Jesus in the Old Testament #32

Jesus in the Old Testament

032: Jesus the Resurrection

Job 19:23-27

Thesis: Job realizes that suffering in this life can only be answered by the hope of a redeemer and a resurrection.  This theme is echoed in several passages throughout the OT and culminates in Jesus’ own declaration in John 11:25 to be the resurrection and the life. 

1. Nutshell w/Kids

1. Who has some good news? Let’s hear it!

2. Do you know that sharing the story of Jesus with people is called sharing “good news” with them? 

3. What is the good news?

4. What do you think is the best part of that good news? Would it surprise you to learn that it’s not the forgiveness part?  The best news is that we get to live forever in perfect bodies in a perfect creation!  

1. Eden was the plan. 

2. We messed it up with sin. 

3. Jesus came to fix everything, especially all the ways that the physical creation is messed up!   

5. The resurrection into glorified bodies is the good news, and Job figured that out before any scripture had yet been written down. 

2. Deeper w/Adults  

1. Death is the end of all things in this life (Job 14)

1. Vs 1-6  Job desires to have his day in court with God, but he knows that, in this life of sin, he will never be able to look God in the eye and get his answer. 

2. Vs 7-9, the parable of a dead tree.  Stumps can sprout again.  Can man? 

3. Vs 9-12. As long as the heavens endure, death is final.  Job has never seen anyone resurrected. Yet, he doesn’t say that this is impossible, just that it “doesn’t happen” now. 

4. Vs 13-17.  Job longs for a day to speak to God apart from the presence of sin in his life.  He has a testimony in his spirit that this is somehow possible on the other side of the grave, and he speaks hopefully about this. 

5. Vs 18-22. As much as he can see now, though, denies him this hope.  Entropy.  Absence. The dead don’t know what is going on in the world around them.  

6. Job longs for a resurrection and a recreation, but he has no visible corollary to give him a reason to hope for this at this point. 

2. Job 19: 23-27

1. Vs 23-24. Job knows that he has received revelation, and he calls for it to be written down forever. 

1. Iron pen, a chisel

2. Inscribed on stone. 

3. The letters poured with molten lead. 

4. There have been found such permanent markers in the Saudi desert that have been attributed to the wandering Hebrews.  Also, a tablet in modern Iran carrying a decree of King Darius was likewise fashioned. 

2. Vs 25. 

1. My Redeemer: Go’el.  147 times in the OT.  

1. Sometimes, negatively, as the avenger of blood.  

2. Most frequently, positively as one who restores that which has been lost.  Kinsman Redeemer (Boaz). 

3. 42 times with God as the subject and Israel as the object.  This is a function of God as savior. 

2. Lives. In the physical sense.  Of Course, God exists, but the passage here is very physical and goes out of its way to reference the real physical creation.  God, his “arbitrator” and “witness” exists with him in a physical, living sense. 

3. He will stand upon the earth.  In a real place, not “in the sweet by-and-by”

3. Vs 26. After my flesh has been destroyed, yet in my flesh… 

1. Only possible interpretation is that of resurrection. 

2. He will have flesh again after his flesh has decayed. 

3. Job understands that the sinful barrier that he cannot overcome in this life might be undone in a new creation. 

4. “I will see God.”  Job finally understands that the advocate, witness, and redeemer that he has been calling for is God himself. 

4. Vs 27: 

1. My eyes, not another’s. Job won’t be content with someone else getting his explanation.  He wants his day in court himself. 

2. He will see God with his eyes.  Physically. 

3. My heart faints within me.  

1. After all this time, he has his assurance from the HS that he will behold God in a resurrected state.

2. The relief is too much to bear.

5. Notice that the hope of Ch 14 has grown to confident expectation in Ch 19, and that this confidence peaks in the same passage that Job finally has a sense that he has an arbitrator.  

