miracle second-temple

Resurrection of Jesus

c. 30 or 33 CE (Sunday after crucifixion) (scriptural)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, the foundational event of Christian faith. Christianity stands or falls on this claim: that God raised Jesus bodily from death, vindicating his claims, defeating death itself, and inaugurating the new creation. As Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Cor 15:17).

The Gospel Accounts

The Empty Tomb

Sunday Morning (First day of week):

  • Women (Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome, others) went to tomb with spices
  • Found stone rolled away
  • Tomb empty—grave clothes left behind
  • Angel(s) announced: “He is not here; he has risen!”

Matthew 28:1-10:

  • Great earthquake
  • Angel descended, rolled back stone
  • Guards terrified
  • Angel to women: “Do not be afraid…He has risen”
  • Jesus appeared to women: “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers”

Mark 16:1-8:

  • Young man in white at tomb
  • “He has risen! He is not here”
  • Women fled, afraid
  • (Later verses 9-20 likely later addition, describe appearances)

Luke 24:1-12:

  • Two men in dazzling clothes
  • Reminded women of Jesus’s prediction
  • Peter ran to tomb, saw linen cloths, “went home amazed”

John 20:1-18:

  • Mary Magdalene found tomb empty
  • Ran to tell Peter and John
  • Peter and John ran to tomb, found grave clothes
  • Mary stayed weeping
  • Two angels asked why she wept
  • Jesus appeared: “Mary!” She recognized him: “Rabboni!”
  • Jesus: “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended”

Post-Resurrection Appearances

To Mary Magdalene (John 20, Mark 16):

  • First witness
  • In the garden near tomb
  • Initially thought he was gardener
  • Commissioned to tell disciples

To Women (Matthew 28):

  • Group of women returning from tomb
  • Jesus met them: “Greetings!”
  • They clasped his feet and worshiped

To Two Disciples on Emmaus Road (Luke 24):

  • Same day as resurrection
  • Jesus walked with them, unrecognized
  • Explained scriptures
  • Recognized him in “breaking of bread”
  • He vanished

To Peter (Luke 24:34, 1 Cor 15:5):

  • Private appearance
  • Not narrated in detail
  • “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

To Ten Disciples (John 20:19-23, Luke 24:36-43):

  • Sunday evening
  • Disciples locked in room, afraid
  • Jesus appeared: “Peace be with you”
  • Showed hands and side
  • Ate fish to prove physical body
  • Breathed on them: “Receive the Holy Spirit”
  • Thomas absent

To Eleven Including Thomas (John 20:24-29):

  • Week later
  • Thomas had doubted: “Unless I see…I will not believe”
  • Jesus: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Stop doubting and believe”
  • Thomas: “My Lord and my God!”
  • Jesus: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”

To Seven Disciples Fishing (John 21):

  • At Sea of Galilee
  • Miraculous catch of fish
  • Breakfast on shore
  • Jesus reinstated Peter: “Feed my sheep”

To Five Hundred (1 Cor 15:6):

  • Paul mentions, no Gospel narrative
  • “Most of whom are still alive” (evidence claim)

To James (1 Cor 15:7):

  • Jesus’s brother
  • Converted skeptic to leader
  • Not narrated in Gospels

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20):

  • Mountain in Galilee
  • “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”
  • “Go and make disciples of all nations”
  • “I am with you always, to the end of the age”

The Ascension (Luke 24, Acts 1):

  • 40 days after resurrection
  • Near Bethany
  • Blessed disciples, ascended into heaven
  • “This same Jesus…will come back”

Theological Significance

Victory Over Death

Death Defeated:

  • “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15:54)
  • The last enemy conquered
  • Grave could not hold him
  • Resurrection power available to believers

Firstfruits:

  • Christ is “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20)
  • Pioneer of resurrection
  • Guarantee of future resurrection for all believers
  • Beginning of new creation

Vindication

Jesus’s Claims Confirmed:

  • Claimed to be Son of God—resurrection proves it
  • Predicted his resurrection—it happened
  • Death seemed to disprove messiahship—resurrection reverses it
  • God’s “Yes” to everything Jesus taught and did

New Creation

Second Adam:

  • First Adam brought death; Last Adam brings life
  • Resurrection body is prototype of glorified humanity
  • Physical yet transformed
  • Continuity and discontinuity

Inaugurated Eschatology:

  • New creation has begun
  • Already/not yet
  • Resurrection life now, full resurrection future
  • Kingdom breaking into present age

Basis of Faith

Paul’s Argument (1 Corinthians 15):

  • If no resurrection, Christ not raised
  • If Christ not raised, preaching useless
  • If Christ not raised, faith futile, still in sins
  • If Christ not raised, dead believers perished
  • But Christ HAS been raised!
  • Therefore: resurrection is coming, death will be defeated

Evidence and Apologetics

The Empty Tomb

Facts:

  • All accounts agree tomb was empty
  • Enemies never produced body
  • If disciples stole body, why die for what they knew was false?
  • If authorities took body, why not produce it to stop Christianity?

