The Easter season is a time of celebration and reflection on Christ’s resurrection. As we approach the 33rd day of the Easter reading plan, let’s explore what the Bible teaches us about this joyous occasion.
The Resurrection of Jesus
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central truth on which the Christian faith rests. All four Gospels give accounts of Jesus rising from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18). This miraculous event fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and demonstrated Christ’s power over death.
On the third day after Jesus’ death, Mary Magdalene and other women disciples went to his tomb to anoint his body with spices. When they arrived, they found the stone covering the entrance had been rolled away. An angel appeared and proclaimed that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women hurried to tell the disciples the good news. That same day Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and later to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Over the next forty days, Jesus showed himself alive to the apostles and many others, providing convincing proof of his resurrection (Acts 1:3).
Jesus’ bodily resurrection shows that he truly is the Son of God. His victory over death demonstrated his divinity and fulfilled his own predictions that he would rise again: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21).
The Significance of the Resurrection
Why does Christ’s resurrection matter? What meaning does it have for our lives today? Here are some key reasons the resurrection is vitally important:
- It validates Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Our forgiveness rests on the historical fact of the resurrection.
- It confirms Christ’s deity and power over death. Romans 1:4 says Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.”
- It gives us hope for resurrection and eternal life. 1 Peter 1:3 says God has given us “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
- It assures that Christ is building his church. Ephesians 1:19b-20 says God demonstrated his mighty power “in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.”
- It motivates us to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 says, “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.”
In short, the resurrection means that Christ has conquered sin and death and reigns victorious. It gives us confidence that God’s kingdom will prevail and fills us with hope for eternal life.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Resurrected Christ
The resurrection narratives provide compelling eyewitness testimony that Jesus appeared to many people after rising from the grave. Here are some highlights:
- Mary Magdalene – Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, who then told the disciples the news (John 20:11-18).
- Other women – As the women were leaving Christ’s tomb, he met them and said, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me” (Matthew 28:10).
- Two disciples on the Emmaus road – Jesus walked and talked with two followers on the road to Emmaus. When he broke bread with them, they finally recognized him (Luke 24:13-35).
- Peter – Peter saw the risen Christ before any of the other apostles, though we don’t know the details of the appearance (Luke 24:34).
- The eleven disciples – Jesus appeared to his disciples and others and provided convincing proofs he had risen (Luke 24:36-43).
- Seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee – While fishing, the disciples saw Jesus cooking fish on the shore. Peter then spoke with Christ (John 21:1-14).
- Eleven disciples on the mountain – Shortly before ascending to heaven, Jesus met his followers on a mountain and commissioned them to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:16-20).
- More than 500 brethren – Paul notes that the risen Christ was seen by over 500 people at one time, many of whom were still alive at the time (1 Corinthians 15:6).
- James – Jesus’ brother who initially doubted him saw the risen Lord and later became a leader of the Jerusalem church (1 Corinthians 15:7).
- Saul – The resurrected Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus and converted him from persecutor to apostle (Acts 9:1-6).
The variety of eyewitnesses powerfully substantiates the truth of Christ’s bodily resurrection. The early church exploded in growth and boldness because the disciples were emboldened by their personal encounters with their resurrected Lord.
Old Testament Prophecies of the Resurrection
The resurrection of the Messiah was foretold centuries before Christ in several Old Testament prophecies:
- Psalm 16:10 – “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” Peter cited this verse in Acts 2:27 as evidence that Christ’s resurrection was part of God’s plan.
- Psalm 118:22 – “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Jesus applied this verse to himself as the rejected stone who became the cornerstone through his resurrection (Luke 20:17).
- Isaiah 53:11 – “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.” This prophecy of the suffering servant includes the prediction that he will see the light of life after his death.
- Hosea 6:2 – “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” Some see this as foretelling Jesus rising on the third day after his death.
These messianic prophecies prepared God’s people to expect a resurrected savior. Jesus’ empty tomb fulfilled these predictions hundreds of years later, providing further evidence that he is the long-awaited Messiah.
The Transforming Power of the Resurrection
Jesus’ resurrection turned his fearful and despairing disciples into bold proclaimers of the gospel. Just as Christ was raised to new life, so Christians experience resurrection power to walk in holiness and bear spiritual fruit.
In Romans 6:4, Paul writes that just as Christ was raised from the dead, “we too might walk in newness of life.” Through our union with Christ, we can overcome sin and reflect the transformed life of Jesus. Though we will die physically just like Christ, in the resurrection we will receive glorious, imperishable bodies (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
The resurrection empowers believers to courageously spread the gospel message in the face of opposition. Despite persecution, hardship, and even martyrdom, the church flourished because early Christians clung to the assurance that Christ had conquered death once for all. They had seen the risen Lord – and that fact changed everything.
The Hope of Our Resurrection
Christ’s own resurrection guarantees that believers will also be raised from death to eternal life. Paul describes Jesus as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Just as Jesus was the first to rise from the dead in an imperishable body, so those who trust in Christ will follow in His footsteps: “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
This hope of resurrection sustains Christians in the face of death. While our earthly bodies decay after death, we can confidently await the day when Christ “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:21). As Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).
