The Resurrection of Jesus

The resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28 & Luke 24)

The entire message of the Gospel—the good news—depends on the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is recorded in all four Gospels. As the reality of this momentous fact dawned upon the apostles and followers of Jesus, sorrow and despair gave way to exuberant joy. His resurrection became the guarantee that all that God had promised would be performed. In fact, the apostle Paul very boldly states: “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). In this chapter he proves the historical fact that Christ was raised, by naming those who had actually seen him alive after he rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4–8).

The marvel of the resurrection of Christ from the dead is both an undeniable historical fact and the foundation upon which our faith in the living God is soundly based.

Through the resurrection of Christ the way to victory over sin and death has been opened for all who come to God through faith in him. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:21–23).

When Christ returns, his first work will be to raise those who have known the Gospel, and who are therefore responsible. This includes those who in their lifetime believed the Gospel and were baptised into Christ. Because they died in hope of the resurrection, though quite dead, they are said to “sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). At the judgment (John 5:27–29; 2 Corinthians 5:10) those considered by Jesus Christ, the righteous Judge, to be worthy of life will be given immortality. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 15, saying: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (v51–53).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is therefore the foundation of “the hope” of the Gospel. This “mortal” death-stricken nature will be changed to “immortality”, so that we can share in the everlasting Kingdom with Christ.

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans