Who was the first person to be resurrected?
Christ was the first to be resurrected. Resurrection means rising from the dead into eternal life, never to die again, unlike Lazarus and the widow’s son, who were merely brought back to life and later died again. This distinction is crucial.
Les explains that the very core of the Gospel is that Christ was raised from the dead and resurrected. He defines resurrection carefully, noting that even ministers sometimes misuse the term. He contrasts resurrection with being brought back to life: the widow’s son under Elijah and Lazarus were raised from the dead but were not resurrected; they were merely brought back to life and later died again. Resurrection, however, speaks of that which only Christ began—He arose from the dead into the eternal, never to die again. Les emphasizes that when we experience resurrection, it will be final; we will not again have to die and be brought back to life. So resurrection only began when Christ arose from the dead, and He was the first to be resurrected. Les warns against saying Lazarus was resurrected, because he was brought back to life but died again later.