The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Part Two

 

In the first part of this discussion on the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I laid the foundation for His Resurrection by reviewing the events that occurred following His Crucifixion and death, but prior to His appearance on Resurrection morning. At that time, I anticipated moving on to a discussion of the more commonly appreciated events associated with the Lord’s Resurrection, but the Spirit alerted me to my failure to address some key points relevant to us today.

Having been trained to think from a scientific perspective, and although I know better, I’ve generally focused on the natural, rather than the spiritual interpretation of some scripture.  For example, I didn’t quickly appreciate the meaning of the Bible verses that the Apostle Paul wrote to his followers relating to having been “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20); and having been “buried with Him by baptism into (His) death” (Romans 6: 3-4); or that “we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6: 5). Another example relates to having been regarded as “dead”. (2 Corinthians 5: 14-15)

From our earlier Bible study, we know that we are composed of an eternal, invisible soul and spirit, housed in these temporary mortal bodies. But being able to separate the experiences of our soul / spirit from those of our human body is critical to understanding many concepts of scripture.  That includes the impact of the Lord’s suffering, Crucifixion, death, burial and Resurrection directly on the lives we lead today. (Romans 6: 3-11).

In God’s foreknowledge, He knew that our Lord Jesus would bear the weight and penalty of the sin debt of all mankind. (Romans 3:23) But He also knew who among that total (as soul and spirit) would come to believe in His sacrifice as our path to righteousness in the eyes of God, some 2,000 years later. (Romans Chapters Eight, and 10: 9-13). The Holy Spirit would identify those of us who believe this Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and become members of His Body (The Body of Christ).  (1 Corinthians Chapter 12, Ephesians 3: 1-6, 4: 1-18, 5: 8-10, Colossians 1:24, 2: 8-15, 17)

Sometimes confusing has been the understanding of the scripture that reads: “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) One of the blessings gained by believers through the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection is the transformation that took place in our soul / spirit. That verse correlates with several other verses that tell us our former unchecked, fleshly sin-nature (our “old man”) is now being challenged by a Spirit-driven new nature (our “new man”). (Romans 6:6, Chapter Seven, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2: 15, 4: 21-24, Colossians 3: 1-4, 9-11) Note the on-going battle for our soul as presented in the Book of Romans, Chapter Seven.

These various aspects of our being both a physical presence (visible body), and a spiritual presence (invisible soul / spirit) explained how our Lord Jesus could be both physically sealed in a tomb for three days and nights, but also in the center of the earth in Hades. Remember the scripture that reported many graves were opened after the Lord’s Resurrection, and many bodies of believers who had slept/died came forth into Jerusalem and were seen by many.  (Matthew 27: 50-53) In Old Testament language, they were the “firstfruits” of the harvest that belong to the LORD. (Exodus 23: 15, 16, 19 are examples.)

They also explain how on Resurrection Morning, He was able to appear in His new glorified body, rather than His previous body that had been utterly destroyed. (Isaiah 52: 10, 13-15).  However, His Resurrection was so much more than His reappearance to His disciples and others in His new body of flesh and bones…one without blood. (Luke 24: 38-40)

Even among many Bible students, the significance of the nature and timing of the Lord’s brief conversation with Mary Magdalene shortly after His Resurrection remains a mystery, or at best unappreciated. (John 20: 11-18).  The Lord said to her: “Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father;” The first part of His statement (“Touch me not…”) refers to either His not having fully completed His transformation into His new physical body…and/or the second part of His statement: (“…for I have not yet ascended to my Father;”) which relates His intention to remain pure as He was carrying His own Holy Blood to Heaven to our Father, to atone for all our sins. (Read Hebrews Chapter Nine carefully.)

In carrying His Holy Blood to Heaven, He was able to meet the requirement of God for the sacrifice of innocent blood for the remission of our sins. In this manner we (our souls/spirits) have become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5: 20-21). As believers in what He has done for us, as noted above we have become members of the spiritual “Body of Christ’. That is the Gospel of our salvation that we have received through His Grace, not through anything that we ourselves have done. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 10: 9-13).

Eventually we will all receive new physical bodies like unto His. (Philippians 3: 20-21).  We will experience our own Resurrection. (Carefully Read the Resurrection Chapter, 1 Corinthians 15, especially verses 20-26, and 39-54.) In the meantime, as believers, God has sealed us (our souls/spirits) in our Lord Jesus and given us the Holy Spirit as earnest (a pledge or down-payment) in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22, Acts 1: 1-5, 2: 1-4, 10: 44-45)

Our Lord’s Resurrection was completed when He ascended into Heaven to sit on the right hand of Our Father. (Acts 1: 9-11, 2:34, Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44, 1 Corinthians 15: 25, and others).  He is our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2: 1-2), and we are Ambassadors for Him in this fallen world. (2 Corinthians 5: 19-21)

We celebrate in that we have been truly blessed in many ways through the suffering, Crucifixion, death, burial and Resurrection of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. W. A. Robinson