The Resurrection of Christ: On the First Day of the Week
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The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a foundational event in Christian theology, marking the triumph of Jesus over death and sin. This event is celebrated by Christians worldwide, particularly on Easter Sunday, which commemorates the day Jesus rose from the dead. The Resurrection is recorded in all four Gospels, each providing unique details that contribute to the full narrative of this miraculous event.

Biblical Account

The Resurrection took place on the first day of the week, which corresponds to Sunday. This is significant as it marks a new beginning and is symbolic of the new creation inaugurated by Christ's victory over death. The Gospel of Matthew records, "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb" (Matthew 28:1). Similarly, Mark states, "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb" (Mark 16:1-2).

In the Gospel of Luke, it is written, "On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared" (Luke 24:1). John also emphasizes the timing: "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance" (John 20:1).

Theological Significance

The Resurrection on the first day of the week holds profound theological significance. It signifies the dawn of a new era in salvation history. The first day of the week, Sunday, becomes the Lord's Day, a day of worship and celebration for Christians, symbolizing the new creation and the hope of eternal life. The Apostle Paul underscores the importance of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:14, stating, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith" .

Witnesses to the Resurrection

The Gospels highlight the role of women as the first witnesses to the Resurrection, a detail that underscores the authenticity of the accounts, given the cultural context of the time. Mary Magdalene, in particular, is prominently featured. In John 20:16-18, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, and she becomes the first to proclaim the risen Christ to the disciples, saying, "I have seen the Lord!" .

The Empty Tomb and Appearances

The empty tomb is a central element of the Resurrection narrative. The stone rolled away and the absence of Jesus' body are pivotal in affirming the truth of the Resurrection. The angelic announcement in Matthew 28:5-6, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said" , provides divine confirmation of the event.

Following the discovery of the empty tomb, Jesus appears to His disciples on multiple occasions. These post-resurrection appearances serve to strengthen the faith of His followers and commission them for the mission ahead. In Luke 24:36-39, Jesus appears to the disciples, saying, "Peace be with you," and shows them His hands and feet to prove He is not a ghost .

Impact on Early Christianity

The Resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week had a transformative impact on the early Christian community. It became the cornerstone of apostolic preaching and the basis for the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life. The early church gathered on Sundays to commemorate the Resurrection, a practice that continues in Christian worship today.

The Resurrection is not merely an event of the past but a present reality that empowers believers to live in the light of Christ's victory over sin and death. It assures Christians of their future resurrection and eternal life with God, as promised in Scripture.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Third Day in Passion-Week - the Last Controversies and ...
... teaching similar to that concerning the Resurrection; that, as ... The first Woe against
Pharisaism was on their ... God against men by their opposition to the Christ. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the third day.htm

The First Day in Passion-Week - Palm-Sunday - the Royal Entry into ...
... understood not, [5056] till the light of the Resurrection-glory had ... they had thus
confounded the Second with the First Advent of Christ, the Sacrifice ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the first day.htm

The Three Days of the Resurrection, in which Also the Ratio of ...
... an entire day from its last part, as the third from its first part. ... the grace of
the New Testament and the partaking of the resurrection of Christ the words ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 6 the three days of.htm

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath ...
... church under the New Testament must celebrate the day of Christ's resurrection. ... light,"
that the Messias should rise on the first day of the week from death ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations of the true manner.htm

First and Second Appearances of the Risen Christ. The Resurrection ...
... [Christ's first question expressed kindly sympathy; the second suggested ... intervention
of the Sabbath day, explains why ... them word of the resurrection.] ^dI have ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxv first and second appearances.htm

The Resurrection.
... passed, they returned, early on the first day of the ... and justice: At the moment when
Christ died, nothing ... one only, possible answer"the resurrection from the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the resurrection.htm

Sacred Times --The Lord's Day.
... It was on that day that Christ rose from ... Hence, the first day was already in the
apostolic age ... and in special commemoration of the Resurrection, whereby the ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 57 sacred timesthe lords.htm

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
... CHAPTER I. THE FIRST DAY IN PASSION-WEEK - PALM ... AND RETROSPECT OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY
OF CHRIST. ... AND DISCOURSES - THE SADDUCEES AND THE RESURRECTION - THE SCRIBE ...
//christianbookshelf.org/edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/

