The resurrection of Christ is the single most eye opening event in all of human history.
By it, God declared Jesus to be His Son (Rom. 1:1-4; Heb. 1:5). By it, Jesus inherited a more excellent name than the angels, a name which is above every name (Heb. 1:4; Phil. 2:9-11; Eph. 1:19-23). Jesus Christ became the firstborn from the dead (Psa. 89:26-27; Col. 1:15,18; Heb. 1:6; Rom. 8:29) and the beginning of a new creation (Col. 1:18; Rev. 3:14). God invited our risen Lord to sit at His right hand (Psa. 110:1; Acts 2:34-35; Heb. 1:13), so he could make intercession for us (Rom. 8:33-34; Heb. 7:25). By raising him from the dead, God gave assurance to all men that Christ would return to the earth to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30-31).
The saying was hid from them; they knew not the scripture
Throughout his ministry, Jesus repeatedly told the disciples of his impending death and resurrection. Without exception, they did not understand what he was talking about. “They understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken” (Lk. 18:34). “They knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead” (Jn. 20:9). “When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (Jn. 2:22).
Resurrection appearances as eye openers
Christ’s resurrection appearances were eye openers for his disciples. For example, in John 20:1-9, there is a progression in the words used for “to see.” Mary Magdalene physically sees (blepo) that the stone had been taken away. John physically sees (blepo) the linen clothes. Peter carefully inspects (theoreo) the linen clothes. Then, at last, John sees with understanding (eiden), and he believes.
As the two disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Jesus, “their eyes were Holden that they should not know him” (Lk. 24:16). Later, when he broke bread with them, “their eyes were opened, and they knew him” (24:31). Immediately, they went to Jerusalem to tell the 11, “The Lord is risen indeed” (24:34).
Jesus says to doubting Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing” (Jn. 20:27). Jesus is exhorting Thomas not to be a faithless blind man, who must see with his (physical) fingers and hands. Instead, he should open his (spiritual) eyes and believe that indeed Jesus had risen from the dead. Thomas responds by calling Jesus his Lord and his God. With these words, Thomas declares his new found faith in the risen Christ.
Saul on the road to Damascus
Saul was on his way to Damascus, in his fierce pursuit of those in the Way (Acts 9; 22; 26). About noon, suddenly there shined round about him a great light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun. He could not see for the glory of that light. When his eyes were opened, he saw no man. They led him by the hand as a blind man. In Damascus, Ananias said to him, “Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith” (Acts 9:17-18).
Saul had been persecuting the followers of Christ, thinking that Jesus was an imposter. When Saul himself sees the risen Lord, his eyes are opened. He understands his own hideous error. He becomes a chosen vessel unto Christ, to bear his name, and to suffer great things for his sake.
Saul was being reborn by, in effect, re-enacting the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. “He fell to the earth,” as one dead. “He was three days without sight, neither did eat nor drink,” as if in the grave. “He received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized” as if raised from the dead. “And when he had received meat, he was strengthened,” as in other meals following resurrections.
Later on when he recounts the story, Paul tells us that there was more to this episode than merely his own conversion. He says Jesus had told him, “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:16-18).
According to the Old Testament Scriptures
After he was raised from the dead, Jesus explained the Old Testament scriptures concerning himself. The passages about his resurrection had been there before, but they had been hidden. Now, with their fulfillment came also enlightenment for those who seek understanding from Christ and his apostles.
“These are the words which I [Jesus] spake unto you [the disciples], while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name [i.e., his new name given to him at the resurrection] among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Lk. 24:44-47).
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Cor. 15:3-4).
Thy Holy One shall not see corruption
Psalm 16, a psalm of David, proved that Christ would be raised from the dead. “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures evermore” (Psa. 16:8-11; cp. Acts. 2:25-28). Nearly every phrase speaks of the resurrection of Christ.
- “My flesh also shall rest in hope,” that is, the hope of resurrection (Acts 23:6), the hope of eternal life (Tit. 1:2; 3:7).
- “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell” implies resurrection.
- “Thine Holy One shall not see corruption” implies resurrection by the third day, before corruption sets in.
