Evangelical Free Church of Embarass

Let’s pray together.

Our Father, we praise You for what brings us here this morning. We do not serve someone who lived for a while, died, was buried somewhere, and is only a memory. Father, we serve a living Savior, a living Lord who is with us even now, every day of our lives. We thank You for that, and we celebrate it this morning. As we think back to the historical fact of the resurrection, as we look at it from Your word, I pray that You would bless us once again and that Your Spirit would speak to the hearts of those who have come, but don’t understand the joy and celebration of this day. Father, reach out to them and help them come to You today. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

The resurrection: hoax or truth?

There’s a movie titled “Dave.” It begins with the president of the United States going into a coma. His staff decides they must keep this a secret from the country, so they find a common, ordinary man named Dave, who looks exactly like the president. They talk him into pretending he is the president. He goes through a quick training period, and it works. He fools the country.

In 1995, a philosopher named Robert Cavin proposed what he called the Twin Theory, which became his explanation of why the resurrection of Jesus Christ didn’t actually happen. His theory goes like this: “Jesus had an identical twin brother. They were separated at birth and didn’t know about each other. By chance, the twin brother showed up in Jerusalem for the Passover the very day Jesus was being crucified outside the city. Walking by the scene, he noticed what was happening and stopped to watch. Seeing the man on the cross and hearing the story from bystanders, the twin realized that Jesus was his brother. That evening, he stole Jesus’ body from the tomb, hid it, and then convinced everyone that he was the risen Christ. His trick worked and the people were fooled into believing a real resurrection had taken place.”

Again, this is called the Twin Theory. Actually, the first theories and explanations of why the resurrection never really happened began on the very day Christ arose. According to Matthew 28, the Jewish religious leaders immediately devised a plan to pay people to spread the word that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body. Since that day, there have been countless attempts to refute the truth of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

On your study sheet there is a quote from Josh McDowell: “After more than 700 hours of studying this subject and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, or it is the most fantastic fact of history.” This morning, I’ll present some reasons for believing that the resurrection is indeed the most fantastic fact of history.

Visible appearances

I’d like you to consider what might be the strongest argument that the resurrection of Jesus Christ actually happened. There is other evidence supporting the truth of the resurrection, but the best argument might be the visible appearances of Christ to many people.

There are scriptures in the Gospel of John and the book of Acts that describe visible appearances of Christ shortly after His resurrection. We’ll start in John Chapter 20, verses 10 through 18. We learn that Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb early in the morning, crying because it was empty. She did not know what had happened to Jesus’ body. The angels who were there asked her why she was crying. “‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put Him.’ At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there – but she did not realize it was Jesus. ‘Woman,’ He said, ‘Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking He was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I’ll get Him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned to Him and cried out, ‘Rabboni’ (which means Teacher).”

“Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord.’” She didn’t go back to the disciples and say, “Somebody told me He has risen.” Her words were, “I have seen the Lord.” She saw Him herself, with her own eyes.

Verse 19 continues the story. “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”

We’re told in verses 24 and 25 that Thomas wasn’t there at the time. When he finally came, they were excited and said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” Again, they were not telling Thomas that they heard the Lord was risen. These men told their friend that they had visibly seen the Lord.

Then, Thomas made that great statement of doubt: “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand in His side, I won’t believe it.”

A week later, Thomas was with the disciples and Jesus came and stood among them. In verse 27 Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. See My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting, and believe.” Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas said that because he saw. He saw the hands and the side; he saw Jesus visibly.

John 21:1 says, “Afterward, Jesus appeared again to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee.” It’s a while later, and they are not in Jerusalem. Jesus visibly appeared to the disciples again. It goes on to describe how He even had breakfast with them.

Acts Chapter 1, verse 3 says, “After His suffering, Jesus showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days.” Do you notice the words that point to visible appearances? He showed Himself to these men; He appeared to them over a period of 40 days.

In Acts 2:32, Peter is preaching to a crowd on the Day of Pentecost. “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.” Peter says, “He is risen and we are witnesses.” They saw Him – visibly. In Acts 3:14, Peter, preaching on another day to another crowd, said, “You disown the Holy and Righteous One, and ask that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” Peter says that he and the other disciples had seen the resurrected Christ.

In Chapter 10 of Acts, starting with verse 39, Peter is in the home of Cornelius, a gentile, and his family, and he is speaking about Jesus. “We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging Him on a tree, but God raised Him from the dead on the third day, and caused Him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.” Again, Peter is saying, “We were witnesses to the risen Christ. We saw Him numerous times. We even ate and drank with Him. He was visible to us. We are witnesses.”

Acts 13:29 describes the Apostle Paul later on preaching about Jesus and the resurrection: “When they had carried out all that was written about Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead and for many days He was seen by those who had traveled with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to our people.” Paul says, “Jesus was seen by many, and they have now become witnesses.” They visibly saw Him.

Turn to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, starting in verse 3. Paul says, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the

Scriptures.”

Usually, when we talk about the Gospel, we think about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, but when Paul presents the Gospel, he adds a fourth happening. Notice what he adds in verse 5: “…and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, although some have died. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, He appeared to me also.” (Paul is referring to the Damascus road experience he had.)

