Lesson 379 - Junior

Memory Verse

"He is not here:  for he is risen, as he said"  (Matthew 28:6).

Notes

Easter

Paul wrote to the Corinthians to remind them of the value of the Gospel; to freshen their memory concerning Christ -" His life, His death, and His resurrection. It is good for us to consider what Christ has done for us and what He means to us. We have been studying the examples that Christ gave us by His life. Many times during the year we recall that Christ gave His life for the sins of the world [HEB:9:28]; [1PE:2:24]). We sing about the cross and the power in His Blood. When we partake of the Lord's Supper, we commemorate the shedding of His Blood and His broken Body. At this Easter-time, let us set our thoughts especially upon His resurrection. We are not serving a Christ who is dead, but ours is a living Saviour who arose for our justification [ROM:4:25]).

Unbelievers

In the days of Paul, there were some people who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Among them, of the Jews, was a group called the Sadducees [LUK:20:27]). Paul preached about the resurrection because he believed it. According to his own testimony when he stood before Agrippa, Paul received from Heaven his belief about the resurrection [ACT:26:13], [ACT:26:22-23]). Paul preached the resurrection that souls might be saved. It is important that we believe Christ's resurrection in order to be saved. "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" [ROM:10:8-9]).

Old Testament Believers

There were men in the Old Testament times who believed in the resurrection of the dead. They believed because it was revealed to them by God. David spoke about awaking in the likeness of the Lord [PS:17:15]). Job said, "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold" [JOB:19:25-27]).

Paul mentions the writings of the prophets when he says that Christ arose the third day according to the Scriptures. Many of the Old Testament prophets believed in the resurrection, for they wrote concerning it. Their prophecies are witnesses of the resurrection.

Christ's Appearances

Besides the simple faith that is in the hearts of the saved, we today have also the historical facts that Jesus arose from the dead. The angel told the women who went to the empty tomb that Jesus was risen [MAK:16:6]). Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene [MAK:16:9]), and to two of His followers on the way to Emmaus [LUK:24:13-15]), as well as to Simon Peter [LUK:24:34]). The eleven disciples saw Him and talked with Him [MAK:16:14]). Many saw Him as He ascended into Heaven [ACT:1:9]). All these are witnesses that Christ arose.

Paul was concerned about establishing the fact of Christ's resurrection for it is the foundation of the Christian belief. It is the basis of our faith and hope.

First Fruits

In our study of the special feast days of the Children of Israel, we learned that on the day following the Passover Sabbath, an offering of the first fruits was given unto the Lord to sanctify the harvest and make it certain. At the beginning of the harvest before the Children of Israel ate any of the crops, the first fruits were offered unto God. This offering was made the third day after the paschal lamb was slain. In [1CO:15:20] we read that Christ is "risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the dead in such a manner. His resurrection is a pledge of our resurrection "- the hope of a Christian.

During Jesus' ministry here upon earth, he raised the dead [MAT:11:5]). Jesus stood by the tomb of Lazarus who had been dead for four days. Lazarus arose [JHN:11:43-44]) when Jesus said "Lazarus, come forth." We read about others whom Jesus brought to life -- Jairus' daughter [MAT:9:25]), and the son of the widow of Nain [LUK:7:15]); but Christ arose to live again and die no more [ROM:6:9-10]). He was crucified, "yet he liveth by the power of God . . . we shall live with him by the power of God toward you" [2CO:13:4]). Jesus said, "Because I live, ye shall live also" [JHN:14:19]).

The First Resurrection

Death is the judgment that has been pronounced upon men as a result of the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden [GEN:3:19]). Because Adam sinned, "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" [HEB:9:27]).

Since death came by Adam, the resurrection of the dead came by Christ [1CO:15:21-22]), who is called the second or last Adam.

The theme of a Christian's life is that he be ready for the first resurrection. Paul's ambition was to have the righteousness of God by faith, that by any means he might attain unto the first resurrection [PHL:3:9-11]). May we have the same ambition in our hearts to make the goal whatever may be the cost! Paul had that wonderful hope in his heart.

The resurrection is in this order: "Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming," whether they be dead or alive. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" [1TS:4:16-17]). This is the first resurrection. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: . . . they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." But the rest of the dead shall not live again until after the thousand years [REV:20:5-6]).

Resurrection of the Dead

Paul's testimony before Felix, the governor, included, "So worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust" [ACT:24:14-15]). Jesus taught that "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" [JHN:5:28-29]). The prophecy of Daniel states that some shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt [DAN:12:2]). This is the judgment that will be theirs who fail to prepare to meet God.

In His Likeness

Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" [JHN:14:2-3]). In the twinkling of an eye, God's people will be changed. Instead of having an earthy natural body -" subject to pain, sickness, accident, and weakness -- they will be like Him ([1JN:3:2]), with a spiritual, heavenly body which shall die no more [LUK:20:36]). The mortal body has been compared to the resurrection body as the bare grain that is sown without any of the rich clothing which afterwards appears; blade, grain, and harvest.

A Christian has a wonderful hope -" to be with Jesus and to be like Him, through the victory that He gives. If that hope is yours, be steadfast, unmovable, watching, waiting, and working until the Lord comes.

Questions

1. How do we know that Christ is risen from the dead?

2. What is the resurrection?

3. How can one prepare for it?

4. Why will some be raised to shame while others are raised to everlasting life?

5. What will happen when the trump of the Lord sounds?