Featured The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: The Foundation of Christianity

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
By John Henry
April 8, 2000
Part One​

SCRIPTURE TEXT

John 11:25-26: "Jesus said ..., I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Romans 10:8-10: "... The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

John 19:41: "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid."

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INTRODUCTION

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is foundational to the Christian Faith. It is, by far, the most important doctrine that we believe.

"And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:14-19)

On the other hand, if Christ Jesus did raise from the dead as He said He would then it verifies that everything He said is true: Christ's resurrection proves His claim of Deity, it proves His claim to be the only one to be able to save souls from Hell, it proves His claim to be able to raise also those who trust in Him, it proves that everything the Bible says is true.

There are only two alternatives: Either the Lord's resurrection is not true and the disciples were fools or deceivers; or the resurrection is an historical fact which backs up all the claims of God in the Bible. Christians either believe a lie or we believe the truth.

According to the Bible one's eternal destiny depends on what he believes about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to make an intelligent decision one must look at the facts. So let's carefully look at the evidence and make a logical decision. I want you to see 1) just exactly what Christ's resurrection was, 2) the proofs for His resurrection, 3) the necessity of the resurrection, and 4) just exactly what the Lord's resurrection accomplished.

THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

Before we examine the evidences for Christ's resurrection we first need to define what the resurrection was.

The resurrection was not merely spiritual, and neither was it a resuscitation as cultists and false teachers claim. Christ's resurrection was spiritual, but it was also a literal, bodily (physical) resurrection from the dead.

Evidence That It Was Not A Resuscitation:

The Lord really died on the cross. His death was verified by:

1. The Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, who ordered the death of Christ:

Mark 15:43-45: "Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph."

2. A Roman soldier who pierced His side with a spear:

John 19:31-34: "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

3. The testimony of two eye witnesses, Matthew and John:

Matthew 27:50: "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost."

John 19:30, 34-35: "Jesus...said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. ... But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe."

4. The testimony of Luke, a physician (Col 4:14):

Luke 23:46: "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."

Evidence That It Was Not Just A Spiritual Resurrection:

1. The Lord Jesus had flesh and bones:

Luke 24:39: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have."

2. The resurrected Christ could be touched:

John 20:27-28: "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."

3. The Lord ate after His resurrection:

Luke 24:42-43: "And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them."

 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
By John Henry
April 8, 2000
Part Two
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EVIDENCES FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

Ancient Historical Documents That Testify To The Fact Of The Resurrection:

1. Flavius Josephus (37 - 100 AD), the famous Jewish historian, who was contemporary with the apostles says:

"...when Pilate had condemned him (Jesus) to the cross...those who had loved from the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive on the third day....And even now, the race of Christians, so named from him, has not died out." (written about 90 AD)

2. Cornelius Tacitus (55 - 117 AD), a Roman historian, wrote:

"Hence to suppress the rumor [that Nero burned Rome], he falsely charged with guilt, and punished with most exquisite tortures the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also."

3. Ignatius (50 - 115 AD), who was a disciple of the Apostle John, said:

"...He [Jesus Christ] was crucified in reality, and not in appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit. He really died, and was buried, and rose from the dead."

4. The best authenticated ancient historical document in the world, the New Testament record. There are over 5,000 manuscripts that are in 95% agreement with each other. That is a lot more manuscripts and a lot more agreement than any other ancient document of antiquity. These documents were written by highly reliable men, most of them eye witnesses to the resurrection, as they were guided by the Holy Spirit.


Luke 1:1-4: "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the Word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."

Acts 1:1-3: "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."

Eye Witness Testimony To The Fact Of The Resurrection:

1. Mary Magdalen (Luke 24:6-10; John 20:11-18).

2. The Apostle John (John 19:33-36, 20:30-31, 21:24).

3. The Apostle Peter (Acts 2:14-32, 3:12-15; I Peter 1:18-21).

4. The Apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-8; I Cor 15-1-9).

5. All the apostles (Acts 4:33; I Cor 15:7).

6. Two disciples on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-48).

7. The church:

* Assembled on Sunday (John 20:19, 26).

* Assembled in Galilee (Matt 28:16-17).

* Assembled near Jerusalem (Acts 1:4).

* With over 500 assembled (1 Cor 15:6).

The Evidence At The Crucifixion And At The Tomb:

1. Christ was wounded to death:

* He was beaten by some of the Jews (Matt 26:65-68; Mark 14:65).

* He was scourged by the Romans (John 19:1; Mark 15:15). A Roman scourging alone could kill a man. Jesus’ body was a bloody mass after this scourging.

* A crown of thorns was placed on His head and He was beaten on the head with a reed, and once again with their hands (Matt 27:29-30; Mark 15:17-19; John 19:1-3).

