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Yahushua was raised from the dead. All Christians can agree with this statement. But a disagreement quickly ensues when you ask, “Who raised Yahushua from the dead?” Some confidently declare that Yahushua raised himself from the dead and offer it as proof that he is Yahuwah. Others contend that Yahuwah the Father raised Yahushua from the dead, while others insist it was the Trinity. But what does Scripture say? Let’s examine the evidence to determine who raised Yahushua from the dead and learn why it matters that we get this right.
The New Testament speaks of Yahushua’ resurrection from the dead more than fifty times. Of the thirty passages where attribution is given, Yahuwah is credited with performing the miracle an overwhelming twenty-eight times.
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To be sure, the resurrection of Yahushua is central to the gospel message. The New Testament speaks of Yahushua’ resurrection from the dead more than fifty times. Of the thirty passages where attribution is given, Yahuwah is credited with performing the miracle an overwhelming twenty-eight times. We’ll talk about the remaining two passages in a moment. But for now, here is a sampling of passages from the book of Acts:
Acts 2:32 (NASB) “This Yahushua Yahuwah raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. (emphasis added)
Acts 3:26 (NASB) “For you first, Yahuwah raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” (emphasis added)
Acts 4:10 (NASB) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yahushua Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom Yahuwah raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. (emphasis added)
Acts 17:30b-31 (NASB) …Yahuwah is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (emphasis added)
Clearly, someone called “God” [Yahuwah] raised Yahushua from the dead. But who is this God? Scripture specifically identifies the one who raised Yahushua from the dead as Yahuwah the Father:
Galatians 1:1 (NASB) Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Yahushua Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead) (emphasis added)
Ephesians 1:17 and 20 (NASB) that the God of our Lord Yahushua Christ, the Father of glory…which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (emphasis added)
1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10 (NASB) …how you turned to Yahuwah from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Yahushua, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (emphasis added)
It was Yahuwah the Father who raised Yahushua from the dead.
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Thus, it was Yahuwah the Father who raised Yahushua from the dead. New Testament scholar and historian, Larry Hurtado, examined the New Testament evidence and offers this observation:
So, Jesus’ resurrection is presented, not as Jesus’ act, but God’s… Actually, a survey of all the NT references to Jesus’ resurrection will confirm this pattern, in which it is posited as the crucial act of God, not the act of Jesus [Yahushua].3 (emphasis added)
Hurtado decisively rules out Yahushua as the author of his own resurrection. After all, the Bible says the dead do not know or perceive anything, nor is there any activity, planning, knowledge or wisdom in the grave.4 In other words, the dead can do nothing. What then is the source of confusion among Christians that causes some to think that Yahushua raised himself from the dead? We’ll look at three reasons for the confusion.
Why do some Christians believe Yahushua raised himself from the dead?
First, Yahushua raised three people from the dead during his earthly ministry: the widow of Nain’s son, Jairus’ daughter and his friend, Lazarus.5 Some theorize that if he raised others from the dead, he must have roused himself from the grave as well. They speculate further by reasoning that this feat “proves” he is Yahuwah. What they fail to take into account, however, is that Scripture testifies that the signs, wonders and miracles Yahushua performed were actually the result of the Father working through him and not a result of any innate power.6 Hurtado pointedly summarizes his thoughts on the matter:
To portray Yahushua’ resurrection as his own act demonstrating his inherent divinity is a gross misunderstanding of what the NT texts assert.”7
The second reason some are confused about who raised Yahushua from the dead stems from a passage in John’s gospel that is interpreted to mean Yahushua was the power behind his own resurrection. It’s one of the two times Scripture appears to say as much. In chapter 2 Yahushua has just driven the money changers out of the temple with a scourge of cords because they turned the temple into a “place of business”:
John 2:18-22 (NASB) The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” 19 Yahushua answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Yahushua had spoken. (emphasis added)
If Yahushua had raised himself from the dead, John could have easily and plainly said so. Instead, he used the passive voice: he was raised from the dead.
