God Raised Up Jesus
By Micky Galloway

Hebrews 1:5, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?”

This is quoted from Psalms 2:7. Paul, in Acts 13:33-34 says that God fulfilled this prophecy, “in that he raised up Jesus. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure (blessings) of David.”

Note what the Scriptures say:

Ephesians 1:19-20, “and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly (places),”

Acts 2:24, “whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”

Acts 2:32-33, “This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.”

Acts 17:31, “inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

Romans 6:4, “We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

1 Peter 1:21, “who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Hebrews 13:20, “Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, (even) our Lord Jesus.”

Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

In light of the above passages, there is no doubt about WHO raised Jesus from the dead. God the Father raised His Son, Jesus.

Where then does John 10:17-18 fit into the discussion? 

John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.”

The whole of the gospel of John is to affirm that Jesus is the Son of God (Jn. 20:30-31). John 1:1 begins with His power in the creation itself.  However, Jesus showed His total commitment to do the will of the Father (Jn. 3:35; 5:20). Jesus laid down His life at the Father’s command (Heb. 10:5ff). His own will enters into the process according to this explanation at the Lord’s own mouth.  Jesus voluntarily laid down his life and He had the power (authority) to take it up again. Jesus had said early in His ministry, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn. 2:19). John 2:22 tells us, “When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” They made the proper application to His resurrection. 

Jesus VOLUNTARILY took up His life again and arose from the dead as He submitted to the commandment of the Father. Jesus always followed the Father’s command (Jn. 12:49ff; 14:31).  So now, He is following His Father’s command in His death AND in His resurrection.  When Jesus said, “I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17-18) and “I will raise it up...” (Jn. 2:19), He was not speaking independently of the Father as the active agent in His resurrection. Jesus, therefore submitted to the commandment of the Father who raised Him from the dead.

What does that mean for us? It means everything! This is the crowing point identifying Jesus to be the Son of God! The apostle wrote, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called (to be) an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, who was declared (to be) the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; (even) Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 1:1-4). The Scriptures frequently connect the resurrection of Jesus with our own salvation (see Rom. 5:10; 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 1 Jn. 2:1; 2 Cor. 5:15). If Jesus was not raised from the dead, He cannot free us from our sins! Jesus, “was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). If Jesus is still dead then everyone is dead in sin!

The theme of 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection. Verses 3-4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”  The many appearances of the resurrected Christ are presented as evidence in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8.  Next in the context, follows the consequences if Christ was not raised from the dead. Verses 12-19, “Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (1) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: (2) and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. (3) Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. (4) For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: (5) and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (6) Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (7) If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.” If the dead are not raised; all the persecution, endurance of temptations, abuse, even a martyr’s death, would all be for a hopeless delusion (a lie).

However, because “God raised up Jesus,” we know that a lifetime of submission to Him is not in vain. Jesus is our assurance of VICTORY. Paul said, “If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Cor. 15:32). Sad commentary on life, isn’t it? However, the inspired apostle confidently affirms, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). We faithfully persevere through trials and even unto death, because we know our labor is not in vain. “God raised up Jesus.” Were it not for Him all would be wasted! “Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).