Witnesses of the Resurrection

Open: On August 9, 2014 Michael Brown, an 18 year old black man was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, MO. During the aftermath, the story was quickly spread that Brown turned to the white officer with his hands up and saying “don’t shoot.” Wide-spread rioting and looting soon followed, with many of the protesters taking to the streets with hands in the air chanting, “hands up, don’t shoot.”

A thorough investigation following the incident revealed that this chain of events DID NOT happen that way. The incident has been discredited, much to the disappointment of many who were trying to use this shooting to support their narrative of systemic racism by the police in this country against blacks.

Transition: This tragic event, and it was and remains a tragedy in that a life was lost and a family is still suffering, highlights the importance of valid eye witness testimony. When an event takes place that has the potential to impact many others, that event will be subject to much scrutiny. Under rigorous and thorough investigation, the truth will emerge. That is why it is so important to understand what really happened before spreading a story with no viable basis for holding up.

This morning we are going to look at the first-hand witness accounts to the Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Their accounts are crucial in helping individuals arrive at the Truth of this story. Their witness is important because the Resurrection account has been under attack for over 2,000 years. The idea of a dead person coming back to life and staying alive, had never been presented before this, and has not been repeated. It is indeed a unique event that bears consideration.

READ the TEXT: John 20:1 - 18

The possibility of the Reality of the Resurrection is worth examination (John 20:3-8)

Explanation: Even though Jesus had taught the disciples that He would rise again they had not accepted this truth. Jesus had told them several times that He would rise on the third day (Matt 16:21; Luke 9:22), and He also said that just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days so the Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth for 3 days (Matt 12:40)

They obviously were not really expecting Jesus to resurrect because they weren’t even checking to see if it happened. Mary was at the tomb that first Easter Sunday with the other ladies to finish preparing His body, not to witness the Resurrection.

As Mary Magdalene and the others arrived at the tomb that morning they received a great shock. The tomb was empty - the body of Jesus was not there. Mary was still thinking in physical terms; she runs to the disciples and tells them that someone has taken Jesus’ body (v.2)

Argument: Consider that Peter and John and the others are probably laying low and wanting to stay out of sight. Mary arrives at their location and informs them that someone has taken the body. No one at this point is really thinking about resurrection, but they are concerned about the possible desecration of the body so they go to the tomb. That they are concerned is evidenced by the fact that they ran to the tomb (v. 4)

They saw what they did not expect. Hearing that the body was gone they expected the tomb to be completely empty. Grave robbers would have taken everything, but the linen coverings were still present. They also found the head napkin laying by itself and neatly folded. This was not the scene of a grave robbery. John did not have all of the pieces of the puzzle yet, but the Scripture indicates that he saw and believed (v. 8)

The Evidence of the Reality of the Resurrection exists (John 20:14-18)

Explanation: The disciples returned to their homes, but Mary stayed. She was devoted to finding the body of Jesus. She was still focused on a dead body - the idea of resurrection was not present yet. As she is looking for signs of the next direction to take she encounters the angels in the empty tomb. She is weeping while she is looking and the angels ask her WHY she is crying.

Illustrate: Hallie at 3 years old can get upset very quickly over the smallest things. If she is coloring an egg and it breaks, or if the color doesn’t look right she can start crying. As the adults in her life, we know its not a big thing - we know their are more eggs. It’s really not a tragedy

Argument: We humans must give lots of amusement to the supernatural realm. The angels know that Jesus is alive; they also know that Jesus had repeatedly told His followers that He would rise again. Do we not believe Jesus? So they see Mary weeping and ask her WHY. Mary responds that she is upset because someone has taken the body of Jesus and she can’t find it. Before the angels can respond, Mary turns and sees Jesus outside the tomb. She thinks that He is the gardener, so she asks Him if He knows where Jesus is.

NOTE: The Resurrected body of Jesus was different in many ways from His previous body. In several post-resurrection accounts, Jesus is not immediately recognized by those who knew Him (Luke 24:16; John 21:4)

Mary asks Jesus the same question, but an amazing thing happens when He simply speaks her name - she immediately knows that He is Jesus. He really is the Good Shepherd and His sheep recognize His voice (John 10:3).

Mary gave first-hand eyewitness accounting that she had seen the Risen Lord (John 20:8).

