There is a statement in John's Gospel account of the resurrection, that for years has gone without much of my attention. He states that after Peter and John had arrived at the tomb, entered, and saw that the tomb was empty, they believed. That is, they believed the message that was given to them by Mary who said that somebody had taken the body of the Lord. They then returned to the house because they did not yet know the Scripture that He must rise again. How did they not know the Scripture that He must rise again. After all they had walked with Him for 3 years, sat at His feet, seen His miracles and heard all of His teaching. How could they not know the Scripture? But then I began to think. The Scripture, in context, must be from the Old Testament, for at this point in time, the New Testament had not yet been begun to be written. Where in the Old Testament did the Scripture proclaim that the Messiah would be resurrected?

     The resurrection of Jesus Christ is proclaimed in the Old Testament in both prophetic type, or picture, and prophetic prediction. In this paper we will examine them both. We begin with the prophetic picture. In at least 3 places we find a picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     The first picture is found in the Feast of First Fruits in Leviticus 23:9-11. All the feast found in this chapter were part of the worship of the nation of Israel. Since worship revolves around the person and work of Jesus Christ, the feasts, then, picture the Lord's work or person. The first feast is the feast of Passover. This pictures Christ as our Passover lamb (2 Cor. 5:7). The second feast follows on the next day and is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Some commentators explain this feast as typical of the formation of the church, but in reality it is commemorative of the burial of Jesus Christ. Leaven is consistently used throughout Scripture to represent the corruption of sin. David writes in Psalm 16, and Peter quotes in Acts 2 that the body of our Lord did not see corruption while in the tomb. Following this is the Feast of First Fruits. Moses Instructs the children of Israel that after the Sabbath when the harvest is reaped, the priest is to take a sheaf of grain and wave it in the air. This sheaf becomes representative for the people.

     There are many similarities between this feast and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. First, the sheaf had to be cut off. Being cut off is the same as being killed as Jesus was crucified, in fact, Daniel states that after the 69th week, the Messiah would be cut off. But after the sheaf has been cut off, it is to be lifted in the air, or raised up by the priest. After three days, Jesus was raised up. In that this sheaf is the first of the fruits of the harvest, there is a promise that more shall follow in the right time. Paul sates that Jesus was the first fruits of the resurrection and from that all who know Jesus as their Savior can expect to be resurrected in their appropriate time. For almost 1500 years, Israel had a picture in its worship celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

     A second picture found in the Old Testament is the ministry of the prophet Jonah. Jonah was called of God to go to the city of Ninevah and preach a message of repentance to the people because of the coming judgment of God. Jonah decided that he had a better plan and found a boat headed for Tarshish. However, God was not willing that His servant should disobey, and more importantly, not willing that he people of Ninevah should perish, so He caused a great storm to come upon that boat. As the sailors feared for their lives, Jonah revealed that he was the source of their trouble. In order that they would not perish, they were to cast him overboard, which they reluctantly did. Along came a great fish, swallowed Jonah alive, and gave him the first underwater submarine ride to Ninevah, where he finally obeyed God's commission. There is an interesting comparison to be made between Jonah and the Lord. The chart below illustrates this comparison.

     For over 750 years, the people of the nation of Israel had a picture in the story of Jonah of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. it is amazing that the disciples did not remember it that first Easter morning.

     A third picture is found in the prophecy of Ezekiel. In chapter 37, Ezekiel prophecies of a future resurrection of the nation of Israel. Here he sees a valley of dry bones. The only way bones are found in a valley is if there has been of significant numbers of peoples. Although there is a spiritual application to the passage of the return of Israel from Babylonian captivity, there is also a literal fulfillment to be found in the resurrection of the nation at the end of the tribulation period (Dan. 12:2). In either case, the nation was presented with the fact of the resurrection.

     We now move from the prophetic picture to the prophetic prediction of the Old Testament prophets. In at least five passages, the prophets predict of resurrection. In four of these passages, the prophecy refers to individuals. In the fifth it unmistakable refers to Jesus Christ.

     The four prophecies referring to the resurrection of people are found in Job 19:26, Psalm 49:15, Isa. 26:19, and Dan. 12:2. In each of the predictions, there is a prediction of a bodily resurrection, not just a spiritual as some might say. Job is quite clear when he says that in his flesh he shall behold his deliverer. Resurrection was not to be a surprise to the people of Israel.

