Understanding Easter: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus
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The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the central, most important events in the Bible. On Easter, we celebrate the wonder of the resurrection.
There are many Easter Bible verses to help us in our celebration. They remind us that our hope is solid and sure.
Use these Easter verses to encourage you this Easter!
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
The resurrection of Jesus wasn’t seen by just one or two people. It wasn’t a hallucination, nor was it a case of someone seeing what they wanted to see. The reality is that Jesus appeared to many people after He rose again. He was seen by the women at the tomb, then by Peter, and by His twelve disciples. A crowd of 500 people saw the risen Christ. Paul was a sworn enemy of Christianity until the risen Jesus knocked him off his horse.
There is good evidence for our faith and we can be confident that it is the truth.
Mark 15:46-47
Then he [Joseph of Arimathea] bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.
(Mark 15:46-47)
Some people have argued that the disciples went to the wrong tomb, and that Jesus was still lying dead in a nearby grave. This argument simply doesn’t work. Joseph of Arimathea knew exactly where he buried Jesus. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw the tomb Jesus was buried in.
If the disciples went to the wrong tomb, the Jewish leaders could simply go to the correct tomb and show Jesus’ body. But they couldn’t do that. Why? Because Jesus had really risen from the dead!
Luke 24:1-3
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
(Luke 24:1-3)
As the women approached Jesus’ tomb, they worried about how they would get into it. A very heavy stone was blocking the entrance, and this stone could not be easily rolled away. On top of this, guards had been placed in front of the tomb to prevent anyone from stealing the body.
But when they got to the tomb, they were astounded by what they saw. The massive stone had been rolled away, there were no guards, and the tomb was empty. What could explain such things? Only Jesus rising from the dead, just as He said He would!
John 20:24-28
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
(John 20:24-28)
Thomas did not believe that the other disciples had seen the risen Jesus. He wanted to see with his own eyes and touch Jesus himself. Until he saw and touched Jesus, he wouldn’t believe Jesus was alive.
Then it happened. Thomas was with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them He invited Thomas to touch His scarred hands and to feel His side where it had been pierced by a spear. There could be absolutely no doubt. Jesus was indeed alive! In response, Thomas worshiped Jesus, declaring Him to be both Lord and God.
Helpul Tools and Resources on Easter and the Resurrection
Understanding Easter: The Death and Resurrection Of Jesus
The death and resurrection of Jesus are central to Christianity. If we want to love God deeply, we must thoroughly understand the profound meaning of Easter, Good Friday, and Palm Sunday.
Matthew 28:5-7
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
(Matthew 28:5-7)
When Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses came to Jesus’ tomb, they saw something absolutely incredible. A brilliant, shining angel sat upon the stone which had blocked the entrance to the tomb. The women were afraid when they saw the angel. What did it want?
The angel was the bearer of good news! Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He said He would. He would meet the women and the disciples in Galilee. Death had no hold on Jesus. He was risen indeed!
John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
(John 11:25-36)
Jesus said these words to Martha as the two of them stood before the grave of her brother, Lazarus. In that moment, as He wept with Martha,
Jesus wanted her to know that death did not have the final word. Jesus has complete power over life and death, and whoever believes in Him will receive everlasting life.
Pastor Adrian Rogers said:
"Many people fear death—it’s a shadow looming over each of us, representing the unknown. Yet Jesus disarmed death and took away its power. The believer in Christ can have this assurance: beyond that shadow is the sunlight of the eternal morning."
Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:8-11)
Because we are united to Christ, we share in His death and resurrection. Just as Jesus died, so our old self that was enslaved to sin also died. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so we too were raised to new life. We are born again. The old has gone and the new has come. The resurrected Jesus dwells in us and we have power over sin. We are dead to sin and alive to God, free to follow and obey Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14)
Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can be confident that we will also rise. When Jesus returns, He will give us new resurrection bodies. These bodies won’t be affected by sickness or death. We will be free from sin, able to serve God without any limitations or struggles.
Jesus will also create a new heaven and new earth. Satan will be finally defeated, death will be no more, and we will live in the immediate presence of God. This is our great hope.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
(1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Through Adam, sin came into the world. With sin, came death, disease, and all manner of evils. Sin greatly marred the wonderful world that God created.
But Jesus will undo the effects of sin! Through Jesus, we have forgiveness from all our sins. We have everlasting life and will someday have new bodies that don’t suffer disease. When He returns, He will rid the world of every evil caused by sin. Adam brought death but Jesus Christ brings life!
He Is Risen!
These Easter Bible verses remind us of powerful truths. Jesus has risen from the dead. Death is overcome. The power of sin has been broken. Satan has been given the death blow. Christ will return and make all things new. We have an unbreakable hope that cannot be moved.
If you find yourself discouraged, ponder these Easter verses. Thank God for the hope of the resurrection. Though you may struggle now, Jesus is coming back and will put an end to all your struggles!
