What did Jesus mean by "raise him up"? I. Introduction to the Phrase “Raise Him Up” The words “raise him up” most prominently appear in the Gospel of John, where Jesus repeatedly promises future resurrection to those who believe in Him. In John 6:39, He states, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.” This phrase emphasizes a transformative event, not merely spiritual or metaphorical, but a future, bodily resurrection grounded in the power and authority of the Son of God. Throughout John 6, Jesus reiterates this phrase (see verses 40, 44, and 54), tying it directly to eternal life. It is intimately connected to the hope offered in the gospel: it is the Father’s will, enacted by the Son, for the salvation and ultimate restoration of humankind. II. Scriptural Context and Meaning 1. Immediate Context in John 6 Jesus delivers these words during the Bread of Life discourse. After miraculously feeding the five thousand (John 6:1–15), He addresses the crowd’s misunderstanding by explaining that the true “bread” He offers is Himself, and that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. Within this discourse, “I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40) underscores the promise that those who partake in Christ by faith will experience a bodily resurrection. 2. Old Testament Foreshadowing The Jewish Scriptures also anticipate bodily resurrection. Job exclaims, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25). Daniel 12:2 similarly describes, “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Jesus’s statement in John 6 is a clear fulfillment of these ancient expectations, providing assurance that there will be a literal raising of the faithful. 3. Unity with Other New Testament Teachings Beyond John’s Gospel, the New Testament reinforces the resurrection: • In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul declares, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” This portrays Jesus’s resurrection as the prototype for believers. • In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, it is promised that “the dead in Christ will be the first to rise” when Jesus returns. These passages affirm that “raise him up” indicates a future event in which believers are physically resurrected by God’s power, mirroring Jesus’s own bodily resurrection. III. Theological Implications 1. Bodily Resurrection “Raise him up” presents a concrete, physical event rather than a purely symbolic or spiritual concept. The Greek term often translated as “raise” (egeirō) points toward an actual restoring of life. In John 6:40, Jesus explicitly connects believing in Him with having eternal life, culminating in bodily resurrection at the last day. 2. Assurance of Salvation Jesus’s statement is a promise anchored in divine authority, illustrating God’s commitment to preserve and ultimately resurrect every believer. As John 6:39 assures, He will “lose none” entrusted to Him. This applies both to the individual believer’s security and to the collective hope of all who trust in the Messiah. 3. Union with Christ The promise to “raise him up” is inseparable from Christ’s own resurrection. Since Christ Himself rose bodily, He possesses the power to raise others (John 10:17–18). This hope is central to Christian faith and is the bedrock of eternal life, weaving together the believer’s present faith with a future that is secure in Him. 4. Vindication of the Gospel The resurrection of believers underscores the truth of the gospel. Jesus’s victory over death is not an isolated historical event but a reality that extends to all those united to Him by faith. It demonstrates both God’s power and His love for humanity, validating the promises made throughout Scripture. IV. Historical and Archaeological Support for the Resurrection Hope 1. Early Christian Practice and Writings From the earliest records, Christians were convinced of a physical resurrection. Archaeological findings in the Roman catacombs, for instance, include inscriptions and art depicting the resurrected Jesus and the hope of believers rising from the dead. These early burial sites reinforce how central bodily resurrection was to first-century and second-century believers. 2. Consistency in Ancient Manuscripts Extensive manuscript evidence—such as Papyrus 75 and Codex Vaticanus—provides a reliable transmission of Jesus’s promise to “raise him up.” Leading textual scholars affirm that the passages in John 6 demonstrate remarkable accuracy across ancient copies. This consistency strengthens our confidence that Jesus’s words about resurrection remain intact from their earliest attestations. 3. Testimony of Church Fathers In the writings of early leaders like Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp, we find clear affirmations of a future, bodily resurrection for believers. Their letters, preserved in ancient manuscript collections, show unbroken continuity: as Christ was raised, so believers can expect the same through His power. 4. Philosophical and Behavioral Perspectives Historically, culture-changing conversions—Paul’s being a profound example—reflect a transformation motivated by real conviction of Jesus’s bodily resurrection and the promises that follow from it. This inner transformation and willingness to endure persecution serve as behavioral testimony to the authenticity of this hope in being literally “raised up.” V. Practical and Devotional Considerations 1. Hope in the Face of Mortality The assured promise, “I will raise him up at the last day,” offers comfort and hope to the believer. Knowing that death is not the final word instills courage, perseverance, and peace. This is not escapism; rather, it is a future-oriented faith grounded in historical proof and divine revelation. 2. Motivation for Holy Living When believers trust in the promise of resurrection, they are motivated to live in a way that honors God now. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:14, “By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.” Recognizing that our bodies will be glorified at the resurrection encourages us to use our lives for God’s glory today. 3. Invitation to Faith The promise of being raised up is extended to all who turn to Christ. Jesus’s frequent repetition—“I will raise him up at the last day”—is both a reaffirmation to believers and an invitation to those who have yet to believe. It highlights the breadth of God’s mercy and the devoted care of the Good Shepherd, who seeks and saves. VI. Conclusion When Jesus promises to “raise him up,” the phrase signals far more than a comforting allegory. It conveys the heartbeat of Christian hope: a literal, bodily resurrection at the culmination of God’s redemptive work. Rooted firmly in Old Testament prophecy, affirmed by Christ’s own resurrection, and consistently transmitted in the surrounding manuscripts, “raise him up” is a central pillar of the gospel. It assures believers of a personal future resurrection and compels each listener to respond to the One who alone has the authority to restore life. As the Berean Standard Bible records in John 6:40, “For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” |
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