Reading Time: 7 minutes

Looking at the historical points

1. Historical situation

Jesus’ predictions about his resurrection are denied usually because people don’t think his resurrection is a historical event. However if his resurrection is a historical event, these rejections of Jesus making predictions are ineffective.

2. Embarrassing Details in prediction

When Jesus made the claim about himself rising from the dead, the disciples seemed clueless about what he was talking about or just didn’t believe him (Mark 8:31-33; 9:31-32;14:27-31; Luke 24:13-24). Even when the empty tomb was discovered, they initially concluded the body must have been stolen. (John 20:2, 13-15). When the women reported what they had seen (Jesus risen), the disciples didn’t believe them (Luke 24:10-12). Upon seeing the empty tomb the disciples still were not sure what to think (John 20:9), Thomas simply refused to believe all together (John 20:24-25). It seems very unlikely that people of this reputation would deliberately paint tales of themselves in such a bad light. This is referred to the historical ‘principle of embarrassment’.

Embarrassing details in scripture

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 

• Mark 8:31-33 (NIV) 

31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 

• Mark 9:31-32 (NIV) 

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. 

• Mark 14:27-31 (NIV) 

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 

• Luke 24:13-24 (NIV) 

2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 

• John 20:2 (NIV) 

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 

• John 20:13-15 (NIV) 

10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. 

• Luke 24:10-12 (NIV) 

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

• John 20:24-25 (NIV)

3. Son of Man acclimation

Jesus used the son of man title in reference to his resurrection predictions (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34) which weighs in favour of authenticity. There are multiple sources claiming he used this title (80 times). This is argued in the gospels where Jesus asks who do you say that I am and Peter responds. (Matthew 16:13-20) The Jews did not think of the Son of Man as a suffering servant (Daniel 7:13-14). So the principle of dissimilarity points to authenticity here, the Jews did not expect a suffering servant, instead a conquering military king like David.

Son of Man references in scripture

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

• Mark 8:31 (NIV) 

31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”

• Mark 9:31 (NIV) 

33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

• Mark 10:33-34 (NIV)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

• Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV)

4. Jesus’ predictions concerning his resurrection are multiply attested:

Some verse examples: Matthew 12:38-40; 16:1-4,21; 17:23; 20:19; Mark 8:31-32; 9:31; 10:33; 14:58; Luke 9:22; 11:29-30; John 2:18-21

References to predicted resurrection in scripture

38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

• Matthew 12:38-40 (NIV) 

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. 

• Matthew 16:1-4 (NIV) 

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 

• Matthew 16:21 (NIV) 

23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. 

• Matthew 17:23 (NIV) 

19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” 

• Matthew 20:19 (NIV) 

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 

• Mark 8:31-32 (NIV) 

31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 

• Mark 9:31 (NIV) 

33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 

• Mark 10:33 (NIV) 

58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 

• Mark 14:58 (NIV) 

22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” 

• Luke 9:22 (NIV) 

29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 

• Luke 11:29-30 (NIV) 

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 

• John 2:18-21 (NIV)