WHAT DOES CHRIST’S RESURRECTION TELL US
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of our Christian faith.
There is however, an important question which we must consider: - “What was Jesus’ body like when He rose from the dead?”
The accounts in the Bible indicate that Jesus rose with the SAME BODY, but that it was now TRANSFORMED, there was no possibility of Him ever dying again.
Compare Jesus’ resurrection with those occasions when Jesus raised others from the dead. In both the case of Lazarus and of Jairus’ daughter, those who were raised from the dead eventually died a second time. This was because, although they were raised from the dead, their bodies were NOT yet transformed.
What is more important and convincing however is that Jesus gave Thomas clear proof that it was the SAME body which had been crucified and that He was not just a ghost or spirit. John 20:27, Then He said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Also see Luke 24:41–43, And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, Do you have anything here to eat? They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence.
But Jesus also showed them clearly that this SAME body was TRANSFORMED in its nature. See John 20:19, On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you!. Also see Luke 24:31, Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight.
Obviously then, although it was the SAME body which Jesus had before His death, it was completely transformed and no longer subject to normal natural laws. See Philippians 3:21, The Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. That is, the body of the believers shall be raised up on the last day like Christ’s body when He rose from the dead. That believers will be raised with the same body but it will be completely transformed. See 1st Corinthians 15:20–23, But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him.
At first it may come as a surprise that the risen Jesus left His disciples to be with the Father so soon after His resurrection from the tomb. We may ask why didn’t He stay longer and share His victory with them? However, Jesus had already explained why. Far from being a disadvantage to the disciples, the ascension into heaven brought tremendous benefits to them. See John 7:37–39, On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. See also John 16:7, But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Jesus was limited to His physical body while He was on earth ministering in Palestine region. Through His ascension into heaven this physical limitation was removed.
When Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit from heaven upon the church, He Himself came to live WITHIN every believer for the FIRST TIME with all His power and blessing.
This means that our experience of the risen Christ is far greater than the experience of the disciples when they were living and working side by side with the Lord. Read John 14:1–3, Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of our Christian faith.
There is however, an important question which we must consider: - “What was Jesus’ body like when He rose from the dead?”
The accounts in the Bible indicate that Jesus rose with the SAME BODY, but that it was now TRANSFORMED, there was no possibility of Him ever dying again.
Compare Jesus’ resurrection with those occasions when Jesus raised others from the dead. In both the case of Lazarus and of Jairus’ daughter, those who were raised from the dead eventually died a second time. This was because, although they were raised from the dead, their bodies were NOT yet transformed.
What is more important and convincing however is that Jesus gave Thomas clear proof that it was the SAME body which had been crucified and that He was not just a ghost or spirit. John 20:27, Then He said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Also see Luke 24:41–43, And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, Do you have anything here to eat? They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence.
But Jesus also showed them clearly that this SAME body was TRANSFORMED in its nature. See John 20:19, On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you!. Also see Luke 24:31, Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight.
Obviously then, although it was the SAME body which Jesus had before His death, it was completely transformed and no longer subject to normal natural laws. See Philippians 3:21, The Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. That is, the body of the believers shall be raised up on the last day like Christ’s body when He rose from the dead. That believers will be raised with the same body but it will be completely transformed. See 1st Corinthians 15:20–23, But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him.
At first it may come as a surprise that the risen Jesus left His disciples to be with the Father so soon after His resurrection from the tomb. We may ask why didn’t He stay longer and share His victory with them? However, Jesus had already explained why. Far from being a disadvantage to the disciples, the ascension into heaven brought tremendous benefits to them. See John 7:37–39, On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. See also John 16:7, But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Jesus was limited to His physical body while He was on earth ministering in Palestine region. Through His ascension into heaven this physical limitation was removed.
When Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit from heaven upon the church, He Himself came to live WITHIN every believer for the FIRST TIME with all His power and blessing.
This means that our experience of the risen Christ is far greater than the experience of the disciples when they were living and working side by side with the Lord. Read John 14:1–3, Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.