On the Third Day: Exploring Jesus’ Resurrection

6 Mins

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul emphasizes its importance: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:13–14). Later in the same passage, he writes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

It’s important to note that Jesus’s resurrection differs from resuscitation. While figures like Lazarus or Jairus’s daughter were brought back to life only to die again, the New Testament teaches that Jesus ascended to heaven and still lives (Acts 1:9). In Romans 6, Paul explains that Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension mean that death no longer has a hold over him. Significantly, Paul asserts that this is also true for those who identify with Christ (Romans 6:1–11). Jesus’s resurrection forms the basis for our future hope.

Despite its central importance to Christianity, critics have raised questions about the authenticity of the resurrection. Some have argued that the disciples either invented the story or that the reported appearances were merely emotional responses to Jesus’s death. However, the evidence points to a physical resurrection. The Gospel writers do not explicitly narrate Jesus’s resurrection, but they provide details about the empty tomb and Jesus’s appearances to his disciples after his death.

The Gospel Accounts

The Gospels offer a general framework of the discovery of the empty tomb, but the specifics vary. Matthew alone notes the presence of guards at the tomb (Matthew 28:4, 11–15). The Gospels differ in their lists of women who visit the tomb: Matthew names Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (Matthew 28:1); Mark includes Mary Magdalene, Mato try, the mother of Jesus, and Salome (Mark 16:1); Luke mentions Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others (Luke 24:10); while John only mentions Mary Magdalene (John 20:1). Additionally, there is a difference in how many angels appear at the tomb: one (Matthew and Mark) or two (Luke). Matthew explicitly refers to “an angel of the Lord,” whereas Mark and Luke describe men in white garments, a common depiction of angelic beings.

These apparent discrepancies can be easily reconciled. The Gospel writers emphasize different details in their accounts. The omission of the guards in Mark, Luke, and John does not mean that they were not there. It is a detail that Matthew introduces before the resurrection (Matthew 27:62–64), requiring him to resolve it. The various lists of women are not contradictory and can be harmonized, likely representing different subsets of a larger group. Matthew makes the appearance of an angel more explicit than Mark and Luke. A detailed comparison of all four accounts will reveal even more differences, but these are the types of variations one would expect from multiple eyewitness perspectives. Far from undermining the story, these differences point to the authenticity of the record of the empty tomb.

Resurrection Appearances

After his resurrection, Jesus appears to several of his disciples. Paul reports that he appeared to Peter, the Twelve, and then more than five hundred disciples—many of whom are still alive at the time of his writing (1 Corinthians 15:5–7). The Gospels indicate that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:10–18) and the other women who came to the tomb (Matthew 28:8–10), two disciples traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35), and Peter individually (Luke 24:34). He also appeared to the disciples on at least five different occasions: twice in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36–49; John 20:19–23, 20:24–29), in Galilee (Matthew 28:16–20), by the Sea of Galilee (21:1–23), and at his ascension (Acts 1:3–11).

Critics argue that either the disciples made this up or else they experienced some grief-induced vision. Paul had a slightly different experience than the disciples on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:1–19; 22:6–16; 26:12–18). In his vision, only Paul saw Jesus and understood what he said; the people traveling with Paul only saw a light and heard a noise. Paul’s vision provides a template for the kind of psychological experiences that critics describe, but something real happened to Paul—the light left him blinded.

In the Gospels, when Jesus appears to the disciples, he eats with them and touches them, suggesting a physical appearance. Additionally, visions are typically singular, personal experiences. The fact that Jesus appears to the disciples as a group indicates that these were real, physical, bodily appearances of Jesus.

The Resurrection Invented?

The day after Jesus’s execution, the Pharisees requested that Pilate secure the tomb to prevent the disciples from stealing the body and claiming that he was raised from the dead (Matthew 27:62–66). Modern critics have made the same point. However, several problems arise with this approach to the resurrection.

First, most first-century Jews anticipated a general resurrection at the end of the age. Martha expresses this belief before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:24). Most people outside of Jewish circles would not have a concept of resurrection. The disciples themselves would not have conceived of a two-part resurrection: Jesus’s initial resurrection followed by the resurrection of his followers.

