Did Jesus actually think he was God? (Level 3 discussion) - Part 3: Jesus' personal understanding of his bodily resurrection

Before reading below, I recommend you read Part 1: The self-references of Jesus and Part 2: The teaching and behavior of Jesus.

Continuing with the evidence that Jesus did, in fact, believe himself to be God, I now turn to Jesus' personal understanding of his bodily resurrection. In multiple places, he reveals a clear expectation of his resurrection.  Immediately following Peter’s confession, Jesus states, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised on the third day” (Luke 9:22; italics mine).  This proclamation is also recorded in Matthew 16:21 and Mark 8:31.  In another place, Jesus explicitly prophesies, “For He [the Son of Man] will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again” (Luke 18:32-33).  Jesus also implies his death and resurrection when he states, “In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me” (John 16:16).  He further implies his death and resurrection in his mentioning of the prophet Jonah: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:40).  Finally, Jesus states, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:19-21).  Without question, Jesus had a personal expectation of his own resurrection.

A further point concerning Jesus’ divine self-understanding is in regards to Who raised Jesus from the dead.  Paul teaches in Romans 10:9, “If you…believe in your heart that God raised him [Jesus] from the dead…” (italics mine).  However, in addition to John 2:19 already mentioned, Jesus states, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18).  Jesus is clearly teaching that he will raise himself.  Finally, you also have Paul teaching the role of the Holy Spirit in the resurrection: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead…” (Rom. 8:11).  Furthermore, Peter likewise states, “For Christ also died for sins…having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit” (1 Pet. 3:18, italics mine).  The obvious question must be asked, Who raised Jesus from the dead?  God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit?  A close examination of Scripture reveals that the answer is…YES.

The fact that Jesus claims a direct role in his resurrection expresses an even stronger divine self-understanding, because it illustrates, from his perspective, that he is God.