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In verses 19 and 22, the verbs “raise” and “raised” are from the root word egeiró which means to awaken, to raise up.8 In verse 19 Yahushua says he will “raise up” the temple, referring to his body. But in verse 22–a statement made after Yahushua’ resurrection–John uses the passive voice when he says that Yahushua was “raised from the dead.” Use of the passive voice here implies that the action was done to Yahushua. In other words, Yahushua was “acted upon” by an outside force or power.9 If Yahushua had raised himself from the dead, John could have easily and plainly said so. Instead, he used the passive voice: he was raised from the dead.10
No other Biblical author even comes close to saying Yahushua raised himself from the grave. So why the apparent contradiction between Yahushua’ statement that in “three days I will raise it up” and the preponderance of the evidence which says Yahuwah did it? A moving passage from the book of Hebrews provides us with some insight.
Hebrews 5:7 (NASB) In the days of His flesh, He [Yahushua] offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. (emphasis added)
With loud crying and tears, Yahushua prayed to the One able to save him from death.
The suffering and agony Yahushua endured is powerfully depicted in this passage. With loud crying and tears, Yahushua prayed to Yahuwah because He was the One who was able to save him from death. This clearly indicates that Yahushua was not relying on some innate divine power to raise himself from the dead. Such an ability would make his gut wrenching petition pointless. Rather, Yahushua was trusting Yahuwah to keep His promise to not allow his body to undergo decay.11 This is why Yahushua cried out with his last breath, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”12 (emphasis added)
Furthermore, Hebrews 5:7 says that Yahushua’ highly emotive pleadings were heard because of his piety, that is, his reverence or fear of Yahuwah.13 The word “heard” in the Greek is eisakouó. Whenever it is used in Scripture in conjunction with prayer it always indicates that the prayer was answered by Yahuwah. The person offering the prayer received that for which they had prayed.14 Thus, it was Yahuwah the Father who heard Yahushua’ passionate, desperate pleas and raised him from the dead. Similarly, in John 11:41-44 Yahushua prayed to the Father before he called forth Lazarus from the grave. It was Yahuwah’s power who brought Yahushua’ friend back to life,15 but it was initiated by Yahushua’ intercession. It is possible that this is what Yahushua meant in John 2:19 when he said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” His prayers to the “One who was able to save him from death” would in some sense be the catalyst for his resurrection as they had been for Lazarus’.16
"Then Yahushua, calling out with a loud voice, said, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!' And having said this he breathed his last." (Luke 23:46)
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The third reason some wrongly believe Yahushua raised himself from the dead is found in John chapter 10:
John 10:17-18 (NASB) “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take [lambanô] it again. 18 “No one has taken [airô] it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority [exousia] to lay it down, and I have authority [exousia] to take [lambanô] it up again. This commandment I received [lambanô] from My Father.” (emphasis added)
This is the only other verse that at first glance seems to say Yahushua’ raised himself from the dead. However, if one insists that to “take up your life” means Yahushua raised himself from the dead, then in like manner the phrase “I lay down my life” means his death occurred by his own hand. Obviously, we know this is not the case. What then is being communicated here?
To help us better understand this passage it will help to look at some of the words in Greek. “Take” appears three times in this passage. The first and third time it’s used the word in Greek is lambanô which means to take, to receive. In fact, lambanô is translated as “receive” in verse 18 where Yahushua says, “this commandment I received from My Father.” Next, the word “authority” used twice in verse 18 is the Greek word exousia which means power, authority and right. For example, exousia is translated as “right” in the following passage:
John 1:12 (NASB) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right [exousia] to become children of Yahuwah, even to those who believe in His name17 (emphasis added)
With these Greek definitions in mind, let’s read R.F. Weymouth’s translation:
John 10:17-18 “For this reason my Father loves me because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again. No one is taking it away from me, but I myself am laying it down. I am authorized to lay it down, and I am authorized to receive it back again. This command I received from my Father.”18
In addition, Troy Salinger offers this translation:
John 10:17-18 “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, in order that I might receive it back again. No one takes it from me by force, but I lay it down of myself. I have the privilege to lay it down and the privilege to receive it again. This command I received from my Father.”19
Yahuwah gave Yahushua the authority to lay down his life for the sins of the world with the understanding that in doing so, he would receive his life back from Yahuwah.
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Yahuwah gave Yahushua the authority to lay down his life for the sins of the world with the understanding that in doing so, he would receive his life back from Yahuwah. To translate John 10:17-18 in this way removes the conflict created when it’s interpreted to mean that Yahushua raised himself from the dead, something which is in stark contradiction to the rest of Scripture.
Why it’s important that Yahuwah raised Yahushua from the dead.
