The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the final step in God’s payment for the sins of mankind. Speaking of our salvation Romans 4:25 summed it up with these words, “Who (Christ) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (KJV). With His resurrection Christ “was declared the Son of God with power” (Romans 1:4). He now had the power over death which was foretold when God placed the curse on the serpent. “I (God, the Father) will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed (Christ); He (Christ) shall bruise your (Satan) on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15). Satan was going to bruise Christ’s heel by causing Him to die, but Christ bruised Satan’s head when Christ came forth from the grave. Until Christ arose from the dead, Satan had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14), but when Christ came forth from the grave, He struck a death blow to Satan’s power.
Other Old Testament Prophecies
of Christ’s Resurrection
“I (God the Father) will surely tell of the decree of the LORD; He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You” (Psalm 2:7). Paul quotes this passage and said it was fulfilled when Christ was resurrected (Acts 13:32-33). Another psalm of David foretold Christ’s resurrection in these words, “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay” (16:10). Peter quoted this passage proving that David was not speaking of himself, but of Christ and that Christ had been raised to sit at the right hand of God, the Father (Acts 2:25-35). Probably the greatest, most complete prophecy about Christ is Isaiah 53. In this passage, like the psalms quoted above, Christ’s resurrection was foretold. “But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a quilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand” (v. 10). Even though Christ was to be crushed, Christ would come back to life and see His offspring – faithful Christians.
The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection
First, Christ’s resurrection was necessary so that people could be saved. As was noted above, “Who (Christ) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25 KJV). This is why Peter connected our salvation with Christ’s resurrection when he wrote, “baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21). This is what make baptism so beautiful. We re-enact what happened to Christ. He died, was buried, and arose to walk a new life. When one is baptized according to the Bible, one dies to his or her sins, is buried in water to reach the blood of Christ, and then arises to walk a new life (Romans 6:3-4).
Second, Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of the church. When Jesus asked His disciples who He was, Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus’ response was, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). When Jesus died His soul went into the hadean realm (Acts 2:27, 31) but He came forth from that realm and because of that, was able to establish His church.
Third, Christ’s resurrection is proof that wrongs will be punished. Paul proclaimed that truth to those in Athens in these words, “He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Sometimes, life seems so unfair. It seems that the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. It seems that the wicked get away with everything. Paul promises that the wicked will suffer the wrath of God (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) but we are “to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10).
Fourth, Christ’s resurrection is proof that we will have immortal bodies in the next life. As Paul described the hope the resurrection of Christ gives us, he said that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep…Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming” (I Corinthians 15:20, 23). Our bodies are so weak and frail. They are not meant to live eternally. But God has prepared a special body for our next life. Paul described it this way. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body” (I Corinthians 15:42-44).
Our bodies will be like Christ’s resurrected body. It looked like His physical body (John 20:27-28), but was not limited by time, space, or what is material. He could go instantly from one place to another (Luke 24:31). He could appear in a room when the doors were shut (John 20:19).
By looking at these and many other facts, it’s no wonder that the resurrection of Christ was the greatest miracle! It’s no wonder that since we are given the promise of our resurrection that Christ’s resurrection gives us the greatest hope.
Today Christ is our Savior. On the last day He will be our judge. Is your spiritual life ready to stand before Christ? “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Wayne Burger
