Lesson 13 He is Risen Indeed

The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.  When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 

"We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

"'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.' (Ps. 2:7)

The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:

"'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.' (Isa. 55:3)

So it is stated elsewhere:

"'You will not let your Holy One see decay.' (Ps. 16:10)

"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 

"'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, 

for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, 

even if someone told you.'" (Hab. 1:5) (Ac. 13:27-41, NIV)

1. Some believe the concept of resurrection is a New Testament idea. However, what do the following passages reveal?

* Job 19:25-27 I know that my Redeemer lives—in the end I will stand upon the earth—after my skin is destroyed, yet I will see God, myself, with my own eyes

* Ps. 30:3 Lord brought me up from the grave—spared me from going down into the pit

* Ps. 49:15 God will redeem my life from the grave & take me to Himself 

* Ps. 71:20 You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up

* Isa. 25:7-8 On this mtn. He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples—will swallow up death forever

* Isa. 26:19 Your dead will live; their bodies will rise; those who dwell in the dust will wake up—the earth will give birth to her dead

* Dan. 12:2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame & everlasting contempt

* Ezek. 37:12-14 I am going to open your graves & bring you up from them—you will know I am the Lord

* Hos. 13:14 I will ransom from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death

2. The Jewish Bible records instances of God demonstrating His power to raise the dead, name them.

* 1Ki. 17:20-24 Elijah raised the widow’s son

* 2Ki. 4:32-36 Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son from the dead

* 2Ki. 13:20-21 After Elisha died, a body that touched his bones in the grave was raised to life

3. How did Jesus link God’s ability to raise the dead with the Messiah?

* Jn. 5:21 Just as the Father raises the dead & gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom He pleases

* Jn. 5:24-29 whoever believes in Me has eternal life—crossed over from death to life—dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, come out of graves & live—Father has life in Himself, so does the Son

* Jn. 6:39-40 Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son & believes in Him shall have eternal life, & I will raise him up at the last day

* Jn. 6:48-51 I am the Bread of Life, living bread from heaven—which a man may eat & not die—live forever

* Jn. 10:15, 17-18 I lay my life down for the sheep, only to take it up again

* Jn. 11:25-26 I am the resurrection & the life whoever believes in me will live, even tho’ he dies 

4. On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know” (Ac. 2:22). What did He do to show He had the power of God to give life?

* Lk. 7:11-15 Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son as he was being carried out to be buried

* Lk. 8:49-55 Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead

* Jn. 11:1-44 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead & in the grave 4 days

5. Despite His many miraculous signs of healing the sick, blind, deaf and lame, casting out demons, feeding the multitudes and raising the dead, the religious leaders still sought a sign proving Jesus is the Messiah. What signs did Jesus give?

* Jn. 2:18-22 Destroy this Temple [meaning His body] & I will raise it again in 3 days

* 2Sam. 7:13; Zec. 6:12-13 He is the One who will build a house for My Name; Branch will build the Temple

* Mt. 12:39-40; 16:1-4 Sign of Jonah—as Jonah was 3 days & 3 nites in the fish so SoM will be 3 days & 3 nites in the heart of the earth—wicked generation looks for a miraculous sign, except sign of Jonah given

* Jnh. 1:17-2:6 Jonah was inside the fish 3 days & 3 nights—called out to the Lord from the depths of the grave & He heard & brought my life up from the pit

6. Jesus never spoke of His impending death without also promising to what?

* Mt. 12:40; 16:21; 17:23; 20:19 must be killed & then raised to life on the 3rd day

* Mk. 8:31; 9:31 He must be killed & after 3 days rise again

* Lk. 9:22; 18:32-33; 24:7, 46 He must be killed & on the 3rd day be raised to life 

* Jn. 2:19-20 destroy this Temple & I will raise it again in 3 days

7. Even after being told that Jesus had arisen, the Disciples still didn’t believe or understand from Scripture that He had to rise from the dead (Jn. 20:9; Ac. 26:22-23). What did the Scriptures teach about the resurrection of the Messiah? 

* Ps. 16:10 You will not abandon Me to the grave, nor will you let Your Holy One see decay

* Ps. 86:13 You have delivered me from the depths of the grave

* Ps. 116:3, 8-9 cords of death entangled me, anguish of the grave—Lord delivered My soul from death

* Isa. 53:10-12 tho’ He is a guilt offering & He poured out His life unto death, Lord will prolong His days—after the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life & be satisfied—given portion among the great

* Hos. 6:2 on the 3rd day He will restore us that we may live in His presence

8. Jesus not only died at the exact time the Passover lambs were being sacrificed, He also rose from the dead on the Festival of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:11, 15-16). Why is this significant?

