The Old Testament is the first section of the Christian Bible and is comprised of books written before Jesus’ birth. Despite being written well before the New Testament, the Old Testament contains several prophecies regarding Jesus Christ, including his resurrection.
Prophecies in the Old Testament
One of the most prominent prophecies in the Old Testament regarding Jesus’ resurrection is found in Psalm 16:10. It reads, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”
This verse asserts that God would not let His Holy One (that is, Jesus) see corruption or decay in death. Thus, it can be concluded that He would raise Christ from the dead.
Another prophecy regarding Jesus’ resurrection can be found in Isaiah 53:10-11. It says, “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”
This passage speaks of God’s plan to crush His Son for humanity’s sins and how successful that plan would be. The phrase “he shall prolong his days” indicates that after death, Christ would return to life.
Significance of these Prophecies
These prophecies were significant because they showed that God had a plan for humanity’s salvation long before Jesus was born. They also showed that Jesus was indeed who He claimed to be – the Son of God – and that His resurrection was not an accident but rather part of God’s predetermined plan.
The Resurrection Story
The New Testament provides a detailed account of Jesus’ resurrection. According to Matthew 28:1-10, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to visit Jesus’ tomb on the third day after His crucifixion.
When they arrived, they found that the stone covering the tomb’s entrance had been rolled away, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Old Testament contains several prophecies regarding Jesus’ resurrection. These prophecies give us insight into God’s plan for humanity’s salvation and serve as evidence that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.
The New Testament provides a detailed account of Jesus’ resurrection and confirms these prophecies were fulfilled in Christ’s life. As Christians, we can trust in the truth of these prophecies and find confidence in our faith knowing that God has always had a plan for us.