62. The Resurrection of Christ

The Day of the Crucifixion

While the death of Jesus Christ is of utmost importance, His resurrection, which we celebrate on Easter Sunday morning, is so much more exciting.  Because His resurrection happened as it had been prophesied that it would happen, we can also believe the promise that He is going to come back. 

The Literal Translation and the Modern King James Version have it this way The first of the sabbaths.   This is a really bad translation, but not only that, it isn't literal.  In Greek, it says, on one of the Sabbaths.  Most other translations have, The first day of the week.  

John distinctly tells us that the body of Christ was taken down from the cross the same day He was crucified because the next day was the first Sabbath.  Then the Jews, because it was Preparation, begged Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. For that sabbath was a high day. John 19:31.   So if the tomb was already empty on the first of the two Sabbath's, Christ was in the tomb only one night, therefore we cannot accept that translation.

For a fuller analysis on this subject I strongly suggest:
https://wwwthinkagai.blogspot.com/2018/03/86-was-christ-crucified-on-friday.html

The Day if The Resurrection

Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, darkness still being on it, and she saw the stone taken away from the tomb. ... And the grave-cloth that was on His head was not lying with the linens, but was wrapped up in one place by itself. ... Mary stood outside of the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting there, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep?

This is resurrection Sunday; that event, which gives meaning to life, has just occurred, so why are you weeping?

She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him. And when she had said this, she turned backward and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 

Jesus said to her, Woman, why do you weep?  Don't you remember that I told you that on the third day I would rise again?  Whom do you seek? Don't look for the living among the dead!  Jesus said to her, Mary! She turned herself and said to Him, ... Master! 

Then the same day at evening ... Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, Peace to you! Where Christ is, there is peace!  And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you. 

Christ said, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.  But these (things) are written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life in His name. John 20:1-31.

The Day of His Ascension

Truly, ... I made the first report (the Gospel of Luke) as to all things that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day He was taken up (to heaven), having given directions to the apostles whom He chose, through the Holy Spirit; to whom (the disciples) He also presented Himself living after His suffering by many infallible proofs (not hearsay, not theories, not suppositions but infallible proofs).  These were proofs that no judge in the country would try to dispute. There are no less than thirteen different appearances of Jesus to his disciples (after His resurrection, over a period of forty days) recorded. Barnes Commentary.

Being seen by them through forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Act 1:1-3. This was the same Christ they had known before His death.  He still worked miracles; He was still their friend; He still ate with them and still taught the same message about the kingdom of God.  

After forty days of post-resurrection teaching and proving that He was alive, while they were looking intently into the heaven, they saw Him go into heaven.  

As they stood, looking up two men in white clothing stood beside them, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the way you have seen Him going into Heaven. Act 1:10-11.

The return of Christ is, of course, the great hope of the Christian Church.  If we believe that He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, where do we find a problem with believing that He is coming back?  Is it because His promise is 2000 year old.  That is a poor excuse; Jehovah does not count time as we do.

Based on the prophecies in the Bible, and looking at the activities of the Arabian world these days, one cannot help but believe that maybe soon Christ will be returning.  We realize that just before Christ ascended to heaven He said to his disciples, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority. Acts 1:7.

On the other hand, there are distinct indications in the Bible about certain things that will happen before Christ's return.  Some Bible students say that all the required events, except the setting up of Antichrist's throne, have already happened.  Based on what we hear on the news these days, that sounds like an imminent probability.

So now we repeat the words of Saint John, So, Lord Jesus, please come soon! The Revelation 22:20 CEV.