The Gospel accounts make it certain that Jesus was confident that He would rise from the dead after He died. He was not shaky in His approach to fulfilling the Father’s will. He did not look to the future with eyes of ambiguity. He was secure in the Father’s arms and knew without a shadow of a doubt that although He would be slain for the sins of man, He would also rise for their justification.
Man is often met with challenges in his faith. The Christian can be much like the disciples when caught in the storm. Sure, everything seems fine at the moment, but when the storm hits, watch out, there goes the faith. The Christian can often be like Peter and boldly testify, “I will never let You down, Jesus.” Then once again, as testing comes, he denies the Lord and Master Who bought Him.
While there may be hesitation to believe such disastrous claims, the one willing to take a personal inventory will soon see the glory of the Gospel, for it has been said that although we are faithless, He remains faithful. Therein is the good news of Jesus Christ.
So as not to paint a picture of sheer rebellion, the Christian is a work in progress. Yes, there will be fruit. Yes, there will be good works. Yes, there will be praise, thanksgiving unto God, and growth. But the point is this; there are also times of great difficulty, trials of faith, and failure.
The Christian can look at the storm and say with the disciples in fear, “…Lord, save us: we perish” (KJV, Matt. 8:25). But then he will hear the Lord say, “…Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matt. 8:26a).
At this point, it is essential to know the Christian is meant to look to the Lord Jesus Christ with the eyes of faith and derive His strength from Him. A little while later, the disciples saw Jesus walking on water. Peter called out to Jesus and asked Him to command Peter to come. Then Jesus commanded Peter to walk on water. Peter stepped out of the boat and fixed his eyes on Jesus. When Peter looked at Christ, he was able to walk on water. But eventually, he focused on the storm and sank into the water.
Jesus compassionately reached out His hand and grabbed Peter, and lifted Him from his sunken state, much like Peter would later lift the lame man in the book Acts to his feet and help him to walk. But the point is this; the Christian will find that he is not what he ought to be. He will be met with challenges in life and find that he falls short of the glory of God. This is not a license to sin or justification for premeditated sin, but it is the sad reality of fallen humanity.
But the story does not end there. God has told the Christian how he is to progress spiritually. It is not by simply trying hard enough to be good. Instead, the Christian must first and foremost get to know Jesus Christ. True spiritual strength is derived from Jesus. If it were not so, Paul would never have said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).
Elsewhere Paul instructed the people of Colossae how to grow in their faith. He said, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Col. 2:6-7). So from beginning to end, the Christian will be strengthened in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As a result, it is good to look upon the confidence of Christ in His resurrection. Though storms of doubt may assail the Christian, let him find His faith strengthened in the sureness of Christ and grow in the grace and knwoedge of God.
Rising on the third day
Jesus knew that after He died, He would rise on the third day. He was sure and did not doubt for a moment. Jesus told His disciples, “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death” (Matt. 20:18). Jesus knew that His life was meant to be an offering. The Father did not guard the Son against this information.
Although Jesus veiled some of His attributes, this does not mean He lacked elements of divine knowledge. Jesus knew His mission consisted of being crucified and killed by lawless men. In other words, He predicted the future. But this was not the end of His story. He stated afterward, “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third he shall rise again” (Matt. 20:19). Jesus predicted He would be turned over to the Romans, scourged, crucified, killed, and rise from the dead on the third day.
Getting a glimpse
Elsewhere Jesus is seen taking three of His disciples upon a mountain. When on the mountain, Jesus was transfigured, and the disciples saw the glory of Christ. Shortly after, the Bible says, “And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9). Time and time again, Jesus predicted His resurrection.
However, the disciples were unable to latch onto His claims. Scripture says, “And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean” (Mark 9:10). When Jesus died, the disciples scattered. It is essential to know that Jesus has risen. The sureness of His death is not enough. The disciples were sure that He died and were met with heartache and backsliding. But they were bold for the faith when assured of Christ’s resurrection.
Going to Galilee
Jesus was patient with His disciples. He knew they would break faith when He died, but He sought to assure them again that He would rise. Jesus said, “…All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee” (Mark 14:27-28). Jesus promised He would meet the disciples when they returned to their homes. All of the disciples were from Galilee except for Judas. Thus, He assured His company of companions He would see them again.
Raising the Temple
Jesus was a Master of illustrations. In reality, this life is meant to point to Jesus Christ. Jesus was not an afterthought; instead, He was the first thought. Jesus has always existed, and thus His being is foundational for creation.
For instance, God made man with a need to eat food. He did not need to do such a thing; instead, He desired to do so, and therefore He did. But why? Jesus is the Bread of Life. God did not somehow figure out ways to tie Jesus into the story through helpful illustrations after creation. Instead, God created with Jesus in mind. Thus man eats because Jesus is the Bread of Life, and eating was ultimately meant to point the Christian to Jesus.
The temple in the Old Testament was never meant to be an end in itself. It was meant to point people to Jesus. Jesus said, “…Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). But what was Jesus talking about? Scripture goes on to say, “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body” (John 2:20-21). Jesus is the temple. He is the place of worship. He is the way to the Father. He is the Great High Priest, and He is the Sacrifice.
The Temple was destroyed, but in three days, Jesus rose from the dead.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Knowing that Your Son died for me, but He conquered the grave is encouraging. I pray that my faith will increase as I look to the confidence of my Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.