* 1Co. 15:20-23 Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep—as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive—Christ is the firstfruits, then those who belong to Him

* Mt. 27:52-53 Tombs broke open & the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life—they came out of their tombs & after Jesus’ resurrection they appeared to many people

* Jn. 14:19 Because I live, you also will live

* Ac. 26:23 The Christ would suffer & be the first to rise from the dead

* Rom. 8:11 Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies thru His Spirit, who lives in you

* 2Co. 4:14 we know that the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us

* Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5 He is the firstborn from among the dead

* Jas. 1:18 He chose to give us birth thru the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits

9. “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Ac 1:3). It has been said that the Resurrection of Jesus is the best-established fact of history according to the laws of legal evidence in courts of law. The eyewitness testimony alone is overwhelming, as it is generally acknowledged that if two or more people saw it, then it really happened (Dt. 19:15). From the following accounts, note who and when or where they saw Jesus after the Resurrection.

* Mk. 16:9-11; Jn. 20:11-18 1st appeared to Mary Magdalene, early on the 1st day of the week, outside tomb

* Mt. 28:8-10 Women as they hurried away from empty tomb to report to disciples what the angel said

* Lk. 24:13-32 same day—Cleopas & a 2nd disciple on road to Emmaus—explained prophecy & broke bread

* Lk. 24:34; 1Co. 15:5 Simon Peter before appearing to the 11 later

* Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-25 evening of the 1st weekday, behind locked doors, Jesus appeared to the 11 (without Thomas) as they were eating—showed hands, feet & side & ate in their presence—not a ghost

* Jn. 20:26-31; 1Co. 15:5 week later, 12 disciples (incl. Thomas), in the same house with locked doors

* Jn. 21:1-23 by Sea of Tiberias, Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James & John & 2 other disciples—fishing—caught 153 fish—Jesus cooked fish for them & publically restored Peter

* Mt. 28:16-20; Mk. 16:15-18 11 disciples on Mt. in Galilee—gives them the Great Commission

* 1Co. 15:6 He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time

* 1Co. 15:7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles

* Lk. 24:44-49; Ac. 1:3-14 40 days later—Just before He was taken up to Heaven from Mt. of Olives in vicinity of Bethany—He opened their minds so they could understand Scripture & what was written by Moses, the Prophets & in the Psalms—told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit—those present were Peter, John, James & Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew & Matthew, James son of Alphaeus & Simon the Zealot, & Judas son of James, along with the women & Mary the mother of Jesus & His brothers

10. Aside from the fact that it would have been physically impossible for someone wrapped like a mummy (Jn. 19:39-40) to get up and open, from the inside, a tomb sealed with a very large stone (Mk. 16:4), what proof do we have that Jesus really died and didn’t merely pass out from massive blood loss due to the multiple beatings, flogging and crucifixion, and then revive in the tomb?

* Jn. 19:31-35 Romans did not break His legs to hasten death because He was already dead—confirmed by piercing His side & seeing a flow of blood & water—if He wasn’t dead, that would have killed Him

* Mk. 15:44-45 Pilate confirmed with the centurion Jesus was dead before releasing His body for burial

11. How do we know the body wasn’t just stolen by the disciples?

* Dan. 6:17>Mt. 27:62-65 stone placed over tomb & sealed with signet ring; guard posted until the 3rd day so situation might not be changed & body not stolen

* Mt. 28:2-4 guards were still on duty when an angel of the Lord moved the stone & sat on it

* Mt. 28:11-15 guards still there when women arrived—after women left, guards reported to chief priests who bribed them to say they fell asleep [offense punishable by death] & the disciples stole the body

* Jn. 20:6-7 strips of linen & burial cloth still there—thieves would not take time to unwrap Him in the tomb

* Mk. 14:50 everyone deserted Him & fled—not bold enough to risk stealing body from guarded tomb

* Jn. 20:19, 26 disciples were hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews when they were told

12. How do we know the women didn’t just go to the wrong tomb?

* Mt. 27:59-60 Joseph placed body in his own tomb—Mary Magdalene & other Mary were there when he did

