Jesus Rose from the Dead Week of April 8, 2012

Outline of the Passage Proof of a Guarded Tomb (Matt. 27:62-66) Proof of an Empty Tomb (Matt. 28:5-8) Proof of Eyewitness Account (Luke 24:13-16,32-33,35)

Let’s Pray for the Lord’s Blessing We will study the facts of Easter: that Jesus was truly dead; really rose from the grave; and is alive today! Let’s Pray for the Lord’s Blessing Jesus died to pay for our sins and rose again that we can have a brand new life – with Him living in us!

Proof of a Guarded Tomb Matthew 27:62-66 62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.

Proof of a Guarded Tomb Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." 65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Proof of a Guarded Tomb The next day referred to Saturday. Note how quickly the Jews acted to ensure Jesus’ body would not be stolen. They go to Pilate and request a guard for the tomb. Why would they need a guard for a dead man’s tomb? The answer to that question lay in the words of Jesus.

Jesus had told His disciples He would die and rise again. Three times Jesus had predicted His death. Jesus also taught that He would rise from the dead three days later. Hearing of these predictions, the chief priests and Pharisees were nervous that something might happen. Perhaps, they feared that the disciples might come and steal the body of Jesus and then claim that Jesus rose from the dead.

The Jewish leaders secured the tomb to prevent any deception. By placing a guard at the tomb and making it secure, they actually strengthened the evidence of the resurrection. Two options: The disciples either stole the body or Jesus rose from the dead. The Jewish leaders and Pilate did everything they could to keep the disciples away. So, Jesus rose from the dead!

Did the guards sleep on duty? How was the tomb secured? What about the guards? Did the guards sleep on duty? How was the tomb secured? By applying some kind of soft clay or wax with the Roman imperial stamp; Breaking such a seal was punishable by death. The seal and the guard would keep away any pranksters and certainly the disciples.

When a person dies, the body cools, and gravity begins the Modern opponents have suggested that Jesus merely “swooned.” The evidence states that when the soldier stabbed Jesus with a spear, blood and water came from His side. Why is this important? This is post-mortem evidence that Jesus had really died. 55% of our blood is water. When a person dies, the body cools, and gravity begins the process of separation. After Death Jesus really Died!

The chief priests and Pharisees called it a deception: The disciples stole the body and said Jesus rose from the dead. Would the disciples died for a lie? Still, the best explanation for the missing body is that Jesus actually rose from the dead.

JUST THE FACTS Which is Most Convincing to You? The separation of the “Blood and Water?” The tomb - guarded and sealed? All the disciples dying for the cause. Does it really seem possible that they died for something they made up?

Proof of an Empty Tomb Matthew 28:5-8 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Proof of an Empty Tomb 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Proof of an Empty Tomb A second evidence of the resurrection is that of an empty tomb. Joseph offered his NEW tomb for the burial of Jesus. His was the only body there when the ladies left the tomb on Friday evening. Did the women went to the wrong tomb? They had witnessed Jesus’ body being burried.

The angel said, “He is not here!” This confused the women: Could it be that they were at wrong tomb? Could the guards have protected the wrong tomb? The angel proclaimed that Jesus “has been resurrected” and “just as He said.”

Then the angel said “come and see the place where He lay.” The same people who had seen Jesus placed in the tomb had an invitation now to look for themselves. The spot was empty, except for the folded linen.

Now go and tell the disciples that God had raised Him from the dead. The women left quickly left the tomb, but with mixed emotions. The women took the news to the disciples, thus becoming the first to report the resurrection of Jesus.

How Would You Share the Proofs of Jesus’ Resurrection?   Are you ready to share with a lost friend the proof of Jesus’ resurrection? Wouldn’t it be good to prepare for that before that opportunity arises? We need to be prepared to share the most important news the world has ever heard. People’s eternity hangs in the balance!

Proof of Eyewitness Account Luke 24:13-16 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him….

Proof of Eyewitness Account 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together… 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Proof of Eyewitness Account Today, we are not sure where Emmaus was, possibly Qaloniyeh. The best proof of the resurrection is eyewitness accounts. One such account happened to two disciples traveling to a village called Emmaus about seven miles from Jerusalem.

The passage says that the men were prevented from recognizing Jesus The passage says that the men were prevented from recognizing Jesus. Why? Jesus had not changed, but that they were kept from recognizing Him. Why? The time was not right for Jesus to reveal Himself to them. Jesus never over-whelms people to force belief. Rather He does so naturally through God’s Word and through His actions, allowing people to come to their own conclusions.

But, they still did not recognize that the One walking with them was Jesus, until He broke bread at table, and then they realize what was happening and who Jesus was. The disciples did not wait around but immediately returned to Jerusalem to share their story.

Jesus asked the travelers about their conversation. Jesus made “small talk” with them. The travelers share what they have been hearing. Jesus began to explain the Scriptures to them of how the death of Jesus fulfilled the predictions of Moses and the Prophets. The disciples’ hearts were ablaze with anticipation and excitement.

They’re Personal! The Evidence Is In The guarded tomb; The empty tomb; The eyewitness accounts; One Conclusion: Jesus rose from the dead. We, too, have this message to share and we’ve had a personal encounters with the risen Christ. Who can argue with you about your personal encounters with Jesus. They’re Personal!