How is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, different than all the former dead saints?
There is no indication that any other resurrection was to anymore than a physical resurrection - they would all die again. Only at Christ's return are the saints given eternal life as Jesus now has.
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven John 3:13
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. 1 Pet 3:18
Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 1 Cor 15:23
Jesus was the first to be raised to new spirit life - the firstfruit of firstfruits.
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Rom 6:9
He was raised by his God and Father as plannedplanned^ - certainly, like us, he could not raise himself. While death could not legally hold him, we have no verse saying that he "raised himself", but a couple like John 10:17 that express the nature of Jesus' willingness to lay his life down for all humanity and his authority in the Father to live again. But only if he managed to remain sinless until his last breath on the cross. He accomplished this by the Father dwelling in him in spirit.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead Col 1:18
Meaning that Jesus is the fore-runner Heb 6:20 of all mankind. The first to be changed from physical to spirit life. That's what so special about Jesus' new life!
^as approx. 30 verses testify. If Jesus were to raise himself, this would be a contradiction with every other verse on this matter. We know that while he was dead, he could not possibly raise himself anyway.