Resurrection - The Evidence
0 Amens
"Accounts of Jesus' resurrection and ascension are about as well documented as Jack and the Beanstalk." Prof Richard Dawkins. Do you agree? A few years ago, evidence was what mattered. Books galore were written giving evidence that the res must have taken place. Evidence that demands a verdict, More evidence that demands a verdict.
The trouble with proofs is that there are two sorts: There is scientific proof, whereby an experiment is conducted which produces one answer. And this implies that all such similar experiments will turn out the same way. It assumes that if we put the facts into the machine, they will all come out the same way.
But there is another way of proving something; not so much a scientific method, more a legal/historic method. If I ask you if you went to work Fri. morning, you might tell me you did. But what’s the proof? You show me a train ticket – I say you picked it up from the ground somewhere. You tell me you have used your computer at work – I say that someone else could have used it and you weren’t there. You say that you made some phone calls. I can’t find any recording of them. HOWEVER, as I start to talk to others who say you, as I read what you claim to have written, I start to build up a picture. I know history cannot be repeated, so I can’t do any experiments scientifically, but I can say that the accumulated evidence seems to say that BEYOND RESASONABLE DOUBT it appears you went to work. Written evidence reliable? P.75 Kel Richards
When we’re talking of the res. we can’t repeat the experiment – it was a one-off. However we can start to build up our evidence, and as it accumulates we ask: Is it beyond reasonable doubt that Jesus came back from the dead in a transformed, yet connected body?
Is it likely that it could have happened? Is there enough "evidence" to support the claim? What are the alternatives to him rising from the grave?
Did Jesus really die?
Did Jesus really die, or did he just pretend to die. The "swoon" theory, put forward by Venturini at end of 18th C., said that Jesus either swooned death so that the Roman guards only thought he was dead. A similar view from Hugh Schonfield in The Passover Plot says that on the cross when Jesus cried out "I thirst" the soldiers brought drugged him with wine. Once in the cold tomb, Jesus revived, came out of his unconscious state and walked free. He appeared to be resurrected but really only feigned death.Now look at the evidence for the crucifixion: What is the evidence ?
This is one of the most brutal forms of execution which the Romans had perfected. The gospel writers tend not to dwell on the ghastly elements – Mel Gibson does that in The Passion of the Christ. Some of the telling clues that Jesus died are written up by John.
When the soldiers came to Jesus after he had given up his spirit, Jn 19:30, they didn’t break his legs – as they did with others, cos they found he was already dead, 33, so they pierced his side with a spear; out came a sudden flow of blood and water, 34. This is highly significant as its clearly the sign of an eye-witness – showing the blood had separated, a sure sign of death – since it means that Jesus' lungs had collapsed and he’d died of asphyxiation.
Furthermore, if Jesus was not fully dead, he must have been extremely weak. How was he able from inside the tomb to move the huge stone door that was sealed. The women who came on Sunday morning didn’t know how they would be able to roll the stone away, Mk 16:3 + 15:46c
All the evidence we have points to the man Jesus being truly dead.
Did Jesus really rise?
There are only two possibilities; either he did or he didn’t. If he didn’t, then what happened to his body?
Wrong Tomb. Some say that the disciples found the wrong tomb, but the women had watched hid die and saw the tomb where he was placed, Luke 23:55.
Body stolen.. But who by? If the enemies of Jesus stole it, wouldn’t they produce it for all to see – that would have put an end to Christianity and shown it up as make-believe. If the disciples of Jesus stole it – that would mean that they built their whole ministry on a lie. And then they were willing to die for their beliefs. Are they the sort of people who would do that? Matt 28:13 is the story of what the guards were to say. But that’s a nonsense story; they would have been asleep, so how did they knew who stole it; and if they had to tell a lie, then something needed explaining. The fact is there was no body.
Followers deceived. Some say the followers of Jesus only thought they saw him alive – but they were deluded, since they so wanted to believe that he was the Son of God with power over death, that they thought they saw him alive. It’s a bit like a person who’s been married many, many years and their loved one dies. Sometimes when they hear a sound – they think the deceased has walked into the house again.
But the disciples did NOT expect Jesus to rise. The women go to the tomb to finish off the burial ritual Lk 24:1f. The men too rush to the tomb, cos they don’t believe the women,11, and are left puzzled. Paul says that 500 people saw Jesus alive, 1 Cor 15:6. Now hallucinations happen to individuals – not to groups – and certainly not to such a large group. And it was groups who saw Jesus.
