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1. All three news magazines this past week had Jesus on
the front cover. [April 8, 1996]
a. Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report
2. It was the type of story they have re-hashed now for the
last several years.
a. An attack on the credibility of the Bible, and
especially the resurrection.
b. A group of 75 skeptics formed a self-appointed
committee called the "Jesus Seminar" to release
their pronouncements to eager media.
1) They have voted rejecting the virgin birth, the
miracles of Jesus, and most of the sermon on
the mount.
2) They were divided but recently voted that
Judas didn't really betray Jesus; and of course
they reject the resurrection of Jesus.
3) They say the "myth" that Jesus was divine,
performed miracles, and was raised from the
dead, came three or four century after he lived,
as his followers embellished stories about their
great hero.
4) They affirm that the books of Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John are all forgeries, and that none
of the books of the New Testament were
written until the 2nd or 3rd centuries.
c. Opponents have pointed out that this self-appointed
"Jesus Seminar" was not formed on the basis of
scholarship but on the fact they had a common goal
to eradicate the idea that Jesus is divine.
1) For example, the latest credits of "Seminar"
member Paul Verhoeven was his role as
director of the movie Showgirls.
3. Attacks on the resurrection are not new, but have been
on-going for centuries. This central doctrine of the
Christian faith has been attacked many times.
a. Those who secured the soldiers to guard the tomb --
Matthew 27:62 - 28:4, 11-15; (Acts 12:19).
b. Others of the first century denied any resurrection
and therefore the resurrection of Jesus. (Acts
23:8) 1 Cor. 15:12.
d. Some disciples erred, saying the resurrection was
already past. 2 Tim. 2:17,18.
e. Some false teachers denied the very Lord who
bought them. Jude 1:4; 2 Peter 2:1.
THE EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION
Analysis by J.W. McGarvey, Evidences of Christianity, Part
III, p. 117, 118.
"By the leading skeptics it is now admitted, first,
that Jesus actually died and was buried; second, it is
admitted that on or before the third morning His
body disappeared from the tomb; third, that the
disciples came to believe firmly that He arose from
the dead. The exact issue has reference to the last
two facts, and may be stated by the two questions:
Did the body disappear by a resurrection, or in some
other way? and Did the belief of the disciples
originate from the fact of the resurrection, or from
some other cause?"
1. The Empty Tomb --
a. The open and empty tomb--
i. Who opened and emptied the tomb?
(1) Disciples -- the guard was posted to prevent
this. The stone was exceedingly great (Mk.
16:4) - folded the grave clothes back up?
(2) Jews -- to discredit the apostles they would
have only needed to produce the body, or
explain what they did with it.
b. The activity of the soldiers -- stood guard. (Matt
28:4, 11-15)
i. Posted on Saturday -- at request of Jews -- Matt
27:62-66.
ii. Terrified during the resurrection --
iii. Reported to the Jews who had commission the
guard -- Matt. 28: 4ff
c. The grave clothes v -- Jesus was "bound" according
to Jewish custom, John 10:40.
i. Christ's burial garments left behind in the tomb
form one of the most interesting aspect of the
evidence for the resurrection. Two areas to
consider:
(1) Their position --
(a) John tells us that the grave cloths were left
"lying" indicting that Jesus had passed
through them without disturbing their
position.
(b) They apparently were lying in the same
folded position which formed the outline of
the body of Christ when he was "wound"
in them for burial (Mk. 15:46).
(c) The grave cloths were not disheveled but
were found lying as they had been folded
originally.
(d) Whether they were rather flat in position or
whether the sticky spices, which would
certainly have acted as a glue, would have
held the cloths in a slightly collapsed
cocoon shape they were nevertheless still
there in their folds and pressing the mind
for answer.
(2) Burial Custom of the Jews --
(a) John 19:40 -- "they took the body of Jesus,
and bound it in linen cloths with the spices,
as the custom of the Jews is to bury".
(b) Buried in the manner of the Jews -- cf the
burial of Lazarus, John 11:44.
(c) When Jesus was placed in the tomb he had
been bound hand and foot with grave
wrappings.
(3) If Jesus was not raised -- who moved the
stone so quietly-- who unwrapped the body
of Jesus and rewrapped the grave clothes
with such skill that eye-witnesses could not
detect the deception, and then carry away
the body totally without detection?
2. The Significance of the Third Day
a. This refers to the third day after Christ's cruci-
fixion. It was on this day, the "first day of the
week" that Jesus' tomb was found empty (Matt.
28:1-7; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 14:1-7; John 20:1-7)
b. This historical fact on this particular day offers to us
at least five points of consideration as contributing
evidence to the resurrection claim.
i. It was the day on which Jesus prophesied he
would be raised.
(1) Matt. 20:19; John 2:19; 8:28; 12:32-33;
Luke 13:32; 18:33, etc)
(2) Other details of prophecy of our Lord's
death were fulfilled accurately.
ii. The prophecy was foretold early in his ministry.
