As we approach this Easter holiday I wanted to do a study on the Cross and The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of scriptures and materials are taken from the Quest study Bible. My hope is that I can help you to better understand the prophecy and fulfillment of the Cross and the Resurrection.
The Prophecy in the Old Testament:
Psalm 16:8-11
8. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,
10. because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
In verse 10 of this psalm David says that the Lord will not abandon him to the grave, nor will he let the Holy One see decay. Many believe that David was talking about Jesus, The Holy One, being resurrected.
Psalm 22:1,16-18
1.My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
16.Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.
17.I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.
18.They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
In verse 1 of this Psalm David uses the same words as Jesus used on the cross. I verse 16 God uses Davids poetic allusions to foreshadow Christ being nailed to the cross. He also talks about the people that were present at the Cross and how they made horrible remarks to Jesus and tore His cloths and were waging on them.
Isaiah 53:5,7-9
5.But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
7.He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was lead like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shears he is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8.By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.
9.He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Verse 5 of Isaiah chapter 53 shows us how Jesus would suffer so that we could be healed, free and forgiven from our sins. The verse talks of Jesus being pierced. This is a prophecy of the Cross. Verse 7-9 talk of how Jesus was persecuted, ridiculed and afflicted and how He remained quiet through it all. The verses talk about how Jesus would be taken away because of man's unrighteous judgment. Isaiah talks about how they were going to send Jesus to die without pure reason. Jesus was not deceitful nor was He violent.
Jesus' prophecies of His own death and Resurrection in the New Testament:
Matthew 26:27-29
27.Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28.This is my blood of the covenant. which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29.I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
Jesus talked of His body and His blood being a covenant with His followers. Jesus was telling His disciples that He was going to die as a sacrifice for the worlds sin and that the blood that would be poured out from Him would wash away the worlds sins and be the ultimate sacrifice, a new covenant with God. Before Jesus' death the way that man was forgiven was through burnt offerings and animal sacrifices. Jesus tells us at the last supper that He would be the living sacrifice and that if we ask Him for forgiveness He will wash our sins with his blood, the blood of the true lamb. Jesus also tells the disciples that He would not drink or eat with them again until they met in His Father's kingdom. Jesus foretold His death on the Cross.
Matthew 27:51-52 The moment Jesus died on the cross
51.At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52.The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53.They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy place and appeared to many people.
In verse 51 Matthew tells of the curtain of the temple tearing from top to bottom. The large blue, purple and scarlet curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, an inner room which symbolized God's presence. It was in fact the barrier that separated the people from God. When God supernaturally tore the curtain he showed very dramatically that Christ's death had given people access to God. At the time of Jesus' death God raised holy people of the time along with Jesus from the dead. Most believe God was foreshadowing that all faithful will be raised.
Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
1.After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2.There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3.His appearance was like lightning, and his cloths were white as snow. 4.The guards were so afraid of him they shook and became like dead men.
5.The angel said to the woman, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6.He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place were he lay. 7.Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8.So the woman hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy,and ran to tell his disciples. 9.Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10.Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Matthew 28:16-20 The disciples see Jesus after His Resurrection known as the great commission
16.Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17.When they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18.The Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. 19.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20.and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
It says in this scripture that when the disciples saw Jesus, for the first time after the resurrection, that some of them had doubts. They were so startled by they event of the resurrection that Jesus had to show many convincing proofs to them that He was indeed alive. Jesus states that He now has full authority of heaven and earth. Some people wonder why Jesus did not fix all of the worlds wrongs at that point. The earth's wrongs do not result from a lack of power or concern on the Lord's part, but from human rebellion against His authority. Eventually Jesus will bring a full and final end to life's injustice. One day everyone will stand before Jesus' authority.
Jesus tells his disciples to go and make disciples of nations. Jesus is speaking not only to His disciples, but also to us as disciples. He wants us to constantly be spreading his Word and making new saints of others. By sharing in the ministry of disciple-making , we submit to the authority of Christ. Individuals may have different roles and abilities, but all of Jesus' disciples can have a part in calling others to follow Christ.
Soon after saying these words Jesus ascended into heaven. Though physically absent, he remains with believers in a spiritual sense. It is His spiritual presence within that strengthens and encourages believers. Those who trust in Jesus will find Him with them no matter where they are or what problems they face.
Luke 24:36-53 Jesus appears to His disciples and Ascension from the view Luke
36.While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37.They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38.He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39.Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
40.When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41.And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42.They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43.and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44.He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.
45.Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures. 46.He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47.and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48.You are witnesses of these things. 49.I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50.When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51.While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52.Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53.And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Jesus' resurrected body was of flesh and bone, but was also different than that if man. He was able to appear and disappear even behind locked doors. His resurrected body was of different order. It was the glorified body of the resurrection.
When Jesus took on the form of human flesh, Jesus restricted himself to the laws of nature: He had to eat, drink and rest. To get somewhere he walked. But with his resurrected body his self imposed limitations were lifted. it was as normal for Jesus to use the characteristics of His spiritual body as it is for a bird to fly or for a fish to breathe water.
Seeing the resurrected Christ before them, the disciples saw the Old Testament writings in a whole new light. The Spirit gave them insight from what they had seen and experienced so that what had been foretold by the prophets took on a whole new meaning. Now they could read the Old Testament with the benefit of hindsight and discover Jesus as its fulfillment.
The Father also promises here the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The great comforter to come at Pentecost.
My hope are that you were able to learn a little more of how the Cross and the Resurrection were foretold and fulfilled by Jesus. During the days of Good Friday through Easter Sunday, ask yourself, What can I give as a sacrifice for the Lord? Think about what He went through for all of us. I love you all and pray that you and your families are blessed this holiday.