1. In Job 9, I need an arbitrator. 

2. Job 16.  I think I have a witness

3. Job 19.  I have a living Redeemer-God who will stand upon the earth!

3. The Messiah and the Resurrection are linked in the Psalms

1. Psa 9:13-14

1. David is lifted up from the gates of death (resurrection)

2. He rejoices in God’s Yashua (Jesus)

2. Psa 16:10

1. David is confident in his resurrection (my soul)

2. Because of the promised resurrection of Messiah (Your Holy One), 

3. Cf Acts 13:35

3. Psa 17:15

1. David will awake (resurrection)

2. And behold God’s face (Jesus)

4. Psa 21:4-5

1. Length of days forever and ever implies resurrection. 

2. Glory through Yashua (Jesus). 

5. Psa 22:20-29

1. God rescues from death (vs 20-21, 26)

2. Ultimately, this rescuer is the eternal King Jesus (vs 27-28)

3. Even those who have died will worship God (vs 29) in resurrected bodies.

6. Psa 23:6

1. Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10), and it is His house in which we dwell.

2. David will dwell in God’s heavenly house forever (resurrection).  

7. Psa 91:16

1. Long life, Lit. “Multitudes of Days,” implying eternal life.  

2. Show him my Yashua (Jesus). 

8. Psa 103:3-4

1. God forgives and heals (Isa 53), this is Jesus. 

2. Redeems your life from the pit (resurrection). 

4. Dan 12:1-2 Certain details are given here in clearer resolution. 

1. At the end of time (Job agreed). 

2. Everyone will rise, the righteous and the damned. 

3. Resurrection will precede judgment

4. When it is combined with Rev 20, we understand that:

1. There is a gap between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the damned.  

2. Also, we understand that Jesus is the one on the throne. 

5. John 11:17-27

1. Martha knows about the resurrection at the end of time (vs 24)

2. Jesus identifies himself as Messiah, with whom the resurrection is always identified in the Psalms. 

3. “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” 

1. Claim to divinity.  I AM (Ex 3)

2. John is circling back on his introductory themes (Jn 1:4).

3. Jesus is not only one who will be Resurrected.  He is the power of resurrection incarnated. 

4. Belief in Jesus as God carries with it the promise of resurrection. 

6. Of Course, Jesus himself was resurrected (John 20). 

7. 1Cor 15  As the Psalms promised, his resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith and the hope for our own resurrection. 

1. Vs 1-8, narrative chronological testimony of the resurrection appearances of Christ after his resurrection.  This is real!

2. Vs 12-19.  If this is not real history, then all of Christianity is a hoax and we are above all to be pitied (also vs 29-34).. 

3. Vs 20-22: Jesus is the deposit on our resurrection.  Just as he was raised from an earthly, perishing body to an imperishing one, so will we be!  

4. Vs 23-28.  How does this fit in the overarching eschatological framework?  Resurrection of the righteous comes before the destruction of the world order. 

5. Vs 50-55: This resurrection of Christ’s church (which happens first, before the destruction of the world orders) is the rapture.  Those who are resurrected here are those over whom there is no longer any threat of death. 

6. Vs 42-49: What will our resurrection bodies be like? Like Christ’s. Spiritual, eternal, and yet somehow also related to our present, physical bodies (Thomas saw the stigmata, John 20:25). 

8. What to do with all this? 1 Cor 15:56-58

1. Vs 56-57 Another need to check ourselves and make sure that the guarantee of resurrection, upon which Job staked all his hope, applies to us. 

1. We have inherited death because of sin.  All die. 

2. Have we participated in the victory available through Jesus?  This is the only way.  He is the ONLY resurrection and life. 

2. Vs 58: 

1. Be steadfast, immovable: 

1. Don’t let the frustrations or fears of this life ruin your hope.  

2. This world is broken, and it will kill you!

3. Our treasure and hope is not tied to any experience we have here.  It is in the world to come. 

4. Slight counterpoint: eternal life starts now, and the kingdom is “already and not yet,” but certainly the best is yet to come!

2. Always abounding in the work of the Lord, not in vain.

1. Look back at 15:10-11. 

1. Because Paul was saved from such a hostile posture, he understands the value of his salvation all the more, and he works very hard!

2. His hard work is Christ working through him. 

3. The result of which is the salvation of the Corinthians, which is eternal!

4. Their eternal life and resurrection impart infinite magnitude to Paul’s labors. 

2. 15:58b: We are called to this work as well.  We have been saved from hostility to eternal life and should be about bringing others along with us!

3. Don’t despair when it’s hard (vs 30-32).  This isn't supposed to be easy or fun.  This is massively important and massively hard. 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life? 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life? 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life? 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life?