The Resurrection Of Christ In The Old Testament

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)

As you know, I’m not normally a holiday preacher, simply because there are no Christian holidays in the Bible, but I’m going to make an exception today and deal with the subject that most other preachers are dealing with, and that, of course, is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But, I’m going to handle it a bit differently and a bit deeper than you might expect to hear in the standard resurrection message. In fact, we’re going to spend pretty much the whole message in the Old Testament by having a good old-fashioned Bible study.

Our text says that after Jesus had risen bodily from the dead he appeared to his disciples and “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” That is, he took the Old Testament and had a Bible study with them. I’d like to show you some of the things that I think Jesus might have showed the disciples in what may have been the most eye-opening Bible study ever. It says that he began at Moses, so let’s go to Genesis. We’ll deal specifically with things pertaining to the resurrection. (CAPITALIZATION used for emphasis)

Genesis 1:11-12: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” That’s the first time in the Bible that anything living comes out of the ground. Notice what day it was in verse thirteen: “And the evening and the morning were the THIRD DAY.”

Genesis 22:5: “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” This is where God tells Abraham to go to Mount Moriah and offer Isaac his only son (through Sarah) as a burnt offering. Abraham’s statement that he and Isaac would go and worship and then “come again” shows that he believed that God would RAISE UP Isaac after he had slain him for sacrifice, and this is confirmed in Hebrews 11:19, which says, “Accounting that God was able to RAISE HIM UP, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” So, in Genesis chapter 22, we have an “only son” being offered in faith of a future resurrection. To strengthen the type, Jesus probably made reference to this in John 8:56 when he said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”

Genesis 40:20-22: “And it came to pass the THIRD DAY, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And he RESTORED the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.” There you have a THIRD DAY restoration that “just happened” to be prophesied by Joseph, the strongest type of Christ in the Bible.

Numbers 17:6-9: “And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and BROUGHT FORTH buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.” Christ’s resurrection is foreshadowed when life is imparted to Aaron’s dead rod and everyone else’s rod remains lifeless. God has only one way of salvation, the High Priest of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6), pictured by the LIVING ROD of Aaron the PRIEST, and it is with a ROD of iron that our risen Saviour rules the earth one day as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

II Kings 6:5-6: “But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he CUT DOWN A STICK, and cast it in thither; and THE IRON DID SWIM.” If we compare the fallen axe head to a fallen sinner, we have a great picture of salvation in Christ. The axe head is useless and dead unless it is attached to the axe handle, and the handle belongs in the hand of God, thus making man an instrument that God wants to use. When man became a sinner, he lost his usefulness and became dead, like the axe head sinking to the bottom of the Jordan, the river of death. The stick that Elisha cuts and throws into the water pictures Christ the “branch” who was cast into the sea of this world for the redemption of fallen humanity. Daniel 9:26 even says He was “cut off,” as does Isaiah 53:8. If you’ve ever thrown a stick in the water, then you probably saw it go into the water, then go under the water, then RISE BACK TO THE TOP. This is probably what happened with Elisha’s stick. Just as his stick caused the axe head to rise, Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection causes men to rise from spiritual death to eternal life in Christ (Eph. 2:1).

II Kings 20:5: “Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the THIRD DAY thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.” Hezekiah is a good king who pictures Christ. Here we have something more. Hezekiah was “sick unto death” (vs. 1), yet he is told that he will be healed and that he will go up into the house of the LORD on the “third day.” This points to the third day resurrection of Christ, but it also points to the third millennial day (II Pet. 3:8; Hos. 6:2) after Calvary when Christ returns and establishes His kingdom and the “house of the LORD” (Isa. 2:1-5).

Psalm 16:9-11: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” The passage is speaking on the resurrection of Christ, according to Peter’s comments in Acts 2:25-32: “For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day were completely blind to this, to the fact that the Messiah would have to die and rise again to settle the sin problem. The disciples remained blind to it also, even after Jesus told them (Mat. 16:21-23; Mark 9:31-32).