- “Thou wilt shew me the path of life,” that is, the path of everlasting life.
- “In thy presence is fullness of joy,” this is the fellowship of the glorified who are in the presence of the Lord.
- “At thy right hand” (cp. Psalm 110:1), here is Christ at God’s right hand.
- “Pleasures evermore” can be true only for those who have been given immortality.
Both Peter and Paul show that this psalm applied to Christ (Acts 2; 13). David did not fulfill these words, because he died and was buried; and, being dead to this day, he saw corruption (Acts 2:29; 13:36). Rather, David was a prophet, foreseeing the resurrection of Christ, whose soul was not left in hell, whose flesh did not see corruption (Acts 2:31; 13:37).
Three Allusions to Resurrection in Promise to David
We often cite II Samuel 7:7-16 in first principle classes to prove that the gospel includes promises to David about a seed that would sit on the throne of his kingdom. What may not be so obvious is that, in addition to these important points, there are three scripturally-attested allusions in these verses to the resurrection of Christ.
“I will raise up thy seed to sit on thy throne for ever”
Firstly, God says that He would raise up David’s seed, of the fruit of David’s loins, to sit upon David’s throne, forever. In order to see how this refers to the resurrection of Christ, we need to look at II Samuel 7, Psalm 89, Psalm 132, and Acts 2, side by side. The italicized words in the following quotations provide links between the passages.
“I will set up (raise up, Septuagint) thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever…And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever…Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord” (II Sam. 7:12-13,16,18).
“I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations…I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him…His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven…Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me” (Psa. 89:3,4,20,29,35-36).
“Arise (Gk. word for resurrection), 0 Lord…For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it; of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore” (Psa. 132:8,10-12).
Peter, in his speech at Pentecost, proves that these passages refer to the resurrection of Christ. “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ…Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Gk. for anointed)” (Acts 2:30-31,36).
The lesson is plain: God swore to David that out of his loins would come a seed, who would be raised from the dead and given eternal life, and who would sit on David’s throne, ruling over David’s house, for ever. This seed would be called both Lord and Christ.
“I will be his Father, and he shall be my son”
Secondly, the promise, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son” (II Sam. 7:14), which we often take (rightly) to refer to the virgin birth of Jesus, also refers (possibly more specifically) to the resurrection of Christ.
Psalms 2 and 89 both allude to this promise. “I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psa. 2:7). “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth” (Psa. 89:26-27). Note that in both of these contexts, the reference must be to the resurrected Christ.
Twice the New Testament shows that these passages were fulfilled by the resurrection of Christ. Once, in Acts 13, Paul proves that God raised up Jesus from the dead, fulfilling Psalm 2:7; and that God raised him to immortality, no more to see corruption, fulfilling Isaiah 55:3 and Psalm 16:10. And, in Hebrews 1, all of which refers to the resurrected Christ being superior to the angels, the writer specifically quotes II Samuel 7:14, Psalm 2:7, and alludes to Psalm 89:26,27. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of David, was declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection (cp. Rom. 1:1-4).
“The sure mercies of David”
Thirdly, God promised to David, “My mercy shall not depart away from him…And thine house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee” (II Sam. 7:15,16 RV).
Psalm 89 refers to this promise repeatedly. “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens…Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face…But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him…My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast (be faithful, RVm, same word as “make sure” in LXX) with him…my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.. It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as a faithful witness in heaven” (Psa. 89:1,2,14,24,28,33,37).
Isaiah’s version of the promise, “Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isa. 55:3), highlights the resurrection theme.
As mentioned earlier, Paul quotes Isaiah 55:3 in Acts 13:34, connecting it to Psalm 16:10, to prove that Christ had been raised from the dead never to see corruption; that is, he was raised to everlasting life.
Two Assignments
Here are two assignments for interested students.
- I claim that the difficulties with the quotations in Hebrews 1 disappear once it is realized that the argument is that the resurrected Christ is superior to the angels. Every verse makes more sense when it is read this way. Prove me right or wrong.
- See if you can find all of the allusions to “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psa. 110:1). I suspect the list will be longer than you think.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One