* Mk. 15:47; Lk. 23:55 Mary Magdalene & Mary, Joses’ mother, followed Joseph & saw where He was laid

* Mt. 28:4, 11 guards still there when women arrived & didn’t leave until after they did—right tomb

* Mt. 28:6 angel who moved stone told them Jesus’ body no longer there & had them all look

* Lk. 24:12 Peter ran to the tomb & saw the strips of linen lying by themselves—wondered what happened

* Jn. 20:3-5 Peter & the other disciple reached tomb saw the strips of linen lying there & the burial cloth

13. How do we know they weren’t just seeing a ghost, that He had a physical body?

* Lk. 24:30 at the table He broke bread—able to hold & break the bread & pass it out

* Lk. 24:39-40 Look at My hands & feet, touch & see—a ghost does not have flesh & blood as you see I have

* Lk. 24:41-43; Ac. 1:4; 10:41 He was seen by witnesses—by those who ate & drank with Him after He rose

* Mt. 28:9; Jn. 20:17 He had a body which could be seen & touched; Mary held on to Him when she saw Him

* Jn. 20:20, 25, 27 He showed them his hands & side—could see & touch the nail marks & wound in His side

14. How long did the resurrection appearances continue?

* Ac. 1:3 He appeared to them over a period of 40 days & gave many convincing proofs that He was alive

* Ac. 13:31 for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem

15. What prophesied event caused the appearances to stop?

* Ps. 68:18 When He ascended on high to dwell with God 

* Ps. 110:1 The Lord says to My Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool”

* Mk. 16:19; Ac. 1:9-11 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into Heaven & sat at the right hand of God—angel promised the same Jesus would come back in the same way He went into heaven

* Lk. 24:50-51 while He was blessing them, he was taken up into heaven

* Jn. 13:1; 16:28 Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world & go back to the Father

* Ac. 2:32-36 God raised Jesus to life & exalted Him to the right hand of God & poured out the Holy Spirit

* Ac. 5:31; 7:55-56 God exalted Him to His own rt. hand as Prince & Savior—where He’s been seen

* Eph. 1:19-22 God’s mighty strength was exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead & seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule & authority, power & dominion

* Eph. 4:7-10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens

* Heb. 1:3; 12:2 for the joy set before Him He endured the cross—after He provided purification for sins, He sat down at the rt. hand of the Majesty in heaven

* Heb. 8:1; 10:12 We have a High Priest who sat down at the rt. hand of the Majesty in heaven

* 1Pt. 3:22 Jesus is at God’s rt. hand in heaven w/ angels, authorities & powers in submission to Him

16. What is Jesus doing now at God’s right hand?

* Job 16:19-21 Witness in heaven—advocate on high—intercessor pleads w/ God on behalf of man/friend

* Isa. 53:12 He bore the sin of many & made intercession for the transgressors

* Rom. 8:34 Christ Jesus who died & was raised to life is at the rt. hand of God & also interceding for us

* Heb. 7:25 He is able to save completely because He always lives to intercede for those who come to Him

* Heb. 9:24 Christ entered heaven itself to appear for us in God’s presence

* 1Jn. 2:1 If anyone who does sin, we have one who speaks t the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ

17. When He left, He promised the Disciples a gift, what was it?

* Joel 2:28-29 I will pour out My Spirit on all people—sons & daughters, young & old, men & women

* Jn. 14:16-18 Father will give you another Counselor—Spirit of Truth—He lives with you & will be in you

* Jn. 16:7 unless I go away the Counselor will not come, but if I go I will send Him to you

* Jn. 16:13-15 when the Spirit of Truth comes He will take from what is mine & make it known to you

* Ac. 1:8 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you & you will be my witnesses

* Ac. 2:1-4 on Day of Pentecost all the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit & began to speak in tongues

* Ac. 5:31-32 God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him

* Tit. 3:5-7 He saved us thru the washing of rebirth & renewal by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out on us

18. Have you been redeemed from the power of death so that you will be part of the first resurrection? Yes  How can you be sure?

* Rom. 8:16-17 the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children & heirs of God

* 2Co. 1:21-22 God anointed us & set His seal of ownership on us & put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit

* 2Co. 5:5 God has given us the Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come

* Gal. 4:6-7 God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts—you are a son & God has made you an heir

* Eph. 1:13-14 You were included in Christ when you heard the gospel of salvation—having believed you were marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance