Do You Believe the Prophets? - Various Scriptures

(Turn to 1 Corinthians 15.)  I’d like to begin with something I hope you will find very interesting.  When I mention the name Anastasia, what comes to mind?  A Disney movie, which I have never seen, is the first thing I think of.  The movies and the books inspired by that name tell the story of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, youngest daughter of the last tsar of imperial Russia. 1  Anastasia is also the most popular name for baby girls in Moscow, Russia. 2  

There are a lot of English variations of that name: Ana, Annie, Anya, Asia, Stacey, Staci, Stacie, and Stacy; Tasha, and a number of others that are less popular.  But what most people do not know is the name comes from a Greek word, an-as’-tas-is.  It means “resurrection”.  If we have any more babies in this congregation, you may want to consider Anastasia or some variant as a suitable name.  

The Greek root of the word we translate “resurrection” is histemi (his’-tay-mee): “to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set”; “to make firm, fix, establish”; “to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything”; “to stand”.  To resurrect means “to make to stand again”, or more specifically for our purposes today, to cause someone to rise from the dead.  The ASL sign for resurrection is _________ .

In the Gospels, we read of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the dead.  His crucifixion at the hands of evil men was such that there was no doubt in the minds of His professional executioners that he really was dead.  There was no need to break His legs and expedite His death, as was the common practice of the Romans when men inconveniently languished longer than normal on their cross.  The soldiers saw that Jesus was really, undoubtedly dead.  The spear in His side was for the purpose of removing any doubt anyone might still have.

There was no doubt on the part of Nicodemus, or Joseph of Arimithea that He was really dead.  They took His body and, along with the women closest to Jesus, prepared Him for burial with 75 pounds of embalming materials, placed His body in Joseph’s own tomb, and rolled the stone across the opening, permanently.  No one had any intention of re-opening that grave.  In addition, as a protective measure against theft, a Roman guard was placed at the tomb and it was sealed shut by Pilate and the Jews. 

Jesus is really dead, really buried, really sealed inside the tomb by His friends, and really guarded at the tomb by His enemies.  Later, when Peter and the apostles accuse the Jewish people and their leaders of executing Jesus, none of them argue the point.  None of them believe He wasn’t really, fully, completely dead.  It is understood by all that the Lord Jesus really died upon the cross.  But three days later, He is really alive again.  God really resurrected Him from the dead and made Him to stand again.

A few weeks earlier, and on several occasions prior to that, Jesus raised a number of people from the dead.  People saw Him do it.  Many people who accompanied Him into Jerusalem and shouted their praises to the Son of David, THE King of the Jews, did so in part because of their excitement over His raising Lazarus from the dead who had been dead for days.  The Pharisees said they believed in the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead because of their understanding of the Scriptures.

So at the time of Jesus’ death, there were those who not only believed that God could raise the dead, they actually witnessed people being raised from the dead.  And finally, many people witnessed Jesus Himself as alive from the grave, His resurrection being different from all others in that He never died again.  Shortly after His resurrection, He would ascend into Heaven with His disciples looking on.

SO, okay.  That’s the biblical story.  That is what we read in the Bible, and it is a fascinating story.  It is a religious story told by some nondescript people from long ago, and it has been handed down to us through the ages from generation to generation, until today.  But let’s be clear, it is just a story.  It is a fable.  Fiction.  Surely, people aren’t supposed to believe that someone really and truly came back alive from the dead.  That’s the stuff of low-budget movies and TV shows.  

Alright then.  Let’s approach it that way.  Let’s say the written record of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is little more, if anything more than a fairy tale made up by some mentally deranged religious zealots who were out to introduce false teaching about a false Messiah to the Jews.  The entire resurrection story is a hoax because, let’s be real, no one REALLY rises from the dead.  Right?

If that is true, (and that objection has been raised ever since the Sadducees were around); If the dead do not rise, then Christians are to be pitied for their stupidity, their gullibility, and their ignorance.  They are obviously willing to believe ANYTHING if they believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  The apostle Paul said as much:

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.   (1Corinthians 15:12-18, ESV)

If it is absolute scientific fact that dead people do not, have not, and never will rise from the dead because there is no such thing as resurrection, then it really is true that Christians are of all people most to be pitied.  We have believed a lie and we continually propagate that lie.  Our hope is in a dead savior whom we believe is somehow alive.  We believe we will live in a false heaven forever with this false messiah who never left the grave, whom God in fact did not raise from the dead because dead people aren’t raised.  

But there are a couple of very important words that make all the difference in Paul’s statement: “If it is true.”  If it is true that the dead are not raised, then we are in fact a pitiful lot.  If it is true that the dead are not raised, all of Christianity is a farce, God has been misrepresented, millions of people have been deceived, and the grave is the final destination of all men everywhere, including Jesus Christ.  Death is the victor of us all and there is nothing beyond Jesus’ tomb or anyone else’s.

So, what people believe about the resurrection is very, very important.  It is the key to all of Christianity.  If the dead are truly raised, then we must believe that and its implications.  If the dead are not raised, then we ought to believe that and its implications.  So which is true?  Isn’t that the real question?  True or false: “God raised Jesus from the dead.”  It really doesn’t matter how we feel about it, or what we believe about it.  What matters is, “Is it true?”  Is it an historical fact the God raised the crucified Jesus Christ from the dead?

Other questions we should ask are: Why have so many people for so many centuries believed this to be true?  Why WOULD anybody believe such a crazy idea as resurrection from the dead?  And if the dead are in fact raised again, which dead people are raised and for what purpose?  

