Sound Doctrine (Death, Burial, and Resurrection)
Subject: Sound Doctrine (Death, Burial, and Resurrection)
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53
Memory Verse: Isaiah 53: 1
Objective: To use the scripture to interpret what is written about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
Introduction: Sound doctrine requires that scripture be used to interpret scripture. The prophecy of Isaiah concerning the suffering servant sets the foundation for understanding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through careful comparison of the prophetic writings and the gospel accounts, we can identify the fulfilment of the only sign Christ gave to confirm His Messiahship.
1. How did Isaiah set the stage for the endless controversies that would surround Jesus's death, burial and resurrection? Isaiah 53: 1
2. What is the prophet's account of Christ's death and burial? Isaiah 53: 4 - 12
3. When the Pharisees sought verification of the legitimacy of Jesus’ claims, what was the only sign He gave and how does the apostle Paul affix his signature to this? Matthew 12: 38 - 40, 1 Corinthians 15: 3 & 4
4. How do scriptures agree on the time of Jesus's death and burial? Mark 15: 25, John 19: 30 - 37; How does Daniel 9: 27 features in this timeline?
Note: Most persons know of one ‘preparation day’ and that is Friday (The day before the 7th day Sabbath) In John 19:31 the preparation day mentioned was Wednesday (the middle of the week). This day was actually in preparation for the 8 day celebration of the annual ‘feast of unleavened bread’ beginning the next day.
5. How can we substantiate from scriptures the time of Jesus's resurrection? Matthew 12: 38 & 39, John 19: 30 - 37, Matthew 28: 1 - 7 (note verse 6)
Note the following:
The word ‘risen’ in the referenced scriptures specifies that the resurrection did indeed occur. The biblical writers were divinely inspired to capture and express the reality of what they were reporting.
Whether the tomb was visited:
In the end of the Sabbath or
Early on the first day of the week,the announcement was unchanged: “He is not here, He is risen.”
The earthquake in Matthew 28: 2 did not occur to allow Jesus to exit the tomb, but rather to show that He was already gone.
The phrase ‘as it began to dawn’ does not exclusively mean the appearance of daylight. This term also refers to a beginning or coming into existence (e.g., the dawn of civilization, the dawn of a new era). In this context, the clause, ‘as it began to dawn,’ marks the beginning of the first day of the week. A day is a twenty-four hour period of darkness and light which begins and ends at sunset. The first day of the week, Sunday, is the commencement of the weekly cycle, and it comes directly after the 7th day (Sabbath).
Conclusion: The fulfillment of the only sign Christ gave to prove His Messiah-ship can only be deduced from these scriptures. There is no other calculation in scripture that proves Christ spent 72 clear hours in the grave, see Matthew 12: 40.