Jesus’s resurrection

The Gospels present Jesus’s resurrection as a physical, bodily event rather than merely a spiritual or symbolic one. An angel rolled back the stone from the tomb, and announced that Jesus “has risen, just as he said.” (Matt 28) The women found the stone rolled away and discovered the body of the Lord Jesus was no longer there. (Luke 24) Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene found that the stone had been removed from the tomb’s entrance. (John 20–21)

The nature of the resurrection body combined continuity with transformation. Christ rose bodily from the dead—not a resurrection of “influence” or “spirit,” but a physical, bodily resurrection.[1] The disciples felt and saw His bodily characteristics, and He demonstrated physical functions when He ate with them.[1] Yet the resurrection body was different in that it was not subject to normal limitations—He could pass through closed doors, and most importantly, He cannot die ever again.[1]

The resurrection occurred on the third day and was followed by multiple appearances. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3–8) He appeared to more than five hundred believers at once, then to James, then to all the apostles. (1 Cor 15:3–8) After His suffering, He presented Himself with many convincing proofs that He was alive, appearing over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3–11)

Theologically, Christ’s resurrection overcame death so believers might share in the righteousness He won through His death; by His power believers are already now resurrected to new life; and Christ’s resurrection guarantees our glorious resurrection.[2] If Jesus had not risen from the dead, His victory would be an illusion, His message meaningless, and redemptive history would end in a grave—the resurrection may be called the major premise of early Christian faith.[2]

[1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, A Survey of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody Press, 1972). [See here, here, here.]
[2] Gordon R. Lewis and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology: Our Primary Need: Christ’s Atoning Provisions, Integrative Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1990), 2:449–450.