1. III. THE TOMB WAS FOUND EMPTY ON EASTER MORNING.
1.1. All four Gospels report that the disciples found the tomb empty on Sunday morning
1.1.1. The Roman guards reported it empty
1.1.2. On Pentecost, when the apostles declared that Jesus had risen from the dead in the very city where he had been crucified and buried
1.1.3. No one even attempted to refute them. Everyone, including skeptics, admits that the tomb was empty
1.1.3.1. Here is his body
1.2. Did the disciples steal the body?
1.2.1. The Roman guard had been posted for the very purpose of preventing such a theft
1.2.1.1. Matthew 27:62–64 62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’
1.2.1.2. Matthew 27:62–64 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
1.2.2. Stealing Jesus’ body and then lying about the resurrection is Incompatible with the cowardice of the disciples
1.2.2.1. On Thursday, they fled from the Garden of Gethsemane
1.2.2.1.1. Matthew 26:56 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled
1.2.2.1.2. Mark 14:50–52 50 Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. 51 One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, 52 he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.
1.2.2.2. And when Jesus appeared to the disciples the evening he arose
1.2.2.3. They were hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews
1.2.2.3.1. John 20:19 19 That Sunday evening* the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
1.2.2.4. These are not guys that are brave enough to sneak by Roman Soldiers
1.2.3. If the resurrection were a hoax
1.2.3.1. The disciples would not have put forth women as their chief witnesses because women were invalid witnesses according to Jewish principle of evidence
1.2.3.2. They never would have died for a lie
2. IV. THE RISEN LORD WAS SEEN, HEARD, AND TOUCHED.
2.1. More than five hundred people saw Jesus alive over a period of forty days
2.1.1. Between his resurrection and ascension
2.1.2. Most of them were still living when Paul wrote to the Corinthians in a.d. 56
2.1.2.1. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 5 He was seen by Peter* and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers* at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
2.2. Were the post-resurrection appearances hallucinations?
2.2.1. The appearances were witnessed by more than five hundred people on at least eleven separate occasions
2.2.1.1. It is inconceivable that five hundred people in different groups, at different times, in different situations, should experience the same hallucination.
2.2.2. The disciples’ belief that Jesus had appeared to them lasted well beyond the forty days they saw him
2.2.2.1. Belief in a hallucination usually ceases with the cessation of the hallucination, yet the apostles maintained their belief in Jesus’ resurrection for the rest of their lives.
2.2.3. The disciples did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead
2.2.3.1. Hallucinations require a spirit of excited expectation to project something that really isn’t there
2.2.3.2. The women came to anoint a dead body
2.2.3.2.1. Mark 16:1 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
2.2.3.3. When Mary first saw Jesus she mistook him for the gardener
2.2.3.3.1. John 20:14–16 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
2.2.3.3.2. 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
2.2.3.4. The disciples dismissed the first report of the resurrection
2.2.3.4.1. Luke 24:11 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.
2.2.3.5. Yet in the end they were convinced despite their own initial skepticism.
2.2.4. The disciples ate with Jesus. Hallucinations do not eat
2.2.4.1. They also do not serve breakfast. But the resurrected Jesus did, as recorded in
2.2.4.1.1. Luke 24:30 30 As they sat down to eat,* he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them.
2.2.4.1.2. Luke 24:40 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
2.2.4.1.3. Acts 10:39-40 39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear
3. CONCLUSION
3.1. Like Thomas
3.1.1. We have every reason to believe that Jesus Christ conquered death and actually rose from the dead
3.1.2. And the only appropriate response we can make is to say to Christ
3.1.3. And the only appropriate response we can make is to say to Christ what Thomas did...
3.1.3.1. John 20:28 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
3.1.4. The Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”
3.1.4.1. John 20:30, 31 30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe* that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
3.1.5. Without the Resurrected Christ, there is no Christianity.
4. Message Video
5. John 20:24–31
5.1. John 20:24 24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),* was not with the others when Jesus came.
5.2. John 20:25 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
5.3. John 20:26 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
5.4. John 20:27 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
5.4.1. Because of him, the term “Doubting Thomas” was introduced into our language
5.4.2. History has not been kind to Thomas
5.4.2.1. Thomas went on to be a missionary in India
5.4.2.2. He was killed with spears
5.4.2.3. Sam Chand, a fantastically successful minister from India, spoke about Thomas and the Christians of India now
5.4.2.3.1. They are very aware and grateful for Thomas to this very day.
5.5. John 20:28-29 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
5.6. John 20:30 30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book.
5.7. John 20:31 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe* that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
5.8. I hope the question is in you.
5.8.1. Could it possibly be true?
5.8.2. Did it really happen?
6. I. JESUS WAS ACTUALLY DEAD
6.1. For generations eggheads have tried to come up with excuses to explain why Jesus did not really die.
6.1.1. None hold up to Scrutiny
6.2. Jesus really was resurrected from the dead!
6.2.1. Some skeptics have concocted theories that Jesus fainted
6.2.1.1. But Jesus was seen to be medically dead
6.2.1.1.1. John 19:31 31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
6.2.1.1.2. John 19:32-33 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.
6.2.1.1.3. John 19:34 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe. )
6.2.1.2. And was later pronounced legally dead by the Roman authorities
6.2.1.2.1. Mark 15:44, 45 44 Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. 45 The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.
6.2.2. All four Gospels say that Jesus died on the cross
6.2.2.1. Historians agree that Jesus was executed
6.2.2.1.1. Tacitus
6.2.2.1.2. Josephus
6.2.2.1.3. Lucian
6.2.2.2. No one disputed that fact during the lifetime of the original witnesses.
6.2.2.2.1. It is hard to argue with an eye witness
7. II. JESUS WAS BURIED IN A SEALED, GUARDED TOMB
7.1. The tomb was guarded and sealed to prevent removal of the body and to ensure that no false claim of a resurrection could be made
7.1.1. 21.11 ἀσφαλίζωa: to cause something to be secure in the sense of something which could not be tampered with or opened—‘to make secure, to be guarded.’
7.1.1.1. Used three times in
7.1.1.1.1. Matthew 27:64 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
7.1.1.1.2. Matthew 27:65-66 65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
7.1.2. This word often describes the securing of a fortress or a military stronghold.
7.2. The tomb was secured by a large stone or boulder a seal
7.2.1. Mark 16:4 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
7.2.2. Matthew 27:66 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.