THE STONE IS ROLLED AWAY AND HE IS RISEN!

NIV The Stone is Rolled Away And He is Risen! Mark 16:1-8 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. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

NIV The Stone is Rolled Away And He is Risen! Mark 16:1-8 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!.

NIV The Stone is Rolled Away And He is Risen! Mark 16:1-8 He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 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.’” 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

INTRODUCTION TO THE RESURRECTION

HE APPEARANCES OF CHRIST TO HIS DISCPLES

TO MARY MAGDALENE

TO THE OTHER WOMEN

TO TWO DISCIPLES WALKING IN THE COUNTRY...

TO PETER

TO THE APOSTLES WITH THOMAS ABSENT

TO THE APOSTLES WITH THOMAS PRESENT

TO SEVEN DISCIPLES BY THE SEA OF GALILEE

TO FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE

TO JAMES THE LORD’S BROTHER

TO THE DISCIPLES WITH ANOTHER COMMISSION

. TO THOSE PRESENT AT HIS ASCENSION

"WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THEM?"

THE STRENGTH OF THE DISCIPLES’ TESTIMONY

DEMONSTRATED BY THE NATURE OF THEIR TESTIMONY...

DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR TRANSFORMATION

DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR HIGH MORAL STANDARD

DEMONSTRATED BY THE PRICE THEY PAID

CONCLUSIONS 1. As revealed in the Gospel’s Christ rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples who became witnesses of the resurrection.

CONCLUSIONS 2. The nature of their witness does not allow for the option of being deceived or deluded

CONCLUSIONS 3. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, there is only one alternative... They were liars!

CONCLUSIONS 4. It is not reasonable to believe they successfully propagated a lie due to too many witnesses, the character of the witnesses and the price they were willing to pay.

CHALLENGE Let us believe in the truth of His resurrection that brings eternal life.

CHALLENGE Let us hold to the new life that comes in the resurrection which sees us through each day.

CHALLENGE Let us know that there is no (stone) weight in our lives that is too big for God and place our trust in Him.

THE STONE IS ROLLED AWAY AND HE IS RISEN!