If Jesus really did rise again from the dead, what does that say about Him?  What is the significance of His resurrection?  Was this anticipated by the Jews, or written about in their Scriptures?  And if so, why don’t they believe in Him?

A lot of these questions are answered by Jesus Himself.  Look with me at a very familiar text, Luke 16.

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”  (Luke 16:19-31, ESV).

Some questions that Jesus answers here in this account are: 

1. Yes, there is life after death.

2. Yes, there is a Heaven and a Hell.

3. Yes, the writings of the Old Testament prophets are true.

4. Yes, some people will not believe the Scriptures even if someone rises from the dead to prove the truth of them, which Jesus did.  There will always be those who refuse to believe, regardless of what is actually true..

Look with me at another passage regarding the resurrection of the dead in Acts 26.

1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Why is it hard to believe that GOD, who is almighty, who created everything that is, who made everything from nothing and made Adam from dirt, . . . Why is it hard to believe that THAT God raises the dead?  Why is that hard to believe?  Why is that incredible?  And this teaching about the resurrection of the dead is the very same thing the Scriptures of the Old Testament taught, namely, that the coming Messiah would be the first to rise from the dead.  

So the real question is, “Do you believe the prophets?”  Do you believe the Scriptures?  Is this book trustworthy or is it not?  Is this a reliable record of real events in history which speak of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?  Either it is or it isn’t.  And please don’t wait for someone to rise from the dead in order to be persuaded.  Decide!  Do you, or do you not believe these things?  Did, or did not Jesus Christ rise from the dead?  If He did, then that has massively important implications.  If He did not, that also has huge implications.  Do you believe the testimony of the Bible?

The book of Job is generally thought to be the oldest book of the Bible, probably written during the days of Abraham.  This is before David, before Moses, before the Ten Commandments.  Listen to what Job said:

23 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! 24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. . . .”  (Job 19:23-27b ESV).

Centuries after Job, David wrote in Psalm 16:

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. 

8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

The Sons of Korah wrote these words in Psalm 49:

7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 

8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 

9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit.

10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 

11 Their graves are their homes forever,  their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. 

12 Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts.  Selah 

14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. 

15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.  Selah.

The prophet Isaiah wrote:

8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8, ESV)

(Isaiah 26:19, ESV) - Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

The Prophet Ezekiel said:

1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

The prophet Daniel wrote:

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:2-3, ESV)

The Bible, the ENTIRE Bible speaks of resurrection.  It speaks specifically of the resurrection of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus.  If it is not true that the dead are raised, then the Bible is not true, Christianity has no foundation upon which to build, Christians have no hope for eternity, and Death is the inevitable end of us all, and ultimately, this life really doesn’t matter at all.  This life is vanity, it is ultimately worthless and pointless, it is empty of any real value, it is not worth the trouble to live it.

But, . . .

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  (1Corinthians 15:20-26, ESV)

How does Paul know these things?  How can he say, “In fact Christ has been raised from the dead?“  Because he has seen the living Christ.  Because he has heard the testimony of hundreds if not thousands regarding Christ’s resurrection.  Because he sees that the man, Jesus of Nazareth, fulfills ALL the Old Testament prophecies regarding the promised Messiah.  Paul knows the resurrection is a fact because of the preponderance of the evidence, and because of the grace of God.  He is among those who didn’t believe, even though someone actually DID rise from the dead.  But NOW God has caused him to believe the truth of the gospel message which is this: 

The crucified Jesus is the resurrected Messiah.

Now what?  What is Paul’s response to Christ’s revelation of Himself?  Now he takes Him seriously.  Very seriously.  Now Paul takes the Scriptures more seriously than ever before.  He takes other Christians seriously because they also believe what was formerly unbelievable.  And Paul takes this message of the resurrection of Jesus to all who will hear it.  Listen to what he says in Romans 10:

9 . . . [I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 

We must believe He is the one whom the Scriptures promised would be raised from the dead by God BECAUSE GOD DID IN FACT RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD.  When we believe that, and take God at His word, He justifies us and saves us  It is by means of faith in the Person and work of Christ upon the cross, and His resurrection from the grave, that we are granted forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  That is how important belief in the resurrection of Christ is.

Let me take it one step further.  In Acts 2, in verses 24, 31, and 32 Peter speaks of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  In chapter 3, verse 15, Peter preaches concerning God raising Jesus from the dead.  In chapter 4, verse 10, Peter testifies to the chief priests and the Sadducees concerning God having raised Jesus from the dead.  In verse 33, we read that all the apostles gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  In chapter 5, the apostles are arrested again, and again they testify in verse 30, “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.”

But in chapter 7, the martyr Stephen says in his testimony to the high priests and the council in verse 56 that not only did God raise Jesus from the dead, but He also resurrected Him all the way up to Heaven and caused Jesus to stand at the right hand of God.  

55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  (Acts 7:55-56, ESV).

That word “stand” is the root of the Greek word for “resurrection”.  Jesus has been raised from death to stand at the right hand of God.  The ASL sign for that might be something like __________ !

No one can afford to be wrong about the resurrection.  But there are many whose lack of confidence in the word of God in general will cause them to discount the resurrection in particular, even to the point where they would not believe God even if they DID see Christ’s resurrection.  Multitudes knew of His coming alive from the dead, multitudes heard the testimonies of the apostles who were first-hand witnesses of the risen Christ.  And multitudes did not believe it because, regardless of what else they might say, they simply do not believe the word of God.

He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:31, ESV).

If they do not believe the Bible, they will not believe in the resurrection of Christ.  If you do not believe in the resurrection of Christ, you will die in your sins without a Savior.  Do you believe the Bible?  Do you believe these things?  Do you believe the apostles and the prophets?

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasia

2. Ibid.