Easter is the time marked in the national calendar when many commemorate the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and His rising up the third day. However, how many really believe the truth of resurrection, even among those who would call themselves ‘Christians’? For us, this blessed truth is foundational; truth we value, call to mind, and live in the good of every day.
In both Old and New Testaments there are records of ordinary people who were brought back to life:
1 Kings 17:17-24 Elijah raised the widow’s son.
2 Kings 4:32-37 Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son.
Luke 7:12-15 the Lord raised a widow’s son.
Luke 8:49-55 the Lord raised Jairus’ daughter.
John 11:1-44 the Lord Jesus raised Lazarus.
Acts 9:37-41 Peter raised Dorcas.
We know that these resurrections were dependent on Divine power, these people were raised by God. Although these events were amazing, the people raised returned to the same kind of life as they had known previously, in that they would die again. These resurrections were rare occurrences but not unique.
The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus
The Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection were unique. His death was not because of His sin but because of ours. He ‘gave up the ghost’ (John 19: 30), that can only be the act of a Divine Person, it is not accurate to describe the Lord as ‘dying’, He subjected Himself to death which had no claim on Him and could not hold Him. All the persons of the Godhead were involved in His resurrection.
Romans 6:9 – 10: “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”
The Lord’s death and resurrection completely changed our eternal situation, He wasn’t the first to rise, however He brought in a new order as He was raised with a glorified body. This is explained by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
He became the guarantee of greater things to come for believers who had died, His resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all believers.
John 11:25: ”I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
What a blessed hope we have: our entire faith rests or falls with the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This is the apostle’s argument in I Corinthians 15, if Christ did not die and was not raised from the dead, then our faith is vain, we are still in our sins. This is the ‘if’ of argument, not of doubt as we know and are assured that our blessed Lord died and rose again. A Divine hope is not like man’s hope, this is something that will definitely take place, not something on a wish list. We may not understand what our resurrection body will be like. But we know it will be suited to our eternal life with Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:43-44,53-54)
He who has promised is faithful; He shall bring it to pass. Blessed be His glorious name.
Simon Katebe
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Eliza Hewitt