The Truth... about The Ressurection

Detective Story - Intro

Title: Sneaker Snatcher: A Totally Serious Investigation (Kind of)

BEGIN AT CHAPTER 4.

Chapter 1: Crime and Kicks

It was just another Tuesday at Halston Heights High School—until tragedy struck.

“I swear on my sneaker shelf, someone stole my Thunder Red Jordans!” Layla shouted, dramatically collapsing onto the cafeteria bench like it was a soap opera.

Oliver gasped. “Not the Thunders. Those are the only reason you pass the school dress code.”

Jack, chewing his third chicken nugget, looked up slowly. “You sure they’re not just under your bed again?”

“They’re GONE,” Layla snapped. “And they were in my locker this time. That’s the third sneaker-napping this week.”

Oliver adjusted his hoodie like a detective putting on a trench coat. “We’re launching an investigation. Effective immediately. Operation Find-The-Footwear is a GO.”

Jack mumbled through his nugget: “We really need a better name.”

Chapter 2: Surveillance...ish

Step one: review the school’s security footage. Unfortunately, none of them had official access, so naturally they did the most logical thing: bribe the janitor with a $5 Starbucks gift card.

Mr. Garcia, now holding a grande caramel macchiato like it was state evidence, squinted at the screen. “Well, this camera’s been broken since like… 2022.”

“Of course it has,” Jack muttered. “This school has the budget of a soggy sandwich.”

“No visuals, but we’ve got clues,” Oliver said, scribbling something unintelligible on a whiteboard he found in the drama room. “The thief is fast, has a good eye for fashion, and clearly hates laces.”

Chapter 3: TikTok Trap

Using their SoleSearch TikTok account, they posted a fake unboxing video of some totally fake but extremely hype-looking sneakers called “Yeezy Flyknit Galaxy 9000s.”

They labeled it: NEW SNEAKERS. ONE OF ONE. LEFT IN LOCKER 318 ;)

Thirty thousand views and one suspicious dot later, the bait was taken.

“The Tracker’s moving,” Oliver said, pointing to the dot on his phone. “Locker room. Second floor.”

“Time to catch this sock bandit in the act,” Layla growled, cracking her knuckles like she was headed into a boss fight.

Quickly they ran to the second floor locker room.

Chapter 4: Busted

Inside the abandoned storage room, they found STOP.…

Create EVIDENCE COLUMN, and Create

Make two lists... all the evidencs and explantions. 

crossing out the explanations that don't work given the evidence...

Now… lets continue...

>>>

Inside the abandoned storage room, they found STOP.… Reese—quiet, artsy, a genius with a glue gun—surrounded by custom sneakers, bedazzlers, paint pens, and enough glitter to blind a person.

“You?!” Layla said, totally shocked and just a little impressed.

Reese blinked, holding up a half-finished masterpiece. “They were so basic. I gave them... personality.”

“You stole my Jordans and added smiley faces and flames to them,” Layla said.

“Look, they smile now.”

Chapter 5: The Deal

Oliver leaned against a desk, suddenly business-like. “You’re clearly talented. But also clearly a criminal.”

Jack shrugged. “A criminal... with style.”

Layla crossed her arms. “Give back the kicks. All of them. And maybe—maybe—we don’t send your glitter crimes viral.”

Reese sighed. “Deal. But only if I can join your TikTok crew.”

They looked at each other.

“Welcome to SoleSearch, - the Newest TikTok Channel Out There.” Oliver said, extending a hand like this was some sort of spy movie.

Reese smiled. “Do I get to keep the sneakers?”

“No,” everyone said at once.

Chapter 6: Viral Justice

They posted the whole story to TikTok.

Their account blew up. Reese became the team’s designer. Layla got her shoes back (customized, but still she was happy).

And somewhere in the hallway, a locker door creaked open… and another pair of sneakers vanished.

“Oh no,” Jack muttered. “It’s happening again.”

Layla glared. “Jack, you’re literally wearing both left shoes.”

Jack looked down. “...ah. Carry on.”

The End. Kinda.

Good news

When is a time in your life when you remember getting Good news?

We all want it, few get it, and little do our minds often think on it, unless they’ve been trained to do so.

Bad news seems to often come.

At work, at home, in the world, or local community.

Today we find ourselves at the opposite of good news.

Bad news.

I realize we’ve just been through the Easter season… but I wanted to take a moment and talk about the important subject of the resurrection of Jesus

Now lets Jump back to where we left it last week.

Last Week

Jesus has just died, we learned that he suffered greatly, and that without Jesus death for us, as a perfect man/god man… our lamb shed for us for all eternity.. we are without hope.

We would be lost.

Jesus loved us that much that God sent his son to save us. We are grateful!

EVIDENCE FOR

This week - what is the evidence for Jesus ressurection and what does it mean for you and me?

Bad News - Jesus is Dead

Evidence #1: Jesus is Dead

Mark 15:37 ESV

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.

Mark 15:42–45 ESV

And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, .… took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Matthew 27:66 ESV

So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Jesus really did Die. He is emblamed. Sealed.

