A Study on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Lesson #2 The Power of the Resurrection

In the previous lesson for this series, we saw that there was plenty of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In this lesson we are going to look at the power of the resurrection. By power, we mean how did Jesus come up from the dead and does this affect us in any way.

Were the Jews expecting Jesus to be resurrected?

Before we get into discussing how the power that raised Jesus from the dead we are going to look at the subject of the resurrection from the view point of the Jews. It is clear from the scripture that the Jews were expecting a resurrection from the dead (Ezekiel 37:1-14 ; John 11:23-27). Even Job knew about a resurrection from the dead (Job19:25-26)

As for someone being resurrected from the dead the Jews knew of resurrections in the Old Testament like the woman of Shunem’s son (2 Kings 4:8-37). What they could not understand was that Jesus would have to be raised from the before the resurrection they were waiting could take place. This is what he is trying to show Martha when he says I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Jesus does raise Lazarus in that passage but that is not the resurrection that the Jews were waiting on. As Martha said there would be one at the last day. This brings us to our next question.

The First Begotten of the Dead

In Revelation 1:5 Jesus is called the first begotten of the dead. If there were others that were raised from the dead before Jesus, then why is he called the first begotten of the dead? Anyone raised before Jesus either in the Old Testament or the New Testament was raised by someone else, and they also had to die again.

Jesus was raised by his own power (John10:18) and once he was raised, he never dies again (Revelation 1:18). This makes his resurrection different from anyone else that had been resurrected from the dead. This is reason why Jesus is called the first begotten of the dead.

The Power that Raised Jesus from the Dead

It was just stated that Jesus raised himself from the dead and this is true, but when we look to the scriptures it is the Holy Spirit that is said to raise up Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). Note that in the Trinity all had a part in the resurrection.

God (Acts 2:24)          Jesus (John 2:19 ; 10:18)       Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11 ; 1 Peter 3:18)

This is an important fact for us as well. Because Romans 8:11 says that if the same Spirit that raised Jesus is in us then it will also raise us up as well. This means that we will be raised by the same power that raised up Jesus therefore we will also never die.

A Study on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Lesson #2 The Power of the Resurrection : Handout

1)  Were the Jews looking for a resurrection from the dead?  Give scriptures.

2)  Name some people who were resurrected before Jesus?

3)  Why is Jesus called the first begotten of the dead?

4)  What was the power that raised Jesus from the dead?

5) Why is the power that raised Jesus from the dead important to us today?