The resurrection assures us that the best is yet to come. While our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving an eternal glory that outweighs them all (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Suffering saints through the centuries have clung to the promise that they will share in Christ’s resurrection.
The Necessity of the Physical Resurrection
Some skeptics have proposed that Jesus’ resurrection was not a real physical event. Perhaps the disciples only saw spiritual visions of Jesus. But the New Testament emphatically affirms that Christ rose bodily from the grave. Here are several reasons a spiritual resurrection would be insufficient:
- A non-physical resurrection could not be called a “resurrection,” which implies a return to bodily life. Jesus did not simply return as a spirit but specifically showed the disciples his hands and side (John 20:20, 27) to prove his physical body had been raised.
- Jesus ate food on several occasions after his resurrection, showing his resurrected body had genuine flesh. For instance, Jesus ate boiled fish before the disciples (Luke 24:42-43). Spirits cannot eat physical food.
- The empty tomb is strong evidence that Christ’s physical body came back to life. If Jesus had simply been raised spiritually, there would have been no need for the tomb to be empty.
- A non-physical resurrection would not constitute victory over death. Corinthians 15:54-55 proclaims, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory?” That victory is possible because of Christ’s physical triumph over bodily death.
In short, the biblical accounts overwhelmingly support a literal, physical resurrection as the only explanation for the historical evidence. This is essential for Christ to be the firstfruits of future resurrection for believers (1 Corinthians 15:12-23). A merely spiritual resurrection could offer no such hope.
The Impact of the Resurrection on the Disciples
The bodily resurrection profoundly impacted the lives of Jesus’ closest followers. From despairing outcasts to bold evangelists, these changes reveal the disciples’ genuine belief that they had seen the risen Christ:
- Their grief turned to joy. Jesus’ death devastated the disciples, yet encountering the risen Jesus turned their sorrow into rejoicing (John 20:20).
- Their fear turned to courage. The disciples were terrified after the crucifixion but became daring public evangelists after seeing Jesus alive again (Acts 4:13).
- Their doubt turned to faith. Though some disciples were skeptical at first, seeing Jesus in the flesh dispelled their disbelief (John 20:24-28).
- Their despair turned to hope. Expecting Jesus’ story to end at the cross, they gained new optimism for God’s kingdom after the resurrection (Luke 24:21).
- Their confusion turned to clarity. Though puzzled earlier, the disciples gained new insight into the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah after Jesus opened their minds (Luke 24:45).
These radical personal transformations point to sincere convictions that God had raised Jesus from the dead just as he promised. The disciples were willing to suffer and die for this testimony.
Common Objections to the Resurrection
Despite the clear biblical testimony and historical evidence for the resurrection, skeptics over the centuries have raised objections:
- The disciples fabricated the story. But the earliest Christians proclaimed the resurrection in Jerusalem mere weeks after the crucifixion, undermining any notion that it was made up. And what motive would the disciples have had to die as martyrs for a deliberate lie?
- Jesus did not really die on the cross. Some propose he merely fainted and revived in the tomb. However, Roman soldiers were experts on death, and Jesus’ brutal flogging and crucifixion could never have been survived.
- The disciples hallucinated or imagined the risen Christ. But it is highly unlikely over 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6) would have had the same hallucination. Nor could such hallucinations account for the empty tomb.
- The biblical accounts contain contradictions. While minor discrepancies exist between the Gospel accounts, they broadly agree on the core facts of the resurrection. These accounts have the ring of eyewitness testimony.
- The disciples went to the wrong tomb. It’s impossible to believe that Joseph of Arimathea, the owner of the tomb, would not have corrected this mistake if the disciples had gone to the wrong one.
Ultimately, no alternative theory can adequately explain the evidence surrounding the resurrection. The simplest explanation is the biblical one – Jesus rose from the dead, just as he and the Old Testament prophets predicted many times.
Celebrating the Resurrected Christ
The resurrection of Jesus is worthy of daily celebration. Because Christ lives, we do not need to fear death or despair over the sorrows of the present world. Though we still struggle with sin and pain, the resurrection guarantees that our fallenness is only temporary. The risen Jesus has conquered death and given us eternal access to God. Here are some ways we can celebrate and share this good news:
- Make the resurrection a central focus of our worship and adoration. Sing praises to Jesus for triumphantly rising over the grave.
- Spread the hope of the resurrection by sharing the gospel message with friends and family.
- Remember our future resurrection, which gives us strength to endure present troubles.
- Gather with other believers on Easter Sunday to proclaim our risen Savior.
- Study the many Old Testament prophecies and New Testament accounts of the resurrection.
- Thank Jesus for the new resurrection life he gives us as his followers.
May God fill our hearts with joy, confidence, and courage as we celebrate Christ’s victory over death. Just as Jesus walked out of the tomb, may we also walk daily in newness of life.