The resurrection of Jesus Christ was one of the most momentous events in history. By rising from the dead to return to eternal power at the right hand of the Father, Jesus fulfilled a vital part of the plan of God that has paramount importance to the life and future of every human being.
Jesus’ resurrection
So where does the Bible first refer to Jesus’ resurrection? The plan of God, which included both Jesus’ death and resurrection, was actually in place before the creation of man (Revelation 13:8). Still, it is obvious from biblical history that men had a very limited understanding of that plan.
In one sense, we can see the first prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection in Genesis 3:15. This prophecy shows that there would be a time when the serpent, Satan, would appear to have success in attacking Jesus (“you shall bruise His heel”). However, Jesus (the promised “Seed”) would ultimately triumph over the serpent and destroy his power completely (“He shall bruise your head”).
The fulfillment of this prophecy occurred as Satan influenced Judas to betray Jesus to the Jewish religious authorities and also influenced these leaders to have Jesus crucified (Luke 22:3-4; John 8:40, 44; Mark 15:9-13).
Even though Satan was successful in having Jesus put to death, Jesus still fulfilled His purpose for coming to earth as a human and now sits at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus’ death was necessary “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).
There are quite a few other Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus’ resurrection, but those prophecies were not really understood when Jesus began His ministry in the first century. It was only later that the apostles began to realize what those prophecies were about.
At the end of His ministry, Jesus told His disciples, “‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.’ But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken” (Luke 18:31-34).
“I am the resurrection and the life”
One of Jesus’ last teachings regarding resurrection occurred not long before His crucifixion and resurrection. This teaching was coupled with a miracle Jesus performed by raising His friend Lazarus from the dead.
Prior to bringing Lazarus back to life, Jesus told Lazarus’ sister Martha, “Your brother will rise again . . . I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:23, 25).
On this occasion Jesus resurrected Lazarus back to physical life. But Jesus also spoke of a resurrection to eternal life that He would be able to offer humans who believed on Him after He rose from the dead.
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