THE EASTER STORY
(“Resurrection Sunday”)
(A) THE QUESTION
(1) The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Everything we believe depends on it.1 Everything we hope for, in this life and the next, stands or falls on whether or not Jesus rose from the dead. Even Scripture says: “if Christ has NOT been raised, (our) faith is worthless” (c.f. I Corinthians 15:17). Christianity as we know it cannot (and would not) exist IF Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, and then rise from the dead three days later (c.f. I Corinthians 15:3-4).
(2) The resurrection of Christ is so foundational to Christianity, that no one who denies it can be a true Christian.2 The Book of Romans says: “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (c.f. Romans 10:9) – with the implication being that anyone who does NOT confess Jesus as Lord, and does NOT believe God raised Him from dead cannot (and will not) be saved! (Obviously, there’s more involved here than just believing in the physical event of the resurrection – but unless one believes that, they will not believe any of the truths associated with it!)3
(3) Anyone who says, “I believe in Jesus” – but denies His resurrection – does not believe in the Jesus presented to us in the Bible. For the fact He rose from the dead is stated everywhere.
For example, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached that, “God raised (Jesus) up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (c.f. Acts 2:24). Paul preached that, “Pilate executed Jesus – after which He was laid in a tomb” – but then, 30“God raised Him from the dead; 31and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee …” (c.f. Acts 13:28-31). The Book of Romans says Jesus “was declared (to be) the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead” (c.f. Romans 1:4) – the Book of Colossians is clearly referring to the resurrection when it says Jesus is “the firstborn from the dead” (c.f. Colossians 1:18) – while the Book of Hebrews closes with a benediction that talks (in part) about how God “brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep” (c.f. Hebrews 13:20) (which is reference to Jesus) (c.f. John 10:11).
To say, then, that, “I believe in Jesus – I just don’t believe He rose from the dead”, is to believe in a Jesus of whom the Bible knows nothing! Not to mention, a Jesus who is utterly powerless to save anyone from their sins (c.f. I Corinthians 15:14, 17-19)!
(4) This morning’s Scripture lesson from the Gospel of Matthew is one of four accounts of Jesus’ resurrection – written by four different, Spirit-inspired authors (c.f. II Peter 1:20-21). However, I’m not going to be preaching from this passage of Scripture per se. Instead, I’m going to let Question #52 from the Westminster Larger Catechism guide our thinking – which asks: “How was Christ exalted in His resurrection?”4 In other words, “How was He glorified – how was He lifted up in terms of praise and adoration, as a result of rising from the dead?”
The Psalmist has written: “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven” (c.f. Psalm 148:13). How has Jesus’ resurrection “exalted His name” – how is the fact that “He has risen from the dead” (c.f. Matthew 28:7) resulted in Him being “glorified above heaven and earth”?
(B) THE ANSWER
(1) As you can see from your sermon outline, the answer to Larger Catechism Question #52 is rather lengthy – consisting of almost twenty separate phrases. I have no intention of trying to examine them all – but I do want to highlight several – starting with the fact that Christ was exalted in His resurrection (in part) because, while He was dead His body did not undergo decay. (The Catechism says He “(did) not (see) corruption in death”.)4
(a) You know as well as I do that normally, the moment death occurs, our bodies begin to decompose and return to dust (c.f. Genesis 3:19). Hence, when Jesus came to Lazarus’ tomb four days after his friend had died, Martha objected to having the stone removed from her brother’s grave, saying: “Lord, by this time there will be a stench” (c.f. John 11:39) – and since we aren’t told anything to the contrary, we can assume there was a stench because Lazarus’ body would have begun to decay. However, something entirely different and unique happened in the case of Jesus!
(b) Back in Psalm Sixteen, David wrote that God would “(not) allow (His) Holy One to undergo decay” (c.f. Psalm 16:10). Centuries later, Peter quoted this exact verse and applied it to Jesus, arguing that since David had died and everyone knew where his body was buried, this verse must be referring to someone else. Hence, he said that David was: “look(ing) ahead and (speaking) of the resurrection of the Christ … (and the fact that) His flesh (would not) suffer decay” (c.f. Acts 2:27-31). Paul makes the same point in another passage found in Acts chapter thirteen, saying that, 36“after (David) had served the purpose of God in his own generation, (he) fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37but He whom God raised (i.e. Jesus) did not undergo decay” (c.f. Acts 13:35-37).
During His three days in the tomb, then (following His crucifixion and death), Jesus’ body did not undergo any kind of corruption or decomposition – which means (among other things) that there was no stench in Jesus’ tomb.
(c) So what? – you asked. Just this – we are obviously not dealing with an ordinary Person here! Rather, we are dealing with someone who is vastly different from any other individual who has ever lived – for the bodies of all other people have started to decay the moment they died – but not Jesus! Not His body! His body remained intact! His body remained untouched by decay! His body remained as it had been when He was alive – for three days – until our Savior rose from the dead!
It’s also important to understand that this is just one facet of Jesus’ resurrection – one of many facets that, when taken together, reassure us our salvation really has been secured – once and for all, and forever! Hence, Peter went on to say (in the same passage we just quoted from Acts chapter two): 36“THEREFORE let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified (and whose body did not undergo decay) … 38(so) repent and be baptized in the name of (this) Jesus … for the forgiveness of your sins …” (c.f. Acts 2:36-38). Likewise, Paul went on to say: 38“THEREFORE let it be known … that through (this Jesus, whose body did not undergo decay while He was dead) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and (that) through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses” (c.f. Acts 13:38-39).
(d) Bottom line? In a way we cannot fully grasp (at least I can’t!), our salvation depends (in part) on the fact that Jesus’ body did not undergo decay during those three days it laid in the tomb! Indeed, this is one evidence (among many) that Jesus IS the Christ – even the Savior God promised to send, who would save His people from their sins!
(2) Second, Christ is exalted in His resurrection (in part) because, the body He had after He rose from the dead was the same one He had before He died, even though it was different in certain ways – or, as the answer to Larger Catechism Question #52 says: “having the very same body in which He suffered, with the essential properties thereof (but without mortality, and other common infirmities belonging to this life).”4
(a) That Jesus’ resurrection body was the same body He had before, is evidenced by the fact that His hands and feet bore the marks of His crucifixion – while the sword wound in His side was also visible (c.f. Luke 24:39). Hence, Jesus told Thomas (in the Gospel of John): “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing” (c.f. John 20:27).
We can also add that it was a real body like He had before (and not an apparition) because it was a body of “flesh and bones” that could be touched and felt – and that when given a piece of fish to eat, Jesus was able to eat it (c.f. Luke 24:39-43).
(b) However, even though Jesus’ resurrection body was the same body He had before He died, there were some differences. As one writer said, “it was the same in identity – but different in quality.”6 For one thing, Jesus was now able to appear or disappear at will. Hence, after revealing Himself to several disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Gospel of Luke says: “He vanished from their sight” (c.f. Luke 24:31) – only to suddenly appear in the midst of another group of disciples several hours later, and several miles away (c.f. Luke 24:36).
We can also say that all the properties described in First Corinthians chapter fifteen – given in answer to the question: “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” (c.f. I Corinthians 15:35) – applied to Jesus’ resurrection body. In other words, it was no longer an “earthly body”, but a “heavenly body” (v. 40) – it was no longer “perishable”, but “imperishable” (v. 42) – no longer “natural”, but “spiritual” (v. 44) – no longer “mortal”, but “immortal” (vs. 53-54).
