2. The Resurrection of Christ Epilogue
Lesson 10 - Conclusion
The Resurrection of Christ
Epilogue
CONVICTING THE GAINSAYER: A Christians Answer to Atheism

3. The resurrection TRUMPS everything!

4. Jesus’ claim— John 8:58 “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

5. John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

6. John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose t hat even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

7. Jesus predicted His own death and His bodily resurrection.

8. Matt. 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

9. Matt. 12:38-42 – “the sign of the prophet Jonah” John 2: 18-21

10. Jesus knew precisely what He must endure and that His body would not see corruption.

11. If Christ did not rise in the same physical body that was placed in the tomb, then the resurrection loses its value as an evidential proof of His claim to be God. …Norman Geisler

12. Nothing is more important in determining the identity of the real Jesus.
(Concerning His resurrection)
…Lee Stroble

13. Hugh Hefner (agnostic)
If one had any real evidence that indeed Jesus did return from the dead, then that is the beginning of a series of dominoes that take us to all kinds of wonderful things It assumes an after life and all kinds of things that we would all hope are true.

14. One’s world view can cloud our judgement.

15. It is not so much an intellectual issue as it is a heart issue.

16. What is the EVIDENCE?

17. There is secular evidence of Jesus existence and His crucifixion.

18. Josephus Lucian (the Greek satirist) Tacitus Mara bar Serapion The Jewish Talmud

19. Then there are the Gospel accounts Matt. 28:1-11

20. FACTS— Angel by great earthquake removed the stone
Women were first to see Jesus (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary)
Guard shook with fear
Angel told women that Jesus had risen
Jesus surprised the women
Told the women to rejoice
They worshipped Him and held Him (cont)

21. Women were told to tell His disciples to meet Him in Galilee
Some guards report what happened to Chief Priest

22. Mark 16 & Luke 24 Angel was in the tomb
Jesus appeared to 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus
Luke names one of them, Cleopas
Luke mentions a second angel
Angel said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead.”
Luke names the other Mary—mother of James and also names Joana.

23. Mark 16 & Luke 24 (cont) Peter seems first apostle to go to the tomb
Peter saw the linen clothes lying by themselves
More details about Emmaus disciples

24. John 20 Handkerchief folded by itself
Jesus appeared to all apostles except Thomas
Later appeared to Thomas

25. Paul’s testimony— I Cor. 15
3)…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
8)…He was seen by me…
7)…He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
6)…He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once…
5)…He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve

26. Clearly the disciples of Jesus believed He was risen.

27. Also 1st century leaders believed in the risen Christ
Polycarp
Clement
Irenaeus
Ignatius
Etc.

28. Many died a martyr’s death-- “Liars make poor martyrs” Lee Stroble

29. The conversion of Paul
Nothing to GAIN…
all to Loose (materially)

30. The conversion of James— John 7:5 I Cor. 15:7

31. Skeptic Allegation—apostles stole the body to “fulfill prophecy” The Passover Plot The Jesus Scroll Holy Blood; Holy Grail

32. Why “choose” women as first observers?

33. Michael Licona from Stroble’s Women’s testimony questionable in the
A Case for the Real Jesus
Women’s testimony questionable in the
first century.

34. My point is this, if you were going to concoct a story in an effort to fool others, you would have in that day hurt your own credibility by saying that women discovered the empty tomb. Michael Licona

35. The elders bribed the guards to say the body was stolen. (Matt
The elders bribed the guards to say the body was stolen. (Matt. 28:11-15) “commonly reported”

36. Guards knew this was not true.
Stone covering the opening of the tomb was heavy
A body was never produced
No credible accounts of Jesus’ appearance after His ascension

37. Allegation— The “Swoon Theory” Jesus only “collapsed” on the cross

38. NO WAY!!
Body scourged
Nails driven into His hands and feet
Death by slow asphyxiation, respiratory acidosis, hypovolemic shock and heart failure

39. Blood and water was emitted when His body was pierced
Blood and water was emitted when His body was pierced. fulfillment of prophecy Psalm 34:20 & Zac. 12:10

40. The Roman soldiers knew a dead body when they saw one.

41. William Edward 1986 in JAMA
“clearly the weight of the historical evidence and medical evidence indicate Jesus was dead before the wound to his side was inflicted. The assumption Jesus did not die on the cross appears to be at odds with medical knowledge.”

42. Luke stresses the “eyewitness” accounts
Luke stresses the “eyewitness” accounts. Acts 1:3 …presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

43. Peter II Pet. 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

44. The apostles had nothing to gain by concocting a “story” of His resurrection.

45. People may die for something they believe to be true but is not, but unlikely to die for something they knew to be a lie!

46. Allegation – “The Hallucination Theory”

47. Nothing in the record indicates hallucinations—
He was touched
He ate (Luke 24:30)
He appeared in a real body
Many would have had the same hallucination at different times

48. Gary Collis, psychologist
Hallucinations are individual occurrences. By their very nature only one person can see a given hallucination at a time. They certainly are not something which can be seen by a group of people. Neither is it possible that one person could somehow induce an hallucination in somebody else. Since hallucinations exist only in this subjective, personal sense, it is obvious that others cannot witness this.

49. Circumstantial Evidence
J.P. Moreland
The emergence of the
church (Acts 2:38)
Enormous societal, emotional, cultural and religious changes

50. Evidence for bodily resurrection of Christ sound and compelling.

51. I Cor. 15: But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

52. 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
I Cor. 15: 51-58
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory.“
55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

53. Sir Lionel Luckhoo, attorney 245 consecutive murder acquittals I say unequivocally that the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves no room for doubt.

54. Acts 2 – What did those Jews do once convicted. “cut to the heart” Vs
Acts 2 – What did those Jews do once convicted? “cut to the heart” Vs. 38 Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…

55. Mark 16: …Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized with be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

56. Mental assent is NOT enough!