EVIDENCES - THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. We continue our series on the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ.
1. In our last lesson we focused on the burial of Christ.
2. In this lesson, we focus on His resurrection.
3. The resurrection is proven mainly by the eye-witness
testimony of those who saw Jesus after He was raised.
a. Consider the apostle Peter's words to Cornelius and his
household. Acts 10:39-42
b. Paul shows that the basis of the gospel is the death,
burial, resurrection, and the appearances of Christ. 1
Cor. 15:1-5
B. Thus, though we haven't physically seen Christ after He was
raised, we believe the resurrection as a fact that occurred.
1. Consider what is said regarding Thomas and the verses
which follow. John 20:26-31
2. "The resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most
wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the
minds of man, or it is the most fantastic fact of history."
(From Evidence That Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell, p.
185)
I. WE CONTINUE WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST WEEK.
A. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried the body of Jesus.
B. Matthew shows that the evil Jews set a guard at the tomb. Matt.
27:62-66
1. It is odd that they remembered that Jesus had said, "After
three days I will rise."
2. His disciples did not remember it.
C. Jesus was raised on the first day of the week. Matt. 28:1-10
1. The women left the tomb to reveal to the disciples that
Jesus was raised.
2. Mary Magdalene finds Peter and John and tells them what
the angel had said, and then returns to the tomb. John 10:1-
11
a. John shows that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene
first. John 20:11-18
3. Jesus then appears to the other woman as they were going
from the tomb. John 20:11-18
D. As they were going, the guard returns and gives their report.
Matt. 28:11-15
1. Let us stop here and ask some questions.
a. We ask, "Is it likely that the body was actually stolen?"
(1) First of all, consider the weakness of their
testimony.
(a) They could not have known what had
happened to the body if they were asleep.
(b) They should have said, "We fell asleep; and
when we awoke, the body was gone."
b. Can we suppose that the soldiers were right, that the
disciples came at night and stole the body?
(1) The answer is "no" because the disciples were too
weak and cowardly at this time.
(a) Peter had already showed his weakness by
denying Jesus three times.
(b) All the disciples fled when Jesus was taken.
Matt. 26:56
(c) They were in the upper room with the doors
locked for fear of the Jews. John 20:19
(2) If anyone had stolen the body, they would not have
left the grave clothes in the tomb, but would have
simply carried the body away.
(3) It is highly unlikely that all the soldiers fell
asleep at the same time.
(a) We don't know how many soldiers were there.
It has been suggested anywhere from four to
fifty.
(4) Even if it was just four, it is unlikely that all
four fell asleep at once.
(5) Under Roman law they were duty bound, under the
penalty of death, to keep their watch.
c. If the disciples had stolen the body, they would not have
preached all over the world and suffered and died for
something they knew to be a lie.
2. Also, we ask, "Is it possible that the Jewish or Roman
authorities took the body of Jesus?"
a. This is not possible because:
(1) They set a guard so that the body would remain in
the grave.
(2) They would have produced the body later when the
resurrection was preached.
(a) This would have done more to stop the
preaching of Jesus than all their persecutions
of Christians.
II. LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE APPEARANCES OF JESUS.
A. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be
established," is a statement in both the old and new
testaments.
B. We ask, "Were there a fair number of witnesses of the
resurrection - two or more"?
1. That first day, Jesus appeared to the holy women, as we have
shown.
2. On that same day, He appeared to the two on the way to
Emmaus. Luke 24:13-36; Mark 16:12-14
3. He appeared to Simon Peter. Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5
4. In the evening on that same day, He appeared to the eleven
and the others with them, but not Thomas. Luke 14:33-43;
Mark 16:12-13
5. One the following week, He appeared to the disciples with
Thomas present. John 20:26-29
6. He appeared the third time to the disciples when they were
fishing in the Sea of Galilee. John 21
7. He also appeared to James. 1 Cor. 15:7
8. He also appeared to over five hundred at once. 1 Cor. 15:6
a. This appearance is thought to have been at His
appointed place in Galilee. Matt. 26:32; Mark 14:28;
Matt. 28:10; Mark 16:7
C. If the witnesses did not have a fair means of identifying Him,
they might have been mistaken.
1. Perhaps it was too dark, or He was too far away for them to
correctly identify Jesus after he was raised.
2. They could not have been mistaken in their identification of
Him.
a. He was in their immediate presence, talking with them.
Matt. 28:8-10; John 20:19-20
b. He ate with them. Luke 24:36-43
c. They were associated with Him for forty days. Acts 1:1-
3
d. At last, they saw Him taken up into heaven. Acts 1:9-12
Concl.
A. What is the inevitable conclusion as one considers whether or
not the resurrection occurred?
1. None other than that Jesus came forth from the grave exactly
as those witness and the holy Scriptures affirm.
2. If you are not a Christian, do you believe that Jesus was
raised from the dead?
a. How could you believe otherwise after considering the
evidence?
b. If you believe, obey Him now while there is time and
opportunity.