Introduction
If the Messiah had simply come and died, that would have been insufficient. It was His resurrection that conquered sin and death for us, and the Old Testament predicted His resurrection as well.
Old Testament Prophecy
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. [Psalm 16:8-10 NIV]
O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. [Psalms 30:3 NIV]
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah [Psalms 49:15 NIV]
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. [Psalms 118:17 NIV]
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. [Isaiah 53:10 NIV]
Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. [Isaiah 55:3 NIV]
New Testament Fulfillment
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [Matthew 28:6 NIV]
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. [Mark 16:6 NIV]
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [Luke 24:6 NIV]
He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [Luke 24:46 NIV]
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. [Acts 2:24-32 NIV]
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. [Acts 3:15 NIV]
but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen–by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [Acts 10:40-41 NIV]
But God raised him from the dead, [Acts 13:30 NIV]
The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ [Acts 13:34 NIV]
So it is stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. [Acts 13:35-37 NIV]
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. [Revelation 1:17-18 NIV]
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Image courtesy of Abby Reed