(1) It was not merely a "human" insight as to
what was to happen.
(2) The first cleaning of the temple (John 2:13-22).
iii. The prophecy of his death and resurrection
became common knowledge --
(1) The Jewish leaders understood his meaning
though they deliberately misapplied it to the
temple of Herod. Matt. 27:62-66 (Matt.
26:, 60, 61, John 2:19, 20)
iv. There was the empty tomb on the third day.
v. Christianity and the first day of the week
(1) From Pentecost following the crucifixion
the first day of the week became special to
Christians. The church was established on
this day-- it was the day of Christians
gathering to worship (1 Cor. 16:1-2). The
day the Church came together to observe
the Lord's supper (Acts 20:7).
(2) The question-- what great event happened
to produce such an emphasis being put on
this day if not the resurrection of Jesus
Christ as the early disciples believed?
3. The Appearances of Jesus -- The Witnesses
a. J.W. McGarvey, Evidences of Christianity, p.
118. "To us the witnesses are a group of women,
not less than five in number; the twelve older
apostles; and the apostle Paul. The testimony of the
women and the twelve is recorded in the four
Gospels, in Acts, and in the Epistles of Peter and
John, and in Revelation. That of Paul is found in
Acts and his epistles."
b. Jesus appeared to individual disciples, in small
groups and in large groups.
i. Their testimony could be appealed to as well.
1 Cor. 15:6.
4. The Changes in the Apostles on Pentecost
a. Luke records the drastic change in the apostles in
Acts ch. 2. With the coming of the Holy Spirit upon
them in keeping with Jesus' promise they are
changed from mere disciples of a Jewish teacher to
dynamic gospel preachers endeavoring to save men
from sin.
b. They now understand the meaning and significance
of Calvary.
c. They are no longer ignorant of the spiritual nature of
the kingdom.
d. They are united in doctrine.
e. They are no longer fearful, but are bold even unto
death.
f. Here was a change of such proportion that the mind
is staggered to think of it happening, and the
question is, what could have accounted for such a
drastic change apart from the truth of the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead?
5. The Witnesses of the Apostles
a. Jesus said the apostles were to bear witness of him
(John 15:27). The apostles' witness, then was to
confirm the deity of Christ to the world.
b. The apostles' witness carried confirmation. Mark
16:20; Heb. 2:3-4
c. The belief and conviction of early disciples -- even
on Pentecost-- was based on the apostles' testimony
and preaching. (John 17:20)
d. Believing without seeing is not blind faith.
i. After Thomas had seen the resurrection
evidence in Jesus' hands and wounded side, he
confessed his belief in him as "My Lord and my
God." (John 20:27-28).
ii. Jesus' reply in vs. 29, "Because thou hast
seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they
that have not seen, and yet have believed."
e. The question -- Why should we believe in Jesus
whom we have not seen? -- the answer is
testimony!
i. Everything we accept as true which we have not
seen is done so on the basis of reliable testimony.
ii. We can believe in Jesus' resurrection because
of the reliable testimony!
f. Their number -- twelve, Acts 1:22.
i. Twelve -- more than adequate in any court.
g. Their Unity
i. Their unanimity of agreement.
ii. Not a testimony they formulated years later--
but immediately!
iii. Not hazy, ambiguous, nor contradictory!
iv. It was corroborated by many others.
h. Their Lives
i. Without a doubt their faithful lives were the
crucible of Christianity.
ii. From Pentecost the grand evidence for the
resurrection was the unswerving testimony of a
unified band of apostles who, however
imprisoned (Acts 4:1-3, 5:17, 25), and in the
face of threats upon their lives (Acts 4:17, 21;
5:17-33; 8:1-4) and the early martyrdom of the
apostle James (Acts 12:1-3), nevertheless
maintained that they had seen him alive!
iii. The apostles persisted with their testimony in
face of all manner of threats, and gave their
lives to this great truth.
6. The Conversion of the Saul of Tarsus --
a. His manner of life in time past was well known
among the Jewish leaders -- Gal. 1:13-14.
i. He persecuted the church beyond measure --
ii. He advanced in the Jewish religion
iii. He was exceedingly zealous for the traditions of
his fathers
b. Was there an ulterior motive behinds Saul's
Conversion
i. Wealth? -- He had this with the Jews and gave it
up for the poverty of Christianity (cf. Acts 20:33-34; 1 Cor. 4:11-12).
ii. Reputation? -- He had a reputation which was
heard among kings (Acts 26:24) and renounced
it to become "a fool for Christ" (1 Cor. 4:10,
13).
iii. Passion? -- Was there some immoral reason?
