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Jesus Barabbas or Jesus the Messiah?
One detail of the Easter story that is sometimes missing is the contrast and comparison of the two men named Jesus. Yes, you read that right! At the end of Jesus’s trial, Pilate selects two men named Jesus as candidates for selection by the Jewish crowd. Jesus the Messiah and Jesus Barabbas are put forward side by side. The dilemma is obvious. To which Jesus will the nation of Israel affirm their loyalty? Jesus Barabbas in Matthew 27:16-17 Many people are not familiar with the idea that Barabbas is most likely a surname, while his given name was Jesus. A brief survey of the English translations shows why many people have not heard of Barabbas as Jesus Barabbas. ESV “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” NASB “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called…
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Full List of Resurrections in the Bible
I have previously discussed how many future resurrections there are in the Bible, focusing specifically on the theology behind resurrection. However, I also thought it would be helpful to list all of the resurrections that are mentioned in Scripture for reference. Resurrection of the widow’s son in Zarephath (1 Kgs 17:17–22) Resurrection of the Shunammite’s son (2 Kgs 4:18–37) Resurrection of the man thrown into Elisha’s grave (2 Kgs 13:20) Resurrection of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41) Resurrection of the young man at Nain (Luke 7:14) Resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:38–44) Resurrection of unknown saints during the crucifixion (Matt 27:52–53) Resurrection of Christ (Matt 28:1-6) Resurrection of Tabitha/Dorcas (Acts 9:36–42) Resurrection of Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12) Resurrection of the Church (i.e., Rapture, 1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15:23) Resurrection of the Two Witnesses (Rev 11:7–11) Resurrection of OT Saints and Martyrs (Revelation 20:4) Resurrection of the Wicked (Revelation 20:5) Given the helpful…
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How Many Resurrections are there in Scripture?
Easter weekend is upon us, and so we celebrate the most important part of Christianity–the fact that Jesus is alive! This is the essence of our hope as believers. Because of Christ’s resurrection we have hope of our own resurrection. I saw an online discussion recently about how many resurrections there are in Scripture, and a question was asked about when OT believers are resurrected. I think it is a worthwhile discussion to have, and I think we can accurately observe four resurrections in Scripture. (This is of course assuming that the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11 and the saints in Matthew 27 are temporary and they die again). But, if you are interested, I have tried to compile a complete list of all the resurrections in the Bible. The Foundation for ALL Resurrection: Christ In 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul calls Christ the “first fruits” of those who have…
