Lesson 5-17 Importance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

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I hope these studies are interesting enough to provoke you to study your Bible and for you to grow in the grace and knowledge, of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

With the celebration of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection this April 16, 2017 I felt like doing a lesson on the subject of resurrection and its importance to the Christian faith.

First things first let’s look at and define the resurrection from the dead as Jesus taught in the Bible. I have found that many Christians have many different views as to what the resurrection from the dead is.

Many people believe and teach that Jesus was not physically resurrected from the dead in a physical body, but was a spirit or ghost or some other appearance or vision, we will be looking at this from what the Bible teaches about his resurrection and what he said as well as what the prophets said about his resurrection.

For this study, we will use the definition of the words resurrect and resurrection from the English dictionary Merriam Webster;

resurrect: to raise from the dead

resurrection: the state of one risen from the dead

In this lesson, we will be talking about people that were dead (Definition of dead: deprived of life: no longer alive), that is their heart was no longer beating, they were not breathing, or capable of moving, their body was physically dead.

In this lesson when we use the word resurrect or resurrection we will be talking about people who were physically dead and are now physically alive, their body that was dead and now has a heartbeat, they are breathing, they can eat and drink, walk and talk, they were dead and are now alive again.

 I have read and studied many world religions and different beliefs, I have listened to many people talk about what happens after a person dies, but nothing compares to the words and teaching on this subject like those of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead in a physical body is the heart of the Christian faith, if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead there is no hope in Christ, and the whole Bible with all of its records of events becomes a lie.

Now let’s look at what Jesus said and taught about the resurrection from the dead.

Matt.16 [20] Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. [21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Matt.17 [22] And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: [23] And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

In the verses above we see Jesus telling his disciples he will be killed (kill: to deprive of life) and raised again on the third day. Jesus is foretelling or prophesizing about his own death and resurrection from dead here in the book of Matthew.

Matt.10 [27] What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. [28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Now Jesus introduces a clear teaching about a person being more than just a physical body, he now separates and teaches that a person is made up of a soul and body which are two distinct and separate items. Jesus also clearly teaches that when we die our soul does not die when our body dies, as we will see in the following verses.

Luke.16  [19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

In the verses above Jesus clearly teaches when a person dies and is buried that their soul lives on either in comfort or torment, we also see that when the soul is separated from the body it still displays a bodily form and has features just like the body, the rich man was able to see, experienced pain, could talk, hear, and experienced thirst desiring water to cool his tongue. 

Over the years I have discussed this subject with professing Christians and people who teach the words of Jesus as recorded was a parable (a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle) or an allegory (a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one) and then they then deny the existence of a place of torments called hell, and they deny the teaching of an eternal soul.

Well I can only say this to that, if Jesus Christ in these verses was not teaching the fact that after death, a person’s soul is conscience and continues to exist as the same person who died is in either a state of comfort or in pain, then it teaches nothing!

Jesus spoke a parable in Luke and we know it is a parable because it is recorded as a parable it’s just that simple.

Luke.14 [12] Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. [13] But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: [14] And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. [15] And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

In the verses above we see Jesus teaching that some people will be rewarded or recompensed after they are resurrected for things they did while they were alive and before they died. Notice also that after they are resurrected they can eat bread, spirits or ghost don’t eat bread that is something reserved for physical beings.

Matt.8 [11] And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. [12] But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matt.22 [31] But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, [32] I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. [33] And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

The verses above to me are pretty clear Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died physically approximately two thousand years before Jesus speaks these words, and when he speaks of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob he speaks of them as being alive!

John.8 [33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [37] I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. [39] They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. [40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. [52] Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. [53] Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Here in John he now tells the Jews their father Abraham rejoiced to see his day and Abraham saw it and was glad. Here again he speaks of Abraham as being alive. Also Jesus reveals that he was before Abraham rebuking them for not recognizing him as God manifest in the flesh.

