He Arose by James Tissot
The Lamb of God was dead. He had been sacrificed as prophesied by Old Testament prophets.
Everything seemed lost to the followers of Jesus. The disciples were scattered for fear the Romans would be coming after them. They were hidden from sight. The Messiah, the one they had followed and loved for three years was dead. Their understanding of what had just happened was null. Depression, fear, overwhelming despair, angry at themselves for not standing by Jesus were thoughts and feelings they now experienced. What would they do now? Where would they go? Would they be executed as Jesus had been? Were they so terribly wrong about Jesus? Was He just a man? Was He really the Lamb of God as John the Baptist had said? Questions, questions and more questions.
Jesus suffered unimaginable pain and agony and had died bloody and alone. Only His mother and a small group of women stood with John at the foot of the cross. They had taken His body down and placed Him in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Anointing the body with oils, they wrapped His body quickly as time was drawing near for the coming Sabbath. The women would come back to finish the job of anointing His body after the Sabbath was over. For now, this was all they could do.
So they waited…
Did they remember what Jesus had said? Try as they might, grief was so strong for all of them that remembering His words was something they could not do.
What did Jesus say?
Mark 8: 31 “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
Matthew 17: 22 “Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”
Even the Sanhedrin remembered what Jesus said so they took matters into their own hands: Matthew 27: 63 “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”
What did Psalms and the prophets reveal was about to happen? Here are but a few:
Resurrection Prophecy:
Psa 2: 7-8: The Crucifixion and Resurrection intimated-Acts 13: 29-33
Psa 16: 9-11: Was to arise from the dead-John 20: 9
Psa 17: 15: The resurrection predicted-Luke 24: 6
Psa 22: 22: His Resurrection declared-John 20: 17
Isa 25: 8: The Resurrection predicted-1 Cor 15: 54
Isa 53: 10c: Resurrected and live forever-Rom 6: 9
Psa 118: 17-18: Messiah’s Resurrection assured-Luke 24: 5-7; 1 Cor 15: 20
Hos 13: 14: He would defeat death-1 Cor 15: 55-57
He would become King:
Psa 2: 6: To own the title King-Matt 2: 2I
Zech 6: 12-13: Priest and King-Heb 8: 1
Isa 9: 7: To establish an everlasting kingdom-Luke 1: 32-33
Isa 22: 22: The One given all authority to govern-Rev 3: 7
Dan 7: 13-14a: He would ascend into heaven-Acts 1: 9-11
God’s plan was now revealed through His Son Jesus. The Messiah had come. Three days later, Jesus would rise from the dead in His glorified body to declare victory. The reign of sin and death had come to an end with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But God’s story doesn’t end here. Jesus changed everything. His death, burial, resurrection and ascension marked not the end of God’s story but the continuation of His divine plan for redemption of the world revealed to His people and written down through the pages of Scripture. The trembling, weak disciples would gain boldness and strength through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. They spread the “Good News” of the redemptive power of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. They told God’s story and saved the souls of many who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord.
God continues His story in prophecy with the coming earthly kingdom of Jesus. Jesus will come again at God’s appointed time, accompanied by the saints to establish His Kingdom on earth as King over all.
Revelation 21: 22-24 “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.”
Once again God’s presence will reside with His people. This time forever just as He planned before the foundation of the world was laid in place.
Thus, your story begins. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Will you accept His blood sacrifice? Will you live forever in the kingdom of God ?
Sandra Hardage
351 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus compiled by New Testament Christians Bible Resources. https://www.newtestamentchristians.com/bible-study-resources/351-old-testament-prophecies-fulfilled-in-jesus-christ/