THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
By Rev. John W. Gerald
STRONG’S DEFINITION OF EASTER
pascha {pas’-khah}
Passover, Easter
1) the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people’s deliverance of old from Egypt)
2) the paschal lamb, i.e. the lamb the Israelites were accustomed to slay and eat on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (the first month of their year) in memory of the day on which their fathers, preparing to depart from Egypt, were bidden by God to slay and eat a lamb, and to sprinkle their door posts with its blood, that the destroying angel, seeing the blood, might pass over their dwellings; Christ crucified is likened to the slain paschal lamb.
I. THE ONLY REFERENCE TO EASTER IN SCRIPTURE
Acts 12:4 And when he had apprehended him, he put [him] in prison, and delivered [him] to four quaternions of soldiers to keep
him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Easter - the celebration of passover for the Jews! Herod could not bring Peter to court on a holy day, or he would stir up too great opposition to himself. It was the time of unleavened bread, or the time of the passover.
II. EASTER AND THE RESURRECTION
Pagan Rome also had some form of celebration for the vernal equinox they called Easter. Which of these the Roman Catholic church adopted, it may be hard to determine. They adopted many of the pagan holidays which they adapted to the use of the church by associating them with some Jewish or Christian holiday. This was done to accommodate the many heathen converting to Christianity when Constantine made Christianity the state religion.
Because the season coincides with the time of the resurrection, the church now celebrates the resurrection at Easter time.
Mt 16:21 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.
Jesus was preparing his disciples for the terrible days ahead. They had no idea of the crucifixion, much less of the resurrection. Jesus gave them hope at the same time that he warned them of his death.
Mt 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
The disciples were greatly troubled with the word about his death. It seems that they must have missed his promise of resurrection in three days, because they were sorrowful at the time, and later failed to remember about it.
Ac 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
The prophet, David, gave many details about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. This detail is a most unusual one. Though Jesus died, his soul would not stay in hell, or sheol, nor would his body return to dust, as most of ours will.
III. WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION
Ac 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
The disciples were concerned that one of their number, Judas, had lost his office. They wanted the twelve, to be ordained as witnesses of the resurrection. The twelve tribes were always represented by twelve elders. They were accustomed to that number.
Ac 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
His resurrection was central to their beliefs and doctrines.
Ac 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
They pointed the accusing finger unfailingly at those who were guilty of crucifying Him.
Ac 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
A new truth is stated almost every time. He is shown to be the Prince of Life, raised by God, witnessed by his disciples.
Ac 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
The testimony of the resurrection was accompanied with the power of God through the Holy Ghost.
Ac 4:2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
The doctrine of the resurrection through the power of Jesus was clearly taught.
IV. THE POWER OF THE MESSAGE
Ro 1:4 And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The resurrection proved his power, his Sonship, and He was endorsed by the Holy Spirit also.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Paul had this hope, and longed for its fulfillment. He knew that its fulfillment depended upon his being conformed to the death of Christ.
Ac 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Miraculous powers were shown through faith in Christ of whom Peter spoke. It was Jesus of Nazareth; the very same they had crucified; also the same whom God had raised from the dead. Only one person could be so described.
V. HIS RESURRECTION CONFIRMS OUR HOPE
1Pe 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
A lively hope is a joyous one. It comes through the new birth, and is assured by His resurrection.
Ro 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:
If we have died to sin, as Christ died for sin, we shall rise again unto life eternal, as his resurrection assures us.
1Co 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
It is the power of God that raised up Christ, and will also raise us up, who are in Him. He was the firstfruits of the resurrection.
2Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you.
We will be presented together unto the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the resurrection, both the dead in Christ and the living.
Ro 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Ro 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Faith in God, who raised up Jesus Christ, who was delivered up to death for our sins, and was raised for our justification, assures us eternal life.
Ac 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.
God has given all judgment over to Christ. He will be our judge, who was once our saviour, the power of which is his resurrection.
VI. HIS RESURRECTION AND VICTORY OVER DEATH
Ac 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
The victorious Saviour could not be held by the chains of death. He was raised up by the power of God, he, himself, being a part of the Godhead. He said:
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."
John 10: 17-18a.
Ac 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
After three days in the tomb, Jesus was seen of Mary Magdalene in the garden. Mary was reluctant to leave without finding her Lord. Jesus spoke to her, revealing his identity unto her, and sending a message to his disciples as to where they could see him.
Ac 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
God proved the divinity and the Sonship of Jesus by raising him from the dead, as the disciples witnessed.
Ro 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
He tasted of death once for sin, but will never pay that price again. He has won the victory over sin and death forever.
VII. THE INDWELLING SPIRIT OF RESURRECTION
Ro 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
We were married to sin and death, but the law could not save us. We died to the law through Christ, thus we died to the power of sin over us. Now we must be married to Christ, having died to sin, we may now live in Him.
Ro 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
If the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) dwell (take up residence) in you, then God, who raised up Christ, will also raise you up by the same Spirit He raised up Christ. The three persons of the triune God were all active in the resurrection of Christ, and will also raise you and me.
VIII. THE CHRISTIAN’S CONFESSION OF THE RESURRECTION
Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Belief in the resurrection is critical to our salvation. This verse contains a condition and a promise. If we confess faith in Christ, and believe sincerely that God raised him from the dead, then we shall be saved.
IX. THE RESURRECTION POWER OF GOD
Eph 1:19 And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
God’s power toward us of salvation and resurrection is demonstrated in Christ Jesus, whom He raised from the dead, and exalted to His right hand of power on high.
1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
God is waiting to send Jesus to gather his saints from the earth. No one knows when He will appear. Our shouts of victory will ring through the heavens, because we know that we have been delivered from death, and the judgment of wrath. His wrath awaits the wicked left upon this earth, and those who await judgment in death, hell, and the grave.
I want to be in Him then, don’t you?