Notice in the text how many times the word “appeared” appears. Jesus appeared to hundreds. He appeared to people individually, and He appeared to groups of people. Paul presents this as an important part of the Gospel message. Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, He rose again, and then He visibly appeared to many.

Significant characteristics of the appearances

I believe that there are some very significant things about the appearances of Christ that provide strong evidence supporting the historical fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

First, according to these accounts, Jesus appeared to many people. Not just one or two or three, but hundreds. We know of over 500. He appeared to women and he appeared to men. He appeared to His disciples, but also to many, many others who were not part of that group.

How many eye witnesses does it take in our courts of law to prove something really happened? Sometimes it takes only one. In Jewish law, it took just two or three witnesses to prove something a fact. More than 500 people saw Jesus. That’s pretty significant.

Second, Jesus appeared to different people in different places at different times – Jerusalem, in a house by the tomb, in a garden, on a road, in Galilee.

The multiple appearances make a conspiracy theory problematic. It would be much easier to pull off a conspiracy about Christ’s resurrection if the witnesses just claimed one sighting, one time, one place. But the accounts talk about many sightings, in many places, at many different times. That’s also significant.

Third, the claim that witnesses saw the resurrected Christ was made very soon after the resurrection. Why is that important? In 1 Corinthians 15:6, the Apostle Paul makes a crucial statement: “After that, Jesus appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living.” That’s a very important phrase. Paul not only claims that Jesus rose from the dead and that Jesus appeared visibly to many people, but he says most of the people who saw Jesus were still alive.

If Paul was part of a conspiracy, he would never have added that phrase, because any skeptic or doubter could find those people and ask them if his claim was accurate.

Let’s say I made this claim to you: “In 1999, I played a round of golf at Pebble Beach with Tiger Woods, and I made a hole in one.” That’s not true, by the way, but if I was trying to deceive you I wouldn’t use Tiger Woods, because you could contact him to find out if I’m telling the truth. If I wanted to deceive you, I would say, “in 1999 I played at Pebble Beach with Sam Snead, and I made a hole in one.” I’m safer there, because Sam Snead is not alive.

Do you see why the Apostle Paul was risking his credibility by adding the phrase about the 500 witnesses? It was an invitation to verify the statement’s accuracy while the witnesses were still alive. He wouldn’t do that if it was a conspiracy.

A fourth significant characteristic of Christ’s visible appearances is that many of the witnesses who saw Him experienced life changes, and were willing to die for what they believed was the truth of the resurrection. As you follow the ministry of the apostles in the book of Acts and also as you read the history of their ministries, you will find that many died for their faith, and specifically for their belief in the resurrection. The most violent responses to their preaching occurred when they talked about the resurrection. They were so convinced it was true that it changed their lives, their thinking, and their mission in life. They went from being fearful men who ran away, to bold men who stood in foreign cities to preach about Jesus. They were willing to die for the message because they were convinced He was alive.

The visible appearances of Christ are extremely powerful in proving the resurrection really happened. I agree with Josh McDowell when he said it’s either the greatest hoax and deception ever devised, or it is the most terrific and exciting historical fact there has ever been. I believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact of history. He arose, and He’s alive.

Could it be?

I want to address those of you here this morning who don’t have a relationship with this Jesus. Perhaps up to this point you have resisted having such a relationship whenever it has been suggested to you. I’m glad and very thankful that you’re here. I want to ask you some questions. Could it be that Jesus really did rise from the dead and is alive? I think so, and I believe you think so. Could it be that what Jesus Christ as a risen, living Lord offers to you is real? Could it be that the ideas of forgiveness of your sins, true meaning in this life, hope beyond this life with God, and all the things that Jesus offers you are real? I think so.

Could it be that this Jesus who rose again and is alive is seeking you and wants to have a relationship with you? Could it be that, if you let Him, He could make a visible difference in your life, in the way you think, in the way you act, in your marriage, and in your home? I think so.

After Thomas had made that great declaration, “My Lord and my God,” Jesus said to him, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet still believe.”

Friends, if you are here and you do not have a relationship with Jesus, you have not had and probably won’t have the opportunity to see Him, as proof that He rose again. But Jesus did rise again. It is a fact of history that many people did visibly see. I believe He is seeking you. He wants a relationship with you, and He wants to make a visible difference in your life. Let Him find you. You’re not the seeker – it’s not a matter of you finding Jesus. He came to seek you. It’s a matter of letting Him find you and surrendering your life to Him. You’ll find out that through a relationship with the living Christ, the offer of forgiveness from sin and guilt is real. The offer of hope beyond this life is real, because His resurrection is real.

Let’s pray.

Father, I praise You that in Your plan Jesus’ return to heaven didn’t immediately follow the resurrection. I thank you that in Your plan You chose to make sure that Jesus visibly appeared to hundreds of people to prove to us that the resurrection is real. We, who know You personally, bow before You right now, and we thank You. We know Jesus is alive. He lives in our lives, and we have seen what He has done. He has made a difference. Father, I pray that You will continue to remind people who don’t know Jesus of Your desire to have a relationship with them through Him. Bring them to that place of surrendering to Jesus, receiving Him into their lives, and seeing what the living Jesus can do. In Christ’s name, amen.