Mary re-unites with the other women and as they are all on the way to tell the news, the Risen Christ appears to the other ladies as well (Matthew 28:9-10)

On Easter Sunday afternoon the Risen Christ is encountered by two disciples on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-36). They immediately return to Jerusalem to tell the apostles

At evening on the first Easter Sunday the Risen Christ appears to the 10 disciples (John 20:19-23).

One week later, the Risen Christ appears to the 11 disciples, including Thomas (John 20:26-28).

The Risen Christ is seen by His half-brother James, and a crowd of 500 hundred believers at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:3-9)

Application: The historical evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus exists. No other faith leader has ever made such a claim, nor have any followers of another religion claimed their leader was resurrected and backed it up with so much evidence in the form of eye witness accounts.

That brings us to the final point of the message this morning - the element of faith. What about us? What about every who has lived outside of that initial circle of those who physically saw the Risen Christ?

Faith that accepts the Reality of the Resurrection is blessed by God (John 20:27-29)

Explanation: The initial reaction to being told that a person who had been dead for part of three days was alive again is generally one of disbelief. To accept a truth claim like that out of the blue is a big leap, and a person who accepts that belief, with no other supporting evidence, might be a bit unstable.

The Bible presents us with the account of one of Jesus’ original apostles who was absent from the first group meeting in which Jesus showed up in His post-resurrection body. Thomas was not there, and when he was told by the other 10 that Jesus was alive, he refused to accept it. Thomas said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finder into the print of the nails, and thrust my had into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25)

Argument: The 11 are gathered together a week later, and Jesus shows up again. Thomas sees the Risen Lord and responds with worship (John 20:26-28). This of course, is the appropriate response. For those of us outside that initial and unique group of believers who physically saw the Risen Christ, verse 29 is crucial. Jesus pronounces a blessing upon those of us who believe without seeing.

Have you noticed the distinction Jesus made in his Resurrection appearances? Jesus only appeared to believers. He chose not to appear to any unbeliever. Consider that for a moment. Consider what you would have done, had you been Jesus at that time. I think I might have popped in on Pilate. Said, “hey, Pilate: just want you to know you really messed up with that Crucifixion call.” Maybe I would have paid Caiphas a visit to let him know how wrong he had been. Jesus did none of those things. He chose to reward the faith that was already present.

The necessity of faith is probably not the way any of us would have planned out the Salvation experience if we would have been consulted. It is good to remember that God developed His plan, and He did not ask for input from any of us. His Way of Redemption led through a Cross and a Crucified Savior - none of us would have even been able to conceive such a thing. God could very well send angels to the masses, and the Risen Christ could manifest Himself wherever and to whomever He chooses. He could do that right now if He so desired.

The plan, however, focused on believers giving testimony to the power of Jesus to others. Beginning with that first privileged group, the testimony has been consistent - Repent and believe. Trust the Risen Christ and place your faith in Him alone for salvation and deliverance. This is the Gospel message, and this is humanity’s only Hope: Jesus is Alive, and His life vindicates His claims. The indwelling of the Spirit of Christ empowers His followers to live with joy and hope

Conclusion: Christianity rises or falls based on the Reality of the Resurrection. The Apostle Paul made this crystal clear when he declared, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). Without the Resurrection we are hopeless fools who are deluded and guilty of trying to draw others into our delusion.

The Resurrection Event is REAL. It physically occurred in time and space: it happened outside of Jerusalem, in approx. the year 33, and it was attested to by many witnesses. A cover up of the original account was attempted (Matthew 28:11-15), but the reality of the Resurrection was not stopped.

Through the millennia there have been those who have attempted to explain away the empty tomb. But the account holds together because it is true. The attempt is made to alter or suppress the truth of current events (Ferguson, MO, war atrocities in Viet Nam, etc) some more successful than others, but the truth eventually comes out to the embarrassment of those who tried to hide it.

The Truth of the Resurrection has withstood the test of time, and it will continue to stand. It is Truth and it will persist. But, and this is vital to understand, not a single person has ever been brought into the Kingdom through reason alone. Christianity is objective truth and it has historical evidence, but the way into the Kingdom is through faith in Jesus. In one of His great I AM statements in the Gospel of John, Jesus declared, “I AM the Door” (John 10:9) and that door is entered by faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6)