(c) So, how is Jesus exalted by all this? For one thing, as a passage we quoted earlier says, Jesus must have the honor of being “first … in everything” – in this instance, by being “the firstborn from the dead” (c.f. Colossians 1:18). Someone may say, “But Jesus wasn’t the first person to ever rise from the dead!” (c.f. I Kings 17:17-23; Luke 7:14-15; John 11:43-44) – which is quite true. BUT, He is the first Person to rise from the dead who didn’t eventually die a second time! He is the first Person to rise from the dead with a new resurrection body, like the one described in First Corinthians chapter fifteen! He is the first Person to rise from the dead, never to die again! And therein lies part of His glory! And therein lies our hope – as we will see in moment.
(3) Third, Christ is exalted in His resurrection (in part) because, He raised Himself from the dead – or, as the answer to Larger Catechism Question #52 says: “He rose from the dead the third day BY HIS OWN POWER.”4
(a) Scripture tells us that both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit were involved in the resurrection of God the Son. For example, Peter said Jesus was “delivered over to the hands of godless men, by the predetermined plan of God” – that these godless men “put Him to death” – but then, “GOD raised Him up again …” (c.f. Acts 2:23-24).
Paul said that after Jesus had been executed, and laid in a tomb, “GOD raised Him from the dead” – and that He then appeared to many people over a period of many days (c.f. Acts 13:28-31). While in another passage we read earlier, we were told that in order to be saved, we must “believe in (our) heart that GOD raised (Jesus) from the dead” (c.f. Romans 10:9).
As for the Holy Spirit’s involvment, Romans chapter eight talks about “the SPIRIT of Him who raised Jesus from the dead” (c.f. Romans 8:11) – which indicates the Holy Spirit was also involved in Christ’s resurrection.7
(b) It’s clear, then, that the First and Third Persons of the Trinity were involved in Jesus rising from the dead. As William Hendricksen explains, it was God the Father who took the lead (as it were), working through God the Spirit.8 So, how can the Catechism say Jesus rose from the dead by His own power?4 The answer? – because that’s what Jesus said – in John chapter ten, starting at verse seventeen, saying: 17“… the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I MAY TAKE IT AGAIN. 18No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I HAVE AUTHORITY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. This commandment I received from My Father” (c.f. John 10:17-18).
This is deep water – and I don’t pretend to understand it fully. But for me, it goes back (at least in part) to the fact that there is only One God (c.f. Deuteronomy 6:4), who exists in three Persons. Hence, although each Person in the Godhead may have certain particular duties, no one Person in the Godhead every acts completely independent of the other two! How can they, since there is only ONE God! How can ONE God act independently from Himself?!
Scripture says God alone has life in Himself (c.f. John 1:4; 5:26) – indeed, He IS life (c.f. Exodus 3:14)! Which means all three Persons of the Trinity have life in Themselves. Scripture also says that as a Man, it has been given to God the Son “to have life in Himself” by God the Father (c.f. John 5:26). Hence, Jesus was able to say: “I have authority to lay … down (my life), and I have authority to take (my life) up again”, “because this is what God the Father has commanded Me (and what He has given Me the ability) to do” (c.f. John 10:18).
(c) How, then, is Jesus exalted (or glorified) by this? First of all, anyone who can raise themselves from the dead deserves to be praised for their extra-ordinary, one-of-a-kind ability! No one else has ever done what Jesus did – i.e. raise themselves from the dead by their own power! Baseball players are praised for being able to hit home runs – basketball coaches are praised for being able to win championships – actors are praised for being able to perform on cue. How much more should someone be praised who has demonstrated that He has the power (within Himself) to raise Himself from the dead?!
Beyond that, however, this whole notion of Jesus raising Himself from the dead points to His deity9 – that He really is God, come in human flesh (c.f. John 1:14) – that He and the Father really are “one”, as He will say a few verses from later (c.f. John 10:30). And therein lies His glory – and the ultimate reason for His exaltation. As the psalmist says: “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God … and (I) will GLORIFY Your name forever” (c.f. Psalm 86:12). Jesus deserves to be glorified (or exalted) because His resurrection – including the fact He raised Himself from the dead BY HIS OWN POWER – demontrates that He really is God!
