The angels at Jesus’ tomb said to Mary in Matthew 28: 6; Mark 16: 6; Luke 24: 6, he is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. He said in Revelation 1: 18, I am the Living One; I was dead and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I have the keys to death and Hades. Dead people do not talk as Jesus. Jesus talked because he was alive.
The prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection
Before his death, Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 20: 18-19, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the Chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life.” Jesus explained in Matthew 16: 21; 17: 23; Luke 9: 22; 18: 33, that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Jesus referred to prophecy in Luke 24: 46, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.
Confirmation of prophesy
In confirmation of his resurrection, Acts 10: 40 says, God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. Paul also said in 1Corinthians 15: 3-5, 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 he appeared to Cephas; and then to the Twelve. Christ Jesus appeared to many after rising from the dead.
Death could not hold him but arose from the tomb. 1Corinthians 15: 14-20 say, if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… then your faith is futile; and you are still in your sins… if only for this life we have hope in Christ we are of all people most to be pitied…For Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. The recordings of Jesus’ rising from the dead include Matthew 28: 2-3, 6-7; Mark 16: 6, 12, 14; Luke 24: 5-6, 13.
Jesus had power over death
Jesus said in John 10: 17-18, the reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father. Jesus confirmed that he has power of death and his life was in his hands under his authority. He said in Matthew 28: 18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Who can contend with him?
Jesus rose to confirm the resurrection
1Thessalonians 4: 14, we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Jesus rose from the dead so we will also rise with him one day. 1Corinthians 15: 22 says, for as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The message of Easter is that because Jesus lives, we shall live also with him.
Jesus rose to honour his promise
Numbers 23: 19 says, God is not human that he should lie, not a human being that he should change his mind. Does he promise and not fulfill? Jesus is faithful to his word and his promise. In like vain, he said in John 14: 2, my Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? His words must be taken seriously just as the voice said at his baptism in Matthew 17: 5; Mark 9: 7; Luke 9: 35, “This is my Son, whom I live; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him. How meaningful is Jesus’ resurrection to us?
Jesus rose to fulfill prophesy
Jesus said in Luke 24: 46, “This is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. He had earlier said in Luke 18: 31-33, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled… they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 17, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Jesus rose as ordained in scripture.
Jesus rose to glorify God
Colossians 2: 15 says, and having dismantled the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. His rising was public notice of his superiority. Ephesians 1:20-22 say, God raised Christ Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in this present age but also in the one to come. And God has placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Jesus is God’s glory that humiliates the devil.
Jesus rose to prove his worthiness
Revelation 5: 12 says, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise.” He always glorified God. John 6: 38 says, for I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. Jesus said in John 9: 4, as long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Only Jesus is worthy. Revelation 5: 9 says, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open the seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Who is Jesus?
Jesus rose as our mediator
Jesus rose so he would intercede for us as a mediator. Hebrews 7: 25-27 says, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for sins once for all when he offered himself. There was no qualified mediator aside from Jesus. Is Jesus our high priest to mediate for us?
Jesus rose to reward his faithful
Jesus said of his terms for his reward in Revelation 2: 10, be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. In expectation, Paul said in 2Timothy 4: 8, now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Describing the reward, 1Peter 5: 4 says, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. This reward could not be given in death or in the grave. Has he risen in our lives?
Jesus rose as our eternal judge
Jesus rose from the dead to be our judge in eternity. John 5: 27 says, and he (God) has given him (Jesus) authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. In Matthew 16: 27, he will reward each person according to what they have done. In 2Timothy 4: 8, Jesus is the appointed righteous Judge on the judgment day. What can we hide from him? Acts 17: 31 says, for he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. Is the Risen Christ our victory in true righteousness? If so, SHALOM!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, rise in our hearts and perfect your righteousness in us. Let our celebration of your rising be meaningful to prepare our souls. We pray in the blessed name of Christ Jesus, Amen!!
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