Devotional - 99-04-10 - The Resurrection in the Old Testament

Slightly late for Easter or as I would say Resurrection Sunday but I hope that you like it. The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus is true regardless of what day it may be.

Among all people regardless of who they are or where they live there is in every heart a hope of life beyond the present one. If there were no existence beyond this life man would have to view his earthly journey as being only a dismal failure for here one must face the realities of diminishing physical power increasing physical ailments --and finally death !! So join with me and Praise God that there IS hope to be found in the Scriptures.

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST FOUND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

King David was given a preview of the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. He expresses an assurance that he would see and hear from the Lord after death with his hearts desire fulfilled completely. All things sought and hoped for would be realized in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 16:8-11- I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety. ¹⁰ For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. ¹¹ Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with beholding thy form.

THE PROPHET ISAIAH FORESAW THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 contains the great Servant passage of his prophecy.

Isaiah 52:13-15 gives an outline of the entire redemptive career of the Lord.

Is. 52 : 13-15 Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. ¹⁴ Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men), 15so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.

vs 13 tells of his pure holy life

vs 14 Describes His crucifixion

vs 15 speaks of His second coming when the people and rulers will stand amazed at His honor glory and wisdom.

Isaiah then goes into detail concerning this wonderful prophecy

Isaiah 53:1-3 Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? ² For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. ³ He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.

Is 53:1-3 predicts the Lord Jesus upon his appearance would not be recognized by His own people ( the Jews) they would misunderstand Him and despise him.

Isaiah 53 :4-9 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. ⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? ⁹ And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Is 53:4-9 foretells the death of Messiah as well as the oral, penitential confession the nation of Israel will make when she clearly understands the given facts about the Messiah. Those of the nation who are living at that time - will repudiate their national sin. They will acknowledge Jesus and confess Him to be the Messiah who died in their behalf.

Isaiah 53: 10-12 Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. ¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Is 53:10 -12 foretells the death resurrection and eternal existence of Messiah

THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS

Psalm 49: 14-15 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it. ¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. Selah

This psalm is addressed to all people and describes those who trust in wealth and boast of their riches, but cannot by any means redeem a brother. The redemption of life is of greater cost than any riches can ever cover either now or in the future, anyone who thinks differently is a fool. They are appointed as a flock for Sheol until the morning-the dawn of a new era- when the UPRIGHT (the Lord Jesus) comes to reign upon the earth. At that time the judgment of the Great White Throne occurs. It is then and there the wicked shall be judged. (Revelation 20:15). But those who are truly wise are redeemed from the power of Sheol and death; God Himself receives them.

Psalm 71:20 FORETELLS THE RESURRECTION Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth

Daniel 12:1-3 ALSO GRAPHICALY DESCRIBES THE RESURRECTION And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. ² And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

ALL the writers of the Gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John provide clear and forthright accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. Because they are too long to recore here I will just give the Scripture references

Mathew 28:1-5
Mark 16:1-8
Luke 24:1-12
John 20:1-10

The Apostle Paul wrote concerning numerous appearances of the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:1-8 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, ² by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; ⁶ then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; ⁷ then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; ⁸ and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also.

The Apostle John also testifies that all the Apostles had the same experience. They gave testimony to the effect that following the resurrection they heard Jesus, saw Jesus, and touched Jesus. They were familair with His voice they had heard Him in private conversations and in public discourses throughout His earthly ministry. Being eyewitnesses the Apostles had complete unshakable confidence in their testimony to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus. Following His resurrection the Lord Jesus made more than ten appearances to one or more of His disciples and on one occasion he appeared to more than 500 people.

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. ³ And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life ² (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); ³ that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: ⁴ and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.

This passage of scripture promises that God shall give His children glorified bodies like that of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has proven that there is life and blessed immortality beyond the grave.

II Timothy 1:8-11 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, ¹⁰ but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.

Liv4Yeshua

liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org