November 19th, 2023
For us men and for our salvation, the Son of God came down from heaven, he was incarnate and became man, he was crucified, suffered, and was buried. The burial of the crucified Son of God marks the low point in the creed’s dramatic plotline. From here we ascend: “On the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures.” In this note, I consider the resurrection of Jesus. In my next note, I’ll consider his resurrection “according to the Scriptures.”
On the third day, he rose again. He was not resuscitated from the dead, like Lazarus. He was resurrected from the dead. Lazarus was raised and died again. He still awaits his resurrection. Jesus was resurrected on the third day.
Resurrection is not simply resuscitation or being restored to life. The Apostle Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15 that resurrection is transformation and glorification.
First, resurrection is transformation:
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Cor 15:51-53)
Second, resurrection is glorification:
There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:40-44)
Our Lord was raised in power and glory. And his resurrection on the third day is the first fruits of our resurrection:
In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep … But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Cor 15:20, 23)
Because Christ was raised on the third day, we have the hope of resurrection on the last day, when he comes. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Because we belong to him, we can say with the Apostles and Prophets: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:53-54; Is 25:8; Hos 13:14).