The Messiah and His Miracles (Continued)

The importance of the resurrection/ascension of Christ.

The Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth rests on His resurrection/ascension. When they asked Him for another attesting sign, He promised the sign of the prophet Jonah, the sign of death and resurrection. If He did not rise from the dead, then the Jewish leadership would have been right in refusing to recognise Him as Messiah.

The Divinity of the Messiah rests on His resurrection/ascension. Jesus Christ was: “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom.1:4) As previously mentioned, not only did He have power over His own life, but was able to permit His enemies to participate in His death knowing He could take His life up again. He said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up … but He was speaking of the temple of His body” John 2.19-21 (NASB). This power over life and death is divine!

The Sovereignty of the Messiah rests on His resurrection/ascension. Paul wrote: “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Rom.14:9).

The Present Intercessionary Ministry of the Messiah rests on His resurrection/ascension: “It is Christ who … is … risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Rom.8:34)

Our Justification rests on His resurrection/ascension: “Jesus our Lord … who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised because of our justification.” (Rom.4:25)

Our Regeneration rests on His resurrection/ascension: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet.1:3)

Our Present Life rests on His resurrection/ascension: “… just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom.6:4)

Our Resurrection rests on His resurrection/ascension: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep … For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming”. (1 Cor.15:20-23)

The resurrection of Christ is essential to the whole doctrine of redemption: “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty … And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Cor.15:13-17)

More next time