Resurrection: A Fact of History
The Resurrection: A Fact of History
“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”
FACT #1 THE TOMB WAS EMPTY
Theory #1 Near Death – Jesus only fainted on the cross
BUT Roman Soldiers knew how to kill people
BUT that is medically impossible
BUT that wouldn’t have inspired a movement
Theory #2 Wrong Tomb – The Women went to the wrong one
BUT that mistake would have been quickly fixed
BUT that doesn’t account for the appearances
Theory #3 Stolen Body – The Disciples Stole the Body
BUT the tomb was guarded
BUT that doesn’t account for the appearances
BUT why would they die for a lie?
Theory #4 Switcharoo – It wasn’t Jesus who died
BUT this theory is ridiculous
BUT that tomb wouldn’t have been empty
FACT #2 JESUS APPEARED TO MANY
Theory #5 Twin Brother – They actually saw someone else
BUT this theory is ridiculous
BUT this theory doesn’t account for the empty tomb
Theory #6 Mass Hallucination – They only ‘thought’ they saw Him
BUT hallucinations come 1 person at a time
BUT the disciples didn’t have the right mind-set to be duped
BUT this theory doesn’t account for the empty tomb
Theory #7 Spiritual Resurrection – Jesus didn’t raise bodily
BUT this theory is based on a false worldview
BUT this doesn’t fit with the physical nature of the appearances
Theory #8 Mass Conspiracy – They Made the whole thing up
BUT how much did they have to gain?
BUT how did they involve so many unlikely people?
BUT why die for a lie?
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? (A 19 Part Harmony)
1. The women went to anoint Jesus body Sunday morning
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Matthew)
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" (Mark)
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning,
the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb (Luke)
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb (John)
2. An angel appears at the tomb and the guards become like dead men
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. (Matthew)
3. The women see the stone, Mary Magdalene runs and tells the disciples
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. (Mark)
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb (Luke)
And saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John)
4. Women have conversation with the angel, then leave to tell disciples
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples (Matthew)
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark)
But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Luke)
5. Disciples, with Mary Magdalene, visit the tomb
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke)
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) (John)
6. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark)
(See John 20:10-18)
7. Jesus appears to Women
Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew)
8. Priests pay the guards
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. (Matthew)
9. Jesus appears to Peter
The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon (Luke)
He appeared to Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5)
10. Jesus appears to 2 on way to Emmaus
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either (Mark)
(See Luke 24:13-35)
11. Jesus meets with disciples
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. (Mark)
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke)
(See John 20:19-23)
And then to the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15:5)
12. Jesus meets with Thomas
(See John 20:24-31)
13. Jesus Appears to more than 500 Witnesses at once
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6)
14. Jesus Appears to James
Then he appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7a)
15. Jesus Appears to all the Apostles
Then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7b)
16. Jesus meets with disciples by the sea
(See John 21:1-25)
17. Jesus gives the Great Commission
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew)
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark)
18. Jesus ascends to heaven
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark)
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. (Luke)
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9)
19. Jesus appears to Paul
And last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Corinthians 15:8)
“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith”
FACT #1 THE TOMB WAS EMPTY
Theory #1 Near Death – Jesus only fainted on the cross
BUT Roman Soldiers knew how to kill people
BUT that is medically impossible
BUT that wouldn’t have inspired a movement
Theory #2 Wrong Tomb – The Women went to the wrong one
BUT that mistake would have been quickly fixed
BUT that doesn’t account for the appearances
Theory #3 Stolen Body – The Disciples Stole the Body
BUT the tomb was guarded
BUT that doesn’t account for the appearances
BUT why would they die for a lie?
Theory #4 Switcharoo – It wasn’t Jesus who died
BUT this theory is ridiculous
BUT that tomb wouldn’t have been empty
FACT #2 JESUS APPEARED TO MANY
Theory #5 Twin Brother – They actually saw someone else
BUT this theory is ridiculous
BUT this theory doesn’t account for the empty tomb
Theory #6 Mass Hallucination – They only ‘thought’ they saw Him
BUT hallucinations come 1 person at a time
BUT the disciples didn’t have the right mind-set to be duped
BUT this theory doesn’t account for the empty tomb
Theory #7 Spiritual Resurrection – Jesus didn’t raise bodily
BUT this theory is based on a false worldview
BUT this doesn’t fit with the physical nature of the appearances
Theory #8 Mass Conspiracy – They Made the whole thing up
BUT how much did they have to gain?
BUT how did they involve so many unlikely people?
BUT why die for a lie?
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? (A 19 Part Harmony)
1. The women went to anoint Jesus body Sunday morning
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Matthew)
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" (Mark)
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning,
the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb (Luke)
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb (John)
2. An angel appears at the tomb and the guards become like dead men
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. (Matthew)
3. The women see the stone, Mary Magdalene runs and tells the disciples
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. (Mark)
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb (Luke)
And saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John)
4. Women have conversation with the angel, then leave to tell disciples
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples (Matthew)
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (Mark)
But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (Luke)
5. Disciples, with Mary Magdalene, visit the tomb
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke)
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) (John)
6. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark)
(See John 20:10-18)
7. Jesus appears to Women
Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew)
8. Priests pay the guards
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. (Matthew)
9. Jesus appears to Peter
The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon (Luke)
He appeared to Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5)
10. Jesus appears to 2 on way to Emmaus
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either (Mark)
(See Luke 24:13-35)
11. Jesus meets with disciples
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. (Mark)
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke)
(See John 20:19-23)
And then to the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15:5)
12. Jesus meets with Thomas
(See John 20:24-31)
13. Jesus Appears to more than 500 Witnesses at once
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6)
14. Jesus Appears to James
Then he appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7a)
15. Jesus Appears to all the Apostles
Then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7b)
16. Jesus meets with disciples by the sea
(See John 21:1-25)
17. Jesus gives the Great Commission
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew)
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark)
18. Jesus ascends to heaven
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark)
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. (Luke)
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9)
19. Jesus appears to Paul
And last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1 Corinthians 15:8)
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