It’s Good Friday! But Resurrection Sunday is coming!
On Good Friday we celebrate the worst crime ever committed ordained by God for our greatest and eternal good.
Remembering everything Jesus did for us on the cross always overwhelms me with gratitude.
Last year I focused on Jesus’ last seven words on the cross (see below.)
This year I focus on the Resurrection in these three videos and posts:
- Did Jesus Literally Rise from the Dead?
- Does it Matter if Jesus Rose from the Dead?
- What Evidence Proves Jesus Rose from the Dead?
In the first video, I share two requirements someone must fulfill to literally rise from the dead. Did Jesus fulfill them?
I pray you’ll be blessed by this video and post.
Did Jesus Literally Rise from the Dead?
Requirement #1 to Rise From the Dead
Let’s consider what is required of someone to rise from the dead.
First, of course, they must in fact be dead.
John 19:30 records the moment Jesus died.
Therefore, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 19:30
Jesus died.
John 19:31-37 details how the Jewish leaders went to Pilate as the Sabbath hour was approaching to ask him to break Jesus’ legs as well as the legs of the two criminals hanging on either side of him so that they would hurry up and die.
The leaders didn’t want bodies left on the crosses on the Sabbath because they wouldn’t dare offend God by having anyone who was cursed of God still “hanging on a tree.”
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God.”
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 ESV
These Jewish leaders wanted to “respect God’s law” by killing and burying His Son Jesus quickly.
Soldiers came and broke the legs of the first two men, but when they came to Jesus, they saw He was already dead.
They didn’t break His legs, which fulfilled Scripture: “Not one of His bones will be broken.”
But just to be sure, they took a spear and pierced His side.
Blood and water gushed out, which also fulfilled Scripture: “They will look on Him whom they have pierced.”
Jesus was dead.
Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for His body, wrapped Jesus in a clean linen cloth, and laid Him in a new tomb—his own tomb— which was carved out in the rock in a nearby garden.
Then he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb.
No one was getting in.
“The next day, the Pharisees and chief priest went to Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’
“Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first” (Matt 27:63-64).
Pilate agreed.
They sent soldiers to seal the tomb and guard it.
The Jewish leaders and Pilate were certain Jesus was dead.
Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and. Mary, who helped Joseph bury Jesus, were certain Jesus was dead.
Jesus was dead.
Requirement #2 to Rise From the Dead
Now, let’s consider the other requirement of someone to rise from the dead.
They must stop being dead.
They must come back to life. They must breathe. Eat. Live.
Matthew 28 records this moment:
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
“Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”
And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Matthew 28:1-10
These women knew Jesus well. They saw Him. They took hold of His feet!
They worshiped Him.
Jesus was truly alive.
He wasn’t an angel. Holy angels never accept worship. But Jesus does because He’s God.
And He wasn’t appearing as a ghost or a spirit.
Jesus addressed this idea in Luke 24:36-39 when He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection:
While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Luke 24:36-39
Spirits don’t eat:
But while they still could not believe because of their joy and were amazed, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and He took it and ate in their presence.
(Luke 24:41-43 HCSB)
The disciples got a clear understanding that Jesus was bodily resurrected.
But the disciple Thomas wasn’t with them at that time. You’ve probably heard him called “Doubting Thomas.”
He didn’t believe Jesus had risen from the dead.
John 20 records the moment he discovered he was wrong, and his friends were right:
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” [The ESV translates it: “I will NEVER believe.”)After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (Thomas recognized that Jesus is both Lord and God.)Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
John 20:24-29
Final Verdict
What’s the answer to our question “Did Jesus Literally rise from the dead?”
It’s a resounding YES!! Yes, Jesus rose from the dead. Literally.
What are you going to do about it?
The next question is: What are you going to do about this truth?
Are you going to be like the Jewish leaders who denied that Jesus rose from the dead despite the clear evidence?
(We’ll look at some of this evidence in another video.)
Do you believe Jesus literally rose from the dead, but you’re just going to store it away as an interesting fact about a past event that has absolutely no impact on your life today?
(We’ll look at why it matters that Jesus rose from the dead in another video.)
Or are you going to confess like Thomas when he saw that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead?
Will you confess like him, “My Lord and my God!”
I pray you’ll believe in Him for salvation from your sins.
I pray you’ll be like one of the two criminals who hung next to Christ on the cross.
He was condemned to death like Jesus was, BUT he knew he was guilty and Jesus was not.
While the other criminal spat curses at Jesus, this man cried out for mercy.
“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!’
And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
I pray you’ll be like the centurion who stood before Jesus as Christ hung on the cross.
This soldier had witnessed crucifixions. He took part in them. He took part in Jesus’ crucifixion.
He recognized that Jesus was different. And when Jesus died, by faith he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent. Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Luke 23:47; Mark 15:39)
This man who helped to crucify the Lord was now saved by Him.
If he could find forgiveness, you certainly can. Run to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
I love what William Newell wrote:
“Flee not from this wounded Lamb; for here the wrath against man’s sin has struck.
There is safety here, though nowhere else in the universe.” (Newell)
Yes, Jesus literally rose from the dead. Believe.
In the next video, we look at whether it really matters that Jesus rose from the dead. Then we’ll look at the evidence that proves Jesus literally rose from the dead.
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Thank you for watching and I’ll see you next time.
Remember, It’s All About Him! Our Risen Lord!
Jesus’ Last 7 Words on the Cross Series
I focused on the cross last year by looking at the Last Seven Words Christ Spoke on the Cross
Great Music for Good Friday
In Christ Alone (Shane and Shane)
This hymn has been a favorite of mine for years! May it bless you, too.
The Lord is My Salvation (Shane and Shane)
This is a new favorite hymn of mine! Wow, just wow. It builds to an exciting crescendo. The music keeps up with the powerful truths in this hymn.
Great Preaching for Good Friday
Why I Believe in the Resurrection (Voddie Baucham)
Voddie Baucham is one of my favorite preachers. His teaching on the resurrection is outstanding.
7 Ways Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection Impact You Today (Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth)
“There are two events that form the hinge of human history and set the Christian faith apart from all other religions. The first of these events—the crucifixion of our Lord—was both the greatest crime and the supreme act of sacrificial love in the history of mankind. The second—the resurrection—turned despair and apparent defeat into eternal hope and victory.
But what does all this mean for us? What difference do the cross and the empty tomb make for those who are facing pain or tears or failure?” Here are seven implications from these momentous events.
If you live in the Lexington, South Carolina area, I invite you to visit our church, Grace Bible Church.