* Nails were driven through His hands and feet (Mark 15:22-25; Luke 23:33).

* His side was pierced with a spear to make sure He was dead (John 19:31-37). The piercing of Christ's side and the outflow of "blood and water" (John 19:34) gave evidence of the reason for His death. Unknown then, but now established medically, was the fact that in the case of a heart rupture, and only then, blood collects in the lining around the heart. The red and white cells separate into a bloody clot and a watery serum. The heavier clot of red blood cells came our first with the water flowing directly afterwards. The Lord's heart had burst because He was carrying the thing that He hated the most, sin. Our sins literally killed the Lord of glory! (Psalm 22:14-16; Isa 53:6, 11)

2. Christ's burial:

* Christ's death was verified before the release of His body for burial (John 19:31-37; Mark 15:43-45).

* The Lord's body was embalmed in linen and "a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight" (John 19:39-40). (The grave clothes would have hardened into a cocoon during the three days in the tomb. I believe it was very convincing evidence for those who witnessed this undisturbed, but empty cocoon of grave cloths laying there.)

* Christ was placed in the tomb and a great stone rolled in front of the door (Matt 27:59-60; Mark 15:46).

3. Roman guards were placed to secure Christ's tomb (Matt 27:62-66):

* The chief priest and the Pharisees requested of Pilate saying, "Command that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day" (Matt 27:64).

* "Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." (Matt 27:65-66) Note: The Jews 1) made sure the Lord's body was there , 2) they sealed the tomb with a legal seal forbidding entry, and 3) they set a watch of rugged Roman guards to keep the tomb secure.

* At the dawning of the forth day the macho Roman guards were witnesses to the rolling away of the stone by an angel (Matt 28:2-3). "And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." (Matt 28:4)

* Then "...some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." (Matt 28:11-15) Note: It is a serious crime for a soldier to be asleep while on duty. And it would be absurd for all of them to be asleep at the same time. They had to have the protection of the priests from their superiors for their life's sake. Another thing is how could the fearful disciples have stood up to the well trained Roman soldiers. This is an obvious fabrication.

 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
By John Henry
April 8, 2000
Part Three​

The Evidence Of Fulfilled Prophecy:

Prophecies written hundreds of years before hand were fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ during the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. The prophecies below were written between 1000 and 400 years prior to Christ's fulfillment of them. Here are the approximate dates: The Prophet Zechariah wrote over 400 years prior to Christ, the Prophet Daniel over 500, Jeremiah (Lamentations) about 580, Isaiah about 650, and David (Psalm 16, 22, 34) about 1,000 years beforehand. These prophets foretold the following concerning the Lord Jesus:

1. His beatings and scourging fulfilled Lamentations 3:30; Isaiah 50:6, 52:14.

2. The nails in His hands and feet fulfilled Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 13:6.

3. His crucifixion with sinners fulfilled Isaiah 53:12.

4. The piercing of His side and the outflowing of blood and water fulfilled Zechariah 12:10; Psalm 22:14.

5. None of His bones were broken fulfilling Psalm 34:20.

6. His vicarious death fulfilled Isaiah 53:4-5, 8; Daniel 9:24-26.

7. His burial in a rich mans tomb fulfilled Isaiah 53:9

8. His resurrection fulfilled Isaiah 53:10; Psalm 16:10

The Willingness Of The Disciples To Die For What They Knew To Be True:

In the face of persecution and even death the disciples were more than willing to testify to the fact of the resurrection of Christ. This is an important evidence. It seems logical that one would make very sure that what he is teaching is true before he would be willing to die for teaching it.

Acts 4:8-12, 18-21, 33: "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.…And they…commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. ... And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."

Acts 5:27-35, 38, 40-41: "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?…Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them,…Refrain from these men, and let them alone...and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Consider this evidence:

1. The apostles Peter and John were put in prison, beaten, and commanded not to preach the resurrection of Christ (Acts 4:1-21, 5:17-42).

2. Stephen was the first to give his life for the resurrected Christ (Acts 7:54-60).

3. The Apostle Paul endured many beatings and suffered much for the truth of the resurrection of Christ (Acts 16:19-24; 2 Cor 11:23-28).

4. The Church continued in spite of great persecutions (Acts 8:1-3, 9:1-2, 12:1-4).

5. Tradition has it that all the apostles except John were martyred for their steadfast faith in Christ and His resurrection.

 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
By John Henry
April 8, 2000
Part Four​

LEGAL VERDICT ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

Not a few legal experts have examined the facts concerning the Resurrection, and upon a fair preponderance of the evidence came to the conclusion that Jesus did in fact raise from the dead.

