Yeshu’s Resurrection
🕊️ Introduction: The Two Anchors of Our Faith
Yeshu’s resurrection is the foundation of our faith. It proves that He conquered death and is truly the Son of God. But His mission is not yet finished. He promised to return to judge the world and fully bring God’s Kingdom. These two truths—His resurrection and His second coming—are the pillars of Christian hope. Together, they give us confidence in God's plan for salvation, both now and for eternity.
1. Yeshu Rose from the Dead
Yeshu Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day—around 30 AD. This core truth is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20–21). After His death and burial, Yeshu’s resurrection was witnessed by many—women disciples, His apostles, and over 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
"He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." — Matthew 28:6
2. Fulfillment of Prophecy
Yeshu had foretold His resurrection during His earthly ministry:
"The Son of Man must suffer many things... be killed, and on the third day be raised to life." — Luke 9:22
His resurrection also fulfilled deep prophetic themes from the Hebrew Scriptures:
- Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days — a sign of the resurrection (Matthew 12:40)
- The rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22)
The resurrection of Yeshu is not just a miraculous event—it holds deep spiritual and eternal meaning:
- It confirms His identity as the Son of God (Romans 1:4)
- It proves His victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:54–57)
- It offers the hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 11:25)
"We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him." — Romans 6:9
His resurrection reveals God's ultimate power over sin and death, and confirms His role as the promised Messiah and Savior.
4. The Evidence of Yeshu’s Resurrection
The resurrection of Yeshu (Jesus) is not only a matter of faith, but also supported by several lines of historical and logical evidence. These help explain why the early disciples were so convinced that Yeshu had truly risen from the dead.
4.1. The Empty Tomb
On the third day after His crucifixion, a group of women went to Yeshu’s tomb and found it empty (Matthew 28:1–7, Luke 24:1–3). If the body had been stolen or hidden, it would have been impossible for a resurrection movement to flourish in Jerusalem—where the empty tomb could easily have been refuted.
“He is not here; He has risen!” — Luke 24:6
4.2. The First Witness Was a Woman
Importantly, the Gospels report that Mary Magdalene was the first person to meet the risen Yeshu (John 20:11–18). In first-century Jewish culture, a woman’s testimony was not considered legally reliable or socially credible.
If the resurrection story had been fabricated, it would have been highly unlikely—if not foolish—to make a woman the first eyewitness. Yet, all four Gospels include this detail. This shows the Gospel writers were faithfully reporting what actually happened, not constructing a story to persuade. This unexpected detail becomes a strong indicator that the resurrection account is historically genuine, not artificially invented.
4.3. Post-Resurrection Appearances
Yeshu appeared multiple times after His resurrection—to individuals and groups, both privately and publicly. These encounters were physical, personal, and transformational. He walked with His followers, ate with them, spoke to them, and even allowed them to touch His wounds (Luke 24:36–43, John 20:27).
Some of the resurrection appearances include:
- Mary Magdalene — John 20:15–18
- Two women — Matthew 28:9–10
- Two disciples on the road to Emmaus — Luke 24:13–32
- Peter — Luke 24:34
- Ten disciples — John 20:19–25
- Eleven disciples — John 20:26–31
- Seven disciples — John 21:1–23
- More than 500 people — 1 Corinthians 15:6
- James (Yeshu’s brother) — 1 Corinthians 15:7
- Disciples at the Ascension — Luke 24:44–49; Acts 1:3–8
- Paul (formerly Saul) — Acts 9:3–6
4.4. Transformation of the Disciples
Before the resurrection, Yeshu’s disciples were afraid, disheartened, and hiding behind locked doors. After encountering the risen Lord, they became bold, joyful, and fearless witnesses. Many suffered imprisonment, torture, and martyrdom, all the while proclaiming that Yeshu had risen.
Such a radical change is hard to explain unless they truly believed He was alive.
4.5. Rapid Growth of the Early Church
The Christian movement began in Jerusalem—the very place where Yeshu had been publicly executed and buried. Yet within weeks, thousands believed and were baptized (Acts 2:41).
Despite intense persecution and rejection, the message of the risen Yeshu spread rapidly across the Roman world. The extraordinary growth of the early church is best explained by the power and reality of the resurrection, which ignited the hearts of believers and gave them enduring hope.
