Last year, one of the guys in my men’s Bible study asked the question: “Was Jesus’ physical body raised from the dead and why is that important?” The following is my attempt to answer that question.
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the pivotal doctrine of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are still dead in our sin (1 Cor. 15: 13-14). There are some however, who claim to believe in the resurrection, but deny that the physical body of Jesus was raised from the dead. Some of these persons include Jehovah Witnesses, who claim that Jesus was raised as a spirit; a sort of spiritual resurrection. Why is it important that Jesus rose bodily from the dead? Below are some reasons which point to the importance of believing in Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead:
- The definition of the word Resurrection in the Bible always refers to the physical body in the Hebrew and Greek languages, unless it is used figuratively. Hebrew and Greek Lexicons confirm this.
- Jesus taught that his physical body would be raised from the dead and that he would raise it. In John 2:19-22, Jesus tells the Jews “destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days,” claiming that his body would be raised from the dead after three days. John mentions that the disciples recalled this after Jesus’ resurrection.
- Jesus proved his bodily resurrection by appearing directly to his disciples. In John 20:24-28, we read that Thomas refused to believe in the resurrection unless he could see and touch Jesus. Jesus then appeared and allowed Thomas to touch him. Thomas did see and touch Jesus, and became a worshipper instead of a doubter when confronted with the risen Christ.
- Jesus corrected the Disciples’ error about his resurrection. In Luke 24: 36-49, Jesus appeared to the disciples. They immediately thought they had seen a ghost, or spirit being. However, Jesus corrects them, asking them to examine and touch him; saying that a ghost does not have flesh and bones as Jesus had. To make the point even stronger, Jesus ate with them. Jesus dispelled the error that he was a spirit and showed that he had a physical body.
- The Disciples were dramatically changed after many multiple appearances. Luke further tells us in Acts 1:3-4 that Jesus gave the apostles many convincing proofs that he was alive during the 40 day period after his resurrection. John tells us in 1 John 1:1 that the Apostles not only saw and heard, but also handled or touched the glorified, resurrected Jesus physically. Paul tells us in 1 Cor 15: 6 that there were over 500 witnesses to the resurrected Christ. The post resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples convinced them so dramatically that they were changed from fearful cowards into fearless Apostles, willing to die for the Gospel.
- Belief in the historic doctrine of the Resurrection is a spiritual necessity. In 1 Cor 15:17, Paul says that if Christ is not raised, then our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins; we would still be condemned if Jesus weren’t raised from the dead. In Romans 10:9, Paul tells us that if we confess with our mouth Jesus Christ and believe with our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved.
Some questions arise regarding the resurrection. Below are listed some of them along with a response:
- In John 20 and Luke 24, Mary Magdalene and the disciples failed to recognize the resurrected Jesus. Jesus also appeared to his disciples in a room where the door was locked. Does this mean that Jesus was a spirit or in some unrecognizable form? No. Luke 24:16 states that their eyes were kept from recognizing Jesus. Jesus prevented the disciples from recognizing him until He wanted them to. Also, in his glorified form, Jesus had the ability to appear at will wherever he chose. The fact that he appeared in the room doesn’t mean he had to be a spirit. There is no Bible reference that indicates Jesus passed through a door; he simply willed his presence to be there physically in the room with his disciples.
- In 1 Cor 15: 44, Paul uses the description “spiritual body.” Is a “spiritual body” a spirit? No. First, Paul attached the word “body” to his description. Second, Jesus’ glorified body was unlike anything we are familiar with. 1 Cor 15:50 states that Christ’s body was of “flesh and bones,” therefore it was tangible body, not a non-corporeal spirit. Also, if Jesus was really a spirit, then it could be argued that making his disciples think he had a physical body was deceptive on Jesus part.
- In 1 Cor 15:45, why does Paul describe Jesus as a “quickening spirit?” Paul was not saying Jesus is a spirit; he is describing the authority Jesus has to raise the dead. In John 5:21, Jesus has the power to quicken, or give life to whomever he wills. John further states in verses 25-29 that Jesus will be involved in raising or resurrecting all flesh, one of his functions as God the Son.
- 1 Peter 3:18 says that Christ was “quickened by the spirit”…does this mean that Christ was raised a spirit? No. This verse and Romans 8:11 tell us that the Holy Spirit was involved in Christ’s resurrection. Jesus himself said he was involved in his own resurrection (John 2: 19-22 and John 10:18), while Peter confirms that the Father was involved in raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 3:26). Therefore, all three persons of the Trinity were involved in the resurrection.
As Jesus said in John 11:25”I am the resurrection and the life.” The glorious truth and promise of the resurrection is that we, as believers, will be like the resurrected Christ someday (1 John 3:2) This is reason to hope in the future. May we, like the disciples, no longer fear death, for we too will conquer death itself through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Bibliography: Walter R. Martin, Essential Christianity (Santa Ana CA: Vision House, 1980), pp. 59-65.