Lord Lyndhurst's Verdict:

John Singleton Copely or Lord Lyndhurst (1772 - 1863) held the highest legal office of Great Briton, and was one of the greatest legal minds that country has ever known. After his death a lengthy document was found in his desk testifying to his Christian faith. In it were written these words:

"I know pretty well what evidence is; and I tell you, such evidence as that for the Resurrection has never broken down yet."

Sir Edward Clark's Verdict:

Clark said, "As a lawyer I have made prolonged study of the evidences for the events of the first Easter Day. To me the evidence is conclusive, and over and over again in the High Court I secured the verdict on evidence not nearly so compelling."

Frank Morison's Verdict:

Morison was an unbeliever, not a lawyer, but one who decided to write a book to disprove the resurrection of Christ by examining all the evidence. He did the necessary research, and after an honest study of the evidence was forced to admit that the Lord's resurrection did in fact occur. After receiving the Lord Jesus, he wrote a book called, "Who Moved The Stone?", which started from the most critical approach and concluded that the Lord did rise from the dead.

The Verdicts Of Other Legal Experts:

Other legal minds of international repute such as J. N. D. Anderson, Simon Greenleaf, and John Warwick Montgomery could be sited for there positive conclusions, and defense of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but let Copely, Clark, and Morison suffice here.

NECESSITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

The Resurrection Was Necessary To Fulfill Old Testament Prophecy:

1. "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Psalm 16:10; cf. Acts 2:25-32)

2. "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand." (Isaiah 53:8-10)

3. "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." (Jonah 1:17; cf. Matt 12:40)

The Resurrection Was Necessary To Fulfill Christ's Own Prediction Of It:

The Lord Jesus prophesied many times that He would rise from the dead (John 2:19-22; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:20-22; Matt 12:40, 16:21, 17:9, 22-23, 20:18-19, 26:32).

John 2:18-22: "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."

Matthew 12:38-40: "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

To fulfill Christ's prophecy of being "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" the Lord had to have been crucified on Thursday, not Friday. The Friday crucifixion is a false Catholic teaching. It only allows for two days and two nights in the grave thus defying the Scriptures.

In reality, however, the Lord died on a Thursday after a night and morning of unfair trials, mockings and torturous beatings. He was on the cross for about three hours, from about Noon (the sixth hour) till about 3 PM (the ninth hour) (Luke 23:44).

The High Day of Unleaven Bread was on Friday that year making it a special Sabbath (John 19:31, 42). It was Thursday, the day of preparation when they killed the Passover lambs. Jesus himself was "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," the fulfillment of the Passover (John 1:29).

The Lord Jesus "gave up the ghost" at about "the ninth hour" (Luke 23:44-46). "And after this Joseph of Arimathaea...besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus....Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand." (John 19:38, 40-41). For the Jews the new day began a dark and an High Day was at hand. The Lord's body needed to be laid to rest before night fall. It was.

Therefore, counting the day of the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus was in the tomb three days and three nights: Thursday before dark (day 1), all of Friday (day 2), and all of Saturday (day 3); Thursday night (night 1), Friday night (night 2), and Saturday night (night 3). The Lord rose sometime before sunrise on the first day of the week. This fulfilled the Lord's prediction that He would be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

The Resurrection Was Necessary For Our Salvation:

1. Christ's resurrection was necessary for our justification before God.

Romans 4:25: "[Jesus] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

2. Christ's resurrection was necessary for us to be "born again" into the family of God.

1 Peter 1:3-4: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

3. Christ's resurrection was necessary to destroy Satan's power over us:

Hebrews 2:14-15: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

4. Christ's resurrection was necessary so that we too might be raised from the dead.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
By John Henry
April 8, 2000
Part Five​

RESULTS OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

The Resurrection Declares Jesus To Be The Son Of God And Lord Of All:

The Lord's resurrection proves that He has power over death; it proves that He has power to forgive sin; it proves that He can deliver all that He promised; it proves that He is God, the Judge of all the Earth!

Romans 1:3-4: "... Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

Romans 14:9: "... Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

The Resurrection Guarantees That All The World Will Be Raised And Judged:

Revelation 1:18: "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Acts 17:31: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."

There will be the resurrection of life for the just; and there will be the resurrection of damnation for the unjust.

John 5:28-29: "... the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Acts 24:15: "... there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."

