WHO IS JESUS? PART V Kay Keith Peebles 11/1/2019 19:38
In this series, I have presented the life of Jesus from conception to His suffering and death on the cross. See WHO IS JESUS? Parts 1-IV. I have included many prophetic words from the Old Testament about Jesus the Messiah’s coming and referenced their fulfillment throughout His life. One of the most compelling testimonies of His divinity is the resurrection. It is filled with confirmation through the eyewitness testimonies of many, including His disciples. It begins at early dawn on the third day after His crucifixion.
Jesus hung on the cross for six hours from nine am to three pm. The sun became darkened at noon until Jesus’ death at three o’clock. At the moment He died, many signs and wonders occurred. “And at once the curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death were raised. And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus observed the earthquake and all that was happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, ‘Truly this was God’s Son!’” Matthew 27:51-54.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Everything about Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection was supernatural. He demonstrated the radical love of God by sacrificing His life for us all. His ministry of teaching and healing miracles displayed the goodness of His heavenly Father. His explosive power over Satan was displayed through the miraculous deliverance of many who were demon possessed. The power, dominion and authority of Almighty God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) became visible for all to see and believe. His unfailing love for us compelled Him to willingly sacrifice His pure, holy, sinless life to pay the price required by the Law for the sins of the entire world. He broke the power of sin and death freeing us from the bondage of sin, and welcomed all who believe in Him into His family and Kingdom.
It was Jewish custom to prepare the body for burial. The women who stood by Him at the cross with the disciple John anointed His body with oil and wrapped Him in a linen cloth. A wealthy man who had come to believe in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and the Son of God offered his own tomb which had been prepared. The Jewish hierarchy remembered Jesus had said that in three days He would rise again. See Matthew 27:63. At their instruction, Pilate provided guards and told them to do as they please. The Sanhedrin had the huge stone at the entrance of the tomb sealed, assuring no one could tamper with the gravesite and stationed guards to watch over it protecting it day and night. See Matthew 27:64-66.
“Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. And behold there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightening and his garments as white as snow. And those keeping guard were so frightened at the sight of him that they were agitated and they trembled and became like dead mean. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.’” Matthew 28:1-7 See also Luke 24:1-12.
John’s account adds some details which more deeply affirm the testimony. “Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from (lifted out of the groove across the entrance of) the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him!’ Upon this, Peter and the other disciple came out and they went toward the tomb. And they came running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first. And stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. But the burial napkin which had been around Jesus’ head was not lying with the other linen cloths, but was [still] rolled up (wrapped round and round) in a place by itself. Then when the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went in too and he saw and was convinced and believed. For as yet, they did not know (understand) the statement of scripture that He must rise again from the dead.” John 20:1-9, See also Luke 24:1-12.
Psalm 16:10 declares: “For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the place of the dead), neither will You suffer Your hold one [Holy One] to see corruption.” Prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection. See also Acts 13:35.
After His resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. See Matthew 28:1-10. Then He appeared to 500 people. 1 Corinthians 15:6 records: “And that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the Twelve. After that He appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death]. Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles, and last of all, as to one untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also.” See Acts 9:1-9. See also John 20:11-18, Luke 24:33-48. He appeared to two men on the Road to Emmaus recorded in Luke 24:13-35.
Through these scriptures and the 40 days the Lord remained until His ascension into heaven, Jesus showed His disciples the marks on His hands and side. He ate meals with them and talked with them. “Then on the same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace to you!’ So saying, He showed them His hands and His side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy…Eight days later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though they were behind closed doors, and stood among them and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach out your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place [it] in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but believe!’” John 20:19-27. See also John 21:1-14.
At the end of 40 days the Lord Jesus met his disciples by the Sea of Galilee one last time. “And after He said these things, He was caught up as they looked on, and a cloud took Him up out of their sight. While they were looking intently into the sky as He was going, two men in white clothing suddenly stood beside them who said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go.’” Acts 1:9-11. See also Luke 24:50-53.
Matthew’s account of His final words to His disciples before His ascension into heaven is profound. “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted [that it was really He]. Jesus came up and said to them, ‘All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:16-20. See also Mark 16:14-20.
Jesus delegated His authority to His 11 disciples: “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well. So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord was working with them and confirming the word by signs that followed.” Confirmation: Mark 16:17-20.
Prophecy: Psalm 110:1. “The LORD (Father) says to my Lord (the Messiah, His Son), ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” See also Matthew 26:64, Acts 2:34, 1 Corinthians 15:25, Colossians 3:1.
Saul of Tarsus who had persecuted and killed new believers had a life-changing encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and converted to Christianity. He was re-named Paul and was an Apostle of the faith. He testified: “We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” Jesus’ Resurrection Confirmed Hebrews 12:2.
The Apostle Paul preached to the assembly in Antioch the testimony of Christ. “So now we are bringing you to the good news (Gospel) that what God promised to our forefathers, This He has completely fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You [caused You to arise, to be born; formally shown You to be the Messiah by the resurrection]. And as to His having raised Him from among the dead, now no more to return to [undergo] putrefaction and dissolution [of the grave], He spoke it in this way, I will fulfill and give to you the holy and sure mercy and blessing that were promised and assured to David.” Jesus’ Resurrection Confirmed Acts 13:32-34. See entire chapter, also Psalm 2:7.
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a love letter from God to all who believe in Him. There is no greater love than that of one who would lay down his life for another. The difference lies in the fact that Jesus not only died for us, He bore all the rejection and wrath of the Father in order to justify us by the shedding of His innocent blood. Today, He rules and reigns in heaven at the right hand of God ever interceding for us all. He is our High Priest, Lord of Life, Sacrificial Lamb of God, King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords. His name is JESUS!