TheResurrectionOfJesusChrist

Mark16:1-9

TheResurrectionofJesusChrist--TheFocalPointofGospelPreaching

§ 29Menandbrethren,letmefreelyspeakuntoyouofthepatriarchDavid,thatheisbothdeadandburied,andhissepulcheriswithusuntothisday.

§ 30Thereforebeingaprophet,andknowingthatGodhadswornwithanoathtohim,thatofthefruitofhisloins,accordingtotheflesh,hewouldraiseupChristtositonhisthrone;

§ 31Heseeingthisbeforespake oftheresurrectionofChrist,thathissoulwasnotleftinhell,neitherhisfleshdidseecorruption.

§ 32ThisJesushathGodraisedup,whereofweallarewitnesses.§ 33ThereforebeingbytherighthandofGodexalted,andhavingreceivedofthe

FatherthepromiseoftheHolyGhost,hehathshedforththis,whichyenowseeandhear.

§ 34ForDavidisnotascendedintotheheavens:buthesaith himself,TheLORDsaiduntomyLord,Sitthouonmyrighthand,

§ 35UntilImakethyfoesthyfootstool.§ 36ThereforeletallthehouseofIsraelknowassuredly,thatGodhathmade

thatsameJesus,whomyehavecrucified,bothLordandChrist.§ 37Nowwhentheyheardthis,theywereprickedintheirheart,andsaidunto

Peterandtotherestoftheapostles,Menandbrethren,whatshallwedo? (Acts2:29-37)

TheResurrectionofJesusChrist--TheFocalPointofGospelPreaching

• Acts3:15à AndkilledthePrinceoflife,whomGodhathraisedfromthedead;whereofwearewitnesses.

• Acts4:2à Beinggrievedthattheytaughtthepeople,andpreachedthroughJesustheresurrectionfromthedead.

• Acts17:30-31à AndthetimesofthisignoranceGodwinkedat;butnowcommandeth allmeneverywheretorepent:31Becausehehathappointedaday,inthewhichhewilljudgetheworldinrighteousnessbythatmanwhomhehathordained;whereofhehathgivenassuranceuntoallmen,inthathehathraisedhimfromthedead.

• ICor.2:2à ForIdeterminednottoknowanythingamongyou,saveJesusChrist,andhimcrucified.

ImplicationsoftheResurrection• JesusistheMessiah,theSonofGod.Hisclaimsarevalidated.(Jn.2:19-22;Rom.1:3-4)

• JesuswasvictoriousoverSatanashadbeenpromisedandprophesied.(Gen.3:15;Heb.2:14-15)

• JesusisnowreigningasKingonhisthrone.(Acts2:30)

• Deathisnottheend.(ICor.15:19-20)• Wemustliveasthosewhowillalsoberaisedwithaneternaldestiny.(Col.3:1-2)

ChallengesToTheResurrectionofJesusChrist

• TheclaimthatJesuslived,taught,wasagoodmanandgreatteacher,butdidnotperformmiraclesandwasnotraisedfromthedead.

• TheallegationthatthegospelwerewrittenlongafterthelifeanddeathofJesus,notbyeyewitnessesandcontemporaries;andcontainmythsandfablespasseddownbyhisdisciples.

• Thenotionthatonehastosiftthroughthe“myths”toseethe“realJesus”.

• OutrightdenialsofJesusandhisresurrectionfromthedead.

ChallengesToTheResurrectionofJesusChrist

• ThechallengetoprovideananswertothosewhowouldquestionthehopeofachildofGod.– IPet.1:3-4à BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,whichaccordingtohisabundantmercyhathbegottenusagainuntoalivelyhopebytheresurrectionofJesusChristfromthedead,4Toaninheritanceincorruptible,andundefiled,andthatfadeth notaway,reservedinheavenforyou,

– IPet.3:15à ButsanctifytheLordGodinyourhearts:andbereadyalwaystogiveananswertoeverymanthatasketh youareasonofthehopethatisinyouwithmeeknessandfear:

SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist…• Tacitus(RomanSenator/Historian,52-120A.D.)– “…Christus,fromwhomthenamehaditsorigin,sufferedtheextremepenaltyduringthereignofTiberiusatthehandsofoneofourprocurators,PontiusPilatus,andamostmischievoussuperstition,thuscheckedforthemoment,againbrokeoutnotonlyinJudæa,thefirstsourceoftheevil,buteveninRome,whereallthingshideousandshamefulfromeverypartoftheworldfindtheircentre andbecomepopular.

• Accordingly,anarrestwasfirstmadeofallwhopleadedguilty;then,upontheirinformation,animmensemultitudewasconvicted,notsomuchofthecrimeoffiringthecity,asofhatredagainstmankind.

SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist…• Suetonius(RomanhistorianàA.D.69- A.D.140)– LivesoftheCaesars- Claudius,sec.25:• SincetheJewsconstantlymadedisturbancesattheinstigationofChrestus,heexpelledthemfromRome.

– LivesoftheCaesars- Nero,sec.16• PunishmentwasinflictedontheChristians,aclassofmengiventoanewandmischievoussuperstition.

SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• FlaviusJosephus(JewishHistorian– 37-100)• Aboutthistime therelived Jesus,awiseman ifindeedoneoughttocallhimaman.Forhewasonewhowroughtsurprising featsandwasateacherofsuchpeopleasacceptthetruthgladly.Hewonovermany Jewsandmany oftheGreeks. HewastheMessiah.WhenPilate, uponhearinghimaccusedbymenofthehigheststandingamongus, hadcondemnedhimtobecrucified, thosewhohadinthefirstplacecometolovehimdidnot cease. Onthethirdday heappearedtothem restoredto life. For theprophets ofGodhadprophesiedtheseandmyriadsofothermarvellous things abouthim.And thetribeof the Christians,socalledafterhim,hasstilluptonow,notdisappeared. (Antiquities 18.63)

SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• PlinytheYoungerà 61-113A.D.;ProconsulofBithyniaunderTrajan(98-

117)• Itismypractice,mylord,torefertoyouallmattersconcerningwhichIam

indoubt.Forwhocanbettergiveguidancetomyhesitationorinformmyignorance?IhaveneverparticipatedintrialsofChristians.Ithereforedonotknowwhatoffensesitisthepracticetopunishorinvestigate,andtowhatextent.AndIhavebeennotalittlehesitantastowhetherthereshouldbeanydistinctiononaccountofageornodifferencebetweentheveryyoungandthemoremature;whetherpardonistobegrantedforrepentance,or,ifamanhasoncebeenaChristian,itdoeshimnogoodtohaveceasedtobeone;whetherthenameitself,evenwithoutoffenses,oronlytheoffensesassociatedwiththenamearetobepunished.

• Meanwhile,inthecaseofthosewhoweredenouncedtomeasChristians,Ihaveobservedthefollowingprocedure:IinterrogatedtheseastowhethertheywereChristians;thosewhoconfessedIinterrogatedasecondandathirdtime,threateningthemwithpunishment;thosewhopersistedIorderedexecuted.

SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• Soonaccusationsspread,asusuallyhappens,becauseoftheproceedingsgoingon,andseveralincidentsoccurred.Ananonymousdocumentwaspublishedcontainingthenamesofmanypersons.ThosewhodeniedthattheywereorhadbeenChristians,whentheyinvokedthegodsinwordsdictatedbyme,offeredprayerwithincenseandwinetoyourimage,whichIhadorderedtobebroughtforthispurposetogetherwithstatuesofthegods,andmoreovercursedChrist--noneofwhichthosewhoarereallyChristians,itissaid,canbeforcedtodo--theseIthoughtshouldbedischarged.OthersnamedbytheinformerdeclaredthattheywereChristians,butthendeniedit,assertingthattheyhadbeenbuthadceasedtobe,somethreeyearsbefore,othersmanyyears,someasmuchastwenty-fiveyears.Theyallworshippedyourimageandthestatuesofthegods,andcursedChrist.

SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• Theyasserted,however,thatthesumandsubstanceoftheirfaultorerrorhadbeenthattheywereaccustomedtomeetonafixeddaybeforedawnandsingresponsivelyahymntoChristastoagod,andtobindthemselvesbyoath,nottosomecrime,butnottocommitfraud,theft,oradultery,notfalsifytheirtrust,nortorefusetoreturnatrustwhencalledupontodoso.Whenthiswasover,itwastheircustomtodepartandtoassembleagaintopartakeoffood--butordinaryandinnocentfood.Eventhis,theyaffirmed,theyhadceasedtodoaftermyedictbywhich,inaccordancewithyourinstructions,Ihadforbiddenpoliticalassociations…

ChallengesToTheResurrection• Falsetheoriesregardingthebody:– Thewomenwenttothewrongtomb.

• ItwasidentifiedasJosephofArimathea’stomb.Thewomensawit.(Matt.27:57-61)

– Someonestolethebody.• Itwaswheretheenemieswantedit.Theycouldhavestoppedthegospelbyproducingit.(Acts4:1-2)

• Thatthedisciplesstoleitisthelietheguardswerepaidtotell.(Matt.28:11-15)Thedisciplesweredoubtingatfirst.(Matt.28:17;Jn.2:20-22)

• Doesnotexplaintheirproclamationandradicallychangedlives.– Swoontheory.

• Jesusdidnotreallydieonthecross– revivedinthecoolnessofthetombandclaimedthathewasresurrectedfromthedead.

• ThisabsurdityrequiresonetobelievethatJesusenduredthescourging,crucifixion,piercingofhissidewithaspear,rolledawaythestoneandovercametheguards…

TheTestimonyofTheEyewitnesses• Thegospelsareinspiredhistoricaldocumentsprovidingeyewitnessaccountsofthedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesus.

• Thegospelaccountsarewrittenwithgreatspecificity– notfearfulofinvestigation-- astheyprovidenamesandotherdetailsthatwereverifiable.(cf.Luke1:1-4;Acts1:1ff)– Mk.10:46à Bartimeus,thesonofTimeus.– Mk.15:21à SimonofCyrene,fatherofAlexanderandRufus,tobearhiscross.