It’s important for us to know that Yahuwah raised Yahushua from the dead because it gives us hope that the Father will, in like manner, raise us up as well.
1 Peter 1:3 (NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yahushua Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yahushua Christ from the dead (emphasis added)
In one of the best known passages on the resurrection of believers, the apostle Paul writes that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”20 Hurtado points to this truth as well when we writes:
In short, in NT texts, the resurrected Jesus is the literal embodiment, the initial instance, of what the consummation of redemption is to be for believers. So, it was pretty essential that it was as a human that Jesus was raised by God.”21 (emphasis added)
Moreover, it is this truth that Paul uses to encourage himself and others in the face of great trials and persecution:
2 Corinthians 4:14 (NASB) knowing that He who raised the Lord Yahushua will raise us also with Yahushua and will present us with you. (emphasis added)
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahushua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Yahushua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)
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Furthermore, Paul encouraged believers in Rome in the same way:
Romans 6:4 (NASB) 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (emphasis added)
Romans 8:11 (NASB) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Yahushua from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Yahushua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.22 (emphasis added)
This is our hope! That Yahuwah, who raised Yahushua from the dead, will also give life to our mortal bodies.
1 Corinthians 6:14 (NASB) Now Yahuwah has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. (emphasis added)
If Yahushua raised himself from the dead it misses the mark and robs us of true hope. We cannot raise ourselves from the dead, but must, like our brother23 Yahushua, truly trust that Yahuwah will not abandon us to the grave. It is this belief that forms a part of our confession unto salvation:
Romans 10:9 (NASB) that if you confess with your mouth Yahushua as Lord, and believe in your heart that Yahuwah raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (emphasis added)
As Christians, we believe that the God and Father of our Lord Yahushua will keep His promise to us, just as He did to him.
1 John 8:54.
2 John 6:57.
3 Larry Hurtado, “Yahushua’ Resurrection: Act of God,” Larry Hurtado’s Blog, March 23, 2018; accessed June 16, 2019, https://larryhurtado.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/Yahushua-resurrection-act-of-god/
4 Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 ; Job 14:21.
5Widow of Nain’s son: Luke 7:11-17; Jairus’ daughter: Luke 8:49-56; Lazarus: John 11:1-44. The people did not declare Yahushua to be God, but rather a great prophet; the Christ (Messiah)
6 Acts 2:22; 10:38; John 3:2; 5:30; 14:10.
7 Hurtado, Ibid.
8 egeiró, #1453 Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance
9 “The passive voice conveys the idea that the subject is being acted upon by an outside force or power.” Precept Austin, accessed 6-18-19, https://www.preceptaustin.org/greek_quick_reference_guide#1
1 John used the passive voice again in John 21:14.
11 Do not allow your holy one to undergo decay. Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27; 13:35, 37.
12 Luke 23:46.
13 piety in Greek is eulabeia and it means: piety, reverence, fear of God. #2124 Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
14 #1522 Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance; See Luke 1:13 and Acts 10:31 where their prayers were heard and answered.
15 John 14:10; Acts 2:22; 10:38, etc.
16 Troy Salinger offers two other plausible solutions to the apparent contradiction posed by John 2:19-22. See: “An Easter Myth,” Let The Truth Come Out Blog, February 6, 2018, accessed June 18, 2019.
17 See also: 1 Corinthians 9:4-6 NASB.
18 R. F. Weymouth, The New Testament in Modern Speech, (London: James Clark and Company, 1908), p 237.
19 Troy Salinger, “An Easter Myth,” Let The Truth Come Out Blog, February 6, 2018, accessed June 18, 2019.
20 1 Corinthians 15:20.
21 Hurtado, Ibid.
22 Some may say this verse proves the third member of a triune God played a role in Yahushua’ resurrection. But notice that Paul’s reference is not to a third member of a triune God, but the “Spirit of Him who raised Yahushua from the dead,” that is, the Spirit of God the Father. (Gal. 1:1) See also where the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of your Father” in these parallel passages: Mark 13:11 and Matthew 10:19.
23 Hebrews 2:11, 17.
This is a non-WLC article. Source: https://onegodworship.com/who-raised-Jesus-from-the-dead/
We have taken out from the original article all pagan names and titles of the Father and Son, and have replaced them with the original given names. Furthermore, we have restored in the Scriptures quoted the names of the Father and Son, as they were originally written by the inspired authors of the Bible. -WLC Team
