the Resurrection (part 1 of 3)
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
The Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
INTRO:
I. The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A. Jesus died (Mark 15.33-39).
B. Jesus was buried (Mark 15.42-47).
C. Jesus was resurrected (Mark 16.1-8).
II. The Death, Burial and Resurrection is the Centerpiece of Christianity.
A. The resurrection of Jesus is necessary for our salvation.
1. If there is no such thing as a resurrection from the dead, then Jesus did not rise from the dead (1 Cor. 15.13).
2. And if Jesus did not rise from the dead, “we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Cor. 15.19).
B. The resurrection of Jesus really happened.
1. Some may sneer at the prospect of the resurrection from the dead (Acts 17.32).
2. But the Bible claims that it happened.
a. It is prophesied in the Old Testament.
b. These Messianic prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
BODY.
I. The Resurrection is prophesied about in the Old Testament.
A. Likelihood of fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophecies.
1. Henry Liddon is credited with the statement that there are 332 prophecies fulfilled in Christ.
The mathematical probability that all of these could be fulfilled in one person by sheer chance alone has been calculated at one over 84 (followed by 123 zeros). That would be 84 x 100 123 [123 is superscript] (Introduction to Christian Evidences by Ferrell Jenkins, p. 106).
2. They are not merely by chance or by human forecast.
a. Isaiah (740 B.C. - 681 B.C.) prophesied about Jesus ca. 700 years in advance (Is. 52.13 - 53.12).
1) The virgin birth (Is. 7.14; cf. Matt. 1.22, 23).
2) Scourged and spat upon (Is. 50.6; cf. Matt. 26.67; 27.26, 30 = Mark 14.65; Mark 15.15, 19).
3) The Suffering Servant (Isa. 52.13 - 53.12).
a) Suffered vicariously (Is. 53.4, 5; cf. Mark 15.3, 4, 27, 28 = Luke 3.1-25, 32-34).
b) Silent when accused (Is. 53.7; cf. John 1.29; 11.49-52).
c) Crucified with transgressors (Is. 53.12; cf. John 12.37, 38; Acts 8.28-35).
d) Buried with the rich (Is. 53.9; cf. Acts 10.43; Acts 13.38, 39; 1 Cor. 15.3; Eph. 1.7; 1 Pet. 2.21-25; 1 John 1.7, 9).
e) Calling of those not a people (Is. 55.4, 5; cf. John 18.37; Rom. 9.25, 26; Rev. 1.5).
b. Jeremiah (626 B.C. - 586 B.C.) prophesied about Jesus ca. 600 years in advance.
1) Sit upon David’s throne (Jer. 23.5, 6; cf. John 2.19-21; Rom. 1.3, 4; Eph. 2.20, 21; 1 Pet. 2.5).
2) Born a King (Jer. 30.9; cf. John 18.37; Rev. 1.5).
3) Massacre of the innocents (Jer. 31.15; cf. Matt. 2.17, 18).
4) Conceived by the Holy Spirit (Jer. 31.22; cf. Matt. 1.20 = Luke 1.35).
5) The New Covenant (Jer. 31.31-34; cf. Matt. 26.27-29 = Mark 14.22-24 = Luke 22.15-20; 1 Cor. 11.25; Heb. 8.8-12; Heb. 10.15-17).
c. Zechariah (520-518 B.C.) prophesied ca. 500 years in advance.
1) The Lamb on the throne (Zech. 2.10-13; ca. Rev. 5.13; 6.9; 21.24; 22.1-5).
2) A holy priesthood (Zech. 3.8; ca. John 2.19-21; Eph. 2.20, 21; 1 Pet. 2.5).
3) Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 11.12, 13; ca. Matt. 26.14, 15; 27.9).
4) Piercing of His body (Zech. 12.10; ca. John 19.34, 37).
B. Old Testament prophecies concerning the resurrection.
1. The first prophecy of the Bible (Gen. 3.15).
a. This passage does not just speak of the crucifixion.
b. The crushing blow.
1) The crushing blow is not that Christ was crucified.
2) The crushing blow is that while the crucifixion seemed to be the defeat of Jesus, it was merely the means by which He is the Savior of the world --- Jesus overcomes both spiritual and physical death.
3) Jesus was the perfect sacrifice (Heb. 10.12).
4) Yet He literally was resurrected from the dead, thus overcoming death (see 1 Cor. 15.54-58).
2. The Psalms (Psalm 2.7; 16.8-10; 30.3; 41.10; 49.15; 110; 118.17).
a. Psalm 2.7.
“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’ “ (Psalm 2.7).
b. Psalm 16.8-10.
I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay (Psalm 16.8-10).
3. Paul in Antioch of Pisidia on the First Missionary Journey (Acts 3.32-33).
a) In the course of his sermon, Paul discusses the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (vv. 26-31).
b) In v. 33, Paul applies Psalm 2.7 to the resurrection.
1] Throughout Psalm 2, the Son of God is said to have universal dominion and authority (cf. Isa. 9.6; 1 Cor. 15.27-28; Heb. 2.8-9; Eph. .19-23).
