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.