There were resurrections in the Old Testament so it should come as no surprise that there were resurrections in the New Testament also. Kind David, looking forward with messianic vision, knew the Messiah would be resurrected. For more on this resurrection prophecy please see Psalm 16.
From Job we learn that resurrection will be bodily, and not just spiritual (Job 19:26).The resurrection of our Messiah is different from all other resurrections because death is the penalty for sin and even though there were others brought back to life in both the Old and New Testaments, there was only one resurrection of a sinless person who did not deserve to die. Another thing that makes the resurrection of Jesus different from all other resurrections is that after Jesus was resurrected He ascended up into Heaven (Acts 1:10).
After the resurrection of Jesus, after He proved to others His victory over death, He ascended up into heaven to be with the Father. In doing so, He left much behind for His followers (Christ followers) to look forward to.
From The New Testament:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to 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.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead (John 20:1-9).
From Josephus:
"Now there was about this time, Yeshua (Eaysoos in Greek), a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was Mashiach (Christos in Greek); and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of "Christians" (followers of Messiah), so named from him, are not extinct at this day."(1)
Toledoth Jesu:
This is a late, anti-Christian document. It states that the body of Jesus was secretly moved by Jewish officials to a second grave because for fear that the disciples would attempt to steal the body. This reflects the first antagonistic reaction to the resurrection as found in Matthew 18:11-15. At the very least, the text affirms existence of Jesus and the empty tomb.(2)
(Toledoth Jusu is a Jewish written story of Jesus written by Jews who do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah)
Those who share in His death through faith and repentance also share in His resurrection. (Rom. 6:3-5). (3)
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Romans 6:3-5).
While on Earth, Jesus accomplished things that no one else in history did. Even though He is viewed as the greatest Rabbi/Preacher and teacher ever to live, that is not proof of His Messiahship. Even though His death on the cross provided a way for all of mankind to receive salvation, that also is not proof of His Messiahship. The greatest proof that Jesus was our Messiah, our savior and avenue for salvation is in His resurrection. This is the way that our Almighty Father in Heaven chose to show to the entire world, His acceptance of Jesus' death on the cross being an acceptable substitution for our own spiritual death due to sin in our life. Since Jesus now lives, we know that He has conquered death. Through Him, and in Him, we can conquer death also and have eternal life. Praise the Lord!
So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19).
...and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me (Paul/Saul) also. (1 Corinthians 15:4-8)
Resurrection of Jesus: More Eye-witness Accounts: The resurrection of Jesus was also declared in numerous other accounts, including the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10-18), to other women (Matthew 28:8-10), to Cleopas and his companion (Luke 24:13-32), to eleven disciples and others (Luke 24:33-49), to ten apostles and others (excluding Thomas) (John 20:19-23), to the apostles (including Thomas) (John 20:26-30), to seven apostles (John 21:1-14), to the disciples (Matthew 28:16-20), and to the apostles on the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:50-52 and Acts 1:4-9). The ultimate test of credibility for these eye-witnesses was that many of them faced martyrdom for their eye-witness testimony. This is dramatic! These witnesses knew the truth. What could they possibly gain by dying for a known lie? The evidence speaks for itself, these weren't just religious faithful dying for a religious belief, these were followers of Jesus Christ dying for a historical event – His resurrection that established Him as the Son of God.(4)
There is Evidence For The Resurrection.
What does the Talmud teach about Resurrection As A Fundamental Belief.
In the Apocrypha both the Apocalypse of Zerubbabel and the Wars of King Messiah predict a resurrected Messiah.(6)
A compilation of 5th century Jewish writings, called the Toledoth Jeshu, acknowledges that the tomb was empty.(7)
“But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even someone rises from the dead.’ ” (Luke 16:31)
1). Antiquities of the Jews, book 18, chapter 3, paragraph 3; Yosef ben Mattityahu a.k.a Josephus
2). http://biblicism.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/who-says-jesus-existed-follow-up/
3). Charles Salmon
4). http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/resurrection-of-jesus.htm
5). Notes from Easter service, Northwoods Community Church, Pastor Cal Rychener 4/4/2010.
6). www.messiahbenjoseph.com/The%20Legend%20of%20Messiah%20ben%20Joseph%20page.htm
7). www.geocities.com/athens/delphi/8449/res.html
