The Resurrection Of Jesus Series

The resurrection is the very central point and essence of Christianity. It is “of first importance” of the Christian faith. That essence and the importance is captured beautifully in

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 that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).

Jesus died, was buried, raised again and there were appearances and witnesses. This captures the heart of the gospel. Many people of Paul’s day had trouble believing in the resurrection. In Acts 17 Paul is preaching away to the people of Athens. They listen until Paul mentions the resurrection and some sneered and left, but some remained and became believers.

When the Apostle Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and on trial before the Sanhedrin it was the mention of the resurrection that caused an uproar among the members of the religious ruling council. This uproar happened because some of the religious ruling council believed in a resurrection, and some did not. (Acts 23:6-9)

We celebrate the resurrection at Easter time, but for the faithful believer in Christ the resurrection is an ongoing celebration. For some the resurrection of Jesus is an offense and a stumbling block. For others it is eternal life.

The Death of Jesus

The triumph of the Easter story begins in a most unusual way. It begins with the death of Jesus. He died a criminal’s death. When we see a cross hanging in the church, it is easy to forget this cross was in instrument to carry out the death penalty for a criminal.

Jesus was taken out to Golgotha, the place of the skull which we also sometimes call Calvary. Nails were driven through Jesus hands and feet. He was left to die on the cross a painful and disgraceful death between two criminals.

After Jesus hung on the cross the soldiers came by to break the legs of Jesus so he would die faster of affixation. When they found him he was already dead. Instead of breaking his legs they thrust a spear into his side. It brought a flow of blood and water.

Christ died for our sins (I Corinthians 13:3). The death of Christ was all part of the plan of God. The verses emphasize this was all according to the Scriptures. Down to the details Jesus death on the cross fulfilled the prophesies we find in the Old Testament. There was no other way for the atonement of sin. We could never pay the penalty for our sins.

The only way was for us to receive forgiveness of sin is for Jesus to die on the cross. Three times at the Garden of Gethsemane just before Jesus went to the cross, he asked God, if there is any other way to save people from their sins? If so, let him not endure the cross. There was no other way.

We are helpless to atone for our own sins. The plan of the cross was announced at the fall of man at the Garden of Eden. In Genesis we read that God cursed of the serpent. But God told Mary, the serpent will bruise the heal of your seed. This is a reference to the Messiah dying on the cross. Your seed will crush the head of the serpent.

This refers to the death of Christ on the cross and sin will be defeated. (Genesis 3:15). Since the fall of man there has been an anticipation of the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus experienced the sting of death when he died on the cross. If that were the end of the story it would seem that sin and death triumphed. You know what happens when a honeybee stings? The stinger comes out and the honeybee dies. When death stung Jesus the stinger came out.

Christ died for our sins. What seemed like defeat for Jesus would soon turn to victory. But for the moment Christ was dead. Jesus died according to what fulfilled the scriptures. He died the just for the unjust. And just to be sure he was buried.

The Burial of Jesus

Why mention Christ’s burial? Because the burial puts a punctuation mark on his death. It also sets the stage for the resurrection from the dead. Jesus was placed in a tomb, guarded with the Roman seal; if anyone stole the body the Roman soldiers received the death sentence. Jesus’ burial gives evidence that his death was a historical fact.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They were the heroes who prepared the body of Jesus and buried the dead body. These two brave men were members of the ruling council of seventy, the Sanhedrin, that put Jesus to death. Two of them had eyes to see.