2] He will be “installed [as] ... King Upon Zion, My holy mountain” (Psalm 2.6).
3] Upon His resurrection would He become the great High Priest (see Heb. 8.4); thus He is Priest and King at the same time (see Zech. 6.12-13). 4] Jesus took on the role of a servant (see Phil 2.7f). But upon His resurrection, Jesus was raised to a position of authority and dominion (cf. Matt. 28.18).
4.Paul in Antioch of Pisidia on the First Missionary Journey (Acts 13.34-39).
a) David died and underwent decay (v. 36).
b) The Messiah was raised and did not undergo decay (v. 37).
c) As a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have forgiveness of sins (vv. 38, 39; cf. Luke 24.46, 47; 1 John 1.7).
5. Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2.22-32).
a) The blame is placed on the Jews (vv. 22-23).
1] You, i.e., the Jews nailed Him to the cross.
2] The Roman soldiers, along with the Roman government, are merely the means by which the Jews crucified Jesus.
b) Establishes Jesus as being Lord and Christ (vv. 24-32).
1] Applies Ps. 16.8-11 to Jesus rather than David (vv. 25-31).
a] David had been dead for 1,000 years.
b] David knew that the Messiah would come through his loins (2 Sam. 7-12f; see v. 30).
c] The prophecy applies to Jesus Christ (v. 31).
2] Jesus was resurrected from the dead (v. 32), never to die again (Rom. 6.9). “... It was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (v. 24b).
c) The resurrection had to occur.
1] Everything happened “by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” (v. 23; cf. Gen. 3.15). 2] Jesus had to be raised from the dead “since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (v. 24b).
C. The New Testament looks back to the Old Testament.
1. The divine evangelists of the first century constantly turned to the pages of the Old Testament to show that Jesus had to suffer and be resurrected (Acts 3.18, 21, 22, 24; 8.30, 35; 17.2, 3; (18.28); 26.22, 23; 1 Cor. 15.1-4).
II. The Resurrection is Central to the Christian’s Belief in Christianity.
A. We are justified by His resurrection (Acts 4.10-12; cf. Ps. 118.22).
1. Jesus is the rejected cornerstone which became the chief cornerstone.
2. Because it is only through the sacrifice of Jesus that we obtain forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life, therefore it was necessary that Jesus be rejected by the Jews and delivered up to Pilate.
B. The death and the resurrection go hand-in-hand (Rom. 4.25).
1. Jesus was “delivered up,” i.e., put to death.
2. Jesus had to be resurrected in order for us to be justified from our sins.
a) Our transgressions necessitated His death, i.e., His death was “because of” our transgressions.
b) Our justification necessitated His resurrection, i.e., His resurrection was “because of our justification.
c) To put it simply---Jesus died because we are sinners, and it is through His resurrection that we have a hope of eternal life.
C. Without the resurrection, there is no hope
(1 Cor. 15.3-4, 12-20).
1. Christ died, was buried and then resurrected (vv. 3-4).
2. If there is no resurrection, we are dead in our sins (vv. 12-19).
3. But Christ was resurrected (v. 20).
III. Results of the Resurrection.
A. Establishes Jesus as the Son of God.
1. Proves His sonship and thus, His deity (Psalm 2.7).
2. Sets the Messiah on David’s throne (2 Sam. 7.16;
Jer. 22.2, 4; Ps. 110).
3. Insures His exaltation (Acts 2.33; 5.31; Phil. 2.9).
B. Provides hope of eternal life.
1. We will be resurrected when Christ returns (1 Cor. 15).
a. We shall be changed (vv. 50-57).
a) Those who are still alive will be instantly, i.e., “in the twinkling of an eye,” changed (v. 52). b) The aforesaid “change” is now represented as an investiture with incorruption and immortality; the two ideas are adjusted in 2 Cor. 5.4, where it is conceived that the living Christian will “put on” the new, spiritual body “over” his earthly frame, which will then be “absorbed” by it” (Expositor’s on 1 Cor. 15.52, 53, p. 941).
For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life (2 Cor. 5.4).
c) Death has been swallowed up (the verb adopted in 2 Cor. 5.4) in victory. This is the final enemy to be destroyed (1 Cor. 15.26).
b. The order of the resurrection (1 Thess. 4.13-18).
2. Our place in Heaven (Eph. 1-2).
a) Christ was
1) raised from the dead, and
2) seated
a] at the right hand of God
b] in the heavenly places (Eph. 1.19, 20).
b) We shall be
1) raised from the dead (“raised us up with Him”, v. 6) and
2) “seated us with Him [Christ]
a] in the heavenly places” (v. 6).
c) Although Christ, being God, has the special privilege of sitting at the right hand of God (Mark 16.19; Luke 22.69; Rom. 8.34; Col. 3.1; Heb. 10.12; 12.2; 1 Pet. 3.22), we shall be seated with Christ.
d) Christ is God’s Son and we are God’s sons through adoption (Rom. 8.15, 23; Eph. 1.5).
CONCLUSION (of part 1).
I. Spiritual reenactment (Rom. 6.3-11).
A. Christ died, was buried and then resurrected.
B. We are dead to sin, are buried and then resurrected.
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