Sunday Morning Introduction and Background Class #20 The Burial and Resurrection of Jesus

The Crucifixion: The Heart of the Gospel 1 Corinthians 2:2 – “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 – “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”

Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection: The Gospel Completed The Rest of the Story: 1 Cor. 15:4-5 – “and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” The Key to Our Hope: 1 Cor. 15:13-14 – “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.”

Key Facts of the Gospel / Resurrection D B R Death Burial Resurrection B E A T Burial of Dead Body Empty Tomb Appearances to Witnesses Transformation of Followers

Jesus Died on the Cross Stress of Gethsemane Multiple Beatings During Trials Brutal Scourging Forced to Carry Cross Crucified Soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs Soldier pierced His side with a spear, blood & water came out Death confirmed to Pilate by attending centurion Jesus Died on the Cross

Body of Jesus Prepared for Burial Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for body of Jesus He comes and takes away the body Nicodemus joins Joseph, bringing spices Body wrapped with linen along with spices as customary for the Jews (John 19:40) Jesus most certainly dead Body of Jesus Prepared for Burial

Preparation for Burial About 75-100 lbs. of “spices” Wrapped in linen Face cloth “napkin” detail later given Bound in a resin (myrrh) Difficult to “escape”

Laid In Joseph’s New Tomb Located in a nearby garden Cut out of solid rock, never used No chance for rear entry No chance for mix up (J.A.’s tomb) No chance for escape

Stone Door Rolled Shut, Mk 15:46 “Extremely large” – Mk. 16:4 (prob. >1 ton) Women worried about who would help them open

Tomb Guarded, Mt 27:63-66 Roman Guard Usually 16 men Four watching for each shift Round the clock readiness Set a seal on the stone

Yet the Tomb Was Found Empty Found empty by both enemies (guards) and friends (women and disciples) Guards shake in fear and become like dead men at sight of angel (then concoct story) Women and others find empty tomb and speak with angels Jesus appears to hundreds of His followers over the next 40 days Jesus Was Risen!

A Probable Chronology Jesus dies on the cross Soldiers come to break His legs, but decide He’s already dead Side thrust through – out comes blood & water Pilate grants Joseph’s request for body of Jesus Jos. & Nicodemus take down body from cross Body wrapped with linen and spices for burial Body placed in rock tomb and stone door closed

A Probable Chronology Women watch burial and go home to prepare more spices and perfumes Jewish leaders have Roman guards set at tomb Sabbath of rest Resurrection early on the first day of the week Earthquake Angel rolls away stone and sits on it Guards become “like dead men” Other details unknown

A Probable Chronology Mary Magdalene & other women go to tomb very early find stoned rolled away & Jesus’ body gone Mary Magdalene rushes away to tell apostles Angels speak to the remaining women and they leave as well MM finds Peter & John, telling them Jesus had been taken Peter and John run to the tomb, John gets there first

A Probable Chronology John sees linen cloth laying in tomb from outside Peter gets to tomb and goes inside, seeing the cloth wrappings and face cloth rolled up John enters tomb, sees, and “believes” MM arrives back at tomb; Peter & John gone Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene First saw only the angels, then Jesus Only recognized when He spoke her name She clings to him, but sent to tell others

A Probable Chronology Jesus appears to the other women On way from tomb without Mary M. Mark 16:9 says Jesus appeared 1st to M.M. Women report good news to disciples Roman guards report to Jewish leaders Make up story that they fell asleep on duty Disciples opened tomb and stole body All this while asleep, but knew what happened

A Probable Chronology Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus Jesus joins along as they walk & talk Eyes opened as Jesus breaks bread Jesus vanishes; they go & tell apostles Jesus appears to Peter (Lk. 24:34, 1 Cor. 15:5) Jesus appears to all the apostles at once, except Thomas absent Thought He was spirit at first He showed them His hands and feet He ate before them

A Probable Chronology Jesus appears to all apostles, incl. Thomas Thomas believes when he sees and touches Jesus Jesus appears beside the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) to seven of His disciples Appearance to over 500 at once (1 Cor. 15:6) Appears to James (likely bro. of Jesus) – 15:7 One or more appearances connected to great commission and ascension Final appearance to Paul (Saul)