Personally predicted. It is most interesting to see how often Jesus himself said that he would die AND RISE AGAIN. After Peter has declared that he is Messiah in Mk 8, look at these refs: Mk 8:31, 9:31,10:34
Jesus made it very clear that he would rise three days later, on the third day.
Eye-witness testimonies. In the early church – as in courts today – when you had first-hand evidence, seen with your own eyes, that was very powerful. Paul is keen to list many people who saw Jesus alive: 1 Cor 15: 5-7 Peter, James, 500 people. In fact every gospel account ends with stories of people who saw Jesus alive, and they are different people mentioned – which shows they didn’t all crib from each other.
Paul transformed. The apostle Paul began as a really bad guy. He went around persecuting Jesus’ followers, as he was so determined to uphold Jewish laws. But he was radically altered as he encountered the risen Jesus – his story is in Acts 9, but he tells the Corinthians that he has seen the Lord, 1 Cor 9:1 and that Jesus appeared to him, 1 Cor 15:8.
Outside evidence. There are unbelieving historians who acknowledge Jesus rose again; The Jewish Jospehus from 1st C. The Roman, Pliny claimed the Xns met before dawn on the first day
See handout: Sir Edward Clarke- As a lawyer I have made a prolonged study of the evidence of the first Easter Day…….
Did the resurrection make much difference?
Maybe, like a previous Bishop of Durham, you still think of the res. as a "conjuring trick with bones" that hardly makes any difference. But think of these things:
Disciples radically changed. After Jesus had died the disciples were very fearful; they hid away in the Upper Room – even when Jesus appeared to them. But following the downpouring of the Holy Spirit they were so transformed that they spoke out boldly in favour of Jesus, claiming to have seen him alive again. See Acts 2:29-33. When Paul went to Athens and spoke of the resurrection, some though it was a new god, Acts 17:18. So firm were they in their convictions that they even died for believing in Jesus and the res.
Can we really believe that these men knew Jesus had not truly risen, yet told everyone he had? Would they be willing to die for such a lie?
When you read through their speeches in Acts, you find that the resurrection gets mentioned even more that the cross. Maybe everyone knew that all people have to die sometime, but rise again? That’s staggering – so you have to tell people about it. And many were around at the time and knew of the events in Jerusalem. (Think of explosion of Xnty from 500followers Jesus left, to a world-religion)
The object of worship. As good Jews, the early followers of Jesus knew the 10 commandments; they were to have no other gods but Yahweh; they were not to make any false god into the one they worship, not to have any images of the true God. But the Christians worshipped Jesus. If he was merely a man – showing his humanity by his death – then this was blasphemy. But if he conquered death – cos he was LIFE itself and had life; if he was really – as he once said, The resurrection and the Life, then he was God – not God the father, but God the Son. He was worthy of their worship – and ours too.
If the resurrection is true, then how can we hold back our worship of Jesus. He is the true Lord of life and death. He does hold the keys to death and hell, let alone heaven.
~~ end
Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we weigh up the evidence for what happened to your son, we’re amazed at just how much there is of it. We thank you that all is recoded in the Bible for all to see. We praise you that the church grew so fast and so large, despite bitter persecution; and it was founded on the death & res. of Jesus. This really encourages us and strengthens our beliefs. Give us a confidence in all that you say, but especially in the fact that Jesus truly dealt with sin and death. Continue to change our lives through your cross-work we pray, for we ask it for your greater glory. Amen
Handout for service
Resurrection Series 2 March 2008
Resurrection: The evidence - What’s the proof?
1. Did Jesus really die?
2. What is the evidence?
Jn 19:30 given up his spirit,
Mk 16:3 + 15:46
3. Did Jesus really rise?
Wrong Tomb Luke 23:55 (page no)
Body stolen
Followers deceived Lk 24:1f. (page no) 1 Cor 15:6.
Personally predicted Mk 8:31, 9:31,10:34 (page nos)
Eye-witness testimonies 1 Cor 15: 5-7 (page no)
Paul transformed 1 Cor 9:1 (page no)1 Cor 15:8(page no)
Outside evidence Jospehus Pliny
4. Does the resurrection make much difference?
Sunday replaces Saturday Acts 20:7
Disciples radically changed Acts 2:29-33 Acts 17:18
The object of worship
Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the Life, John 11:25 (page?)
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