Virtually every scholar on earth agrees Jesus was dead, as we “have no record anywhere of anyone ever surviving a full Roman crucifixion.”

Even The High standard of the American Journal - Peer Reviewed Scientific Study… and said “clearly the weight of the evidence indicates that Jesus was dead even before the wound to his side was inflicted”.

Not to mention Athiests “Gerd Ludermann - “Historically it’s indisputable Jesus was dead.”

Jesus has died, now what?

Evidence #2 - Apostles Go from Scared to Boldness.

ADD TO BOARD

What did the Disciples do?

BEFORE HIS RESURRECTION - they were HIDING in FEAR John 20:19

John 20:19 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

BEFORE HIS RESURRECTION - they were MOURNING in SADNESS

Mark 8:31–32 ESV

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

Sad because their leader is dead, they didn’t see it, and are wondering what’s next?!

BEFORE HIS RESURRECTION - they were ANGRY at themselves

Matthew 26:33 ESV

Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

Jesus Rises from the Dead

Mark 16:1 ESV

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

Mark 16:5–6 ESV

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

AFTER - they REJOICED in VICTORY

John 20:20 ESV

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

AFTER - they COURAGEOUSLY share Truth

Acts 2:37–45 ESV

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized - Peter preaches with courage.

EVIDENCE #3 - Jesus Appeared to Many

Jesus is alive - Appearances

Who does he appear to?

Mary Magdalene - Mark 16:9

Mark 16:9 ESV

Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

The Other Women - Matt 28:8-10-1

Matthew 28:8–10 ESV

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Two Disciples on Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-15

Luke 24:13–15 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

Appearance to the 7 disciples - Fishing - John 21:1-4

John 21:1–4 ESV

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Appearing before the 10 - John 20:19-23

John 20:19–23 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Later Appearing before the 11 - John 20:26-31

John 20:26–31 ESV

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

500 at Ascension -

1 Corinthians 15:6 ESV

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Appearance to James - Jesus Brother

1 Corinthians 15:7 ESV

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Appearance to Many Witnesses -

Acts 1:3 ESV

He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Jesus Appearances Show He:

ate and had a physical body

went through walls so he was also spiritual or spirit.

Body wasn’t stolen becuase he clearly appeared before witnesses

Was who he said he was… God.

STOP & Summarize

Let’s summarize what we’ve learned on the board.

FACTS SHEET -

Jesus Dead.

Apostles scared > boldness.

Jesus appears to many

Evidence #4 - Historians Speak of Jesus

Did you know we’ve found a - “Creed” or a key beliefs manuscript found of the earliest Christian church.” A creed that is an eyewitness based report… the “Creed” was dated back by scholars to within months of the death of Jesus.

For most of what we know about ancient history. It comes from one or maybe two sources of imformation.

And yet for the ressurection of Jesus we have no fewer than 9 ancient sources both from the bible and outside of God’s word.… ie - “Historians who said Jesus rose from the dead”.

Couple examples -

Josephus - not a christian, provided valuable historical information about the first war between the Jews and the Romans, the Maccabees, the Jews, the Sadducees, and the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD.… Without his history, we wouldnt have info on that… he said Yea Jesus was a historical figure, he lived, and died, and appeared to many before he went toheaven.

Tacidus - A roman historican, talks about pontias pilate, Jesus death, and that time period in rome.

Clement - ordained by Peter - Talked about Jesus and his ressurection

Polycarp - wrote a letter where he did the same.

LEAVE OUT

For manuscripts to be correct they must agree with:

A - Archaelogy - The things found only further prove it’s accuracy.

B - Logical Structure “They don’t differ from each other or disagree between documents”

C - Historical Timeline “Info matches historical events, laws, religions or customs”

D - Chain of Custody “Scholars can track how texts were preserved and copied”

Can we trust the Manuscripts to be “Historical”?

All these are historical documents that are considered “ANCIENT” and very very old… about as old as they get!

“Tactitus Annals” - AD 116 - 2 main manuscripts

“One of the greatest roman historians of all time, his accounts match archaelogical evidence from TIberius through Nero”.

“Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars” 50 BC - Caesar was a first hand witness and author, and other Roman writers reference it. Covers caesars campaigns in gaul or modern day france.

“New Testament” - 1st century AD, The earliest manuscript dates to 4th century, with over 5,800 original manuscripts with early and later copies of the NT writers.”

“Homers Illiad” - 700 BC - 1,700 known that discussed “Bronze Age Weapons, customs, and cities confirmed by archaelogy.

Plato’s Dialogues - 400-300’s BC - “Less than 12. PLatos philosophical system had a deep influence and is referenced by Aristotle. Our modern learning system throughout history, and even the “socratic method” around that time is used widely and regarded as fact.

Papias of Hierapolis, writing in the early 2nd century -

Wrote of Mark... writing for an eyewitness - Peter.

“"Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, ... whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. So then Mark made no mistake in thus writing down some things as he remembered them; for he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.”

