Please read about the significance of Jesus’ resurrection followed by a chronological summary of the days leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross and his subsequent and miraculous resurrection.
Significance of the resurrection
- Regarding Jesus Christ – If Christ did not rise from the dead He cannot be not God, God’s promises were voided, Christ does not have the power of God, He did not ascend to heaven and begin the church, He cannot minister to us now nor will He return to establish eternity and reign in His Kingdom. Consequently, the resurrection is central to who God is and His promises.
- Regarding man – The resurrection is central to our salvation and our identity as Christians. The resurrection is described by a number of concepts in the epistles, the most common of which is spiritual baptism. This is an important biblical truth which is vital in understanding our transformation into Christians at our salvation.
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- When we become a Christian, we are identified (baptized, Greek, baptizo) with Christ’s gracious death and resurrection. Otherwise, at salvation our old self died and was buried with Christ. We were raised (resurrected) to new life with Him and spiritually we sit with Him on the right hand of God the Father (Romans 6:2-12; Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 2:12-13).
- Similar concepts in the epistles that are based on the resurrection are: regeneration (Titus 3:5), born again (John 3:5), a new man (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10), Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), the anointing by the Spirit (1 John 2:20,27), and the seed (1 John 3:9).
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Importantly, the resurrection provides the following:
- Power not to sin – Although every believer sins, we have the ability to resist sin because as a new person in Christ we have the power by the Holy Spirit to live a victorious life. We can say “no” to sin!
- Holiness – Our new life in Christ allows us to be viewed as holy by God so we now have access to Him. (Hebrews 10:19-22). Indeed, without the resurrection and our new life, despite our forgiveness, we would still be dead. This is because without the regeneration (spiritual baptism) resulting from the resurrection, we would still be “in our sins” because of our fallen depraved nature inherited from Adam (1 Corinthians 15:17-19; Ephesians 2:3).
- Prayer – Because we are a new holy person based in Christ’s resurrection we have the freedom to come boldly to God in prayer without hindrance (Hebrews 10:20-23).
- Eternal life – Because of the resurrection we are raised with Christ to new life. We are now holy and we can enter heaven and eternal life when our physical life ends.
- Eternal security – The regeneration helps prove we cannot lose our salvation because scripture does not indicate that our new self can be killed and the old dead self-resurrected.
- Able to serve – Since we are resurrected to a new and holy person, and possess the Holy Spirit, we are a new creature that is able to serve God according to His will (Romans 6:11-16). We were not able to do His works prior to becoming a Christian (Romans 3:10-12).
In other words, by the resurrection we are transformed permanently to a new life, identified with Christ and sitting with Him in heaven. These changes cannot be reversed. What a great comfort we have in truth of scripture!
Summary of Holy Week
Day 1: Palm Sunday (John 12:12-18)
Palm Sunday commemorates the return of Jesus to Jerusalem to observe Passover. He knew that soon he would give his life as a sacrifice for our sins. He was greeted by crowds of people who spread palm leaves in his path. Today many churches celebrate Palm Sunday with a procession of palms.
Day 2: Monday (Matthew 21:12-13)
Jesus returned to Jerusalem with his disciples and cleared the Temple of those who were not using it for God’s purposes.
Day 3: Tuesday (Matthew 24:1-25:46)
Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives and instructed them; we commonly call this “the Olivet Discourse,” a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age.
Day 4: Holy Wednesday (Matthew 26:1-2)
It is speculated after two exhausting days, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in anticipation of Passover.
Day 5: Maundy Thursday – Passover and Last Supper (John 13:1-10)
Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to Jerusalem to make preparations for Passover. That evening, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the feast to demonstrate how believers should love one another and humble ourselves to serve others. Later that evening Jesus was arrested and taken to the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.
Day 6: Good Friday – Trial, Crucifixion, Death and Burial (Matthew 27:27-50)
Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. It is called ‘good’ because the death of Christ, as terrible as it was, led to his resurrection on Easter Sunday, which brought new life to all those who believe.
Jesus endured false blame, ridicule and beatings. After multiple unjust trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was further tormented, mocked and tortured. He was then nailed to a wooden cross. After many excruciating hours, Jesus died. That evening, Jesus’ dead human body was taken down from the cross and put in a tomb.
Day 7: Saturday (Romans 6:3-11)
Jesus’ lifeless body lay in the tomb, where it was guarded by Roman soldiers throughout the day.
Day 8: Easter Sunday – Resurrection (John 20:1-9)
Easter Sunday is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event of the Christian faith.
Early Sunday morning, several women went to the tomb and discovered that the large stone covering the entrance had been rolled away.
Matthew 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the LORD lay.
