What Does the Bible Say About the Resurrection of Jesus?

After his death on the cross, Jesus was placed in a tomb where he lay for three days. During his death, Jesus was in the kingdom of death and proclaimed his victory to the “spirits in prison” (probably angels/demons). When the time was right, Jesus arose, left an empty tomb behind, and appeared for 40 days to his disciples. After this time, Jesus ascended to heaven and is currently sitting at God’s right hand, praying for us in anticipation of his return to earth on the Day of the Lord. At the time of Jesus’ return, all people will be resurrected and judged by Jesus. Believers will then receive eternal life and a “resurrection body”.

Bible Verses

“¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, ¹⁹in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, ²⁰because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” (1 Pe 3:18–20)

“¹Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”” (Mt 28:1–7)

“³⁷But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”” (Lk 24:37–39)

“³He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Ac 1:3)

“⁵For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Ro 6:5)

“²Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 Jn 3:2)

“²⁸Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (Jn 5:28–29)

“²⁰But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Co 15:20–23)

“¹³But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Th 4:13–18)

Study Questions

1. Why is Jesus’ resurrection important?
2. What did Jesus do while he was dead?
3. What is the difference between an ordinary body and the resurrection body?
4. What does the resurrection mean to you?

Additional Bible Verses

Acts 2:31, Gen 6:1-2, Matt 12:40, Matt 9:23-25, Eph 1:18-20, Acts 24:15, Acts 4:33, Rom 8:11, Rom 8:34, Dan 12:2