Isaiah 25:8-9: “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Paul quotes part of verse eight in I Corinthians 15:54 when speaking of the resurrection of believers, and John quotes some more of it in Revelation 21:4. But it also must refer to the resurrection of Jesus, because how else could he “swallow up death in victory”? That’s only possible if, first, Jesus is resurrected. This is why Revelation 1:5 terms Jesus the “FIRST BEGOTTEN of the dead.” We come up from the grave only because he came up.

Lamentations 3:52-58: “Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and CAST A STONE OPON ME. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; THOU HAST REDEEMED MY LIFE.” I trust all is clear.

Daniel 6:16-23: “Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And A STONE WAS BROUGHT, AND LAID UPON THE MOUTH OF THE DEN (sound familiar?); and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING (sound familiar?), and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath SENT HIS ANGEL (sound familiar?), and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was TAKEN UP OUT OF THE DEN (sound familiar?), and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Hosea 5:15-6:3: “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. AFTER TWO DAYS will he revive us: in the THIRD DAY he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Their offense was their rejection and murder of God’s Son. In the Great Tribulation they (the Jews) will seek His face and find Him. This is a prophecy of Israel’s revival as a nation after two thousand years (two “days” according to II Pet. 3:8). In the “third day” after rejecting Christ (5:15), the nation will be reconciled to God through Christ and live in the land in fellowship with Him. The “morning” is the dawning of the new millennial day, as in Malachi 4:2, which is the THIRD DAY (millennial day) after Calvary.  

What does that have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? Well, it’s patterned after the THIRD DAY principle that began with the ground springing forth life in Genesis chapter 1, an obvious foreshadow of the resurrection of Christ. But who exactly IS Christ? He’s the SON of God. Well, Israel is also called God’s son (Hos. 11:1; Exo. 4:22-23), so, like Jesus, Israel has a THIRD DAY resurrection. That’s why John 2:1 speaks of a wedding on the THIRD DAY, and that’s why the resurrection of all the SONS of God will happen AFTER a 2,000 year church age, ON THE THIRD DAY after Calvary. SO! God has many sons: Jesus the divine Son, Israel the national son, and millions of Christians are called sons (John 1:12; I John 3:2), and all sons follow the resurrection pattern of THE Son in that they all get resurrected on the THIRD DAY.

Jonah 2:1-10: “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou BROUGHT UP MY LIFE FROM CORRUPTION, O LORD my God. When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

The whole chapter deals with Jonah in the whale’s belly, which Jesus said is a type of His death, burial and resurrection: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Mat. 12:40) The similarities are the three days and nights, the mention of “hell” (see Psalm 16:9-10), the “waves” passing over Jonah picturing Christ’s baptism in God’s wrath (Mat. 20:22-23), the weeds around Jonah’s head like Christ’s crown of thorns, and Jonah being BROUGHT UP “from corruption” like Jesus (Psa. 16:9-10).

So, the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is not some new thing that had never been mentioned before Jesus preached. It screamed from the pages of scripture throughout the Old Testament, yet men were blinded by Satan, just as they are today, and no one saw it coming. Well, there’s another third day resurrection just around the corner. Let’s not make the same mistake twice. Let’s be ready for this one.

- James L Melton (Preached April 21, 2019, Bible Baptist Church, Sharon, TN)

The Devil's Domain (video sermon)

Believer's Heritage- George Foreman

 George Edward Foreman was born on January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas. He grew up in the Fifth Ward of Houston with six siblings. His step-father, whose last name he bore, drank heavily, and argued violently with his mother. He dropped out of school around 15 and started mugging people and brawling in the streets of Houston. 

At 16, however, he received his GED through the Job Corp, a program developed to help disadvantaged kids by teaching them vocational job skills, and learned carpentry and bricklaying.

He moved to Pleasanton, California and was interested in football, However, he took up boxing and competed between 1967 and 1997, with a small break in the late 70's to early 80's, winning two world heavy-weight champion titles and an Olympic gold medal. 

"There was a big element of patriotism in what I did; being in the Olympics, you couldn't help but love your country more than before," Foreman said in his autobiography By George. "But I meant it in a way that was much bigger than ordinary patriotism. It was about identity. An American - that's who I was. I was waving the flag as much for myself as for the country. I was letting everyone know who I was and at the same time saying that I was proud to be an American."

At 25, George found out that his biological father was Leroy Moorehead. His mother told him that she had received a letter from him asking to meet George. Leroy was a World War II war veteran. George got to meet him in his church, though he died a few years later. At the funeral, Moorehead’s service pistol and a flag were presented to George. George said that he would never forget looking into an open casket and thinking, “Man, that is my father . . . or could have been.”

During this time, George had four marriages that ended in divorce. In 1985, he married Mary Joan Martelly, who was his wife until his death. He had 12 children, including five sons, all of whom he named George.

His first retirement came when he suffered heat stroke after a fight. He spoke of being in a hellish, frightening place of nothingness and despair, and felt that he was in the midst of death. Wanting to survive, he prayerfully offered "to devote his boxing prize money to charity" when he heard a voice saying "I don't want your money...I want you." He began to plead with God to help him.

George said that he awoke to find himself on a locker room table, surrounded by friends and staff members. He said he felt as if he were physically filled with the presence of a dying Christ. He felt his forehead bleed, punctured by a crown of thorns; his wrists, he believed, had been pierced by nails of the cross. "I knew that Jesus Christ was coming alive in me," Foreman said. "I ran into the shower and turned on the water and — hallelujah! — I was born again. I kissed everybody in the dressing room and told them I loved them. That happened in March 1977, and I never have been the same again."

 In an interview, George stated, "I wasn't interested in any religion. But from that point on, I started reciting the Bible, talking from the pit of my stomach, in that dressing room. I was talking about how Jesus was God's son and that he was alive.  So when I came out of that, I asked a friend to go get me a Bible.  And he said, "What kind?"  And I said, "I don't know. One like your mother has." So, he went out and bought me a King James version of the Bible. And that's how I got into religion."

"When I started going to church, there were so many preachers there. They'd let me tell my testimony, but I didn't get a chance to preach much. One kid said to me, "George, I know how you can preach. Let's go on the street corners."  I began traveling from one street corner to another, three-fourths through Louisiana, Tyler, Texas, all around Houston."

"One time, I picked a certain corner, just by coincidence. And I preached, it wasn't too far from where my father, J.D. Foreman lived, who had always been an alcoholic.  I didn't know that he was hiding in the way, listening to everything I said, and watching me carry on."

"The next week he was in church. And he said to my mother, "You know, something's happened to that boy. I got to find out what it is." He never took another drink. We would go to church as brothers--he called me the preacher, and he was Brother Foreman—until the day he died."

Following this, HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant commented that "There was a transformation from a young, hard character who felt a heavyweight champion should carry himself with menace to a very affectionate personality."

George got saved, retired from boxing, and became an evangelist in 1978. He began preaching on the streets of Houston, and eventually became the minister of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which he founded and built. George said, "I'm always studying the Bible. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don't know." 

George came out of retirement in 1987 to raise money for a youth center he founded in 1984- The George Foreman Youth and Community Center, a non-denominational place for kids who need direction like he once did. In 1994, he became the oldest ever heavyweight champion at age 45.  In 1997, he retired from boxing again, with a final record of 76 wins, 68 of which were knockouts.

When George came back from retirement, he reasoned that his success in the ring was due to his healthy eating habits. He was approached by Salton, Inc. in the 1990's to be a spokesperson for its fat-reducing grill, which became a sensation thanks to his memorable catchphrase, the "Lean Mean Grilling Machine".

George Foreman died at a hospital in Houston, Texas, on March 21, 2025, at age 76. His life had changed from making the most of himself, to serving his Savior as best he could. "It doesn't matter what you achieve, what you accomplish in this life...The most important thing is to keep your eye on the true prize, and that's serving God."

