Resurrection

Key Phrase: He is risen from the dead!

Intro

After Jesus' death, a member of the Jewish high council, named Joseph, buries Jesus in a new tomb before Jesus' body is fully prepared for burial. His body lies buried on the Sabbath day but, the next day when the women come to the tomb, they find it empty. Two angels appear and remind the women that Jesus said he will rise again the third day. The women tell the apostles, but they do not believe or understand. John is an eyewitness to the resurrection and specifically says these things are written so that we can believe.

Resurrection                                                                                                          

 John 19:31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.[1]) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[2] 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.”[3]. . .

 Luke 23:50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation,[4] as the Sabbath was about to begin.

 55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. . .

 Luke 24:1 But very early on Sunday morning[5] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

 5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man[6] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

 8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Connect

With the resurrection, the third promise to Abraham is fulfilled. All the families of the earth are blessed because Jesus rose from the dead with the power to conquer death. All the families of the earth are blessed because all may turn to Christ and receive forgiveness of their sins. To those who receive him, Christ offers a new promise “I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” and the proof of his promise is his resurrection. Following the resurrection, a unique period takes place where Jesus continues to appear on the earth in his resurrected bodily form. He talks with his disciples, eats with them and prepares them for his departure from earth. In the same way his death was only a temporary departure, so is his earthly departure. Jesus will be back!

Footnotes

[1] John 19:35 Some manuscripts read can continue to believe.

[2] John 19:36 Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20.

[3] John 19:37 Zech 12:10.

[4] Luke 23:54 Greek It was the day of preparation.

[5] Luke 24:1 Greek But on the first day of the week, very early in the morning.

[6] Luke 24:7 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.