Jesus Rose from the Dead
Day 25
by Gini Crawford, MSW
Dead and buried for us
Our entire Christian faith hangs on the truth that Jesus Christ not only died for our sins, but that He rose from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 explains this truth: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..."
A missionary nurse told me this: A teenager got sick and died. The people of that tribe gathered to bury the boy when all of sudden he sat up. The people were shocked but rejoiced. Was the boy resurrected? No! The tribe didn't understand the medical condition of death. The nurse said, "Now that she was there this scenario wouldn't happen again, because she knew how to tell if someone was dead or not."
Did Jesus really rise from the dead, or did people just think He was dead? The Romans, the Jewish leaders, and His disciples, foe and friend alike of Jesus, recognized He was dead. It was His resurrection they struggled to believe. Here are some proofs Jesus was dead:
In Mark 15:43-45, the Centurion who was in charge of Jesus' crucifixion, understood death and knew how to kill by crucifixion. He told Pilate that Jesus was dead. A soldier who had done many crucifixions thought Jesus was dead but made double sure by piercing Jesus' heart and stomach area. The blood and water that flowed from Jesus has several physiological explanations, but it is a sign of death (John 19:31-35).
Jewish leaders, Joseph and Nicodemus knew Jesus was dead, so out of respect buried Him by Jewish custom. They asked Pilate for His body which Pilate gave to them after he heard from the Centurion that Jesus was dead. Jesus' body was taken down from the cross, which wasn't an easy task since Jesus was nailed to the cross and had gone through a lot of physical torture. In other words, Jesus' body was a heavy lifeless bloody mess. Then they took His body to a tomb and prepared it for burial by wrapping linen cloths around Him. They put spices between the wrappings which formed a tight shell around the body. If Jesus was alive they would have noticed. (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-55; John 3:1-2, 19:39).
...so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath...the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water....For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced." After these things Joseph of Arimathea...asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also... So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:30-42 ESV®
Try to imagine how Joseph and Nicodemus felt as they handled Jesus' bloody lifeless body and prepared it for burial in the tomb. What emotions do you think they would have had? Did they believe what Jesus said about rising from the dead? How would you have felt?
Triumph over death
Jesus' resurrection proved He is God, not just a man with good intentions. It makes sense that the triune God would have the power and authority to control life and death - consequently He rose from the dead (John 1:1-4, 2:18-22, 10:17-18; Acts 2:24). Without Jesus' resurrection there would be no victory over sin and death, no life from His death and no hope for heaven. Jesus' resurrection proved all His promises to us are true and guaranteed (1 Peter 1:3-4).
... and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord / ...and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV®
To consider: Jesus' resurrection is the ultimate triumph over death and the grave, and the ultimate giver of life everlasting. But what if Jesus hadn't risen from the dead?
Life Application
The power of Jesus' death and resurrection
The power that raised Jesus Christ, is the power at work for us and in us towards all who believe. Ephesians 1:19-20 says, "the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead." When you feel hopeless; or your finances have seen better days and your health too; or the grief from a death is drowning you in sorrow; or a sin has made you a captive - remember there is hope to overcome because the power of the resurrection is ours in Jesus. Because of Jesus resurrection His power through His Spirit lives within us. Read Acts 1:3-8; Romans 15:13. How do you avail yourself of God's immeasurable power?
Romans chapter six talks about the life-changing power we have because of Jesus' death and resurrection. Read Romans 6:3-23. Baptized here means, placing a person into union with something so as to alter their condition from their previous condition. Being baptized into Jesus Christ places us into union with His death, burial and resurrection, thus altering our sinful nature into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). When you bury someone you are acknowledging their death. Being buried with Jesus means we are dead to sin's power over us. Since we are united with Jesus' death, we are certainly united with His resurrection. His resurrection gives us an assured bodily resurrection but also a spiritual resurrection, thereby giving us the power to walk in newness of life for God. Yet, there is a dilemma because death to sin is separation from sin's power but not the extinction of sin. So as Christians, we can still struggle with sin on this earth. The question is, can you really have victory over sin? Yes, with Jesus! As Romans 6:11-12 says, "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." Share any insights from Romans 6:3-23.
Know that Jesus loves you unconditionally and will empower you to overcome any of the challenges you may face, no matter how daunting they seem. Remember, by His power He rose from the dead, conquering death itself, so that you too can rise above any earthly hardship even death. Read 2 Corinthians 4:14-18; Ephesians 3:19-20; Philippians 3:20-21, 4:11-13. Have you ever ask Jesus to help you deal with something and felt His strength helping you? Explain.
Reflect on Ephesians 1:19-20.