Resurrection and Fulfillment: The Meaning of Easter

Jesus repeatedly insisted to His disciples that His resurrection was a matter of scriptural fulfillment. And yet, the Old Testament nowhere explicitly spoke of Messiah's resurrection from the dead. While life out of death was a key theme in God's revelation of His coming redemption, and the notion of resurrection was at least hinted at in Isaiah's account of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:10-12), Jesus indicated that His resurrection was widely revealed throughout the Law, Prophets and Writings (cf. Luke 18:31-33, 24:44-46). The solution to this apparent dilemma is the intimate biblical and historical connection between Christ's resurrection and His ascension and glorification/enthronement. Implied in His resurrection is His "entrance into His glory" (cf. Luke 24:44-46 with 24:25-26). The scriptures of the Old Testament don't directly address the subject of messianic resurrection, but they are preoccupied with the messianic kingdom. This kingdom is the kingdom of the new creation founded upon Messiah's triumph over death and the curse - the kingdom over which the Son of David rules as the Melchizedekian High-Priest (Psalm 110; Zechariah 6:9-15). And the reign of the King-Priest over this promised kingdom presupposes His ascension to God's right hand to rule as a priest upon His throne. This is the sense in which the Law, Prophets, and Writings all testified of Messiah's resurrection. Thus the meaning of the resurrection as scriptural fulfillment isn't simply a risen Savior; the meaning of the resurrection is an enthroned and reigning King-Priest. The meaning of Easter is the triumph and everlasting establishment of the kingdom of God.