How does John 20:9 deepen our understanding of Jesus' resurrection prophecy fulfillment? Seeing but Not Grasping “For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” (John 20:9) What the Verse Highlights • The empty tomb alone did not yet convince the disciples of fulfillment • Scripture already contained the divine necessity (“had to”) of resurrection • Understanding lagged behind experience until the Spirit later opened their minds (Luke 24:45) • Fulfillment proves the absolute reliability of God’s written word Old Testament Prophetic Backbone • Psalm 16:10 – “For You will not abandon My soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” • Isaiah 53:10-11 – “After He has made His soul a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days… the righteous One, My servant, will justify many.” • Hosea 6:2 – “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His presence.” • Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40 connects the three-day pattern to Messiah Each text foretells preservation, vindication, or third-day life, converging in the physical resurrection of Jesus. Jesus’ Repeated Promises Before Calvary • John 2:19 – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” • Mark 8:31 – “The Son of Man must suffer many things… be killed, and after three days rise again.” • Matthew 17:22-23 – “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men… and on the third day He will be raised to life.” These statements echo the “had to” of John 20:9 and anchor the event in divine purpose, not mere chance. Necessity and Certainty of Resurrection • God’s integrity binds Him to His prophetic word • Messiah’s mission required victory over death to secure redemption (Romans 4:25) • Bodily resurrection validates every claim Jesus made, sealing His identity as Lord (Romans 1:4) Disciples: From Confusion to Conviction • John 20:9 records the moment of incomplete insight • Luke 24:27, 44-46 shows Jesus walking them through Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms until Scripture and sight merged • Acts 2:24-32 – Peter now confidently cites Psalm 16 to prove the risen Christ • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Paul summarizes the gospel “according to the Scriptures,” reflecting the lesson first learned at the tomb Living in the Fulfillment Because Jesus rose exactly “as it is written,” believers rest in a faith anchored to unbreakable promises. The same God who fulfilled every line concerning the first coming will likewise keep every word about Christ’s return and our own resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14). |
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