As the British Biblical theologian Alan Richardson has said, Jesus' mission apparently ended in total failure and disaster. However, when these discouraged followers began to be convinced that Jesus was risen, their faith suddenly revived. They came together again and henceforth celebrated Jesus' death as an occasion of joy and thanksgiving. 92 Historically, the first Christians' experience of the risen Jesus reasonably explains their radical change of mood from despair to radiant hope. Theologically, the resurrection is important as a testimony to the bipolar nature of man.
Every person consists of mortal flesh and immortal soul.
The enemies of Jesus could not destroy his spirit by condemning him as a blasphemer and heretic. Nor were the resurrection appearances simply invented by the early church to delude a credulous people into accepting a new faith. Jesus was truly victorious over death. Furthermore, providentially the resurrection was most necessary. Since Jesus' mission was God's way to carry out His original ideal of creation, He had to overcome the awful setback to His plan caused by the rejection of His son.