Up from the Grave He Arose

Today we are celebrating Resurrection Sunday. All four gospels declare that Jesus Christ rose again from the dead on the first day of the week. Most unbelieving scholars speak of the resurrection of Christ. However, they are speaking of a spiritual, allegorical, or metaphorical resurrection, not a physical resurrection. But the Scripture teaches that Jesus rose from the dead physically. Christ’s body that was buried was raised from the dead by God’s infinite power. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest miracle of all time. It is greater than the creation of the whole universe by God out of nothing.

Jesus Christ is risen indeed! Therefore, Christians need not fear—even those who are even now being persecuted and murdered in Nigeria, Pakistan, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Christ is risen! Christ is triumphant! He has conquered sin, death, and the devil once for all. Paul declares, “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15).

God mocks all evil powers that are opposed to his rule. The psalmist writes, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Ps. 2:1–4). But today, in mercy, God commands all people everywhere to repent and believe on the risen Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved from the wrath of the Lamb.

The Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus

First we want to look at the crucifixion and burial of Christ. The authorities—the Sanhedrin and the Roman governor Pilate—crucified Jesus of Nazareth, the sinless Son of God. But there were two secret disciples in the Jewish ruling council: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

These men were rich and powerful. Now, God’s Spirit made them very bold. So Joseph approached Pilate and asked for the body of the crucified Jesus. Then Joseph and Nicodemus gave him a royal burial to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth” (Isa. 53:9). They covered Jesus’ body with clean linen, applying seventy-five pounds of spices in the process. Then they buried him in a garden outside the city of Jerusalem, in an expensive, rock-hewn family tomb belonging to Joseph, who rolled a huge stone to close the entrance of the tomb.

The Jewish authorities—the priests and elders who had condemned Jesus to death out of envy—considered Jesus to be, not the Messiah, but a deceiver and a blasphemer. They remembered Jesus’ prophecy that he would rise again from the dead on the third day. So they requested and received permission from Pilate to seal the tomb and post a guard until the third day to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus was a deceiver, like other false messiahs. The Roman soldiers guarded the sealed tomb continually, night and day.

The Resurrection of Christ

Jesus prophesied his own resurrection from the dead several times, as we read:

• Matthew 16:21: “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
• Matthew 17:9b: “Jesus instructed them, ‘Don’t tell anyone what you have seen [referring to the transfiguration], until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’”
• Matthew 17:22–23: “When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.’”
• Matthew 26:32: “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Jesus was emphatic about his own resurrection. It was the divine decree. Jesusmust be killed, he must be buried, and he must be raised from the dead on the third day for the salvation of the whole world. After his resurrection, he reminded his disciples of it again: “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47).

Very early on Sunday morning, God in heaven began to mock the authorities who had mocked Jesus. He sent his angels to the grave, and there was a violent earthquake. An angel went to the tomb and broke the Roman seal on the stone that closed the entrance. Then the angel lifted up the huge stone, threw it to the ground, and sat on it, possibly laughing at those authorities who had tried to prevent the resurrection of Christ. Of course, Jesus had already risen from the grave before the angel opened the tomb, for the resurrection body of Jesus can go through all obstructions.

The earthquake and the sight of the angels shook the guards, and they became as dead men, frozen for a time. Later, they reported to the authorities what had happened: the body of Jesus had disappeared; the tomb was empty. The authorities gave the guards a large amount of money and instructed them to lie, saying that while these guards were sleeping, Jesus’ disciples came and stole his body. This self-contradicting lie has been believed by all unbelieving rationalists of all time. The Sanhedrin also embraced it, as did the arch-persecutor of Christ, the most brilliant Saul of Tarsus, until he himself was subdued by the risen Christ. Later, Paul wrote: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, . . . and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born” (1 Cor. 15:3–4, 8).

A gospel without the resurrection cannot save anyone. It is worthless. Those who believe in a gospel without the resurrection are miserable sinners, to be most pitied. They are unregenerate people who cannot reason correctly. Like the Sanhedrin, they know the truth, but they suppress it. They exchange truth for a lie. And because of this, God gives them over to a depraved mind. Paul explains, “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a [twisted] depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Rom. 1:28). Elsewhere he says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4).

Correct reasoning cannot take place independently of the God of the Bible. Correct reasoning is thinking God’s thoughts after him. It is presuppositional thinking, presupposing God’s revelation. There is no neutrality. Look at the major media today. Look at the pronouncements of the political leaders. They all lie continuously. Neutrality is a pretension. It is a lie. It negates the truth that all people are sinners. Either we presuppose God or we presuppose the devil. There is a wisdom from heaven, and there is a wisdom from hell (James 3:6, 15–17). Either we believe truth or we suppress it.

The unbeliever opposes miracles and so denies the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He reasons this way: A dead man cannot rise from the dead. Therefore, Jesus, who was dead and buried, did not rise from the dead. Such people reject the infinite personal God and his incomparably great power to do whatsoever he pleases. But God himself says there is nothing too hard for the Lord (Gen. 18:14). So a person who is regenerate and indwelt by the Holy Spirit believes the whole Bible and the whole gospel. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God, and, therefore, there is no resurrection.” But the fact is: Jesus Christ is risen indeed!

The pious women like Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, wondering who would remove the huge stone from the entrance of the tomb. When they arrived, they saw it was gone. God moves the mountains that are in our way. The women came, not to see the risen Christ, but the dead Jesus and show their affection by anointing his dead body. They did not believe the prophecy of Christ concerning his own resurrection on the third day. What good news was awaiting them! What a surprise! They saw the resurrected Christ.

The Result of the Resurrection

What is the result of the resurrection? Fear not! God’s Son tells us that because he has risen from the dead, we need not fear anything. It is what the angel said to the women: “You, do not be afraid. You are different. You are people of God. Jesus the crucified one is not here because he has risen from the dead, just as he said he would do on the third day. Come and see the place he was laid.” The angel then told them to go and tell his disciples that they would see him in Galilee, as he promised: “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (Matt. 26:32).

As they went, the risen Jesus himself met them. He said, “Greetings!” or, in the Greek, “Rejoice!” Then he said, “Do not be afraid!” The angel had said to them, “Do not be afraid.” Now Jesus was saying the same thing. And the risen Christ even now proclaims from heaven: “Do not be afraid. . . . I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of hell and death” (Rev. 1:17–18).

Jesus is telling all of us today: “Don’t be afraid of anything.” The wages of sin is spiritual, physical, and eternal death. We all fear death. Death is the punishment God metes out for mocking him, for not worshiping him, and for not being obedient to his holy laws. All fear is really fear of death. We need a Savior who will save us from the wrath of God and the terror of eternal death. We need a Savior who will die our death and give us eternal life. (PGM) We need a Savior who is God/man, a sinless Savior who perfectly obeys God in every way, a Savior who can destroy death by dying our death.

Jesus Christ is God/man. Jesus Christ, born of virgin Mary, knew no sin. Jesus Christ became sin for us. Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification. He took all our sins and died our death. Now he gives his righteousness to us freely. He died for us and now lives for us, never to die again.

Jesus Christ brings us to God. He brings us to glory. He brings us to eternal life. Peter declares, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” (1 Pet. 3:18). The writer to the Hebrews says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15).

Paul tells us, “[God] . . . saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:9–10). Elsewhere Paul says, “Then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54–57).

Why should we not fear? Paul writes, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38–39). He also asserts, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). He says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. . . . I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Phil. 1:21, 23). Fear is taken away by Christ’s death in our place. So John tells us, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on” (Rev. 14:13).

Jesus was raised with an imperishable, glorious, powerful, Spirit-engineered body, to live with God in eternity in the new heaven and new earth, where there is no sin or death. In the same way, we will also be raised up with a body like unto his glorious body. Christ’s resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all who are united with him by faith. So I say to you, do not fear, but rejoice! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead for us! And this Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). Paul writes, “We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence” (2 Cor. 4:14).

Evidence of the Resurrection

What is the evidence that God gave to rational human beings of the resurrection of Christ?

First, the angel gave certain evidences to the women: “Come and see where he was laid,” he said. The tomb is empty of the body of Jesus Christ.” Then the women saw the risen Jesus himself outside the tomb. They grasped his feet and worshiped him. They heard his voice, the voice of encouragement.

The disciples later met the risen Christ in Galilee and worshiped him. He commissioned them to take the gospel to the whole world. They saw him, heard him, and touched him. He proved to them that he was not a ghost, but had a body of flesh and bones. He showed them the nail prints in his hands and the wound marks in his side. He ate the broiled fish that was given to him. He was with them for forty days, teaching them, and eating and drinking with them. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that he appeared to Peter, to James, and to Paul himself personally. He also appeared to the Eleven, and even appeared once to five hundred people, most of whom were still living when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15.

The enemies did not steal Christ’s body because they wanted to keep it in the tomb for three days to prove he was a deceiver. But they never produced his dead body to put an end to Christianity. This was another evidence of the resurrection.

The friends of Jesus had no motivation to steal Jesus’ body, for they did not believe he would rise from the dead. No apostle believed it either. They were discouraged and hiding, out of fear of the Jews. The apostle Thomas also did not believe at first. So Jesus appeared to him and gave him the proof he demanded. Then he confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

But Jesus rose, as he prophesied. And, in time, the prime persecutor of Jesus Christ, Saul of Tarsus, became convinced of Christ’s resurrection. He became Christ’s apostle and the prime target of the Sanhedrin. He asked King Agrippa, “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God”—the infinite, personal, self-existing, self-sufficient, uncreated God—”raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). He said to Festus the governor, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus. What I am saying is true and reasonable” (Acts 26:25).

Faith in the Scriptures

God is not performing miracles so that we may believe in the resurrection of Christ. We must believe in the eyewitness reports of Christ’s resurrection, as written down infallibly by the apostles in the New Testament.

So Jesus said to Thomas, “‘Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name ” (John 20:29–31). Luke says, “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive” (Acts 1:3). And Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Pet. 1:8).

We must believe the eyewitness reports of the New Testament, because it is the infallible word of God. If Christ’s predictions of his resurrection after death—a physical, immortal, imperishable, and glorious resurrection such as never took place before in the history of the universe—came true in time and space, then all his teachings must also be considered true. Therefore we must believe his teachings about God, creation, fall, redemption, heaven, hell, the devil, demons, holy angels, the second coming, the final judgment, the new heaven and the new earth, and all other teachings we find in the Bible.

How Does the Resurrection Apply to You?

Jesus Christ has triumphed over all his enemies. He defeated the devil and death by his death and resurrection. He is not in the grave. He is not here because he has risen from the dead, as he said.

If you are an unbeliever in Christ’s resurrection, you are afraid of death. You are not thinking correctly. You are a fool, an atheist, who says in your heart, “There is no God.” You are full of fear and misery. God is rebuking you for your rationalism that denies God.

Listen to God’s rebuke: “The [angels] said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again”’” (Luke 24:5b7). Why do you not believe?

I therefore say to you: Believe the gospel! Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures. By this gospel you will be saved. As Paul says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). He also explains, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). And, finally, what a glorious truth: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

There is no salvation without faith in the risen Christ. He is not in the grave. His bones are not in an ossuary. He rose and ascended into heaven to his Father, who put all things under his feet. He is seated in heaven and rules all creation as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is your King also, whether you acknowledge it or not.

What, then, is my counsel to you? Bow down and worship him. Join his disciples and confess with your mouth, “My Lord and my God!” When you do so, he will say to you, “Fear not! Rejoice forevermore.”

If you still do not believe, consider what Jesus said in John 11:25–26: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” May God help you to answer him, “Yes, I believe.”

Put your faith in God and in his word. John writes, “We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:9–12). Life is in God’s Son. It is not found in any other religion; it is not found in money or power; it is not found in anything else. Religious pluralism cannot save anyone. We are told here that eternal life is in the Son, in Jesus Christ the risen One.

Paul tells us why people do not believe in Jesus Christ: “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame” (1 Cor. 15:34). Rationalists cannot think straight. They have lost their minds. But I say to you, come back to your senses. Believe in the testimony of Jesus Christ. May God open your eyes to see God and to believe in Jesus, the only Savior of the world.