Explaining Jesus to Muslims
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10. Jesus' Resurrection

In the Quran, Sura 19:33 Jesus is quoted as speaking as a baby from the cradle and saying: "Peace on me the day I was born and the day I die and the day I shall be raised alive."

In this paper evidence will be presented from the Injil concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Christians believe that if Jesus did not rise from the dead then their faith is in vain. They believe that Jesus died for their sins and that God the Father raised him from death as a guarantee that they also will be raised to eternal life.

The Historical Facts of Jesus' Resurrection (Read Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15)

Friday (verses 57-61) Jesus had been crucified on a cross and had died in the afternoon. A rich man named Joseph requested Jesus' body from the authorities so that he could bury him. Pilate the governor sent soldiers to make sure that Jesus was dead (Mark 15:42-5) and then he gave Joseph permission. He took the body down from the cross, wrapped it in a sheet and placed it in a tomb hewn out of solid rock.

Saturday (verses 62-66) Jesus had told his disciples many times that he would rise from the dead on the third day, so the Jewish leaders came to Pilate and asked him to guard the tomb carefully so that Jesus' body could not be stolen. They were given a guard of soldiers and they sealed the stone covering the entrance to the tomb with a Roman seal - carrying the authority of the Roman emperor.

Sunday (28:1-15) As day was dawning some women went to look at the tomb. There was an earthquake and an angel came and rolled the stone away from the entrance to the tomb and sat on it. The guards were terrified and became like dead men. Then the angel told the women not to be frightened, Jesus had risen from the grave. When they saw that his body was not there, they ran off with joy to tell his disciples. As they were going, Jesus appeared to them and they worshipped him. The soldiers went and told the Jewish leaders what had happened. The leaders bribed them and then spread the story that the disciples stole the body of Jesus during the night.

The testimony of the Apostle Peter (Read Acts of the Apostles 2:22-32)
Peter, the leader of Jesus' disciples, was filled with the Holy Spirit 40 days later. He preached to the crowd of visitors at Jerusalem and said:

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge. And you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

"I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, With eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:8-11)

David was a prophet and he saw what God was going to do in the future and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah in this way. Peter goes on to say that David could not have been speaking about himself, because David died and his tomb was still there, he had not risen.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is very important. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christians follow him in vain, because death conquered their Lord. But he did rise from the dead and these are the results:

• It proves that Jesus was the Son of God as he claimed.
• It shows that death has been conquered.
• It shows that Jesus is still alive today.
• It confirms the Christian hope of resurrection.

The Testimony of the Apostle Paul (Read 1 Corinthians 15)
This whole chapter contains teaching about the resurrection. Here are some excerpts:

"I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the twelve." (verses 3-5)

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (verses 17-22)

The Testimony of the Apostle John (Read John 20:19-29)
After Jesus died, his disciples were frightened and hid behind locked doors. Suddenly on Sunday evening Jesus appeared to them in the room. He showed them the nail wounds in his hands and where he was pieced by a spear in his side. His disciples were filled with joy. Then Jesus told them that they were to be his witnesses.

One of the disciples called Thomas wasn't there when Jesus appeared to the other disciples. When they told, he wouldn't believe it. The following Sunday Jesus appeared to them again. He told Thomas to put his finger in his nail prints and side, to stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him: "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus Commissions his Disciples
(Read Matthew 28:16-20)

Jesus appeared to his disciples on many occasions during 40 days. This was one such occasion. Perhaps this was when there were 500 present, (1 Corinthians 15:6) as this meeting was pre-arranged by Jesus. Most of the people worshipped him, but some still doubted. Then Jesus drew near to them and commanded them to be his witnesses. Jesus said several important things here:

• Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth.
• The disciples were to go to all people everywhere with the Gospel, making people Jesus' disciples.
• They were to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• They were to teach them to obey everything that Jesus had taught them.
• Jesus promised that he would be with his followers always, even to the end of the world.

In the first century the disciples succeeded in preaching the Gospel to the then known world around the Mediterranean Sea and as far east as India. This included north Africa and southern Europe. However it wasn't until the 19th century, when travel and knowledge of the world had increased, that missionaries could take the Gospel to every country. During the 20th century the Gospel spread to every country in the world. Now nearly every tribe and language has heard the good news.

Christians have undertaken this work, knowing that Jesus is indeed Lord and does have total authority both in heaven and on earth. They have gone with the confidence that Jesus is with them. In fact Jesus promised that wherever two or three Christians gather together in his name, he is there among them. No ordinary prophet can make a promise like that. Because Jesus is alive and his Spirit is everywhere, he is able to accompany every Christian through every minute of his life.

The good news that Jesus' disciples preach is the news that Christ died for our sins and rose again from the grave. Through faith in him we can have forgiveness of sins and the assurance that we are accepted by God and will one day rise from the dead also. Then we will praise our Maker for his love and grace throughout eternity.