(4) Finally, Christ is exalted in His resurrection (in part) because, His resurrection assures us Christians of ours – as the last phrase in the answer to Larger Catechism Question #52 says: “(Jesus rose again from the dead) to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day”4 (“them” being all those who have repented of their sins, and professed saving faith in Jesus Christ) (including you and me, if we have done those two things).
(a) The Apostle Peter once told his readers that he and they had been “born again to a LIVING hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” – even a hope that was “reserved (for them) in heaven” (c.f. I Peter 1:3-4). Surely we are not wrong when we say that “LIVING hope” includes our own physical resurrection from the dead!
The Apostle Paul told the Philippians that “the power of (Jesus’) resurrection” was what gave him hope he would “attain to the resurrection from the dead” himself (c.f. Philippians 3:10-11). He told the Corinthians that Jesus’ “resurrection (from) the dead” was a kind of “first fruits” – which means it is to be followed by a “haverst” of the resurrection of His disciples from dead (c.f. I Corinthians 15:20-23). And, he told the Romans that “if we have become united with (Christ) in the likeness of His death, (we shall certainly) also be (united with Him) in the likeness of His resurrection” (c.f. Romans 6:5) – which, as we’ve already seen, was a physical resurrection.
(b) More importantly, is Jesus’ own testimony – first to Martha, to whom He said: “I am the resurrection and the LIFE; he who believes in Me will LIVE even if he dies” (c.f. John 11:25) – after which, He raised her brother Lazarus from the dead (physically) as an illustration of what He was talking about (c.f. John 11:43-44).
Then, on another occasion, He told His disciples: “everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will RAISE HIM UP on the last day” (c.f. John 6:40) – and, since the only thing to be “raised up” is our dead bodies, Jesus was obviously talking about the resurrection.
Then there’s our Lord’s promise to all His followers everywhere, saying, “because I LIVE, you will LIVE also” (c.f. John 14:19) – to which the Apostle John adds, that “we will be like” our resurrected Savior! And if we inquire as to what “being like our Savior” will entail, surely the answer must include the fact that since He rose from the dead, so will we – since He rose physically, so will we – since He rose with the same body He had before He died, so will we – since He rose with a body that was different in quality, so will we!
(c) How, then, is Jesus exalted (or glorified) by OUR resurrection from the dead? Part of the answer has to be that, He is exalted by virtue of being able to keep His promise – a promise no one else in all the history of the world ever dared to make, because no one else in all the history of the world would have been able to keep it!
On one occasion Jesus asked His audience: 5“‘Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or … “Get up, and walk”? 6But so … you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ – … He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, pick up your bed and go home.’ 7And (the man) got up and went home” (c.f. Matthew 9:5-7).
In a similar fashion, I ask: “Which is harder – to raise oneself from the dead – or someone else?” Both are equally difficult, are they not? Even impossible for mere men like ourselves. And yet, we’ve already seen that Jesus raised Himself from the dead – so why should we doubt that He can raise us from the dead as well? And when He does, will He not deserve to be exalted?! Will He not deserve our eternal praise and adoration – our eternal gratitude and love – even our eternal worship and service?! Indeed, does He not deserve it right now – in anticipation of what He is going to do in the very near future?!
And the angel said: “(He is not here) He has risen from the dead” (c.f. Matthew 28:7). And because He has, He is to be exalted!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1MacArthur: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary;
Matthew 24-28; p. 304.
2IBID; p. 305.
3The English Standard Study Bible: Footnote on Romans
10:9-10; p. 2175.
4The Westminster Larger Catechism; Question #52.
5MacArthur: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary;
Acts 1-12; p. 66.
6Williamson: The Shorter Catechism; Vol. 1; p. 111.
7MacArthur: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary;
Romans 1-8; p. 420.
8Hendricksen: New Testament Commentary; Romans; p. 253.
9The New Geneva Study Bible: Footnote on John 10:18;
p. 1683.