The Resurrection Of Jesus

Isaiah 53:10-12

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Today is Resurrection Sunday where we commemorate the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection as we all know is the physical raising of Jesus from the grave. He didn’t vanish. He was not stolen by his disciples. He did actually physically rise from the dead and there were eyewitnesses.. He showed himself to his disciples according to the gospel accounts. But truly, every Sunday when we meet for service, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection is a crucial and foundational Christian doctrine because without it, there is no hope for Christianity. If Christ didn’t rise from death, then Christianity has no future. Because Christ’s resurrection points to our own resurrection from death when Christ returns. The apostle Paul makes these points so clearly in 1 Corinthians  15:12-19

12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.  16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.  17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Apparently, in the 1st Century, there were disputes about the resurrection. Some argued  the resurrection of believers has already taken place. While others argued there will be no resurrection of the dead. And the Scriptures we just read is one of the places where the Corinthians were arguing about a resurrection. And Paul answers these by pointing to some of the logical implications if there is no resurrection

(1) they the apostles and every preacher is a liar (v.15)

 (2) If there is no resurrection, then our faith is futile—useless and we are still in our sins (v.17),  (3) Believers who have died have died in vain (v.18) 

(4) Believers are the most useless people because our hope then is in this life only(v.19), 

But you and I expect a resurrection because Christ resurrected. Amen. Christ resurrected from death and that is what we are gathered today to commemorate. On Friday, we looked at The Suffering Servant from Isaiah 53 where we examined the suffering of Christ for sinners, taking upon himself the sins of his people and paying for its penalty. We closed off at verse 10 where we learnt that Jesus’ suffering was the will of the Father

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

Today, we will look at The Resurrection of Jesus from the rest of the verses: 10-12. Isaiah didn’t only prophecy of the suffering and death of Jesus. His prophecy is a total prophecy about the complete work of Christ from suffering, death and resurrection. Christ didn’t remain in the grave, he rose and is alive. The words spoken in these verses clearly points to the resurrection of Christ.

Christ Lives

…when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days (v.10)

Jesus’ death was an offering for guilt. A payment to atone for sin. But Jesus didn’t remain in the grave. The verse says “ he shall see his offspring.” Firstly, it is important to consider that little phrase “he shall see.” That same phrase is repeated in verse 11: “out of the anguish of his soul he shall see…” It has been indicated that “he shall see” in this verse can also read as “he shall see light.” which simply  means coming to life or seeing life. In the book of Job, Elihu makes a similar statement that better explains this: “He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.” (Job 33:28). David also says “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). This is a Messianic psalm that also points to Christ’s resurrection. So if he will not see corruption or decay, what it simply means is that he shall see light or life. 

We Have Life Because Of The Resurrection

Because of the resurrection, everyone who has come to faith in Christ Jesus, has  eternal life: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). 

Do you see that? We have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. It’s the resurrection of Christ that gave us our salvation. If he had not risen, we will, as Paul says, still be in our sins. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, says the song. Formerly, you and I were enemies of God. We were dead in sins.We had all walked astray, but now we have life through faith in Jesus because of the resurrection. Everyone who has come to faith in Christ is now a child of God through the resurrection. 

That is the meaning of  offspring in v.10 “he shall see his offspring”. Offspring also means seed. This means that the suffering servant will see the result of his work. The result of bringing sons and daughters to God. In the resurrection, sinners are brought to life. Raised from spiritual death—that is sin—unto eternal life. Dead people don’t see or know anything after they are gone, but this suffering servant lives on to see the works of his sacrifice. By Jesus’ resurrection, he has purchased many sons and daughters for God.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10).

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24).

Sinners Justified Through The Resurrection

Connected to this, we see that in the resurrection, sinners are justified through the righteousness of Christ. To be justified is to stand before God as guiltless. In his death and resurrection, Christ declares everyone who believes in him not guilty.: There is a divine exchange. Our sin imputed to Jesus and his righteousness imputed to us. So in the resurrection, we are justified. We stand before God as people who are righteous. Not because of our good works. But because of the 

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see  and be satisfied; by his knowledge [that is by knowing him) shall the righteous one, my servant,make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities (v.11)

This verse clearly speaks of how sinners are made right before God. Jesus suffered in our place. And in that suffering you and I have been made righteous if we have believed in Jesus as our saviour. 

In the verse 12 also, we see two important lessons related to the resurrection. The first one is  

Victory Over Death

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,  and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death  and was numbered with the transgressors;yet he bore the sin of many,  and makes intercession for the transgressors 

That first line “I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong is a military language that indicates victory in a battle or war. In ancient times, when one is victorious in war, they take prisoners of war, and take all valuable items from the war. To divide the spoil therefore meant that Jesus was victorious over death. He triumphed. Death could not hold him captive because it was impossible for death to hold him down (Acts 2:24). He laid down his life and picked it up again (John 10:18). His victory over death is our victory also. When the prophet says he will divide him a portion with the many and divide the spoil with the strong, the many and strong is indicated to be those who will believe in him. Isn’t this familiar New Testament language? Ephesians 2

5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

We are victorious in Christ. We are co-heirs with Christ. We share in the glory of his victory and resurrection. I have always said that those who make the most noise about having power are the most cowardly and fearful among believers. These same people who claim to have power are the same people who will be binding and losing demons. They are the ones who think something is out there pursuing them. Everything is a demonic attack. But truly, if you and I are co heirs of Christ, we fear no demons and devil. Our Father will not let anything happen to us that he has not ordained. Who shall bring anything to the charge of God’s elect?

Jesus was victorious over death and all the powers of darkness:  “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15). Because of this victory, we have victory over sin. We have victory over Satan. We share in the power and victory of Christ and we are not to be afraid. 

Christ Our Mediator and Intercessor

The second thing we see in the verse 12 is one of the clearest proof of Christ’s resurrection in the text. Look at the last part of verse 12: he “makes intercession for the transgressors.” It is only one who is alive who can make intercession. Dead people cannot pray for anyone, only Jesus, the mediator between God and man who prays for us. Jesus is our mediator. He is our ever-living High Priest who prays for us:

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:23-25)

Jesus is alive making intercession for us. He is praying for us. He is watching over us. What great comfort this is. Whatever you are going through, if you are one of his, know that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. He makes entreaties for us. He petitions the Father for us. What a great joy.

Looking forward to a future resurrection.

Finally, Jesus’ resurrection is proof of a future resurrection for everyone who has ever lived on earth. Some to eternal life and others to eternal damnation.It also points us to the Second Coming of Christ. One day Jesus will return in judgement and he calls everyone to repent of their sins.. For the believer, you can be confident that you have passed from death to light and when Christ returns you will be able to stand before him. But for those who haven’t come to faith in Christ, a fiery judgement awaits you and you are called upon to believe in the work of Christ and repent from your sins

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31).

Revelation 20

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

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