Do You Believe that the Same Jesus who Died and was Buried in the Tomb Arose from the Dead on the Third Day?

Do you believe that the same Jesus who died and was buried in the tomb arose from the dead on the third day? This question is valid and must be answered. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are all vital to the Christian faith. In this article, we will present biblical evidence to support the truth of these claims. It is not my purpose to answer every single opposition theory in this article, but simply show what can be proven from the Bible. 

Why This Question?

One reason this question must be answered is that enemies of the faith have repeatedly tried to deny that Christ died and rose again. Early heretics included the Docetics. The Docetics are named so from the Koine Greek word dokeo (δοκέω), meaning to seem. They denied the reality of Christ coming in the flesh. This was based simply on the fact that all matter is evil, and so it only seemed that he was human; it only seemed like He died and rose from the dead.  Later, the Koran (the book of the Islamic religion) similarly claims that Jesus did not die, but rather the Jews only boasted they had killed Him, with God raising Him to Himself (cf. Surah An-Nisa, 157-158). Now, why might either of these groups make these suggestions? I present that both do not view Jesus through the lens of the New Testament. 

The Scriptures Prophesy the Events of the Crucifixion

The Old Testament foretells plainly the death of Christ and His burial. Passages we might observe include the entirety of Isaiah 53. This vivid description of what our Lord would endure is unmistakable, although the Jews deny that this is about the Messiah today. The Jews, just like the Docetists and Muslims, cannot accept that Jesus is the Messiah, or the entirety of their systems fall.

Jesus prophesied Himself in John 16:21, “From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up” (Matt 16:21). The Bible is replete with prophecies concerning our Lord’s atoning death. We will not focus our attention primarily on the prophecies in this article, but turn our attention to the New Testament record.

The Scriptures Affirm His Death

John’s account gives us an inspired and eyewitness account of the death of our Lord. Specifically, it mentions the fact that He gave up His spirit (He died).  The Holy Spirit gives more details. 

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. The Jews, therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was a high day), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water. And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe. For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

(John 19:31-37) (emphasis mine) 

If Jesus giving up His spirit was not enough, the account adds that the soldiers stopped and took note of the fact that Jesus was already dead, and stopped from breaking His legs. This is noted to have happened to fulfill Scripture (cf. Num 9:12; Exo 12:36; Psalm 34:20; Zech 12:10). This account and the other three gospel accounts affirm the fact that Jesus really died. You could continue reading  John 19:38-42 to see that Jesus’ body was prepared for burial and buried. 

The Scriptures Affirm His Resurrection

Matthew’s account explains Jesus' resurrection as first given to the women who went to finish the burial preparations early on the first day of the week (Sunday). It was at the grave where the women found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. An angel spoke to them and explained to them the whereabouts of Jesus.  

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you

(Matthew 28:5-7) (emphasis mine)

Jesus appeared later to Thomas, one who initially doubted that He was raised (because he had not seen Him) (cf. John 20:24-29). In passing, we will also affirm that Jesus was raised on the third day. In short, He died on Friday, was in the tomb for part of Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday. The Hebrews would count each of these parts as distinct days; thus, we can understand that Jesus died and was burried on Friday, He rose on Sunday, the third day.

What is the Big Deal?

The Inspired Apostle Paul gave the gravity of this doctrine of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.  It is written, 

Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

(1 Cor 15:12-19) (emphasis mine)

If Christ is not raised, the preaching of Christ is in vain. The Christian faith is vanity. Our lives are pitiable among all men if Christ did not raise. Yet, since He did, since the Bible affirms this through prophecy and evidence, thereafter we recognize that the preaching of Christ is the most consequential and important message of all messages in the world.