1. The Resurrection What is the evidence?

2. The Resurrection The Old Testament tells us to expect it For all men Led by someone who would be the ‘First Fruit’ of the process Psalm 16 verse 10 Isaiah 53 verse 10 Jesus staked his Messiah-ship on it Matthew 16 verse 21 Matthew 17 verse 9 Matthew 17 verses 22 & 23 Matthew 20 verses 18 & 19 Matthew 26 verse 32

3. The Resurrection In Matthew 12 verses 38-40 and Chapter 16 in the first few verses, Jesus gives resurrection as the only sign by which He stakes the reputation of His Messiahship. J.W. Sparrow-Simpson said, “If the resurrection is not historic fact, then the power of death remains unbroken, and with it the effect of sin; and the significance of Christ’s death remains uncertified, and accordingly believers are yet in their sins, precisely where they were before they heard of Jesus’ name”.

4. The Resurrection Of all the world’s religions only 4 depend upon personalities rather than philosophical systems Of these 4, only Christianity claims a resurrection for its founder Abraham is known to be still in the ground Buddha also died, “…with that utter passing away in which nothing whatever is left behind” Mohammad died at Medina in 632 AD and his tomb is still visited by devout Muslims. Those who visit are convinced he is still entombed there Only Christianity claims an empty tomb and a risen Lord

5. The Resurrection The apostle Paul himself wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 17, “If Christ be not risen, then is your faith in vain”. Michael Green observes, “Christianity does not hold the resurrection to be one among many tenets of belief. Without faith in the resurrection there would be no Christianity at all.” And, “Christianity stands or falls with the truth of the resurrection. Once disprove it and you have disproved Christianity”. He also states that the facts of Christianity are there for us to examine and will withstand any amount of critical investigation

6. The Resurrection Was Jesus really dead? Some theorise that he survived the crucifixion and sneaked away or was helped from the tomb

7. The Resurrection

8. The Bible

9. The Resurrection Those who were flogged would often go into hypovolemic shock, a term that refers to low blood volume. In other words, the person would have lost so much blood he would go into shock. The results of this would be 1) The heart would race to pump blood that was not there. 2) The victim would collapse or faint due to low blood pressure. 3) The kidneys would shut down to preserve body fluids. 4) The person would experience extreme thirst as the body desired to replenish lost fluids. Prior to death, the sustained rapid heartbeat caused by hypovolemic shock also causes fluid to gather in the sack around the heart and around the lungs.

10. The Resurrection

11. Bible accounts John 20 verse 1 records 1 st that Mary Magdalene noticed the stone removed and presumed that the authorities had removed Him. Verse 5 records that Peter and another disciple (probably John) looked in and saw the grave cloths. Verse 14 records the first sighting of the risen Jesus (Mary Magdalene). Verse17 records the first physical contact, though Jesus discouraged because He had not yet ascended to The Father. Verse 19 is not specific about the number of witnesses but there are clearly many.

12. The Resurrection Verse 26 speaks of 8 days later when Thomas is present and Jesus is with a group of witnesses. Once again there is physical contact with Him. John 21 verse 2 records Jesus meeting a group of at least 7 at the sea of Tiberias Verses 15-17 record a conversation between Peter and Jesus that was witnessed by John. Verses 20-22 provide some interest because John was the only disciple to die a natural death. All the others were martyred. Luke 24 verse 13, road to Emmaus, Cleopas and 1 other. Verse 36, 11+ other witnesses.

13. The Resurrection Verse 39, flesh and bones Verse 43, ate fish Mark’s gospel confirms the detail of these accounts Matthew 28 tells us that the guards were fearful, therefore they were also witnesses. The subsequent need to invent a story was significant in its self. Clearly, they could not produce a body, yet could have been put to death for failing to successfully guard the tomb, so would have if they could. There was never an attempt to defend the fact that the tomb was empty and neither the Romans or the Jews were able to produce a body.

14. The Resurrection I Corinthians 15 verse 6, which was written in about 56 AD says that there were 500 witnesses to Christ’s resurrection at one time, as well as the 12, and reminds all that these people are mostly still around. If it were not true there would have been no shortage of refutation. This verse is thought by scholars to be part of a creed that precedes the writing of 1 Corinthians and dates to 2-years after Jesus’ death. CS Lewis said, “The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who have seen the resurrection. If they had died without making anyone else believe this ‘Gospel’, no gospel would ever have been written”.

15. The Resurrection Peter preaches in Acts 2 and makes blunt reference to the resurrection in verse 24. He then goes on to quote this as a fulfilment of prophecy in the ensuing verses. In speaking of it he refers to all present as ‘witnesses’. This was because only 50 days had elapsed and the empty tomb was there for all to see. He repeats the emphasis in his second sermon (Acts 3 verse 15), once again challenging those present that they are witnesses to the fact of the resurrection.

16. The Resurrection In chapter 4 we see the disciples imprisoned for their preaching, and in spite of their forthright admission that they had preached the resurrection, their accusers could find no evidence against them. They were unable to refute the resurrection. Similarly in Acts 26 verse 26 we see Paul challenging Agrippa and Festus with the facts of the resurrection. The changed lives of the disciples also attested to the truth of the resurrection. As did the ridiculous and miraculous growth of Christianity

17. The Resurrection A particular example of this transformation was Jesus’ half brother, James. Who wanted nothing to do with his brother, was not a believer and vehemently denied the messiahship of Jesus. He believed after the resurrection (after encountering his risen brother), and was later martyred for his faith. He was the writer of the book of James. He went from unbeliever to a contributor to scripture on the basis of the resurrection. Extra Biblical comments Josephus, Clement, Papias, Didache, Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria.

18. The Resurrection 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, (9) those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; (10) 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 at this day. Josephus - Antiquities

21. The Resurrection Christianity survived in a hostile environment The Jews wanted to stop it Rome wanted to stop it Stopping it would have been simple if they could provide a corpse They could not!! Disciples would die rather than deny the resurrection Romans would relent from executing those who recant They were also aware that true believers would not recant Jesus’ brothers – James and Jude – were converted because of the resurrection and were typical of many.

22. Welcome to our service Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk