The Resurrection of Jesus Christ - Part II

As we have mentioned, the Old Testament indicates both the general resurrection of men from the dead in bodily form, as well as the specific resurrection of the Son of God from the dead in bodily form. In the previous essay, we examined some Old and New Testament passages concerning the general resurrection of men from the dead, some to eternal life, some to eternal death. 

In this essay, we will examine the Bible’s record of the prophecies concerning the resurrection of the Son of God, and its importance. 

The Foundation of the Bodily Resurrection 

The foundation for the resurrection of the Son of God comes to us from Psalm 2. In this Psalm, the writer, David, gives us the eternal plan of God regarding the Father’s intentions to raise His Son from the dead. This “conversation” from the Father to the Son tells us that the resurrection of the Lord was not a by-product of His death, a reaction from God after the death of the Son. However, it was a predetermined purpose of God in order to demonstrate Who Jesus Christ is to the world. 

Psalm 2:6–7 (LSB)

​6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King 

Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 

​7 “I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh: 

He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, 

Today I have begotten You. 

This section of the Psalm tells for us the eternal plan of God regarding the Son. He is King. He will reign in Jerusalem. This has yet to occur. 

However, included with this is the promise that that same King will be “poured out” on Mount Zion, a reference to His death, and will be subsequently raised from the dead. Although, historically, the interpretation of Psalm 2:7 has been to refer to the term “begotten” in a more philosophical, figurative way, we will see that it has clear reference to the resurrection of the Son from the dead.  

Psalm 2:7 indicates a statement from the Father to the Son, recorded for us by the Holy Spirit. This statement says that the King is His Son. This “sonship” is foundational to the work of God in redemption. Unless the Son obey the Father and be willing to be poured out on Mt. Zion, there could be no redemption, no means of the power of sin to be destroyed. The Apostle Paul says as much in Romans 1:2-3. The Son was declared to be the Son by means of His resurrection from the dead. 

Further, Psalm 2:7 records for us the statement, “Today, I have begotten You.” As mentioned, this portion of the text is often interpreted in a way that is metaphoric, figurative. Using the allusion to physical conception and birth, most writers take this to mean something similar in the spiritual realm and assume an eternal begetting of the Son. However, the term “begotten” is almost never used in a figurative way in the Old Testament. It is overwhelmingly used to denote a physical activity that has occurred wherein a man or woman conceived and brought a child into this world. Although there are times that the idea of coming into the world, or into existence, is the emphasis and is comparable to birth, these allusions are based upon the fact of birth itself. 

 That is how it is meant in Psalm 2:7. The “begotten” effect of the Son is a reference of the Son coming into the world, not from His incarnation, but from His resurrection. In this decree, the Son would be “poured out” on Mt. Zion, but “brought to life” by the resurrection. This is how the Psalm is understood in all of its references in the New Testament. Jesus Christ was begotten to life by means of the bodily resurrection from the dead. This indicates that the resurrection of the Son is the dominant component of the eternal purpose of God. 

The Significance of the Bodily Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ must be understood in the context of a bodily resurrection. Sometimes we make the assumption that the significance of this is obvious, but it is not. The body of Jesus Christ was made alive from a dead state by the power of God. His body, although crucified three days before, was made whole and perfect the Sunday morning of His resurrection. 

 The significance of this is made evident to us by the Apostle Peter. In the first sermon produced in Scripture after the Lord’s ascension to heaven, Peter lays out for his listeners, the men of Judea, the Old Testament precedence for the bodily resurrection of the Messiah. The preaching of Peter is a masterful explanation of the validity of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, primarily based upon the fact of the resurrection as prophesied of in the Old Testament. 

Peter said,  

Acts 2:22–28 (LSB)

​22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

​23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death. 

​24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 

​25 “For David says of Him, 

‘I saw the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 

26 ‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;

Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;

​27 Because You will not forsake my soul to Hades, 

Nor give Your Holy One over to see corruption. 

