Resurrection is an expectation for the saint of God. It is not a false hope. It is one of our great joys. Believers in the Lord’s time also knew the doctrine of the resurrection. So many believers knew someone who had experienced a renewed life.
The gospels record four resurrections before our Lord. Jesus and disciples were going to the village of Nain. Upon arriving, they observed a funeral procession of a widow’s only son. The circumstances deeply touched the Lord. Jesus approached the open coffin and told the deceased to get up. The young man was then presented alive to the grieving widow (Luke 7:11-15).
Jairus, a ruler of a synagogue, came to Jesus, asking Him to heal his 12-year-old daughter. While on the way, word came that the daughter had died. The Lord told the father, “only believe, and she will be well” (Luke 8:50 NKJV). Arriving at the house, Jesus, the girl’s parents and three disciples entered the young girl’s room. The Lord held the girl’s hand and said get up, which she did ( Luke 8:40-56).
The third incident was Jesus’ friend Lazarus. He was sick when Jesus received word. The Lord waited before going to see His friend. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus was in his grave for four days. Approaching the grave site, Jesus wept for His friend. The Lord prayed that the audience would know that God had sent Him to Israel, and then Jesus spoke to Lazarus to come forth out of the grave, and stood before them (John 11).
When Jesus died on the cross, many of the dead believers were resurrected . Their witness in Jerusalem was one more proof of the reality of a resurrection.
The Pharisees who consented to the Lord’s crucifixion knew the Lord said He would appear after His death. They thought the disciples would come and steal the Lord’s body. To prevent this, the Pharisees asked Pilate to put guards at the Lord’s tomb. He refused and told the Pharisees to set their guards there.
The most significant resurrection of history had four different validation experiences: Mary Magdalene and Mary (Matthew 28:1); the two on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-25); the disciples (John 20:19, 20) and 500 plus believers (I Corinthians 15:6).
The resurrection of our Savior is the most paramount event in history. Without the resurrection, our belief in God is worthless. Our Lord Jesus Christ purchased our salvation on Calvary’s cross by the shedding of His blood for the world.
