Why Could Jesus do it? Jesus resurrection raises one interesting question: How come Jesus could raise himself from the dead, when no-one else could? In order to understand Jesus resurrection, at least up to a point, it is necessary to understand some of the doctrines of life and death.

Original Sin. Life in mortality was made possible through a loving sacrifice made by our first parents, Adam and Eve. They were given a life never-ending in the Garden of Eden. Death was not introduced on the earth yet, and therefore, neither was birth.

So, when God commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth, they knew they had to introduce death/birth to the earth, by partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. They did partake, and they did bare children.

Adam and Eve gave us Life – and Death. But their eating of the fruit was not only a personal transgression. It was also a by-proxy transgression for all man-kind. This by-proxy act made it possible for you and me to be born into mortality, even though we were totally innocent at birth. In and of ourselves we should have been borne to life everlasting, and thus, we would be in the same situation as Adam and Eve. Therefore, we needed the by-proxy transgression. The by-proxy transgression will keep us mortal, but not under condemnation.

Only judged by our own sins. But our own sins will keep us under condemnation. And we commit plenty of sins, whether or not we like to admit it. The wages of sin is death. And there is nothing we can do about it on our own. So when we die, we are where we have deserved to be, considering our sins. We will be in the grasp of death for ever and ever. Justice demands it.

Adams transgression makes it possible for Jesus to die for us. But, what if somebody lives a completely sin free life. That person cannot die in and of himself, but thanks to the by-proxy transgression of Adam and Eve, that person can choose to give his life. And once that life has been given, where is the mighty one that has the right to keep him imprisoned? To which monster will he be the prey?

Satan has no claim on Jesus. You see, the price for the inherent sin has now been paid through death. And that inherent death wasn’t even his in the first place; it was given to him by-proxy! So there is no sin to hold him in the land of the dead! Jesus resurrection is a given.

But what if that man decided to die, taking all sins with him, yours and mine included. Would not our sins pin him down in the kingdom of the dead? No! Because they were not his sins, he was pure and innocent; justice could not accept to see death and hell hold an innocent man. So, justice demands Jesus resurrection that he should live again.

Why does Jesus do this for all of us? But what is it that makes an innocent man take the punishment for all? It is mercy.

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

64 Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

66 So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:62-66)

1 IN the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. (Mathew 28:1-4)

                 1 AND when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

                 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.

                 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?

                 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

                 5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

                 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

                 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. (Mark 16:1-7)

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. (Matthew 28: 8)

And here we continue the story with the account of John, who more particularly follows one of the women who runs from the grave, the first to se the risen Lord; Mary Magdalene.

 1 THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:1-17)

Jesus had to overcome the spiritual death. On the cross Jesus cried with a loud voice: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” This was not a question to his Father, neither was it an accusation, but it was a teaching to all men, that in order for him to reconcile men with God, Jesus himself had to die that spiritual death of being left by the Father, and then, later, take up his life again.

A complete resurrection. A complete resurrection, even Jesus resurrection, consists of two parts. One is to take up the body that was dead, the other is to return to a life with God, which is eternal life, instead of a life without God, which is eternal damnation. So, when Jesus says to Mary: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father”, he gives proof that he is about to complete the resurrection by entering into the presence of his Father, and thus receiving Eternal Life.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:18-20, 24-28)

                 1 AFTER these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

                 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

                 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught   nothing.

                 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

                 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

                 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of            fishes.

                 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was       naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

                 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

                 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

                 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

                 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

                 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

                 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

                 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. (John 21:1-14)

The Resurrection is now completed! It is obvious that Jesus now, since his meeting with Mary Magdalene, had been to his Father and his God. Jesus resurrection was therefore completed, and there were no longer any restrictions against body contact; Jesus invited Thomas to put his finger into the prints of the nails in his hands, and to thrust his hand into his side. His disciples got to embrace it. Jesus resurrection was complete.

Jesus resurrection was now both physical and spiritual. From then on Jesus would always have a physical body. His body was no longer in the tomb! Thomas felt that body. With it Jesus brake bread and ate fish. Jesus resurrection was indeed physical. But Jesus resurrection was indeed also spiritual, and brought with it the crowning joy; the gift of Eternal Life.

Resurrection of the body is Jesus' gift to all men. Jesus resurrection of the body led to the physical resurrection of all. It is a free gift from Jesus to all mankind.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”.(1 Corinthians 15:22)

Eternal life, however, is a gift that will only come to you if you truly regret your sins, and cry unto Jesus in your heart, believing that he is mighty to save. Then will Jesus plead your case with the Father, and you will be delivered from that awful state. This is the spiritual resurrection.

 Let’s recap some of the things we have learned about Jesus resurrection:

• Jesus resurrection was possible because Jesus was sin-free.
• Jesus resurrection was made possible by the fall of Adam.
• Jesus resurrection was possible because no-one had any claim on him.
• The first to know about Jesus resurrection were women.
• The firs person to witness Jesus resurrection was Mary Magdalene.
• Jesus resurrection was physical.
• Jesus resurrection was also spiritual.
• Jesus resurrection brought about physical resurrection for everyone.
• Jesus resurrection made spiritual resurrection – eternal life – attainable for everyone who would repent from their sins and obey the Lord’s commandments.