One point that Dr. Bass made throughout the debate was that Jesus' resurrection was a unique event that the disciples did not expect. During the Q and A, one questioner asserted that Lazarus was also "resurrected" in an apparent attempt to argue that Jesus' resurrection wasn't all that unique after all. This is a mistake that I often hear skeptics make. But if our desire is to be precise, it is important for both believers and unbelievers to understand that Lazarus was not resurrected. As Dr. Bass pointed out in his reply, Lazarus will die again. In other words, he did not experience a resurrection as Jesus did, but a revivification. What is the difference? Dr. William Lane Craig explains:
"Resurrection is the raising up of a dead man in the space-time universe to glory and immorality...Revivification is the return of a dead man to the mortal life...John 11:1-44 describes the revivification of Lazarus by Jesus."1
When one is revivified, they will die again. However, when one is resurrected (Jesus being the first; 1 Cor. 15:20-23), they will receive a new, glorified body that will never perish.
And because of Jesus' resurrection, believers can look forward to His return and receiving their own immortal, resurrected body. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NLT):
"But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back."
Thanks be to God!
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
Footnote:
1. William Lane Craig, On Guard, Kindle.
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