Over the past few weeks we have been talking about the significance of the life, death, and today we will discuss the resurrection of Jesus. We have talked about how Jesus lived perfectly, how Jesus died miserably and gloriously, and today we finish with how and why did He get resurrected. Something incredible. Another miracle, but think of Jesus’s birth. He was born of a miracle, and His death was a miracle as well. How fitting for our Lord.
Now, a quick reminder, this was one of the verses from last week, and I think this is a good place to start for this topic.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit —1 Peter 3:18
Jesus dies, and is then made alive again. He died for our sins, but really, why is this so important about Jesus being resurrected?
If He wasn’t resurrected, then everything we preach and teach is worthless
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 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. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. —1 Corinthians 15:12-18
If this didn’t happen, there is no salvation, no restoration, and no new life with God
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. —Romans 10:9
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. —Romans 8:11
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. —Romans 8:34
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. —2 Corinthians 5:14-15
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. —1 Peter 2:24
Without Jesus’s resurrection, then there is no eternal life
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. —1 Corinthians 15:21
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. —Romans 6:5-6
Without Jesus’s resurrection, there is no new covenant
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. —Hebrews 13:20-21
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 —Hebrews 1:3
How do we know He was resurrected?
Gospel accounts:
Matthew 28:1-8
Mark 16:1-8
Luke 24:1-12
John 20:1-29
Luke 24 - Road to Emmaus, Jesus appears to disciples
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.* —1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Non Christian Sources
Flavious Josephus - Jewish historian
Thallus - writer
Cornelius Tacitus was known for his analysis and examination of historical documents and is among the most trusted of ancient historians.
Celsus another historian
Archeological evidence that supports elements of the Bible
Cold Case Christianity - J Warner and J Wallace
Case for Christ - Lee Strobel
Last point of evidence is your relationship with Jesus
Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, —Hebrews 8:1