His moral integrity was above reproach among
Jews and Christians as well.
iv. Power? -- He had this with the Jews and left it
for Christ (see Acts 26:1-12).
c. Was Saul deceived?
i. Not influenced by any man or any group of men
(Gal. 1:1).
ii. His conviction was based on the personal
appearance of Jesus Christ to him. (Jesus
appeared not only on the Damascus road, but
several times to him during his ministry.)
d. Was he mad?
i. Festus thought so (Acts 26:24) when Paul
expressed his belief in Jesus' resurrection.
ii. Paul's reply "I am not mad most excellent
Festus; but speak forth words of truth and
soberness" (Acts 26:25).
iii. He expressed that "this hath not been done in a
corner" -- Acts 26:26.
iv. His life was an open book to both Christians
and enemies.
v. He attested, "Now touching the things which I
write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not."
(Gal. 1:20).
7. The Epistles of the Apostles
a. 1 Cor. 15:12-19 Paul "If Christ Hath Not Been
Raised"
i. "Then is our preaching vain"
(1) From the first sermon the Apostles had
testified to the great fact of the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead. Acts 2:24, 32;
3:13-15; 4:33; 17:30,31.
ii. "We are found false witnesses of God."
(1) This was their mission - John 15:27
(2) The selection of one to take Judas' place
was based on this qualification -- Acts 1:21-22.
iii. "Your Faith is vain"
(1) FAITH relies upon TESTIMONY, and
testimony to FACTS. The fundamental
fact of Christian faith is the resurrection of
Christ.
iv. "Ye are yet in your sins"
(1) If Jesus was not raised, he is not our high
priest, and he has not made atonement and
intercession for us in the presence of God
(Heb. 7:16; 7:25, 28).
8. The Testimony of the Monuments
i. As in nature where "God has not left Himself
without witness" to His creative acts and
providence (Acts 14:17), so in the spiritual realm
He has not left Himself without monuments to the
Divine origin of Christianity.
ii. Since the resurrection of Jesus is the
fundamental fact and foundation of the whole
system, God has provided ample evidence in
proof of this fact. The institutions of
Christianity bear witness as monuments to the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
iii. [See Joshua 4:1-8.]
a. The Church
i. The church has been here for over 19 centuries.
ii. It rests on one great faith-- the resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
b. The Bible
i. The great book here admits this great truth.
ii. If false-- then its great character and teachings
are based on a lie.
iii. It's strength is truth-- based on true history--
c. The Lord's Day
i. It has been a special day of worship since
Pentecost, about fifty days after the resurrection
of Christ.
ii. It has stood from the beginning as a monument
to the resurrection (Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10).
d. The Lord's Supper
i. This is an institution observed by Christians from
the beginning -- Acts 2:42.
ii. Though commemorative of His death, it is also
commemorative of the resurrection, for it is to
be observed "till He come" I Cor. 11:26. This
affirms the resurrection; He cannot come back,
if he has not been raised and ascended.
e. The Significance of Baptism
i. Baptism is for the remission of sins (Mark 1:1-4;
Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38).
ii. But from Pentecost the significance of the
resurrection was attached to baptism; it was
into the death of Christ and a resurrection with
Him, (Rom. 6:3-5; col. 2:12).
iii. It was the evidence of the resurrection that
moved three thousand to be baptized on
Pentecost, Acts 2:32, 41.
Conclusion:
1. The only conclusion in the light of the evidence as it
comes to us in the historic documents of the New
Testament is that the apostles testified to what actually
happened.
a. Jesus was raised from the dead and they actually
saw him.
b. What other possible alternatives can be offered in
keeping with the facts for such testimony from such
men?
c. Herein lies the real force of Luke's statement that
"with great power gave the apostles their witness
of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." (Acts
4:33).
2. Today we have no testimony of our own experience
which can convince anyone of Jesus' resurrection. Our
testimony must be that of the apostles.
a. This apostolic testimony was the testimony accepted
by the early Christians who had not seen the Lord
yet were ready to lay down their live for the faith
(John 17:20; Rev. 12:11).
b. It is not ours to offers any "experiences" of our own
as proof of Christianity. Ours is to "preach the
word" (2 Timothy 4:1-2).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A Short Bibliography
Bruce, F.F., The New Testament Documents-- are they
reliable? Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand
Rapids, Michigan, c. 1943, (reprinted April 1968).
Hailey, Homer, Internal Evidences of Christianity, Cogdill
Foundation, Marion, Indiania, c. 1964, thirding printing
July 1971.
Sayers, Stanley E., For This Cause, R.B. Sweet Co. Inc,
Austin, Texas, c. 1957.
Shelly, Rubel, Simple Studies in Christian Evidences,
Bible & School Supply, Montgomery, Alabama, c. 1970.
Wharton, Edward C. The Case for Historic Christianity (A
Study In Historical Christian Evidence), Gospel
Teachers Publications, Inc., Dallas, Texas, c. 1976.
Wharton, Edward C., Christianity: A Clear Case of
History!, Howard Book House, West Monroe, Lousiana,
c. 1977.
wgann@hiwaay.net
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