Who raised Jesus from the dead?

The truth about the resurrection of Christ is at the very heart of the gospel. Christianity itself is built on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Any so called gospel which is destitute of the resurrection of Christ is not the gospel. The gospel is not only about the incarnation and death of Christ, no, but also includes his resurrection from the dead. 

Apostle Paul defined the gospel in his letter to the Corinthians by saying: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15; 3-4). It is quite unfortunate, that many people out there still deny the resurrection of Christ. But of a truth, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and there are myriads of passages which supports this assertion. So the question is, if Jesus truly rose from the dead, then who resurrected him? This is an interesting question, and am excited to share the biblical answer with you

God the father raised Jesus from the dead

God the father resurrected his Son from the dead, for it is written: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  (Ephesians 1:17,20). In this passage, it is quiet clear that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory raised his own Son from the dead. 

In the book of Galatians, it is also written: Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)-- Galatians 1; 1

Paul is here saying, that he received his ministry as an apostle, not by men, but was ordained into the office by our Lord Jesus Christ and God the father who exerted his power by supernaturally raising Jesus from the dead. From these verses, it is safe to conclude that it was God the father who resurrected the Man Jesus from the dead.

Jesus resurrected himself from the dead

At one time, Jesus made a profound statement to his audience in his discourse with them: The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body (John 2:18-21).

Jesus is saying that they should destroy the temple of his body, and he will raise it up on the third day. Not God the father will raise him up, but he will rise from the dead by his own power.

In another place, Jesus also said: For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father" (John 10:17-18).

Jesus is here reiterating the same truth, that he has not only the power to lay down his life, but also has the authority to raise it up again, and that is exactly what he did. It is important to know that Jesus has two natures, his human and divine nature. It was the human nature of Christ which died, his divine nature cannot die. His divine nature as God, resurrected his human nature from the dead. This should tell us that Jesus was more than a Man.

The Holy Spirit resurrected Jesus from the dead 

It is written in the book of Romans: But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

Here, the apostle is telling us that, it was the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead. Is the apostle contradicting himself? certainly not, for it is equally true that the Holy Spirit resurrected the Man Jesus from the dead.

 The Trinity resurrected Jesus from the dead

Of a truth, it was God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God is One, but eternally exists as three distinct persons (Matthew 3; 16-17). All the members of the trinity were actively involved in the resurrection of the Man Jesus Christ from the dead. So it was God (father, Son and Spirit) who raised the human nature of Jesus Christ from the dead: But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power- Acts 2; 24. God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

All the members of the trinity were actively involved in the resurrection of the Man Jesus Christ from the dead

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