Second, if the disciples corroborated their accounts of the resurrection, they would have framed the stories differently with more consistency. In the first century, women were considered poor witnesses. The Gospel writers probably would not have listed women as the first witnesses of the resurrection nor described the initial doubt of the disciples. If they invented the story, they would have included more credible witnesses and omitted any doubt.

Furthermore, the disciples were imprisoned, persecuted, and even killed for their faith in the resurrection. When other Messiah movements failed, the followers typically dispersed. It is hard to imagine that Jesus’s disciples would endure so much rejection and suffering for something they fabricated.

Conclusion

During his ministry, Jesus made claims about himself that led to his execution. Even before he arrived in Jerusalem, he was aware that his actions would lead to his death. After Peter’s confession that he is the Messiah (Mark 8:29), Jesus predicted that the Jewish leadership would reject him and that he would ultimately be put to death (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34). When the High Priest examined him, Jesus affirmed his role as the Messiah, which led to his execution. By raising him from the dead, God vindicated the claims that Jesus made about himself. At Pentecost, Peter summarizes the point: “This Jesus, whom you crucified, God has made him both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

Even though the resurrection is grounded in history, there are immense theological implications. By identifying him as Lord and Christ, Jesus alone can save us. By laying down his perfect life for our sins and then rising from the dead, God breaks the power over death and sin for those who believe in his Son.

Scripture References

13.If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14.And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

17.And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

9.After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

1.What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2.By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3.Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4.We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.5.For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6.For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,6:6 Or be rendered powerless that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7.because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.8.Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9.For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10.The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.11.In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

4.The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

11.While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12.When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13.telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14.If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15.So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

1.After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

1.When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

10.It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

62.The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63.“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64.So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

5.and that he appeared to Cephas,15:5 That is, Peter and then to the Twelve. 6.After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7.Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

10.Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.11.Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12.and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13.They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14.At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.15.He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”16.Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).17.Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”18.Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

8.So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9.Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10.Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

13.Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles24:13 Or about 11 kilometers from Jerusalem. 14.They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15.As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16.but they were kept from recognizing him.17.He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18.One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”19. “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20.The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21.but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22.In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23.but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24.Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”25.He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26.Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27.And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.28.As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29.But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30.When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31.Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32.They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”33.They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34.and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35.Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.36.While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”37.They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38.He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39.Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”40.When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41.And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42.They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43.and he took it and ate it in their presence.44.He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”45.Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46.He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47.and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48.You are witnesses of these things. 49.I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

19.On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20.After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.21.Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22.And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23.If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”24.Now Thomas (also known as Didymus20:24 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25.So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”26.A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27.Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28.Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”29.Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

16.Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17.When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18.Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20.and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

1.As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2.saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3.If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”4.This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:5.“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”21:5 Zech. 9:96.The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7.They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8.A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9.The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”21:9 Psalm 118:25,26 “Hosanna21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 in the highest heaven!”10.When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”11.The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”12.Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13.“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’21:13 Isaiah 56:7 but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’21:13 Jer. 7:11”14.The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15.But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.16.“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ 21:16 Psalm 8:2 (see Septuagint) ?”17.And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.18.Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19.Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.20.When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.21.Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22.If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”23.Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

3.After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4.On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5.For John baptized with1:5 Or in water, but in a few days you will be baptized with1:5 Or in the Holy Spirit.”6.Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”7.He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”9.After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.10.They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11.“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

1.Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2.and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3.As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4.He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”5.“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6.“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”7.The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8.Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9.For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.10.In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.11.The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12.In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”13.“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14.And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”15.But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16.I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”17.Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18.Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19.and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

6.“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7.I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’8.“ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9.My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.10.“ ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ 11.My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.12.“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13.He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.14.“Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15.You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16.And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

12.“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13.About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14.We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,26:14 Or Hebrew ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’15.“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16.‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17.I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18.to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

24.Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

29. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

31.He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

31.because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

33.“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34.who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

36.“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Dr. Ben Simpson

Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary