Lesson Two
RESURRECTION PROPHESIED AND FULFILLED
INTRODUCTION
John 3:14 is not the first time Jesus made reference to His coming death for the sins of the world. But, it is the first time He had given a detailed prophecy concerning the place, time, circumstances, and the reason that His death was to be absolutely essential. It is the first time that He had made specific reference to the time and fact of His resurrection. It came just following Peter’s great confession, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). When they had understood His deity, then He could tell them in detail the truth concerning how and why He must die and rise again. Jesus knew from the beginning that He had come into the world to die for the sins of the world. It was with him all the time, but He did not shrink from it. Always, His thoughts were to minister to the needs of the people whom He me.
GOLDEN TRUTH (Matt. 16:21)
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
LESSON EXPOSITION
I. Resurrection Prophesied By David
(Psa. 16:10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption.
On many occasions, David was divinely anointed to foretell coming events, and especially things relating to the long awaited Messiah. In fact, sometimes he was caught away to the point where he seemed to experience the agony of Christ’s persecution and crucifixion, as well as the joy of His resurrection.
Peter, at Pentecost, immediately after the reception of the Holy Ghost, quoted
from David’s writing, thus confirming its connection with the death and resurrection of Christ. Peter further connects the Old
Testament with the Easter message by declaring: “Which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently…searching…what
manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the
glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:10,11).
II. Crucifixion And Resurrection Prophesied By Christ
A. Disciples advised privately
(Matt. 20:17) And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them…
This is the third recorded time Jesus has foretold His death and resurrection. The first occasion was at Caesarea, Philippi, where Peter identified Him as the Son of the living God. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day’ (Matt. 16:21).
When Peter rebuked the Master for such prophecy, declaring that such would not come to pass, Jesus, who had just called him “blessed,” then called him “Satan,” declaring that, “…thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matt. 16:23)
The next recorded prophecy was made also in Galilee: “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him and the third day he shall kill him and the third day he shall be raised again: Matt. 17:22).
Finally, the third prophesy was made in private to the chosen twelve, “My time is at hand” (Matt. 26:18)
B. PLACE AND MANNER DESCRIBED
(Matt.
20:18) Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and
they shall condemn him to death.
Here we are given the time and place of the betrayal and murder of Jesus. It will occur in Jerusalem during the present feast of Passover. Notice that He well be handed over to the chief priests and scribes who will condemn Him to death. Then He will be given to the Gentiles, the Romans, who will mock, scourge, and finally crucify Him.
C. CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION PROPHESIED
(Matt. 20:19) And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the
third day he shall rise again.
The Jews, under Roman rule, had no authority for capital punishment; so while the Saviour would suffer being slapped, being mocked, being spit upon, and kept up all night tin a trial before the Sanhedrin, He would be scourged and eventually put to death by Roman soldiers at the request of Jewish leaders.
Matthew Henry points out that: “Christ on the sixth day finished His work…on the seventh day He rested, and then on the first day…did as it were begin a new world, and enter upon new work.”
Thus, did Christ see the end from the beginning of His sorrows in Jerusalem. And Peter would write, “…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin…” (1 Peter 2:21, 22). Then Paul calls on all to “…suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:17,17).
III. The Prophecies Are Fulfilled
A. AN EARTHQUAKE WITH ANGEL MINISTERING
(Matt.
28:2-7) V. 2—And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled
back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
V. 3—His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
v. 4—And for
fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
v. 5—And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I
know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
v. 6—He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the
Lord lay.
v.7—And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee;
there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
It was most fitting that an earthquake accompanied the resurrection of Christ, since an earthquake marked His departure from life. It was also fitting that an angel take part in the post-resurrection proceedings, since an angel had come to the Saviour in Gethsemane where He prayed, “Not my will but thine be done” (Luke 22:42)
Mark’s account of the Resurrection has the women wondering who would roll away the stone for them to get to the body of Christ with burial spices.
Here we read that the “stone-roller” was an angel descended from heaven for that purpose, a divine indication that God was aware of the completion of His Son’s stay in the crucifixion would have been fruitless had the Lamb of God remained in death.
Believers have been promised a quickening of their mortal bodies if they possess the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
B. JESUS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED
(Matt. 28:5,6)
v. 5—And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was
crucified.
v. 6-- He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The angel, who so badly scared the Roman guards, spoke calming words to these early-rising women. His appearance was enough to frighten any mortal, but they are told not to fear for he knows that they seek Jesus. But, says the angel, “He is not here: for he is risen.” Notice that the Resurrection is now an accomplished fact—one which Christ had promised on three recorded occasions.
That there be no possibility of mistake, we find the angel referring to Jesus “who was crucified,” then declaring, “He is not here.” And lest they think His body was stolen away, as the Pharisees feared, this divine creature hastens to add, “He is risen!’ then he reminds them of Christ’s promise to rise, and offers to show them where “the Lord lay.”
C. TO TAKE THE MESSAGE OF RESURRECTION
(Matt. 28:7)And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and , behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall
ye see him: lo I have told you.
The angel had a divine commission for these women. They were to go quickly and tell the disciples about the Resurrection, for they were still in hiding and needed such news to reawaken faith in the life and ministry of Christ.
Furthermore, the women were to announce that Jesus would go before them into Galilee, where He would meet with believers some eighty miles from Jerusalem. This would be a place far removed from the danger of the Holy City, and a time when they would enjoy unhurried communion with their risen Lord. With this final directive, the divine messenger declares, “Lo, I have told you.”
This is not the only time that they would see Him. He would travel the road to Emmaus, would appear unto Peter, and would visit the Upper Room on two occasions before departing for Galilee. He would be seen by “above five hundred” before His departure for the right hand of the Father, from the Mount of Olives near the town of Bethany. God would establish the truth of the Resurrection by the testimony of multitudes. He would provide further proof with the sending of the Holy Ghost as Comforter, who would bring all things to the memory of those who had walked with Christ before and after His resurrection. Thousands had been touched by His public ministry and now enjoyed well bodies and the absence of evil spirits; but testimonies which would rock the world were those “eye witnesses of His resurrection, : those who saw Him after His coming forth from the grave.
CONCLUSION
The resurrection was the crowning achievement in the life of Christ. None of His miracles could compare with His taking up His life again, proving that because He lives, all who believe in Him will live also. In the gospel of John, one can read about some of His greatest miracles. There is a progression of miracles ending with the Resurrection.
Christ arising from the dead proves His preexistent and eternal nature. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Let Him be praised! Let Him be worshipped! Christ, the eternal “I AM.”