Jesus was Raised

The third essential detail of the early Christian creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 is that Jesus "was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

Often, we talk about the resurrection as the concluding point. However, in this early creed, the resurrection is plainly presented, in a matter-of-fact way, as a reality that is aligned with the Scriptures.

So how is it that Jesus' resurrection is "according to the Scriptures"? Let's see how the first Christians understood the Old Testament Scriptures to predict the resurrection.

Since we're looking at one of the earliest creeds, the best place to see this connection is by looking at the first sermon of the early church. In Acts 2, we have a summary of the Apostle Peter's first sermon.

Note that Peter tells us that David "spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah." But go read Psalm 110 and Psalm 16. Does it seem to you that David is anticipating the resurrection of the Messiah?

Again, we need to enter the cultural context of the first century. As Dr. Craig Keener explains, "Jewish interpreters often linked texts using the same word or phrase (the principle was called gezerah shavah). Peter thus introduces Psalm 110:1, a clearly messianic passage that includes 'right hand' and speaks of exaltation just as Psalm 16 does."

Well, how do we know that Psalm 110 refers to Jesus? Because Jesus used this passage to refer to himself! We find this in Matthew 22:41-46.

Let's bring this together. Here's the exegesis: Jesus taught that Psalm 110 refers to him. Psalm 110 speaks of sitting "at my right hand." So does Psalm 16:8. Therefore, Peter links these passages together to teach that David foresaw the resurrection when he said, "you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay" (Psalm 16:10).

Consider what Luke records in chapter 24 of his gospel. In this passage, the disciples were startled to see Jesus suddenly appear. But Jesus repeatedly proved to them he was physically there by eating food with them. And during these visits, he spent time explaining to them how the Old Testament was fulfilled in his resurrection.

**In the earliest sermon we have, while linking together these texts, Peter is speaking of the physical resurrection of Jesus' body, a miracle that he and about 120 other people claimed to have personally witnessed.**

As Dr. William Lane Craig points out, "The point is that no one who did not already have a belief in Jesus' resurrection would find in these Scriptures any impetus to think that Jesus had been raised from the dead."