Evidence for the Resurrection

John Farley
Pastor Teacher
Sunday,
April 17, 2022

Happy Resurrection Day!

1Cor 15:12-14

Christianity stands or falls with the truth of the resurrection.

Proving that Jesus really died, was buried, and was raised from the dead,

leaving behind an empty tomb, is a profoundly evangelical pursuit.

Paul thought so.

ACT 17:2-3

Luke thought so too. As did Jesus Himself.

ACT 1:1-3

1CO 15:3-5

1. Jesus really died, and was buried in a known, accessible tomb.

2. That tomb was empty on that third day.

3. After He was raised from the dead, Christ appeared to many different people.

1. Jesus really died, and was buried in a known, accessible tomb.

LUK 23:46-49

Jesus’ death was a very public event. There were many eyewitnesses.

JOH 19:30-35

John gave credible eyewitness testimony.

Jesus was put to death by professional executioners.

The blood and water that flowed out of Jesus’ side is medical proof of death.

JOH 19:38-42

Joseph and Nicodemus - prominent leaders- were convinced that Jesus was dead.

John gave specific, detailed, verifiable details about the burial of Jesus.

Mark tells us more details about the burial of Jesus in MAR 15:42-47.

MAT 27:62-66

The enemies of Jesus unwittingly provided some of the strongest evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.

2. That tomb was empty on that third day.

The empty tomb is a dramatic witness to the bodily resurrection of Christ.

JOH 20:1-10

This account bears all of the markings of a genuine first-hand experience.

The guards who had been guarding the tomb reported that it was empty.

MAT 28:1-4, 11-13

From the outset, the apostles in Jerusalem proclaimed the resurrection of Christ.

The chief priests and Pilate - the worst enemies of Jesus - were in Jerusalem!

There is no record of them contesting the claims that Jesus had risen from that tomb!

3. After He was raised from the dead, Christ appeared to many people at different times and places.

Jesus appeared in His resurrection body to more than 500 witnesses!

1CO 15:5-8

Most of the witnesses were still alive twenty years later.

In the forty days between His resurrection and His ascension,

Christ made 11 appearances to people in various places.

“There exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial,