John 20 – Why have hope for the future in this dark world? 2021

This chapter focuses on the resurrection of Messiah. This fact in history is important because of the fact that since He resurrected, we know that His people will also be resurrected on the Day of Yahweh. Paul was emphatic about this.

1 Cor. 15:12-17 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

The resurrection of His people, Israel, is clearly taught in the Tanakh.

Job 19:25-27 “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26“Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes shall see and not another. My heart faints within me.

1 Sam. 2:6 “The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For He will receive me. Selah.

Psalm 56:13 For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.

Dan 12:1-3 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3“And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Isa. 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

The reason for Paul's excitement over the resurrection of Yeshua is that he then knew the resurrection of Israel to be true. It is the reason we have hope for the future in the this dark world. We should praise the name of the Father because He resurrected His Son. It means that we too, will one day be resurrected.