Did Jesus REALLY Rise from the Dead?

Introduction

Over the past 4 weeks now we have been going through a series of talks called “Asking For A Friend.” Where we take the questions that you may have asked to you at the school lunch table or in your friend group about your faith and equip you to answer them.

You need to know why you believe what you believe. 1 Peter 3:5

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

I want you to be a critical thinker not just a gullible follower.

Let’s recap what we have asked for a friend.

“Is the bible reliable?”

Yes, because it has withstand the test of time and is the direct word of God.

“Is Jesus the only way to heaven?”

Jesus, who is the way, truth, and life, offers salvation; while other religions hinge on human error, His sacrifice secures eternal life for us.

“What does the bible say about sexuality and gender?”

You're God's masterpiece, made to glorify Him, but born into sin. So, trust His design and plan for you life, not just your feelings.

Asking for a friend: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Tension

A question that has been debated and skeptics have tried to debunk for two thousand years. Its a very important question that demands an answer. Why?

If Jesus was not resurrected from the dead, then the entire Christian faith is worthless, a waste of time.

Meaning if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our sins are not forgiven. We have no hope to spend eternity in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:14 NLT

14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

The Christian faith hinges on this fact that Jesus resurrected from the dead.

There are theories out there that people have tried to use to against the fact of Jesus’ resurrection.

Theories like:

Jesus didn’t die he just passed out on the cross.

He had a twin that took his place on the cross.

He was actually an alien from a different planet.

Or the age old one, the disciples stole the body.

The theories all get debunked though because they don’t have substantial evidence. So what evidence do we have that would make me believe that the resurrection actually happened?

Bible Reading

What evidence do we have for the resurrection?

Outside resources tell us that this was an actual event. Josephus was a Jewish historian and he wrote about Jesus in 90s A.D.. This man was not a Christian and didn’t believe that Jesus was the messiah, but yet he still wrote this:

Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works-a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; (64) and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

But we can also trust what we hold in our hands; the bible. From week one, we can trust the bible as absolute truth! If it says it, then it happened. But some people would still be skeptical and I get that. Let me give you the 4 evidences that I hang on to as evidence that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

1. The transformation of the disciples after the resurrection.

When Jesus was arrested, the disciples abandoned Him! Mark 14:50 “50 And they all left him and fled.” Not only that but Peter straight denies being a disciple of Jesus. They were cowards!

But after witnessing Jesus alive, they went from being cowards to being courageous. Not many would die for a lie. All of the disciples would take to their death, “Jesus is alive!”

2. An empty tomb.

If the resurrection didn’t happen, then the religious leaders of that day could have brought the body out of the tomb and showed it. “Look here’s Jesus dead body.” But even they saw that the tomb was empty.

Matthew 28:11–15 ESV

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Yet the lie is that the disciples stole it. That is not plausible. Roman guards were at the entrance of the tomb. A great large rock sealed the entrance. How can these guys come at night and get passed highly trained guards, roll this humongous stone out of the way, and run off with a body? (Matthew 27:66)

3. Women were “not credible eyewitnesses” in the first century.

In the first century court room, women were not reliable as eyewitnesses. To grow and share this news, they would have probably been better off to leave the fact that women were the first to find the empty tomb and share it with the rest of the disciples.

4. Post-resurrection appearances.

Jesus didn’t just appear to the 12. But He also appeared to 500 at once! Eating and preparing a meal with the disciples. The consistency across the gospels and other accounts provide credibility to the resurrection narrative.

Why does the resurrection matter?

Through Jesus' resurrection, we have victory over death and the gift of eternal life with Him.

We have all been born into sin. Since the fall we have all been bent away from Gods design. Thats what sin is, living outside Gods design for our lives. Lying, gossip, jealousy, disobedience, and lustful thoughts, all deserve death. They are all outside of Gods design for our lives and leave us in a broken state. Thats why we don’t experience, most of the time, Gods love in our world today.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is eternity separated from God. But its because of what we talked about, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we can be forgiven and have eternal life with Him. I love what Paul says.

1 Corinthians 15:22 NLT

22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

We have new life! I don’t want this to be another message or another easter where we talk about this and go about our day. I want it to change and transform our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 NLT

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s worship Him in this. We have victory over death and our sin because Jesus paid the price for our sin. You do not need to fret or worry about being good enough, Jesus was good enough and thats what matters.

But its decision. This salvation is a free gift. Romans 10:9-10

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Conclusion