Old Testament foretold Jesus’ resurrection
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
Thousands upon thousands will give thanks this Sunday for the unspeakable gift of God, which is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
That’s what we as Christians do on Easter Sunday. We worship Him.
Obviously, that worship is not relegated only to Easter Sunday. We praise Jesus daily for providing the ultimate sacrifice that freed us from the awful grip of sin and is leading us into eternity with Him.
Jesus had to be a perfect sacrifice to provide the sin atonement. He was without sin, which proved His deity side and enabled His resurrection.
In Jesus was no sin. There was no guile found in Jesus’ mouth.
The wages of sin is death. Jesus was spotless in regard to iniquity. Because of that, He conquered death, hell and the grave. Jesus truly is the way, the truth and the life.
The interesting aspect is that we now look at Jesus as the risen Savior, but before the Word of God was made flesh and dwelt with us in time, His resurrection was already referenced and proclaimed in the Old Testament – though it hadn’t occurred yet.
Only God’s Word – He knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning – provides that type of foresight. Oh, the accuracy and precision of prophecy contained in the holy writ.
Jesus fulfilled each prophecy in the Old Testament concerning His mission. In many instances, He referred to fulfilling everything that was written of Him.
Today, we look at the resurrection as the most significant event of all time. It occurred more than 2,000 years ago at Calvary. In the Old Testament, prophecy revealed the resurrection to come – both Jesus’ resurrection, the first resurrection (rapture) and the dead that rejected God.
Daniel, Isaiah and David are just three Old Testament figures who spoke of the resurrection.
In particular, David covered the gamut with a prophecy in Psalm 16 that relates Christ’s resurrection and the glorious result for David because of it.
Psalm 16:8-11 states, “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved, Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh shall also rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Do you want an explanation of those verses? It can be found in Peter’s message to the Jews in Acts 2 after the promise of the Holy Ghost came and endued the disciples with power from on high.
Acts 2:29-35 reveals the explanation: “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried; and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens; but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.”
Isaiah and Daniel both prophesied of a resurrection that has yet to occur. There will be the first resurrection (rapture) and later the dead that didn’t accept Christ will be raised, as well, for judgment.
In Isaiah 26:19, the prophet speaks plainly of the event to come – which has yet to occur: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body, shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”
Daniel 12: 2,3 states, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness in the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
