Fact a Day: April 4th

Knowing the Truth About the Resurrection (Harvest House, 1996) p. 7

Did Jesus clearly claim He would rise from the dead? (con’t)

Early in His ministry, after the cleansing of the temple, He told the Jews in Jerusalem, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

Before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus predicted: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 20:18,19).

After Jesus’ transfiguration, He again predicted He would be raised from the dead: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day” (Matthew 17:22,23; see also Mark 9:31).

Even prior to His crucifixion, when the time was becoming short for His claims to either be proven or refuted, He did not waiver. Jesus again emphasized and predicted that on the third day He would rise from the dead: “And He took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again”’ (Luke 18:31-33; see also Mark 10:34).