Resurrection

Overview

• Testament: New
• Primary Texts: Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21; 1 Corinthians 15
• Summary: On the third day after his crucifixion, Jesus rises bodily from the dead, the tomb is found empty, and the risen Lord appears to women, disciples, apostles, and many witnesses.

Details

The resurrection occurs on the first day of the week after Jesus’ burial. Women come to the tomb and find the stone rolled away. Angelic messengers announce that Jesus is not there because he has risen as he said. The empty tomb is not the whole message, but it is an essential sign: the crucified Jesus has been raised bodily.

The Gospels emphasize both surprise and fulfillment. The disciples are not portrayed as expecting resurrection despite Jesus’ earlier words. Fear, confusion, running, weeping, doubt, joy, worship, and commissioning all surround the resurrection appearances.

Mary Magdalene becomes the first witness to the risen Christ in John’s Gospel. Jesus appears to disciples behind locked doors, shows his wounds, speaks peace, and sends them. Thomas, absent from the first appearance, later sees the risen Jesus and confesses, “My Lord and my God.” Luke emphasizes that the risen Jesus opens the Scriptures and eats with the disciples, showing that he is not a spirit or mere vision.

Paul summarizes the resurrection as part of the gospel of first importance: Christ died for sins, was buried, rose the third day, and appeared to many witnesses. For Paul, if Christ is not raised, preaching is vain, faith is vain, sins remain unforgiven, and the dead have perished. But Christ is risen, the firstfruits of those who sleep.

The resurrection vindicates Jesus, defeats death, confirms the cross, inaugurates new creation, grounds Christian hope, and launches apostolic mission.

Key People Involved

• Jesus Christ - Risen Lord
• Mary Magdalene - First witness in John’s account
• Peter - Runs to the tomb and receives a resurrection appearance
• John (Apostle) - Runs to the tomb and believes
• Thomas - Confesses the risen Jesus as Lord and God
• The Twelve - Apostolic witnesses
• Paul (Apostle) - Later witness and interpreter of resurrection significance

Key Places

• Garden Tomb - Burial and empty tomb setting
• Jerusalem - Setting of early resurrection appearances
• Upper Room - Locked-room appearance to the disciples
• Sea of Tiberias - Post-resurrection appearance in John 21

Important Verses

• Matthew 28:6 - He is risen
• Luke 24:27 - Jesus opens Moses and the prophets
• Luke 24:39 - See my hands and feet
• John 20:28 - Thomas confesses, My Lord and my God
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 - Summary of death, burial, resurrection, and appearances
• 1 Corinthians 15:17 - If Christ is not raised, faith is vain
• 1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ the firstfruits

Cross-References

• Crucifixion
• Great Commission
• Restoration of Peter
• Sea of Tiberias
• The Resurrection
• The New Creation
• Resurrection of the Dead
• Living Hope
• 1 Corinthians

Notes

• The resurrection is bodily, not merely symbolic or spiritualized.
• The risen Jesus bears wounds; resurrection does not erase the cross but vindicates it.
• Women as first witnesses are theologically important and historically striking.
• Resurrection is both event and beginning: it starts the new creation and empowers mission.