One of the central themes in both the Old and New Testaments is resurrection. But what is the resurrection? Let’s find out.

Both the Old and New Testaments teach that one day believers will experience a resurrection of the body from the dead. Isaiah 26:19, Ezekiel 37:12-14, and John 11 all point to this truth. 

While there are many things we don’t know about the resurrection, such as what our physical age will seem to be, if we’ll need to sleep, and even if we will have to go to the bathroom, here’s what we can know with certainty:

First, the promise of the resurrection is found in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This is why Christ is referred to as the ‘firstfruits’ of the resurrection. His resurrection is the precursor and the model for our own. That means our resurrection bodies will be similar in nature to His. They will be both physical and glorious. 

Second, our resurrection will take place at the future return of Christ. When we die, we immediately enter the presence of the Lord, but the final resurrection has not yet happened. When it does, we will know it because Christ’s return will be known by all. 

Finally, the resurrection is our hope. Because of the resurrection, we can have confidence that death has been defeated in the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

When Paul wrote, Oh death, where is your sting, he wasn’t waxing poetically. He was pointing to a profound truth: in this life, we will die, but death is not the last word. Death does not have power over us because it does not have power over Christ. And when He returns, death will be destroyed forever. Jesus is alive, and by faith in Him, so are we.