WHAT IS RESURRECTION?

Resurrection is the act of coming back to life after being dead. Described as applying to both righteous
and the wicked.
Daniel 12:2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is considered essential to the
salvation of believers. Without the resurrection, the belief in God's saving grace through Jesus is
destroyed.
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
When Jesus rose from the dead, he confirmed his identity as the Son of God and his work of atonement,
redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. The resurrection was a real, literal, physical raising of Jesus’
body from the dead. (Salem Web Network: Compiled and Edited by Bible Study Tools Staff)

DETAILS OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

Read: (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20)

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our
sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according
to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over
five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen
asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me
also, as by one born out of due time.

If you have read the details of the story in the Bible, there are basis of historical facts for someone who
believes in the bodily resurrection of Christ.

Jesus Death was an Actual Death

There are those who say that Jesus did not actually die, but that He only fainted. A resurrection
presupposes a death. In order to be raised from the dead, Jesus had to die. This is a self-evident fact
deduced from the crucifixion. The soldiers were certain that Jesus was dead and that they did not need
to induce death by shock by breaking His legs. It was the enemies (not friends of Jesus), who attested his
death, they made certain when they thrust a spear into His heart.

Jesus Body Was Buried

The Body of Jesus was wrapped in fine Linen with spices, according to the local custom. An actual tomb
was involved, which required the placing of a body. A stone was rolled against the face of the tomb, a
seal was place upon it and a Roman guard set before it. His body was buried for 3 days.

The Tomb Empty

When the disciples saw the tomb in which they had previously buried the body of Jesus, it was empty.
The burial garments still lying in its place to indicate the departure of the body of Jesus. Later on, Jesus
appeared physically to the disciples and said:

Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh
and bones, as you see I have.”

His resurrected body functions by eating food, talked and heard and occupied a room but did not need a
door for access. It was the same body in its glorified spiritual form that Jesus took from the tomb,
leaving it empty and without occupant.

Jesus was Bodily Resurrected

There were 13 different appearances of Jesus under every conceivable condition and circumstance. The
appearances ended up with His ascension. Any notion that seeks to disapprove the bodily resurrection
of Jesus is confronted with these appearances of Jesus in His own body.

Who has not Risen?

Several great leaders in History who have lived and played their part in life. They died, never rise again:
(like for example: Pharaoh Shishak, Charlemagne, Mongol Emperor and his wife of Taj Mahal in India.
(The most beautiful tomb in the world), The father of George Washington in Mt Vernon, Body of Lenin in
Russia, Mahatma Ghandi,s burial place in India) and Many more.

RESULT OF RESURRECTION

As a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can learn some very important truth about who He is?
1. Jesus Christ is what He claimed to be.
It is a mark of His deity. That He was God incarnate. That He spoke the truth when he said: “I and my
Father are one” (John 10:30). That He came to save us from sin and that if we believe in Christ, we
shall be saved. He meant what He said, and there is no other way of salvation except through Him.
Romans 1:4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead

2. God has accepted Christ’s atoning work

Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification

As a result, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives meaning into our lives.
The presence of the living Christ. Christ is the living companion of every person who puts his trust in
Him. Matthew 28:20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.”
He is the guarantee that life has a new meaning. Luke 24:21 but we had hoped that he was the one who
was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. There was
anguish, despair, and tragedy in their midst. Life had lost its meaning and purpose. But when the
resurrection became apparent, life took a new meaning. It had purpose and reason …

The Prayers of the Living Christ. Romans 8:34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus
who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for
us.

The power of the Living Christ. The resurrection made it possible for Christ to be identified with all
Christians in all ages and to give them power to serve Him. John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever
believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these,
because I am going to the Father. Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his
resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, His resurrection gives us
strength and power for each day task.

The pattern of our new bodies. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pattern of what our bodies will be
when we too are raised from the dead. Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we
eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring
everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
The promise of a returning Redeemer. The entire plan for the future has its key in the resurrection.
Unless Christ is raised from the dead, there can be no Kingdom and no returning King. When the
disciples stood at the place of the ascension, they were given angelic assurance that the Christ of
resurrection would be the Christ of the returning glory. Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do
you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will
come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Thus, the resurrection is an event that
was both preparatory for and confirmative of a future event even of His second coming. Yes, our leader
Jesus Christ is alive.