Bible Study 12: His Resurrection

12.1 Key themes⤒🔗

The day of Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest day in history.
We can be sure of Jesus’ resurrection, because God has given us two proofs:
1. Eyewitnesses
- Many people saw Jesus after his resurrection.
- These people’s stories are written down in the New Testament.
2. The Old Testament
- The whole Old Testament prophesies about Jesus Christ.
- Jesus and his apostles used the Old Testament to prove his resurrection.

12.2 Matthew 28:1-10←⤒🔗

^1. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

^2. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

^3. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

^4. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

^5. The angel said to the women, ''Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

^6. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

^7. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.”

^8. So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

^9. Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

^10. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'

12.3 – 1 Corinthians 15:3-8←⤒🔗

^3. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

^4. and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,

^5. and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

^6. Then he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

^7. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

^8. Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

12.4 The greatest day of all←⤒🔗

The day of Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest day in history. On this day the world was changed forever.

This day is also the most important day in your life. Remember: You are united to Jesus. His death is also your death. And his resurrection is also your resurrection!

If Jesus was not raised from the dead, there would be no gospel. The Christian faith would not exist. Paul writes, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14, NIV).

That is why it is so important to be sure that Jesus was raised from the dead. We were not there when it happened. But we can still know that it really happened. God has given us two proofs for the resurrection:

Eyewitnesses
The Old Testament

12.5 Eyewitnesses←⤒🔗

An eyewitness is someone who has seen something, and can tell others about it. God made sure that there were many eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection.

Many things happened on that day, and in the days that followed. Different eyewitnesses saw different things. For example:

On the morning of the resurrection, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome saw an earthquake at Jesus’ grave. An angel appeared to them and said that Jesus had risen. Then they ran to the disciples. On their way they saw Jesus and worshipped him (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8).
Peter and John ran to the grave when they heard the story of the women. They saw that the tomb was empty (Luke 24:9-12; John 20:2-9).
Two believers were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Jesus came and walked with them. At first, they did not recognise him. But when he ate with them, their eyes were opened. They saw that it was he (Luke 24:13-32).
That evening, ten of Jesus’ disciples saw him. He ate with them and talked to them. Only Thomas was not there on that evening.
A week later, Jesus appeared to his disciples again. This time, Thomas was there. He touched Jesus’ hands and his side, and he believed (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-21:25).

After the day of the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth. He appeared to many people. Once he appeared to five hundred people at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:6).

Jesus also appeared to his own brother, James. In the past James did not believe in Jesus (John 7:5). But now he became a follower of Jesus. James told others about the resurrection (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 15:7). Later, he even became a leader in the church (Galatians 1:19).

The people who saw Jesus are dead now. We cannot talk to them. But we can read the New Testament. The New Testament gives us the teaching of the apostles. All the apostles saw Jesus after his resurrection. This is why they continued to preach and write, even when they were put in prison and killed (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).

Paul also saw Jesus. By this time, Jesus had already gone up to heaven. But Jesus appeared to Paul in a special way, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-19). That is why Paul writes, “Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:8).

12.6 The Old Testament←⤒🔗

One day, Jesus told a story about a rich man who died and went to hell. In hell the rich man called to Abraham. He asked Abraham to send someone to his brothers, to warn them about hell. But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them… If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:29-31).

Do you wish that you could see Jesus for yourself? Remember that God has given you a way to “see” Jesus. You have the Old Testament. (That is what Abraham meant when he said, “They have Moses and the prophets.”)

If you want to know Jesus, and be sure of his resurrection, then read the Old Testament! The whole Old Testament teaches us about Jesus Christ: his coming, his death, and his resurrection.

When Jesus appeared to the two believers who were walking to Emmaus, he talked to them for a long time. What did he talk about? He talked about the Old Testament! This is what made them believe in his resurrection (Luke 24:27-32). Jesus did the same when he appeared to his disciples (Luke 24:44-45).

Later, when Peter preached about Jesus’ resurrection, he used the Old Testament to prove it (Acts 2:14-35). Paul did the same when he preached (Acts 17:2-3).

You can be sure about Jesus’ resurrection! God gave you two great proofs. The first proof is all the eyewitnesses who saw him. You can read their stories in the New Testament. The second proof that God gives you is the Old Testament.

Let us end with only one example from the Old Testament. Can you see how these words were fulfilled in Jesus’ resurrection?

O LORD, the king rejoices in the strength you give; he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide.
You grant him his heart’s desire; you do not refuse his request. (Selah)
For you bring him rich blessings; you place a golden crown on his head.
He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.
Your deliverance brings him great honor; you give him majestic splendour. Psalm 21:1-5

Praise Jesus, our risen King!