Matt.27 [35] And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Now let us look at the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion; we should note that his resurrection was foretold of in the Old Testament in the book of Psalms, and the Holy Spirit ties this together for us in Acts Chp. 2. Notice also that we have a verse indicating that Jesus soul would not be left in hell, you say hell, yes hell, when Jesus paid the price for our sins he even went to hell for us.

Pss.16 [10] For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts.2 [29] Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. [30] Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; [31] He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. [32] This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

In Matt 28 we have the story of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary finding the empty tomb and the testimony of an angel that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead in the verses below.

Matt.28 [1] In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. [5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. [7] And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

Another interesting occurrence happened after Jesus was resurrected other people/saints were resurrected and appeared to people. That would make you sit up and take notice if someone you knew were dead, buried, and in the grave, all of a sudden showed up in town at your front door.

Matt.27 [52] And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, [53] And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

The resurrected Lord in Luke 24 appears to the eleven, let’s look at these verses and we will see these verses clearly teach he was in a physical body.

Luke.24 [33] And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, [34] Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. [35] And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. [36] And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. [37] But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. [38] And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? [39] Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. [40] And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. [41] And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? [42] And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. [43] And he took it, and did eat before them. [44] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Example of Old Testament prophet concerning Jesus crucifixion. (Zech.13 [6] And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.)

Here again I don’t believe I have to do a lot of explaining just point out the obvious. The disciples thought they had seen a spirit, so Jesus showed them his hands and feet, tells them to handle him and see, Jesus says a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones like he had. Then he goes even further and demonstrates he has a physical body by eating fish and a honeycomb.

For people who don’t want to believe that Jesus was physically resurrected no amount of evidence is enough.

One last example of the physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus and my favorite, the post resurrection meeting of Jesus and Thomas.

John.20 [24] But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. [26] And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. [27] Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. [28] And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. [29] Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. [30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: [31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Once again Jesus demonstrates he was resurrected and his soul was in the same crucified body that had the scares of being crucified in its hands, feet, and side.

To close this lesson, I go now to the Pauline epistles where the doctrine for the body of Christ is found. The word resurrection appears 41 times in the New Testament books. Out of those 41 times the word is used by the Apostle Paul in 15 times, more than a third of the times it is used in all the other New Testament books.

We could continue this lesson on the resurrection of Jesus for weeks, but it is time to summarize and close our lesson. I have chosen just three verses to close with and they really say it all. Jesus either rose from the dead or there is no risen Christ and if no risen Christ then our preaching and faith is in vain and we are yet in our sins without hope.

1Cor.15

[12] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

[14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Thanks be unto the Lord Jesus who bears witness in our hearts by the Holy Spirit that he did rise from the dead and has given us a hope beyond the grave.

I leave you with the following admonition.

Eph.4 [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

With modern day technology being what it is, it is very easy to do word searches and check when someone quotes a Bible verse or tells you something is in the Bible for you to look it up and verify if they are pulling your leg!

The Truth of God’s Holy word is easy to determine if you let the Holy Spirit lead you.

Remember all of the confusion among Christianity/Christians today can be attributed to the simple fact that the church, the Body of Christ, does not recognize the separate, distinct, and unique apostleship, ministry, and message of Paul.

If you have never trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, I encourage you to believe in him and invite him to save you today! All one needs to do is to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins to be made new in him.

Gal.2 [16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified

Eph.3 [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

What a great day that will be when Jesus Christ returns in all his glory, friend don’t let that day take you unawares. Today Jesus has his arms outstretched and open to sinners to put their trust in him. One day we will all stand before him either as our savior or our judge, don’t put it off invite Jesus to save you today!

"The crowd that will not accept one truth will decay to the point that it does not accept one God: many denominations, many translations, many gods."

The words of our Apostle Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles!

2Tim.2 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

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Remember most unsound Bible Doctrine, is sound Bible Doctrine misapplied to the wrong time period, or wrong group of people.

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