Q. 33. Why was Christ raised from the dead?

• AOR 4
• Heidelberg Catechism 45

Truly rose. The resurrection of Christ is not merely a myth or a metaphor. Many eyewitnesses saw and attested to the risen Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:5–8), and Christ’s enemies could not produce his body to discredit their claims. Many of the disciples testified to the life-changing power of the risen Christ and gladly died rather than renounce him. “Twelve disciples were witnesses of his resurrection, and the measure of their witness is not their winning speech, but their striving for the truth of the resurrection unto torture and to death” (Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 4.12). Furthermore, Christ rose on the third day, by which time there was no doubt that he had truly died. The Old Testament anticipated Christ’s resurrection on the third day by a pattern of third-day events, such as Jonah’s “resurrection” from the belly of the great fish (Matthew 12:39–40), which Jonah called “the belly of Sheol” (Jonah 2:2). Jesus embodied Israel, God’s son called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1), and it was foretold that Israel would be revived and resurrected on the third day: “on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him” (Hosea 6:2).

Body … perfection of human nature. It was necessary that Christ’s whole human nature be raised from the dead that we might also be raised and glorified completely (see Q. 56).

Overcome death. The cross, which appeared as a defeat, was revealed as a victory on Easter Sunday morning. The resurrection revealed Christ’s death on the cross as a victory over sin and death. “In Christ’s death, death died. Life dead slew death; the fullness of life swallowed up death; death was absorbed in the body of Christ” (Augustine, Tractates on John 12.11). “It was his task to swallow up death. Who but the Life could do this?” (Calvin, Institutes 2.12.2). “Thanks to his resurrection—his death manifested its power and efficacy to us” (Calvin, Institutes 2.16.13). Melito of Sardis pictures Christ saying, “I am he who destroys death, and triumphs over the enemy, and crushes Hades, and binds the strong man, and bears humanity off to the heavenly heights” (On Pascha 102). “By the cross death is destroyed, and by the cross salvation shines; by the cross the gates of hell are burst, and by the cross the gates of paradise are opened. The cross has become the way of saints and martyrs; the cross has become the chain of the apostles and the shield of faith of prophets” (Melito of Sardis, New Fragment 3.5.24–30).

Declare his Lordship. “To this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Romans 14:9). “If 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” (Romans 10:9).

Begin the restoration … sure pledge. Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week, the day when God began his work of creation (Genesis 1:3–5). The resurrection is the beginning of God’s new creation. “Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). When we taste the first apple of the season and find it crisp and sweet, we know that a ripe harvest will follow. Christ’s resurrection is but the firstfruits of the resurrection harvest—the sure pledge that all flesh will be raised from the dead, and that the sons of God will be raised up in glory (see Q. 56). If all flesh will be raised, then the whole physical world will be made new: “The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. … the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

New life … righteousness. After being “delivered up for our trespasses,” Christ was “raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25), and forever lives to proclaim light to all people (Acts 26:23) and extend forgiveness to all who call upon his name (see Q. 34). Until Christ returns to make all things new, God’s work of new creation continues in all those who are transformed by the power of the risen Christ: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5–6).