Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.” John 16: 12
I wish to explain the magnitude of Jesus’ resurrection, by demonstrating that Jesus, in fact, raised himself from the dead. Currently, it is widely accepted by the church that God raised Jesus from the dead, but I wish to develop this belief to a new level and hope to transform people’s interpretation of the resurrection.
Peter at Pentecost said that God had raised Jesus from the dead of whom they were Jesus’ witnesses. “King David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Acts 2:31,32. The apostles tell us that God raised Jesus from the dead. Acts 4: 10. 13: 30. Romans 6: 4. 8: 10,11. 1 Peter 1: 21.
The New Testament writers all state the same message that God raised Jesus from the dead. So, when the Holy Spirit revealed the word May 22, that Jesus raised himself from the dead, I still questioned the legitimacy of what was being shown to me in the word. I examined the Bible texts were Jesus indicated that he raised himself from the dead.
John 10: 17, 18 “Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I (Jesus) lay down my life, that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I received from my Father.”
John 10: 30,37,38. “Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” Jesus one in being with the Father. 15: 23,24. The one Godhead consisting of three persons: God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Acts 16: 6,7,10. Titus 3: 4-8.
John 11: 25. “Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
John 2:19- 22 “Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days.” But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” Therefore, Jesus said that he would raise himself, the temple of his body. Also, when he referred to his body, his risen body being the same body as he had during his life on the earth. But with one exception it was without blood.
Matthew 12: 40. 27: 62-64. The chief priests and Pharisees came before Pilate and said, while he was still alive, he said, “After three days I will rise again.” They had heard Jesus say, that he would be like Jonah and rise from the dead after three days.
Jesus was born having an immortal body, The Holy Spirit planted God’s seed and egg in Mary’s womb. John Wesley’s hymn confirms this when he wrote, “Tis mystery all, the immortal dies.” What John was saying: Jesus could have lived for ever on the earth, had he chosen to do so. Jesus chose to lay down his immortal body, as a final sacrifice for sin and its causes, Jesus was spiritually separated from God on the cross (Mark 15: 34) and he took the burden of sin upon himself in that moment of death (his task was to do this alone). Jesus died on the cross. But Jesus himself was innocent, therefore, death had no dominion over his immortal body.
Jesus raised himself from the dead, this was indicated in his conversation with Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Jesus asked Mary not to hold him, as he had not yet ascended to his Father. “Jesus said to her, “Mary. “She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” John 20: 16,17. Mary recognised it was Jesus when he called out her name, “Mary.”
It was in the evening of the day of his resurrection when he gave his disciples permission to touch his resurrected body. Luke wrote, Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” While the disciples were rejoicing, Jesus asked if they had anything to eat, so they gave him some grilled fish and he ate it in the presence of his disciples. Jesus’ resurrected body consisted of flesh and bones. (without blood.) I believe his blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins at Calvary. Luke 24: 39-43.
Jesus did a complete work of reconciling humanity with God, in his death and resurrection. Jesus paid for our reconciliation by laying down his life’s blood, death had no dominion over him, he raised himself from the dead to complete our reconciliation with Father God. At his ascension Jesus said, “All spiritual authority had been given to me.” This underlines the fact that he did a complete work of salvation: Jesus has personally conquered death and dealt with sin by his resurrection from the dead. Matthew 28: 18. Daniel 7: 13,14.
Jesus’ indestructible Life (Indestructible meaning not able to be destroyed)
Over twelve months after receiving ‘Jesus raised himself from the dead’ I received another word, when I read in Hebrews 7 verse16 “This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest not according to legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” The Holy Spirit revealed ‘by ‘The power of his indestructible life, ’which I believe confirmed the previous word ‘Jesus raised himself from the dead,’ it was ‘by the power of his indestructible life. ’Jesus’ life which included his body that was indestructible.
Jesus’ risen body was without blood, Jesus the High Priest, of an eternal order of priesthood, (Jesus was not Melchizedek reincarnated) Jesus, as high priest offered his blood to God for humanities sin and as our intercessor for forgiveness of sins. (for all those who come in true repentance and faith to him.)
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews, explains that Jesus was not a high priest like Aaron and the Levites. When the high priest died, he was succeeded by the next in line and this happened throughout the generations. “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; Jesus did this once for all when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7: 26. Jesus’ sacrificial offering: of his life’s blood to reconcile humanity to God and when he offered up himself in person, having raised himself up from the dead, to appear before his Father with the offering of his blood.
Jesus’ indestructible, resurrected body had the marks of crucifixion.
The apostles witness, that Jesus’ resurrected body was his own body, “Jesus said, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.” Luke 24: 39. This proves that his own body was indestructible.
Jesus through being born in the flesh, suffered and was killed by crucifixion. He was buried in a tomb, and he rose from the dead on the third day. Jesus having in his resurrection his own body, that has enabled humanity to enter eternal life, through faith in Jesus.