The Resurrection of Christ is a critical event in Christian theology, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and the words of Jesus himself, writes Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado msp of the Catholic Church.

“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,” 1Corinthians 15: 14. Here Paul the Apostles emphasises the critical importance of Christ’s resurrection to the Christian faith. This verse underscores the foundational role the Resurrection plays in Christian doctrine, asserting that without it, the entire Christian belief system would be rendered pointless.

A) Key passages from the Bible that support the resurrection of Jesus

1. Jesus predicted His own Resurrection

a) Mathhew 16:21. “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life”.

b) Mark 9:31. “He said to them; the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise”.

c) John 2:19. “Jesus answered them, destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

2. The Empty Tomb

a) Matthew 28:5-7. “The angel said to the woman, do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.”

b) Luke 24:2-4. “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”

c) John 20:1. “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”

3. Witnesses to the Resurrection

a) 1Corinthians 15:3-8. “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

B) The implication of the Resurrection of Jesus

1. Victory over sin and death

The Resurrection confirms that Jesus triumphed over sin and death, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Romans 6:9-10. “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives he lives to God.

• Assurance of eternal life for believers

The resurrection guarantee that all who are united with Christ in faith will experience resurrection and eternal life.

John 11:25-26. “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

• Proof of Jesus Divinity

The resurrection is a Divine act that affirms that Jesus is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world.

Romans 1:4 “… and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness by his Resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

• Hope and encouragement for believers

The Resurrection gives hope, not only life after death but for transformation in their current lives.

1. 1 Peter 1:3. “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
2. Luke24:36-43. Jesus appears to His disciples and shows them His wounds to prove He is alive.

• Victory over the powers of evil

The Resurrection demonstrates Jesus’ authority over all spiritual forces, affirming that his power is greater than any force of evil.

Colossians 2:15. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

• A call to new life

Because of Jesus’ Resurrection, believers are called to live new lives, characterised by holiness and devotion to God.

Romans 6:4. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life.”

The disciples’ transformation – before the Resurrection, the disciples were fearful and scattered after Jesus’ crucifixion. However, after encountering the Risen Jesus, they were emboldened and became fervent proclaimers of the resurrection, even in the face of persecution and death. This dramatic change is often cited as evidence of the reality of the Resurrection.

The Resurrection is a critical event in Christian theology, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and the words of Jesus himself. The transformation in the lives of the disciples, their willingness to die for their faith and the numerous eyewitness testimonies further affirm historicity and significance of the resurrection.