personal revelation. Jesus then appears to the disciples, breathes the Holy Spirit on them, and commissions them. Thomas, absent at first, demands tactile proof. A week later, Jesus meets him where he is—doubt and all—and Thomas responds with the highest confession in the Gospel: “My Lord and my God.” The chapter ends with John’s purpose statement: these signs are written so that readers may believe and have life in His name.

John 21 is a postscript of restoration and calling. The disciples return to fishing—perhaps adrift in purpose—but Jesus meets them on the shore with breakfast and a miracle catch. He gently restores Peter, asking three times, “Do you love me?”—a redemptive echo of Peter’s three denials. Jesus then commissions him: “Feed my sheep.” The chapter closes with a nod to John’s eyewitness role and a reminder that not every act of Jesus could be contained in books.

Significance

Romans 1:1–4 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 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,”

Significance here is Jesus was raised from the dead to show he is our Lord. Lord here means kurios in Greek, the same word used in the Septuagint for Yahweh. Post-resurrection, this title isn’t just honorific—it’s ontological. It declares Jesus as sovereign over all creation, the one to whom allegiance, worship, and obedience are due.

Romans 4:25 “who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

Paul shows us that Jesus is turned over for our trespasses. Trespasses means to cross the line. The tutor of the moral law, the ten commandments tell us what is right and just. We have all disobeyed them. If you have ever lied, stolen or looked at someone with lust then you have disobeyed the moral law which says you shall not lie, steal or commit adultery. These aren’t just things we do. They offend a Holy God who created us to live in a manor to bring Him glory and doing these things does exactly the opposite and it angers God. But Jesus was turned over to redeem us who are fallen in sin. It doesn’t end there look with me at the end of the verse where Paul says Jesus was raised for our justification. Being raised is resurrection language. Just as Jesus was raised so are we. For our Justification which simply means to be made just as we never sinned. Jesus takes our unrighteousness and gives us his righteousness, just like we never sinned.

Romans 6:4–14, 23 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Christ’s resurrection is not only a historical reality but the foundation of our new life. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, believers are raised to walk in newness of life—freed from the power of sin and death. United with Him in His death, we are also united with Him in His resurrection, no longer slaves to sin but alive to God. The resurrection empowers us to live righteously, and it guarantees the ultimate gift: eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Acts 10:39–43 “And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.””

This passage presents eyewitness testimony as compelling evidence of the resurrection. Peter declares that Jesus was crucified, but God raised Him on the third day and allowed Him to appear to chosen witnesses—those who personally ate and drank with Him after His resurrection. These witnesses were commissioned to preach and testify that Jesus is appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. The prophets affirm this truth: everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

Implication For Our Lives

1. All people will be raised

(Acts 10:42, 14:14-15; John 5:28-29)

John 5:28–29 “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

A day is coming when all people—both the righteous and the wicked—will be raised from the dead by the voice of Jesus. This resurrection will not be the same for everyone: those who have done good will rise to eternal life, while those who have done evil will rise to face judgment. It is a sobering reminder that resurrection is universal, but its outcome depends on our response to God in this life.

2.   All people will be judged by Jesus

(Mark 8:38, 16:19; Acts 10:42; Rom 2:6)

Acts 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.”

Romans 2:6 “He will render to each one according to his works:”

God has appointed Jesus as the Judge of both the living and the dead, and He will render to each person according to their deeds. This judgment is universal and personal—no one is exempt, and each life will be measured by its response to God and its moral choices.

3. All people will be divided into two groups

(Mark 8:38, 16:16; Acts 10:43; Matt 13:47-50)

Matthew 13:47–50 ““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

At the end of the age, all people will be gathered and divided like fish in a net—some kept, others discarded. The angels will separate the righteous from the wicked, and those found evil will face judgment. This parable emphasizes that everyone will be sorted into one of two eternal outcomes, underscoring the urgency of living in alignment with God’s kingdom.

4. The division is forever

(Mark 10; Heb 9:27; Matt 25:31-42)

Matthew 25:31–42 ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,”

He will separate all people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats—placing the righteous on His right and the unrighteous on His left. This division is final and eternal: the righteous inherit the kingdom prepared for them, while the unrighteous are sent into everlasting punishment. The passage underscores that this judgment is based on how people responded to the needs of others, revealing their true relationship to Christ.

Conclusion

Rom 6:6-9 - “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  For we know that since Christ was raised form the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”

As we reflect on the certainty of resurrection, the reality of judgment, and the eternal weight of our choices, we are faced with a decision that cannot be postponed. Jesus Christ, appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead, also stands as our Savior—offering forgiveness, new life, and eternal hope to all who believe in Him.

If you have not yet placed your trust in Jesus, today is the day of salvation. He calls you not to fear judgment, but to receive grace. He invites you not to be cast away, but to be welcomed into His kingdom. Will you respond to His voice?

Come to Him in faith. Confess your need. Believe in His death and resurrection. Receive the gift of eternal life. And for those who already walk with Him—let us live with urgency, compassion, and unwavering hope, pointing others to the One who holds eternity in His hands.

Three Pillars of the Gospel:

1. Jesus is the Son of God. 

2. The Crucifixion.

3. The Resurrection

Because Jesus is the Son of God, His death was sufficient—and because He rose again, His promise is trustworthy. The question is: how will you respond to that authority?