How Many People in the Bible Died and Rose Again
The scriptures are clear that Jesus died on a Roman cross and that 3 days afterward, he rose from the dead, appeared to his disciples for xl days, and and so ascended into heaven. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection both have great significance beyond a simple execution and restoration to life.
Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for our sin and to defeat the spiritual forces arrayed against us. Just what was information technology that happened on the showtime Easter roughly 2000 years ago when Jesus rose from the dead?
The Empty Tomb
The first thing that anyone noticed well-nigh that day was the empty tomb. Jesus had been taken off the cantankerous and placed into a tomb/cave, and a massive stone rolled across the entrance to seal it up.
And a few of his followers had taken note of the location. Yet when they went out early on the post-obit Sunday morning, the stone was rolled away, and Jesus' body was missing.
There accept been many attempts over the years to explain abroad the empty tomb. And many today carry on that tradition or deny it altogether. Yet few serious Bible scholars, regardless of their religious beliefs, deny that Jesus died on a Roman cross, was buried, and his tomb was later discovered empty.
That the tomb was found empty demonstrated to his offset followers that he had defeated decease. And it continues to requite witness to us today that the grave could not agree him. That he had conquered death.
Resuscitation Vs. Resurrection
Several times in both the Old and New Testaments, we find accounts of people who had died and and then were restored to life. But they were fundamentally different than what happened to Jesus.
All these other people were indeed restored to life. Merely they were no different later their restoration than before their decease. And each of them ultimately died again. They were simply resuscitated.
But Jesus' restoration to life was fundamentally different. Jesus' body was unlike. He could appear and disappear at will. He could pass through closed doors. And he seemed to appear unrecognizable to those who knew him.
And, most chiefly, he did non experience death once more at some later time. His body was immortal. What Jesus experienced was a resurrection. The same resurrection that Jesus' followers look forward to at the terminate of the age.
He Conquered Decease
Romans 6:9 says that because "Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him." In Jesus' resurrection, he defeated decease, humanity'south greatest enemy and fearfulness. Death is our final act on this earth. And for many people, what comes after decease, if anything, is a great unknown.
Hebrews ii:15 refers to this fear of humanity, "Who all their lives were held in slavery by their fright of death." Simply, according to Hebrews 2:14, Christ, in his death, bankrupt the power of Satan, the one who holds the power of death. And he freed u.s.a. from our fright of decease.
Decease is a defeated enemy. While nosotros even so face death, it should no longer hold any fear for those who belong to Christ. What lies on the other side of death is still largely unknown to us.
Only we tin can have conviction that death is not the end. Afterward death volition come resurrection into the new life that God has prepared for the states.
The First Fruits of a New Humanity
In i Corinthians xv:twenty, Paul said that "Christ has indeed been raised from the expressionless, the firstfruits of those who accept fallen asleep."
Afterward in this chapter (1 Corinthians 15:35-49), Paul describes what our resurrected bodies will be like. They will be totally unlike what we have now, merely they will be like Christ (1 John 3:2).
At Jesus' resurrection, he took on the humanity that each of his people will have at our ain resurrection. He was the first. And many more of us will somewhen follow him.
Sent the Holy Spirit
In John 16:7, Jesus told his disciples that it was necessary that he go away. But that when he did, he would transport the Holy Spirit to them. Scripture records this event in the 2d chapter of Acts, fifty days after Jesus' crucifixion.
When Jesus was amid his disciples, he was just in one place at a time. And the relationship he had with his disciples was a human friendship. Only when Jesus returned to the Male parent, he sent the Spirit to them.
And the Holy Spirit indwelt the believers, resulting in a more than intimate human relationship. And the Spirit was not limited to a single identify at a single fourth dimension. The Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to usa enables us to walk in fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit transforms the lives of believers.
Enthroned at the Right Manus of God
Philippians ii:9-11 tells us that because Jesus was obedient fifty-fifty to death, God has exalted him to the highest place. Hebrews 7:27 and eight:1 say that Jesus, our great high priest, offered himself equally a cede for us. And he has now set down at the right paw of the throne of God.
Did Jesus only repossess his position as Son, the 2d person of the Trinity? Or is there more than to this? I believe it is more than a simple return to his pre-incarnate place every bit Son. Jesus' favorite term for himself is Son of Man.
This is an illusion to Daniel 7:xiii-14, where one, like a son of human being, comes into God'due south presence and is given potency over all peoples and a kingdom that will never terminate. Jesus is eternally the Son. But he is more than than that at present. He still retains his humanity, albeit in its resurrected form.
What does Jesus exercise at the right paw of God? He rules over his kingdom (Colossians 1:13). He is exalted by all cosmos (Philippians two:nine-11). And he is making intercession for those who follow him (Hebrews seven:25).
He Led a Victory Parade
In the Roman earth of the New Testament, it was common for a acquisition general to lead a triumphal parade into the capital of Rome.
This parade would include some of the captives from the opposing regular army. And it would oft include entertainment and feasting for the people who were privileged to participate.
In Ephesians 4:viii, Paul alludes to this do. Only rather than honoring a victorious Roman general, it is Jesus leading the victory parade.
Colossians 2:fifteen would seem to identify the captives as the spiritual forces in opposition to Jesus. He defeated them in his death. And in his rising to the throne, he made a public spectacle of them.
The Ephesians passage also says that he gave gifts to his people. The gifts mentioned here included apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers.
These are leadership gifts for his newly established church building. And he continues to this day to requite his people the gifts we need to serve him effectively.
When Jesus rose from the dead, he conquered death, becoming the firstborn of a new humanity. He defeated the spiritual forces of evil and took them captive.
He ascended to the throne of God, where he now rules over his kingdom. And he sent to us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us in the life he has called u.s.a. to.
For further reading:
What Is the Importance of the Empty Tomb?
Why Do We Say 'He Has Risen' During Easter?
Why Does it Matter That Jesus Rose from the Dead?
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Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-happened-when-jesus-rose-from-the-dead.html
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