Happy Resurrection Sunday - Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Today's question is "Why do you believe He is risen?"

Pastor starts today's class with a personal testimony in which the Bible changed the direction of his life at the age of 15.

Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:14 "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."

Pastor shares the Evidence Trail of Jesus' Resurrection on the bases of writings from believers, unbelievers, recorded data, and old and new studies.

The Evidence Trail will encourage believers and will challenge those who are skeptics.

1. Resurrection was a scandalous message in the ancient world.

a. The CROSS was foolishness (1 Cor 1:18,23) Sources beyond the Bible record Christ's crucifixion - this was a scandalous way to die. If it was made up they would have chosen a more honorable way to die for Jesus.

b. The CROSS as stumbling block (1 Cor 1:23) yet many gave their lives for faith in Christ

c. The RESURRECTION story was nonsense (Lk 23:11) yet they proclaimed the truth of His resurrection

Painful Honesty

a. All 4 gospels declare that women were the first eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection. We nowadays have no problem with this. But in the ancient Middle East and the ancient mediterranean world, people of that time were skeptical about anything told by woman. Example - Women could not testify in court trials. In that day women were considered untrustworthy. Yet the writers of the Bible honestly reported the truth saying that women were first irregardless of perceived credibility. (Mt 28:1ff; Mk 16:18, Lk 24:1ff; Jn 20:1ff)

b. Gospel "heroes" were flawed (Mt 26:60ff; Lk 22:54ff; Jn 7:5; Jn20:25ff) The writers of the New Testament told of their flaws and failures and did not hide the truth of their actions. They didn't "clean up" the stories, instead they boldly told the truth in painful honesty.

Strategic Locale

a, Jerusalem as the center of Judaism

b. Unsilent witnesses of the empty tomb - even the enemies of Jesus admitted the tomb of Jesus was empty.

Multiple Witnesses

a. Jesus' chosen Apostles - boldly shared the story of Jesus' resurrection

b. Significant doubters - Jesus' brother James, for example, did not believe Jesus was who He said He was, but after the resurrection James did believe and was later martyred for His faith in Jesus. (1 Cor 15:7-10)

c. 500 eyewitnesses (1 Cor 15:6)

d. Vocal opponents against Jesus freely conceded that Jesus did amazing things, was crucified by Pontius Pilote, that many believed He rose from the grave, and that the message was spread throughout the ancient world.

Sacrificial lives

a. Being a believer in that day was not the popular thing, as many of those ancient early believers suffered heinous deaths and yet, were unwilling to change their minds and recant and willingly died for their faith in Jesus. They died for what they knew as truth (as one would not die for a lie.)

Early documentation

a. Unparalleled Gospel accounts - many copies discovered - from across the ancient world

b. Early New Testament sources - the evidence shows believers and unbelievers agreeing that copies were written during the lifetimes of eye witnesses.

c. Non-Christian writings (Tacitus, Suetonius, et al) Roman officials concede the fundamentals of the Christian faith. People did believe Jesus was raised from the grave.

d. Jewish rabbinic sources (Sanhedrin 43a)

Shocking Conclusion

a. Those living in the year of Jesus' death and into the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60's of the first century, boldly proclaimed Jesus' death, deity and resurrection.

b. The New Testament authors and the early believers, both testified to the Old Testament pointing to Jesus and that He fulfilled what was foretold about a Savior.

c. Clear declaration in the New Testament that Jesus is none other than the Living God come to earth.

The Evidence Trail gives us strong, rational, historical, biblical, and literal evidence for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Let us give thanks for the evidence and be prepared to share it!

If you are not a believer, check out this evidence and we encourage you to pick up a Bible.

Christ is risen, He is risen, indeed!

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Questions - Week 21: Why Do You Believe He Is Risen?