We don’t know as much as we used to know. With the coming of the internet, the discovery channel, and snopes what we used to know assume was fact is now brought into question No proof that George washington chopped down a cherry tree The contintental congress actually signed the declaration of indep on July 2. People and dinosaurs never walked the earth at the same time;regardless of the flintstones In 1960 a 1,000 year old settlement of vikings remains were discovered in America, predating Columbus by 500 years The apple most likely didn’t fall actually on Isaac Newton’s head And Joseph Swan, a British inventor, filed a patent for an identical light bulb design one year before Thomas Edison, History has been written by the conquerers The enslaved, oppressed peoples have been seen in an innacurate light The question becomes; what do we know to be true and how do we know it. We are a skeptical people-doubting what we have been told How do we know the resurrection of Jesus Christ happened? How can we prove it?

Christianity is not a religion of proof It is a religion with evidence Do not look for proof Look for evidence We cannot PROVE that Jesus rose from the dead You have to consider the evidence and determine for yourself – …and then decide to have faith

Consider the Evidence 1. The resurrection was referred to in history Josephus; Antiquities 18.3.3. "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.“

Consider the Evidence 1. The resurrection was referred to in history You decide http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/testimonium.html#testimonium

Consider the Evidence 2. Changed lives of disciples Tradition says many died in missionary service to far lands

Consider the Evidence 2. Changed lives of disciples Biblical accounts Stephen stoned Acts 7:59 John was killed, Peter arrested with intent to execute Acts 12:1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also…Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. Why go to your death for a lie?

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many Last two chapters of the Gospel of John Many appearances If you were going to give evidence that Jesus was raised from the dead you would find eye witnesses and interview them Many statements of belief that Jesus was in fact alive The question; Is the same Jesus alive today and challenging people to experience Him?

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many The testimony of a questionable witness Mary testified that she had seen Jesus Jn 20:17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many The testimony of the happy crowd The disciples were overjoyed to see Jesus John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Consider the Evidence The testimony of the previous skeptic The doubter believed that Jesus was alive John 20:26 Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many The testimony of the person working hard to make a living Peter upon hearing that Jesus was close jumped into the water to go to Jesus John21: 1: Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. …6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, Testimony in words Testimony by action

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many The testimony of the one who had walked away from Jesus John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Consider the Evidence Jesus appeared to many John 20:… these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Summary Jesus appeared to a disreputable person There was a crowd that believed and were overjoyed Jesus appeared to a disciple who had been skeptical Jesus appeared to a group of hard working fishermen Jesus appeared to one who had denied him

So What? The best evidence that the Christian story is valid is found in the lives of the followers Are you a person nobody seems to believe? When you came to Jesus was it as part of a crowd? Have you been skeptical? Are you now? Are you a person for whom life has not made much sense? You are trying to make a living and nothing works? Have you followed Jesus before and walked away?

Are you willing to “experience Jesus?” Open yourself up Look for the work of Jesus in this world “a cup of cold water” Not swayed by news media that must make money on sensationalism If Jesus is not Lord, why Christian benevolence? Look for the believer in Jesus who’s walk matches their talk Don’t look for perfection Encounter Jesus

Are you willing to “experience Jesus?” This past week; Wycliff translators martyred Could this Jesus really be real? Could this Jesus really be alive? If so, He is ready to interact with you today. Encounter Jesus