Women as First Witnesses:

  • In ancient world, women’s testimony not valued
  • If inventing story, would use male witnesses
  • Embarrassing detail suggests authenticity

Post-Resurrection Appearances

Multiple Witnesses:

  • Individuals and groups
  • Different times and places
  • Over 40 days
  • Indoor and outdoor
  • Up to 500 at once

Transformed Disciples:

  • Went from terrified, hiding, doubting…
  • To bold, proclaiming, dying for faith
  • What changed them?
  • Best explanation: They saw risen Jesus

The Birth of the Church

Sunday Worship:

  • Jews worshiped on Sabbath (Saturday)
  • Christians shifted to Sunday (“Lord’s Day”)
  • Marked resurrection
  • Only resurrection explains this change

Christian Explosion:

  • Happened in Jerusalem where anyone could check tomb
  • Within weeks, thousands believing
  • Spread despite persecution
  • Resurrection proclamation was central

Objections and Responses

Hallucination Theory

Objection: Disciples hallucinated seeing Jesus

Response:

  • Mass hallucinations don’t occur
  • Different people, places, times
  • Jesus ate food, was touched
  • Empty tomb still unexplained

Swoon Theory

Objection: Jesus didn’t die, just unconscious

Response:

  • Roman executioners professional
  • Spear thrust confirmed death
  • Scourging and crucifixion reliably fatal
  • Couldn’t roll away stone from inside
  • Couldn’t appear healthy and convince disciples

Stolen Body Theory

Objection: Disciples stole body

Response:

  • Tomb guarded (Matthew)
  • Disciples too afraid
  • Wouldn’t die for known lie
  • Grave clothes left neatly behind

Wrong Tomb Theory

Objection: Women went to wrong tomb

Response:

  • Authorities could produce body from right tomb
  • Multiple witnesses knew location
  • Disciples checked tomb

Legend Theory

Objection: Story developed over time

Response:

  • Paul’s account (1 Cor 15) within 5 years of events
  • Too soon for legend
  • Eyewitnesses still alive
  • Core message from beginning

Islamic Perspective

Quranic Teaching:

  • Jesus not crucified (Surah 4:157)
  • Therefore no resurrection from death
  • God raised Jesus to himself (alive)
  • Will return before end times
  • Not dying for sins—different mission

Islamic-Christian Difference:

  • Islam denies crucifixion and resurrection
  • Central disagreement between faiths
  • Different understanding of Jesus’s nature and work

Jewish Perspective

Traditional Judaism:

  • Resurrection not proof of messiahship
  • Messiah will bring world peace, rebuild temple
  • Jesus didn’t fulfill messianic prophecies
  • Awaits Messiah still

Easter Celebration

Resurrection Sunday:

  • Highest Christian holy day
  • Celebrates victory over death
  • Joyful worship, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”
  • Easter sunrise services
  • Special music, liturgy

Easter Season:

  • 50 days (Eastertide)
  • Culminates in Pentecost
  • Focus on resurrection life
  • White/gold liturgical colors

Easter Symbols:

  • Empty tomb
  • Risen Christ
  • Lilies (resurrection, new life)
  • Eggs (new life, empty tomb)
  • Butterflies (transformation)

Significance

The resurrection is Christianity’s hinge. Without it, Jesus is just another failed messianic claimant, another moral teacher, another martyred prophet. With it, he is vindicated Son of God, conqueror of death, inaugurator of new creation, hope of humanity.

The empty tomb proclaims: Death is not the end. Sin is not the final word. The grave is not victory. God can resurrect the dead, redeem the fallen, restore what’s lost. If God raised Jesus, God can raise anyone, redeem anything, make all things new.

“Do not be afraid,” the angel told the women. Why? Because death itself is dead. The one who was dead is alive. And because he lives, we shall live also.

On that Sunday morning, everything changed. The stone rolled away revealed not just an empty tomb but an open door to eternity. The risen Christ walked out of death’s domain, shattering its power forever. And his resurrection echoes still: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

Christians don’t worship a dead hero. They worship a living Lord. They don’t follow ancient teachings. They follow the one who conquered death. They don’t hope in moral example. They hope in resurrection power.

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. And in that simple declaration lies all the hope of heaven and earth.