1. The just are guaranteed:

* Justification: "...[Christ Jesus] was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

* Salvation: "... if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom 10:9) "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Rom 5:10)

* Eternal Life: "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb 7:25) "... I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ... My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:17-18, 27-30) "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God....For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col 3:1, 3)

* The Holy Spirit: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" (John 7:37-39; cf. Acts 1:5, 2:32-33; 1 Cor 12:13)

* Power: "... that ye may know...the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." (Eph 1:18-20)

* Resurrection: "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you." (2 Cor 4:14)

2. The unjust are guaranteed:

* Resurrection: "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." (Rev 20:13)

* Judgment: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Rev 20:11-12)

* Eternal damnation: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev 20:14-15) "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matt 25:46)

CONCLUSION

The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Rev 1:18) "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25-26) Jesus asks this question to all of us! The Word of God promises, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom 10:9)

Christ's resurrection proved that He is Lord, and God. The Apostle Thomas would not believe that Jesus rose from the dead till he saw Jesus again with his own eyes, but when he did see the risen Lord he said, "My Lord and my God." (John 20:28) Then the Lord Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

Can you say along with Thomas, "My Lord and my God" and do you "believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead"? If you can say that from your heart, then, praise God, you are saved!

If you have not accepted this truth, I pray that you will received Christ Jesus as your risen Lord and Saviour right now. The evidence is overwhelming! Be honest and accept the truth now! The alternative is fearful beyond description!!!

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. ... 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 2:4-11, 6:23)

Jesus Christ died for you! Receive Him as your Saviour! Do it now!

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Col 3:1)

END​

 

Hi Gerhard,

Look at your complaint again. You say, "Sorry, but JBR is saying the very opposite of what Luke is saying! Luke is saying, The Lord Jesus "gave up the ghost" at about "the ninth hour" (Luke 23:44-46), BEFORE, "Joseph of Arimathaea ... besought Pilate” in Luke 23:52 only!"

Exactly, that is what the Scriptures that I quoted indicated. The Lord Jesus had to have given up the ghost (i.e. died) before Joseph of Arimathaea could "take away the body of Jesus." So the taking away of the body would be "after" the Lord's death. Again, this is what I wrote in the article:

"The Lord Jesus 'gave up the ghost' at about 'the ninth hour' (Luke 23:44-46). 'And after this Joseph of Arimathaea ... besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. ... Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.' (John 19:38, 40-41). For the Jews the new day began a dark and 'an High Day' was at hand. The Lord's body needed to be laid to rest before night fall. It was." (cf. John 19:31)

I cannot find any error in the facts stated. Joseph and Nicodemus, had about 3 and 1/2 hours of daylight to place the Lord's body in the tomb, which they did in fulfillment of the Lord's prophecy in Matthew.

Matthew 12:40: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (cf. Matt. 16:4)

Am I missing something?

JH

 

Hi again Gerhard,

Here are the 2 paragraphs of my compilation again that should answer most of your questions:

"The Lord Jesus "gave up the ghost" at about "the ninth hour" (Luke 23:44-46). "And after this Joseph of Arimathaea...besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. ..., and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand." (John 19:38, 40-41). For the Jews the new day began at dark and an High Day was at hand. The Lord's body needed to be laid to rest before night fall. It was.

"Therefore, counting the day of the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus was in the tomb three days and three nights: Thursday before dark (day 1), all of Friday (day 2), and all of Saturday (day 3); Thursday night (night 1), Friday night (night 2), and Saturday night (night 3). The Lord rose sometime before sunrise on the first day of the week. This fulfilled the Lord's prediction that He would be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Then the above 2 paragraphs are follow with this chart of the Lord's last week, and death and resurrection. Here it is again:


Note Matthew in the chart. Perhaps you do not take the word of God literally, but I do. The Lord said that He would be "in the heart of the earth" for "three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40).

For the Jews the day begins at sundown. They reckoned the 24 hours of the day into 2 halves: 1 to 12 hours from the setting of the sun to its rising, and 1 to 12 hours from the rising to the setting of the sun. Therefore, "the sixth hour" would have been 12 noon and "the ninth hour" was 3 PM in our modern reckoning. So the Lord died "about the ninth hour" or 3 PM, plus in the Spring the daylight hours have lengthened. I have been to Jerusalem twice and visited Golgotha, the place of a skull and the Garden Tomb a short walk away. I have walked completely around and all through the City. There was plenty of time to request the Lord's body from Pilate, and prepare the Lord's body, etc. before night fall.

This also fulfilled the first 69 weeks of Daniel's prophesy of 70 Weeks (Dan. 9:24-27).

JH

 

As I write this it is 6:24 PM and it is not yet dark here in Asia. -- JH

 

(((Scripture, even though not as literally precise as <<sometime before sunrise on the first day of the week>>, please?)))

On the Hebrew 1st day of the week

John 20:1: "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."

Mark 16:1-2, 9: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. ... 9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils." (The sabbath pasted at sunset of what we call Saturday.)

Matthew 28:1: "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."

Luke 24:1: "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."

Surely you already knew these passages.

JH