The Resurrection of Christ

In what psalm was the resurrection of Christ foretold?

“Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” Psalm 16:10.

In what way was Jonah a type of Christ?

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40.

In what plain words did Christ foretell His resurrection?

“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 the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Matthew 16:21. “When they came together in Galilee, he said unto 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.” And the disciples were filled with grief.” Matthew 17:22,23.   

Note - According to Jewish reckoning, one full day together with any portion of the preceding day and of the day following would be considered “three days.”

When asked by the Jews for a sign of His Messiahship, what did Jesus say?

“Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

John 2:19.  

To what temple did He refer?

“The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body.” Verses 20, 21. 

After The Resurrection

After His resurrection, what effect had this prediction upon His disciples?

“After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words that Jesus had spoken.” Verse 22.

How did the chief priests and Pharisees seek to prevent the fulfillment of Christ’s words concerning His resurrection?

“The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir, they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again. So he gave order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he had been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worst than the first.”

Matthew 27:62-64. 

How did Pilate comply with their request?

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered, “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.” Verse 65, 66.

How futile was all this?

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see where he lay.” Matthew 28:1-6.

Was it possible for Christ to “be holden of death?

“This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Acts 2:23, 24.

Divine Comments on the Resurrection

In what language does the Apostle Paul speak of the resurrection of Christ?

“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.” 1 Corinthians 15: 3, 4. 

Who does the apostle say saw Christ after he was risen?

“And he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of them still living, though some have fallen asleep. The he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me* also, as to one abnormally born.” Verses 5-8. [*Apostle Paul]

What importance is attached to Christ’s resurrection?

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins; Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” Verse 14-18.

What positive assurance of the resurrection is given?

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Verse 20.

What great truth therefore follows?

‘”For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Verse 22.

What cheering message has Christ sent to His people touching His resurrection?

“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive fro ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18.  

What is the measure of the power of God that believers may experience in their daily lives?

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and has incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:18-20. 

What Christian ordinance has been given as a memorial of Christ’s burial and resurrection?

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5.

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