There are several references in the New Testament to Christ’s resurrection where a distinct reference is made to messianic scriptures from the Old Testament stating Jesus would be buried and would rise from the dead “on the third day” according to the scriptures. Luke 24:44- 46, I Corinthians 15:4
Have you ever searched for that Old Testament passage? Actually, the account of Jonah was used by Christ to validate his resurrection. What is amazing is that everything in our lives is transformed when we share in Jesus’ miraculous resurrection!
In Jonah 2 verse 2 we read…
"In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. After being thrown into the sea being swallowed whole by a huge fish, I believe Jonah was drowned and died. And his grave was that great fish. And from there, as the passage reads, he called to the Lord from SHEOL.
Jesus affirmed this saying “For just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a huge fish, so will the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40 Christ died for our sins. Jonah died because of his own sin!
But God wasn’t done with Jonah yet!
So, the Lord raised him up! Then Jonah went forward with a new sense of gratitude and humble brokenness and a second chance to glorify God! Jonah obeyed the Lord and brought the whole city of Nineveh to its knees.
In the same way Jesus was dead! But he wasn’t done with US yet! So, Christ raised himself up from the grave so WE could go forward with a second chance and proclaim the Kingdom of God – of which Jesus is Lord.
The RESURRECTION miracle for us happens at conversion in baptism. Romans 6:4-6 We go from the realm of the dead to kingdom of the living! Colossians 1:13 When we were dead- just like Jonah- our former DEAD self was buried with Christ and we were raised to new life!
Christ didn’t come to make bad people good; he came to make dead people alive!
That is the ongoing, recurring miracle of the resurrection!
And when we are raised up to live a new life –everything is brought to life!
We can approach the Holy of Holies by a new and LIVING way! Hebrews 10:20
We have a LIVING hope! I Peter 1:3
We now have a LIVING faith! James 2:26
We learn from the LIVING word of scripture! Hebrews 4:12
And we worship the LIVING God our Father in heaven! Hebrews 12:22
We are alive and so is everything in God’s kingdom! That is astounding!!
When we share in Christ’s resurrection, the angels rejoice in heaven and God runs to us to hug us and he cries out with all his heart – this son or daughter of mine was dead – but now he is alive again! That’s the power of the resurrection!
“It (baptism) saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven
and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities
and powers in submission to him.” I Peter 3:21-22
Have a day filled with life! Jerry Maday