The Disappearing Missionaries (poem)

 Ten eager missionaries laid their lives on the line;
One stopped to count the cost, and then there were nine.
Nine potential missionaries, concerned about the world's fate;
One said he was too old, then there were eight.
Eight studying missionaries, learned to preach of Heaven;
One decided he'd rather farm, and then there were seven.
Seven sincere missionaries, headed for "the sticks";
One couldn't get support, and then there were six.
Six anxious missionaries, eager to arrive;
One tired of waiting for visas, and then there were five.
Five idealist missionaries, landed on foreign shore;
One suffered "missionary shock," and then there were four.
Four earnest missionaries, busy as could be;
One didn't keep his marriage together, and then there were three.
Three weary missionaries, trying not to be blue;
One didn't return after furlough, and then there were two.
Two seasoned missionaries, praised God for what He's done;
One was called to Glory, and then there was one.
One aged missionary, doing what he can do;
But the job is still so big; who will go help him-will you? 

Author unknown

What Sins Are You Talking About? (song)

Questions Asked At The Judgment

 Job is an interesting character to read about. He is more like the Christian than most other people mentioned in the Old Testament. 

Job lives shortly after the flood. He is a man that is trying to do the right thing. God Himself says that Satan has moved the Lord God Almighty to persecute Job without a cause. But, in the end we see that God did have a reason and because Job passed the test he was rewarded.

While Job is in the midst of his trial, some friends come to visit him and they have a rather deep conversation. During this conversation Job asks them these questions:

Job 26:2-4-How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

These questions are good ones to ask ourselves, because they could be the same ones that we will face at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 

I Corinthians 3:13- Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Remember, our works will be judged when we stand before Christ. Our salvation is settled. But our reward during the Millennium will be based on how we chose to live our life.

Job asks these questions to his friends.

1. Did you help those who couldn't help themselves?

2. Did you save those who had no strength?

3. How did you counsel those who came to you?

4. Have you declared the truth?

5. What spirit are you walking through life with?

These are good questions to ponder as we think back over our day. There are others out there that depend on us, and we can be a blessing or a stumbling block to them.

Did you help those who couldn't help themselves?

Philippians 2:1-4- If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

There are others out there who have needs. Sometimes God miraculously fulfills these needs, and other times He uses willing Christians to fulfill these needs.

Romans 12:10-13- Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Our lives should reflect Christ's willingness to help others. 

Did you save those who had no strength?

Romans 15:1- We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

We aren't necessarily talking about saving a person's life. But we are coming in during their time of weakness and lending them our strength until they can find their own.

I Thessalonians 5:14-15- Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

Each and every one of us has times when we are strong and can help those around us, and there are also times when we are weak and need the prayers, graces, comfort, or understanding of others.

How did you counsel those who came to you?

Ephesians 4:21-25,29- If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

When someone comes to you with a problem or a concern, do you answer them according to your own fleshly knowledge and desires, or do you respond according to the Word of God? As Christians, we should always have Scripture to back up how we advise people.

Philippians 1:9-11- And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

If we are consistently reading our Bibles and praying for God's guidance, there should be no reason that we cannot answer those who come to us with a Word fitly spoken from the Scriptures.

Have you declared the truth?

I John 1:3- That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Our mission as a born again child of God is to tell others the good news of the Gospel- that Christ died to pay the price for the redemption of their souls. This is the main truth that we are called to declare.

II Timothy 4:1-2- I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

What Spirit are you walking through life with?

Galatians 5:16- This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Generally, you are either walking in the Spirit or you are walking in the flesh. That means that you are following the guidance of the Holy Ghost or you are living according to the emotions and desires of the flesh.

We are to emulate Christ's actions because we are representatives of His. We cannot react like Christ if we aren't submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in each area of our lives, and the only way to know how He wants us to act is by reading the Bible.

II Timothy 1:13-14-Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

When our lives have ended and we stand before Christ to give account of how we spent them, will our service come forth as gold or will there be a pile of ashes remaining?