Why Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

Why did Jesus rise from the dead? According to 1 Peter 1:3, his resurrection bestows at least two life – altering benefits upon us: a living hope and a new life. Let’s explore these two truths, which are like twin promises, through the broader testimony of the New Testament.

Raised to Offer a Living Hope

Death is a dreadful reality. Most people approach their own death with understandable fear. Since human life is centered around relationships, the death of loved ones deprives us of the relationships we cherish most. However, for followers of Christ, the resurrection of Jesus means they don’t face death without hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Paul’s extensive explanation of the significance of Jesus’s resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 concludes with these powerful words:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:54–55)

Through Christ’s resurrection, death has lost its power. By rising from the dead, he overcame death and brought “life and immortality to light” (2 Tim. 1:10). But what exactly is this hope, and how does it function?

Many Jews in Jesus’s time believed in a general resurrection of all people at the end of time, which would mark the start of a new age (Dan. 12:1–2). We can see this hope in Martha’s reaction when Jesus told her that her brother Lazarus, who had died, would live again. She said, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). When Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb, it was not what Martha had anticipated.

As astonishing as Lazarus’s resurrection was, it pales in comparison to Jesus’s. Lazarus needed someone to remove his burial clothes. He returned to the life he had before dying and could still expect to die again. In fact, death threats against Lazarus emerged in the very next chapter (John 12:10).

Jesus’s resurrection was completely different. He left his grave clothes behind. He rose to a new kind of life, beyond the reach of death, entering a new dimension of existence. He would never die again. His resurrection signaled the beginning of the new age.

It’s not that the Jews were wrong about the great resurrection at the end of time. What surprised everyone was that God did for Jesus in the middle of history what most Jews thought he would do at the end of time. Jesus’s resurrection is a foreshadowing of that great day which we still await with confident hope.

If you’ve ever attended a car show, you know that there are three types of vehicles on display: (1) concept cars, which are strange models that will never be mass – produced; (2) cars available for purchase; and (3) prototypes, new models not yet on the market but soon to be produced in large quantities.

Jesus is the prototype of the new humanity. His bodily resurrection is the first step in a two – stage resurrection process. At his second coming, the Lord Jesus Christ will “transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Phil. 3:20–21). Thanks to his resurrection, we have a living hope.

Raised to Live a New Life

We don’t have to wait until we die or until Jesus returns to experience the life of the resurrection. We already live as those belonging to the new age. Christ’s resurrection is crucial for understanding what it means to follow him and be part of God’s people. Christ was raised “so that we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

What does it mean to live as if we’ve been raised with Christ? Colossians 3 provides some details. We should focus our hearts and minds on things above, not on worldly matters. We must resist temptations such as sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, anger, and inappropriate speech. Instead, we should embody qualities like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and love.

The resurrection of Jesus also leads us to worship. When the two Marys saw the risen Jesus, they fell at his feet and worshipped him (Matt. 28:9).

We’ll Endure Suffering with Him

More seriously, as we experience the power of Jesus’s resurrection in the present, we should also expect to share in his sufferings (Phil. 3:10). Resurrection life isn’t an easy journey.

To be raised with Christ means we must let go of living solely for our own self – interest. Love can be costly, and we won’t achieve final victory over sin, death, and the Devil until the day our own resurrection bodies are made like his.

The Book of Common Prayer guides us to pray:
“O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”