Evidence #5 - Dead men can’t Ressurect

Could’ve Jesus done it on it’s own?

Here’s what happens when someone dies...

🧠 1. Brain Damage (Happens FAST!)

After just 4–6 minutes without oxygen, brain cells start dying permanently

The brain is like a super-sensitive computer—if it doesn’t get oxygen, it “crashes” quickly and can’t reboot.

Even if someone could restart their heart later, the brain would likely already be damaged beyond repair—leading to brain death or no awareness.

❤️ 2. Heart and Blood Flow Stops

When your heart stops beating, blood no longer flows, meaning oxygen and nutrients can’t reach your organs

Without oxygen, cells in every organ start suffocating and dying—some within minutes, others over hours.

Restarting a heart doesn’t magically fix all the damage from that time without oxygen.

🫁 3. Lungs Collapse and Fill With Fluids

Lungs stop working, and carbon dioxide builds up—this makes the blood acidic, which damages organs even more.

Without lung function, there’s no way to get fresh oxygen, speeding up death.

🦠 4. The Body Starts to Break Down (Decomposition)

Within a few hours: cells start dissolving, bacteria in your body begin eating away at tissue.

Muscles stiffen (called rigor mortis), and your body temperature drops.

After a day or two, organs liquefy, and the body becomes impossible to repair without being completely remade.

⚖️ So What Would It Take to Reverse All That?

You’d need to:

Repair millions of brain cells instantly.

Fix heart, lung, kidney, and liver damage.

Remove harmful waste and toxins that built up.

Restart every system in sync—which has never happened naturally or without extreme outside help.

📊 Chance of Rising From the Dead Without Help?

It would be like trying to rebuild a smashed iPhone with your mind, blindfolded, in a hurricane. 😅

Summarize:

Let’s summarize what we’ve learned on the board.

FACTS SHEET -

Jesus Dead.

Apostles scared > boldness.

Jesus appears to many - in person.

Manuscripts are Reliable

Dead Men Can’t Ressurect.

Conclusion: Good news

I have with me a candle - signifying the light of the gospel - the GOOD NEWS.

Imagine a world in which Jesus died and stayed dead.

Imagine a world where the resurrection of Jesus never happened. Humanity, burdened by sin, has no hope of redemption - ever. Death reigns over all unchecked by a loving God, and we are left grappling with life in despair with no promise of a present or future live filled with hope and peace. Without the hope of heaven, everyday life just becomes a jarring series of moments, deprived of meaning or purpose, devoide of destination.

Like a train with no tracks, or a boat losing its anchor… we wander aimlessly... Looking, longing for something that could be, but will always be out of reach. In this landscape, relationships are futile (why try), and the victory of good overcoming the terrible evil in our world fades as a distant dream. Life becomes meaningless, utterly broken and without hope. We wander through shadows, forever longing for a light that never comes.

This is what it would feel like if Jesus was just another man. And if he didn’t conquer death, hell, and the grave.

Thankfully - That didn’t happen.

God came to earth, and his Resurrection Changed everything.

What this means?

🙌 1. You’re Never Too Far Gone

What it means: Jesus coming back to life shows that nothing is impossible for God—including giving you a fresh start.

For a teen: Struggled with anxiety, guilt, or feeling worthless? The resurrection means your past doesn’t define your future.

“If Jesus beat death, He can help me through anything.”

💥 2. Hope in the Middle of Pain

What it means: Life doesn’t end in darkness. Even when everything seems broken (like it did on Good Friday), God is still working behind the scenes.

For a teen: When school, family, or friendships fall apart—there’s still hope. The resurrection says that God brings life out of pain.

“Just because I feel stuck now doesn’t mean it’s the end of my story.”

🔄 3. A Reason to Live Differently

What it means: If Jesus really rose from the dead, then everything He said matters—including loving others, forgiving, and standing for truth.

For a teen: It challenges you to live for more than likes, drama, or just surviving school—to live for something eternal - beyond you.

“Jesus rising means I want to rise above it all too.”

🧭 4. Your Identity Isn’t in what the “People out there” say about the “You In Here”.

What it means: Jesus beat death to show that your worth isn’t based on popularity, grades, or looks—but on how God sees you and loves you - as you come to him.

For a teen: You’re not “just a student” or “just average.” You’re someone God thought was worth dying—and rising—for.

“If Jesus gave everything for me, I must be worth something huge.”

🌍 5. You’re Part of a Bigger Story

What it means: The resurrection launched a movement that changed the world—and it invites you to be part of it.

He literally wants to change the world, through you, in your neighborhood. One friend, one person at a time.

For a teen: You don’t have to live for yourself only. You get to make a real difference by sharing truth, love, and hope in your own school or friend group.

“I can live with purpose because I’m part of God’s bigger story.”

Question I want to leave you with:

Who on your street, or in your block shows by their actions, words, or emotions… they need hope! They long for peace! They need a savior.

Comittment:

Daily pray for them.

Daily pray for yourself to shine as a bright light offering the hope through Jesus opwer shining inside you.

Close in prayer.