​28 ‘You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

Peter’s use of Psalm 16 in this message is enlightening in that it identifies the resurrection of the Messiah, the Son of David, as future to the Psalm writer. Even though David, who wrote the Psalm, appears to refer to himself, it is clear that he wasn’t. John Polhill wrote, 

“It is well known that David died, so the psalm could not apply to him (v. 29). The psalm is thus a prophecy of David intended for a descendant who would sit on the Davidic throne (v. 30). The psalm applies to Christ, who indeed has risen and is thus the messianic descendant of whom David spoke (v. 31).”

This Psalm recounts David’s confidence and dependence upon YHWH concerning the troubles of his heart. Often David was surrounded by his enemies in battle, as well as in his own administrators, who turned on him. David often cried out to YHWH for help, and protection. The ultimate help would be the avoidance of death from his enemies. Further, the psalm also indicates that David had confidence in YHWH to the point of resurrection from the dead. 

However, the Apostle Peter gives us the interpretation of the psalm in Acts 2:29-32. Peter understood that King David wrote this Psalm, not from his role as king, but from his role as prophet. And, as prophet, David prophesied about his descendent Whom he knew would be the Messiah, and that his Descendant would die and be raised from the dead. This is a direct reference to the Son of David, Jesus Christ. 

The Historic Event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ From the Dead 

David’s psalm predicted what the New Testament records as fact. It is a matter of record that Jesus Christ is a descendent of King David. It is also a matter of record that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Therefore, Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah and, as Messiah, is the One prophesied to be raised from the dead in bodily form, never to die again. 

The New Testament gives us the testimony of the resurrection of the Son. It is important that we collect these data in order to appreciate what the writers of the New Testament, particularly the four gospels, record for our faith and understanding. 

First of all, all four gospels tell us that the Sabbath has passed, and that the resurrection occurred on the “first day of the week.” The first day of the week for the Jew is the first day following the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is our Saturday. Even though the Jews reckoned their days from evening to evening, it is important to realize that each gospel writer tells us that it was just after dawn of the first day of the week that Jesus was discovered to have been raised from the dead. This fulfills the teaching of Jesus that He would be raised the third day following His crucifixion.

Secondly, His resurrection was bodily. That is, Jesus Christ died bodily on the Roman cross, and He was raised bodily from the dead. Each gospel tells of the women who observed the body of the Lord absent from the tomb in which He was laid Friday evening. The Scripture also records the testimony of Peter and John also observing the same. Further, Jesus Himself proving His own resurrection, appeared to the disciples behind closed doors, demonstrating that He was alive bodily. And what is more, Jesus appeared to the disciples for forty days following His own resurrection, then He was raised up into heaven before their very eyes.

Thirdly, the resurrected Lord Jesus was observed by many before He ascended to heaven, and after. The Apostle Paul tells us that as many as five-hundred believers interacted with the resurrected Lord, likely in Galilee. Only Paul records this event. However, that does not make the event incredible. Although some believe this to be the appearance to the twelve, and others looked on, it is best to see this wonderful event as a separate occasion. This testimony, given only by Paul, demonstrates the intention of the Lord to encourage and bolster the faith of the true brethren in the land of Israel.  

The Apostle John records for us the vision he had concerning the Lord Jesus as well. In Revelation 1:12-16, John describes for us the moment that he saw the Lord, Who was speaking to him. This vision of Christ describes for us His great glory, the glory He had before the world began, and has regained once having ascended. The description here is magnificent, andresembles the vision of the Lord before His incarnation.

This same apostle also gives us a description of the Savior when He returns from heaven in order to judge the earth. The description is found in Revelation 19:12, resembling the same of Revelation 1:14. He will be riding a white horse, be wearing His kingly crown, and will be wielding the sword of His mouth, that is the pronouncement of His reign and the judgment upon the earth.

These passages, and there are more, give to us the sequence of events that produce a fuller picture of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection is bodily, it is powerful, and it is permanent. 

Conclusion

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the bodily resurrection of the righteous in the future. The rest, those who never believe in Christ, will be bodily raised to be sent to eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. 

However, when the Lord was raised, He became to us the “first-fruits” of the resurrection.For those who believe His Word, they can look forward to the exhilarating time when, by the same power of God which raised Jesus from the dead bodily, we will be raised from the dead into a new body for His great glory.