Proof of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Mark 16:1-6

“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, , bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him.² Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun. ³ They said among themselves, “Who will roll the stone away from the door of the tomb for us?” ⁴ But when they looked, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. For it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white robe. And they were frightened. ⁶ He said to them, “Do not be frightened. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here.”

First let’s see why…..

Jesus took our past, present, and future sins upon Himself so that we could have a new life.  Because all our wrongdoing is forgiven, we are reconciled to God. Furthermore, Jesus’s resurrection from the dead is the proof that His sacrifice on the cross is acceptable to God, and His resurrection has become the source of new life for those who believe that Jesus is the son of God. All believe in him may have new life admitted in union with him.

There are many who question the validity of the crucifixion and resurrection.

Some argue that Jesus was never resurrected because he did not die on the cross.

Some say Jesus was unconscious or had fainted and was revived later.

First a Roman soldier told Pilate Jesus was dead.  Second, it was the custom break the legs of the criminal to hasten his death.

Roman soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs because his was already dead.  A soldier put a spear in Jesus’ side to make sure he was dead…So yes Jesus was dead…

John 19:38-40 “After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body.  ³⁹ Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, ⁴⁰ Then they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

So the body was put in the tomb…..

The empty tomb:  Skeptics say well the women went to the wrong tomb.

Mark 15:47 “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where He was laid.” …So no it wasn’t the wrong tomb…

Some say unknown thieves stole Jesus’ body…The tomb was sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers….

Or the disciples stole the body…. The disciples were ready to die for their faith. Stealing His body would have been admitting their faith was meaningless.

Some also have claimed the religious leaders had stolen the body to produce it later:  If they had taken His body, they would have produced it to stop the rumors of the resurrection.

Another very important question:  Did Jesus appear to anyone after His death?

Paul tells us in:

1 Corinthians 15:6 “Then He was seen by over five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present time, though some have passed away.” 

Since eyewitness were still alive, it would have been foolish for Paul to make such a bold statement that could have easily been disproved.

Paul himself was a witness to the resurrected Jesus.  When Paul was a Pharisee he persecuted Christian.  Then on the road to Damascus he was stricken blind by Jesus Christ himself.  It was then that Paul became a believer and became one the most powerful apostles of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection accounts list as many as 12 different appearances of Christ, starting with Mary Magdalene and ending with Paul.  These appearances could not have been hallucinations, due to the variety of situations and the number of individuals involved.  There is no such thing as “group hallucination.”

These appearances were physical and tangible in nature, as evidenced by Christ’s own actions, such as eating with the disciples and suggesting that they touch his side and hands. His resurrected body, though immortal, was undoubtedly a physical body.

The strongest evidence of the resurrection involves the transformation of His disciples.  Within weeks the of Christ’s death, the apostles were given great power giving testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, ⁴ and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” 

The followers of Jesus Christ were willing to die for their faith and many did.  11 of the 12 apostles were martyred for the belief in the resurrection and as Paul said in:

1 Corinthians 15:13-20 ^“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen. ¹⁴ If Christ has not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yes, and we would then be found false witnesses of God…. ¹⁷ If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”