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by
Doug Ward |
The Gospels report that when Jesus was arrested and crucified, his followers
became fearful, confused, and despondent. Their hopes that Jesus would deliver
them from Roman occupation and return the Promised Land to the people of Israel
had been dashed (Lk 24:21). Peter, who had previously stated his conviction
that Jesus was the Messiah (Jn 6:69; Mt 16:16), watched the proceedings from a
distance and three times denied any association with the condemned man.
The
situation changed quickly, though, when the risen Messiah began appearing to
groups of his disciples. Jesus showed them that he was indeed alive with a
transformed, glorified body. They could see and feel the marks of the
crucifixion visible on that body, and they shared food with him (Lk 24:36-43).
During
these visits Jesus explained the meaning of his crucifixion and resurrection,
equipping his disciples to spread the good news of salvation far and wide (Lk
24:44-49). Puzzling remarks that he had made previously (e.g., Mk 9:9-13) now
became clear to them. Empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost,
they began to "turn the world upside down" with the gospel message
(Ac 17:6).
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Prophecies
of the Resurrection |
With their minds opened to a fuller understanding of God's purpose and plan,
the first Christians came to recognize that the resurrection of Jesus was
announced throughout the scriptures of Israel, "in the Law of Moses and
the Prophets and the Psalms" (Lk 24:44). In some cases
the resurrection was the subject of a direct prophecy; in others, the
prediction was typological, with someone's experience giving a preview of
Jesus' life and mission.
In the
five books of Moses, Joseph is a prominent messianic type. Joseph was rejected
by his brothers and subjected to false accusations. He spent time buried in a
prison, then was raised to become a savior for Egypt and the region surrounding
it.
Moses
is another type of the Messiah. His reappearance to lead the Exodus after forty
years in obscurity in Midian can be viewed as a kind of resurrection.
There
is a direct prophecy of the resurrection in the sleeping lion of Judah who is
to be raised up by God (Ge 49:9). The image of the sleeping lion is repeated in
the oracles of Balaam (Nu 24:9), which contain several additional messianic
references (see especially Nu 24:16-19).
Jonah
is one type of the Messiah in the prophetic books. The three days he spent in the
belly of the great fish (Jnh 1:17) prefigure Jesus'
time in the tomb. Jesus' disciples remembered that he had pointed out this
connection in advance (Mt 12:38-40), and after his resurrection they could
grasp what he meant.
The
resurrection is implied in the great prophecy of the suffering servant in Isa
52:13-53:12. This prophecy, which is known for its clear statements on the
atoning death of the servant, begins and ends with references to the servant's
exaltation. God's servant "shall be high and lifted up, and shall be
exalted," we read in Isa 52:13. Isa 53:12 adds that the servant
"shall divide the spoil with the strong" as a result of his death.
Clearly, then, the servant's death is not the final word. Jesus taught his
disciples that he was the subject of this prophecy (Lk 22:37), and they
frequently referenced it in the New Testament (Mt 8:17; Jn 12:38; Ro 15:21; 1
Pe 2:22-25).
David,
an ancestor of Jesus, is the leading type of the Messiah in the Writings. The
words of his psalms of lament, especially Psalms 22 and 69, prefigure Jesus'
time on the cross.
David
looks ahead to the resurrection in Psalm 16, where he thanks God for the
"beautiful inheritance" he has received (v 6), an inheritance
featuring the promise that a king from his line would rule forever (2 Sa
7:13-16). He is confident that God will grant eternal life to both him and this
coming king. "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption," he declares
in verse 10.
The
Hebrew word for "holy one" in Ps 16:10, hasid,
refers to "one to whom God is loyal, gracious, or merciful" or
"one in whom God manifests his grace and favor."1
David himself was such a person. He is elsewhere called a hasid
in Ps 89:19, part of a passage that considers David in his role as servant of
God, anointed king, and ancestor of the coming Messiah. In Ps 16:10, then, hasid encompasses both David and the future
messianic king.
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Proclaiming
the Resurrection |
For the apostles Ps 16:10 was a key piece of evidence
in their message that Jesus was the promised Messiah, a descendant of David
whose resurrection had been prophesied a thousand years in advance. Because He
was resurrected on the third day after his death, he indeed did not "see
corruption." Summaries of sermons by both Peter and Paul recorded in the
book of Acts highlight this verse (Ac 2:24-32; 13:35-37).
The
apostolic proclamation that Jesus "was raised on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Co 15:4) sparked great interest among
their audiences (Ac 13:42-44) and led many to commit their lives to God and the
risen Messiah (Ac 2:37-41; 8:26-39). The same Gospel message continues to
change lives today.
1Walter
C. Kaiser, The Uses of the Old Testament in the New, Moody Press,
Chicago, 1985, p. 33.
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