Lazarus and many others were raised to life but this does not imply that they will never die again. Jesus, however, who is still alive today and will never die because he did not have a beginning as he always was. This is clear from John 1:1 which says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. There are other differences such as when Lazarus came back to life he was unable to free himself as his feet and hands were tied together. Jesus’ body was also wrapped the same way but he did not need to be freed. When the women arrived at the tomb they found his body gone and his linen clothes were lying in the sepulchre.
It is unclear how Jesus rose from the dead but we now when it must have occurred. The women came down to the tomb early in the morning when it was beginning to dawn and found Jesus was not in the tomb. This means that some time during the night he must have risen.
What body Jesus rose in is clearer. There are some Christians who say that the resurrection was only in spiritual form and not in a physical body. They quote 1 Peter 3:18 which says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit”. With this last phrase it appears that Christ arose in the Spirit but Jesus rose again in the same body as he died in. This can be proved by the fact that when he appeared to the disciples and later to Thomas he told them to touch him and feel his hand and his side. The print of the nails would still have been on his hands. More evidence is that Jesus even ate with the disciples to prove to them he was alive. It seems strange, though, that Jesus told Mary to “Touch me not” but this could be translated as “Stop clinging to me” as later on he tells Thomas to touch and feel him.
After his resurrection Jesus said he had ‘flesh’ and ‘bones’ but he does not mention his blood. This is because the only way to deal with sin was by a sacrifice. Jesus’ blood was used to pay for our sins. Therefore it was important that Jesus rose again to show his followers that he was truly alive. We know Jesus did have a body and it is interesting that when God created our body he saw it was good so he then used it in the resurrection.
Even though Jesus’ body was the same as the one he died in Jesus was also able to appear in different places and cause the two disciples on the way to Emmaus to not recognise him. This was, however, a characteristic Jesus had even before the resurrection.
The term “resurrection” also includes the rising again of the dead at the Last Judgment. In the future there will be a resurrection from the dead of both good and bad people, however, there will be two different judgments. When the resurrection of the saints occurs they will rise and receive their changed bodies. At that time our bodies will "be fashioned like unto his glorious body". There will also be some who would not have died when Christ returns. Those people will have their bodies changed “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump”.
Jesus’ resurrection accomplished five points: Jesus now had a physical renewing of his life; he had a reunion of his body and his spirit; now that Christ had risen from the dead he had conquered death so it no longer had any power; he gained a new position on the right hand of God; finally Jesus received a transfigured body.
Collins English Dictionary – under ‘resurrection’ and ‘Resurrection’
John 11:43 The King James Version of the Bible
The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Works – under resurrection and raised
http://misslink.org/cover/basics45:html
John 1:1 The King James Version of the Bible
The King James Study Bible – John 19:40
http://ww.dreamwater.com/spotlight/jwjesusres.htm
King James Study Bible – John 20:17
Mrs Russell – R.S. teacher
http://exit3.i-55.com/~alrogers/resurrec.html
King James Study Bible – Matthew 28:6