The Resurrection of Jesus

(One Perfect Life Chapters 197-201) Jesus death on the cross was necessary for our salvation. But without the resurrection the process would have been incomplete and we would have no hope. The Apostle Paul summarizes the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “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.” He further states, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. … If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).

The sin of Adam brought death into the world. But, the redemption that is available through Jesus restores fallen people (who are spiritually dead because of their sins) back to life. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). We are physical and spiritual beings. And while our physical bodies are subject to death our eternal souls are made alive through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

Jesus had a physical body after His resurrection, but it was changed. We will see Him miraculously enter the room where the disciples were without coming through a door (John 20:19). When we are resurrected we also will have different bodies. Paul likens our death and burial to a seed being planted in the ground that brings forth a new life, “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; … it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”(1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

One confusing aspect in the gospels was the disciples’ difficulty in recognizing Jesus after the resurrection. They often recognized Him by His voice and the words He spoke. We see this when Mary Magdalene in the garden outside of the empty tomb. She does not recognize Him and thinks He is a gardener. While Jesus had a resurrection body, He chose to retain the scars that He received to remind us of His suffering.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the disfigurement Jesus would suffer, “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness” (Isaiah 52:14). Isaiah shares part of His suffering that was not recorded in the gospels. Jesus beard was ripped from His face, “I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pull out My beard; I did not hide My face from insults and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).

Jesus resurrection is the basis for our salvation it is what we stake our hope on. Paul tells Timothy. “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Timothy 2:11). I pray that you will believe, endure, remain faithful and never disown our wonderful Savior.