The Lord Seen by the Apostles.
... Savior upon this memorable day, and the first one to ... were discussing the story of
the resurrection of which ... had been shown by his repeated denial of Christ. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the lord seen by the.htm

The Power of Christ's Resurrection
... I know that you believe it, as your gathering together on this first day of the
week in the courts of the Lord's house ... The resurrection of Christ's body he ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the power of christs resurrection.htm

Resources
What is more important, the death of Christ or His resurrection? | GotQuestions.org

Can the various resurrection accounts from the four Gospels be harmonized? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Resurrection: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Resurrection

Resurrection of Christ

Resurrection of Regeneration

Resurrection of the Dead

Resurrection: General Scriptures Concerning

Resurrection: Symbolical

Resurrection: Typified: Isaac

Resurrection: Typified: Jonah

Select Readings: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Resurrection is not Contrary to Reason

The Resurrection is not Incredible

The Resurrection of Christ is an Emblem of the New Birth

The Resurrection of Christ was Attested by Angels

The Resurrection of Christ was Attested by Apostles

The Resurrection of Christ was Attested by His Enemies

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to Forgiveness of Sins

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to Hope

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to Justification

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to The Efficacy of Faith

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to The Efficacy of Preaching

The Resurrection of Christ was Necessary to The Fulfilment of Scripture

The Resurrection of Christ: A Proof of his Being the Son of God

The Resurrection of Christ: An Assurance of the Judgment

The Resurrection of Christ: Asserted and Preached by the Apostles

The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by His own Power

The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by The Power of God

The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by The Power of the Holy Spirit

The Resurrection of Christ: Followed by his Exaltation

The Resurrection of Christ: Foretold by Himself

The Resurrection of Christ: Foretold by the Prophets

The Resurrection of Christ: Fraud Impossible In

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to About Five Hundred Brethren

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to all the Apostles

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles in Galilee

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles, Except Thomas

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Apostles, Thomas Being Present

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to James

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Mary Magdalene

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Paul

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Simon Peter

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to The Women

The Resurrection of Christ: He Appeared After to Two Disciples

The Resurrection of Christ: He Gave Many Infallible Proofs of

The Resurrection of Christ: On the First Day of the Week

The Resurrection of Christ: On the Third Day After his Death

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: Begotten to a Lively Hope

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: Desire to Know the Power of

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: Shall Rise in the Likeness of

The Resurrection of Christ: Saints: should Keep, in Remembrance

The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: At First did not Understand the Predictions Respecting

The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: Reproved for Their Unbelief of

The Resurrection of Christ: The Apostles: Very Slow to Believe

The Resurrection of Christ: The First-Fruits of Our Resurrection

The Resurrection of Christ: The Truth of the Gospel Involved In

The Resurrection of Christ: Typified: Isaac

The Resurrection of Christ: Typified: Jonah

The Resurrection of Saints Shall be Followed by the Change of Those Then Alive

The Resurrection of the Wicked, Shall be to Damnation

The Resurrection of the Wicked, Shall be to Shame and Everlasting Contempt

The Resurrection: A Doctrine of the Old Testament

The Resurrection: A First Principle of the Gospel

The Resurrection: Assumed and Proved by Our Lord

The Resurrection: Blessedness of Those Who Have Part in the First

The Resurrection: Called in Question by some in the Church

The Resurrection: Certainty of, Proved by the Resurrection of Christ

The Resurrection: Credibility of, Shown by the Resurrection of Individuals

The Resurrection: Denied by the Sadducees

The Resurrection: Effected by the Power of Christ

The Resurrection: Effected by the Power of God

The Resurrection: Effected by the Power of The Holy Spirit

The Resurrection: Expected by the Jews

The Resurrection: Explained Away by False Teachers

The Resurrection: Illustrated

The Resurrection: Illustrative of the New Birth

The Resurrection: Preached by the Apostles

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Be As the Angels

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Be Glorified With Christ

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Be Recompensed

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Bodies Like Christ's

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Glorious Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Incorruptible Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Powerful Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Have Spiritual Bodies

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Rise First

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Rise Through Christ

The Resurrection: Saints In, Shall: Rise to Eternal Life

The Resurrection: Saints should Look Forward To

The Resurrection: Shall be of all the Dead

The Resurrection: The Preaching of, Caused: Mocking

The Resurrection: The Preaching of, Caused: Persecution

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The Resurrection of Christ: He Gave Many Infallible Proofs of
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