     The fifth passage is one that if of greatest importance. In Psalm 16:10, David predicts that the body of the Messiah will not see corruption. In the previous verse, David says that his flesh will rest in hope. In that the body decays when a person dies, the only hope that David could have is the hope of a bodily resurrection.

     In Acts 2:22-32, Peter, on the day of Pentecost, states that the prophecy of David was not accomplished in David. At that very day, the tomb of David was still present in Jerusalem, and his bones in it. David's flesh did see corruption. But God fulfilled his promise to David in resurrecting the seed of David, Jesus Christ. But it wasn't until that day that the people knew that the prophecy was not fulfilled in David, for David had been dead for 1000 years. For 1000 years the people knew that the body of David had been corrupted. Anyone who knew the prophecy of Psalm 16, should have known that it would be fulfilled in the Messiah. If anyone in the day of Jesus Christ recognized Him as the Messiah, then it was necessary that they would expect Him to be resurrected. But somehow the disciples forgot the prediction of David

     How could they forget the Word? How could spiritually minded men, who followed the Lord for three years forget something so important? How could they forget especially when Jesus had just reminded them only a few hours before his arrest that he would be crucified and rise on the third day (Matthew 26:31-32)?

     I believe there are at least two reasons that these disciples forgot about the promises of God's Word. I believe that modern-day Christians are often guilty of forgetting God's Word for the same reasons. The first is that they had unreal expectations of God. As we survey Luke's Gospel, on the first Easter night, two disciples were travelling to Emmaus. As they traveled, Jesus met up with them. He began to ask they why they were so sad. There response was that the one that they thought would be their Messiah had been crucified and that his body had been taken. Although some of the women had reported that He was alive, they didn't believe it. The One that they thought was the Messiah should have brought the kingdom to Israel, but He didn't.

     On these disciple's minds was the idea that the kingdom would come to Israel in spectacular fashion with the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem. They were looking ahead to glory without the suffering that preceded it. Unfortunately, many today still take millennial promises and try to apply them to today. The kingdom shall come to Israel in a spectacular fashion, but their timing was off. Millennial promises will be fulfilled, but in the millennium. The peace and prosperity that God has promised for the future kingdom will be enjoyed in the future kingdom, but for now we will abide in the persecutions and trials of this age.

     A second factor that caused the disciples to forget the Word is that their emotions were unrestrained. We see in Mark 16:10 that the disciples sat mourning and weeping that day. Certainly they had cause to grieve, their Messiah had been crucified and He died. When a loved one is taken in death, tears are appropriate. Who said that real men don't cry? Jesus wept. Was He not a real man? But when a loved one dies who knew the Lord as their Savior, there is an abiding hope, a confident expectation, that when Jesus comes, there will be a reunion of the saints (1 Thes. 4:16-17). Jesus had promised that He would rise again the third day. It was the third day, it was time for His prophecy to come to pass. Rather than being overcome with tears, their tears should have been overcome with hope.

     Recently I saw the Star Wars Episode 1 video. Before Anakin Skywalker takes off in the pod race, Qui-Gon Jinn counsels him to feel, don't think. Too often we are counseled the same, go by what your hearts says, not your brain. That order is reversed. In Philippians 4:8-9, the apostle Paul gives the correct order. Whatsoever things are right are to be thought upon (v.8) and then enacted (v.9). The outcome is that the emotions will follow suit, "the God of peace will be with you" (v.10). Unfortunately, many within Christendom today base their lifestyle and manner of worship solely upon feelings. "It can't be wrong if it feels so right" is the byword of many people. But if God says it is wrong, it does not matter how good it feels, it is still wrong! Why is sin called pleasurable in Hebrews 11:25 if it does not feel good? Do not let your heart get ahead of your brain.

     Peter tells us that God has given to us exceedingly great promises (2 Pet. 1:4). In those promises are the provisions for us to be partakers of the divine nature, to live life to its greatest enjoyment. Should we forget those promises, like the disciples on Easter morn, we too will miss out on the greatest of life's pleasures.