He Is Not Here, He Is Risen (4/9/12)

Shalom,

Please begin by reading Matt 28:1-10.

The words, "He is not here, he has risen, JUST AS HE SAID," form the core of our beliefs as Christians and followers of Jesus the Christ. Without the Resurrection nothing else Jesus did would matter. If there wasn't this return from the dead, we would only have a man with a wonderful ministry while he lived. All evidence within the New Testament points to the fact that the Gospel is about Jesus and his Resurrection. It's not the simplistic "follow the teacher and do your best and your life will be good" philosophy that is taught in liberal churches. You can't take away the Resurrection without radically altering Christianity and actually destroying its very identity.

Josh McDowell states: "after more than 700 hours 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." He also says he's unable to refute Christianity because he's unable to explain away that the resurrection of Jesus is a recorded event in human history, not just our Bibles.

The early Church thrived because the resurrection was more than just a point of belief. It was the basis of their faith. Without faith in the resurrection there would be no Christianity. The "Christian" Church would never have begun without this marvelous event. The Jesus Movement would have fizzled out quickly after his execution if he didn't really rise from the dead and visit with his disciples. Rom 10:9-10 points out how important our belief in the Resurrection is. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

When a modern church deemphasizes the importance of belief in the Resurrection they deny the validity of the Scriptures. Confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in his Resurrection matter. It's not just a story to enhance the legend. It's historical. We find the first century historian Josephus including the fact that Jesus rose from the dead in his writings. And it's remarkable because he was far from sympathetic to Christians. Josephus was a Jew writing to please the Romans. His inclusion of the Resurrection wouldn't have pleased them in the slightest. He would hardly have included it if it wasn't true There must have been some very compelling evidence to make him report it.

The meaning of the Resurrection is definitely a theological matter, but the fact of the Resurrection is a most definitely historical one. The nature of Jesus' resurrection body may be a mystery, but the fact that the tomb was empty is decided by historical evidence. We know more details about the hours surrounding Jesus' death than we do any other man in the ancient world. The solid and certain faith the early disciples walked in was founded upon their very real experience. Acts 1:3 says Jesus "showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive."

Luke used a powerful word for "convincing proofs." It means a demonstrable proof. These early believers had empirical evidence. They saw Jesus. They were convinced. In this time when people want proof, we have it. It's within the historical record, not just in the Bible. But what's in the Bible is superbly strong and capable of convincing anyone with an honestly seeking heart. Those who say Jesus is part of a fairy tale haven't seriously considered the evidence.

Listen to a quote from Professor Thomas Arnold, chair of Modern History at Oxford University: "The evidence for our Lord's life and death and resurrection may be, and often has been, shown to be satisfactory; it is good according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. Thousands and ten of thousands of persons have gone through it piece by piece, as carefully as every judge summing up a most important case. I have myself done it many times over, not to persuade others but to satisfy myself. I know of no fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead."

Historical evidence for the Resurrection is stronger than for any other miracle recorded. But that doesn't save souls, faith in the Lord Jesus does that. In 1 Cor 15, Paul stressed that the Resurrection is vital to our faith, for without it preaching and faith are both in vain. Remember Rom 10:9-10, our faith should be grounded in the Resurrection. Let the whole world know that Jesus is alive! Let them know that his love overcomes all objections, tribulations, doubts, fears, and stubbornness when they truly give the truth a chance.

The concept that Jesus rose from the dead with a new body while his old one remained in the tomb is a modern notion. Jewish mentality would never have accepted this two body concept. They would have checked the empty tomb. So when the disciples began to preach the Resurrection in Jerusalem and people responded, and religious leaders stood by helplessly watching, the tomb had to be empty. The simple fact that the Christian fellowship, founded upon the belief in Jesus' Resurrection, came into existence in the very city where he was executed and buried is powerful evidence for the historicity of that Resurrection.

Blessings & Peace, Mike