– ICor.15:5-8à Paul’swroteofover500whowerewitnessesoftheresurrectedJesus.

TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses

• Considerthewomenwhowereeyewitnesses(notetheverbsof“seeing”)ofthedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesus.– Matt.27:55-56à 55Andmanywomenweretherebeholding afaroff,whichfollowedJesusfromGalilee,ministeringuntohim:56AmongwhichwasMaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJamesandJoses,andthemotherofZebedee'schildren.

– Matt.27:61à AndtherewasMaryMagdalene,andtheotherMary,sittingoveragainstthesepulcher(oppositethetomb–NET)

TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses– Matt.28:1à IntheendoftheSabbath,asitbegantodawntowardthefirstdayoftheweek,cameMaryMagdaleneandtheotherMarytoseethesepulcher.

– 6Heisnothere:forheisrisen,ashesaid.Come,seetheplacewheretheLordlay.

– 7Andgoquickly,andtellhisdisciplesthatheisrisenfromthedead;and,behold,hegoeth beforeyouintoGalilee;thereshallyeseehim:lo,Ihavetoldyou....

– 9Andastheywenttotellhisdisciples,behold,Jesusmetthem,saying,Allhail.Andtheycameandheldhimbythefeet,andworshippedhim.

TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses–Mk.15:40-47à Therewerealsowomenlookingonafaroff:amongwhomwasMaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJamesthelessandofJoses,andSalome;...47AndMaryMagdaleneandMarythemotherofJoses beheldwherehewaslaid.

–Mk.16:1-9à “…MaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJames,andSalome…whentheylookedtheysawthatthestonewasrolledaway…beholdtheplacewheretheylaidhim…heappearedfirsttoMaryMagdalene,outofwhomhehadcastsevendevils.”

TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses

– John20:1,11,16,18à “ThefirstdayoftheweekcomethMaryMagdaleneearly…andseeth thestonetakenaway…lookedintothesepulcher…Jesussaith untoher,Mary.Sheturnedherself,andsaith untohim,Rabboni;whichistosayMaster…MaryMagdalenecameandtoldthedisciplesthatshehadseentheLord,andthathehadspokenthesethingsuntoher.”

TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses• Interestingaspectofthistestimonyinviewoffirstcenturyculture:Womenwerenothighlyregardedaswitnesses.– Josephusà “butletnotthetestimonyofwomenbeadmittedonaccountofthelevityandboldnessofthegender…sinceitispossiblethattheymaynotspeaktruth,eitheroutofhopeofgain,orfearofpunishment.”(Antiquities4.8.15)

– TheJewishTalmudà “anyevidencewhichawomangivesisnotvalidtooffer.”

– Observations:• Ifyouwerefabricatingaresurrectionstoryinthefirstcentury,youwouldnotusewomenasyourchiefwitnesses.

• Theforemostofthosewitnesseswouldmostlikelynotbeawomanwithahistoryofdemonpossession.

• Thiswouldhavehappenedonlyifyouwereaccuratelyrecordingtheevents:Thedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesusfromthedead.

TheCircumstancesInWhichThisMessageWasProclaimedandFlourished

• Inthefaceofpoliticalopposition:– ARomanCaesarwhodemandedtobeacknowledgedasgod.(Rev.6:9-10;13:1-7;1:18)

• Inthefaceofculturalopposition:– Thegospelwasconsideredfoolishbythe“wise”.(ICor.1:22-23;Acts17:18,32)

• Inthefaceofreligiousopposition:– FromtheSadducees– Acts4:1-3,17;5:40-42– Others:Acts7:58-60– Stephenisstonedtodeath.– Saul’spersecutionofthechurch– Acts8:1-4

TheCircumstancesInWhichThisMessageWasProclaimedandFlourished

• FromTacitus(RomanSenatorandHistorian– 56-120)– “…Nero…falselychargedwiththeguilt,andpunishedwiththemostexquisitetortures,thepersonscommonlycalledChristians,whowerehatedfortheirabominations.Christus,thefounderofthename,wasputtodeathbyPontiusPilate,procuratorofJedea inthereignofTiberius:butthepernicioussuperstition,repressedforatimebrokeoutagain,notonlyinJudea,wherethemischieforiginated,butthroughthecityofRomealso.”(AnnalsXV.44)

TheIntegrityoftheWitnesses…• ThewitnessesofthelivesearlyChristianslivedasaresultoftheirfaith…

• Theirwillingnesstosuffermateriallosses,persecution,mockingandevendeath.(ICor.4:9-13)

• Objection:therearemanywillingtosufferforwhattheybelieve.– Thesewerewillingtosufferanddienotmerelyforwhattheybelievedtobetruebasedonthewordofothers,butforwhattheyknewtobetruebecausetheywerepresentandwereeyewitnesses.• TheapostleseithersawJesusaliveordidnot…• Iftheydidnotandsaidtheydid,theydiedforalie,withabsolutelynothingtogain.

• Thatisnottheactionofasaneindividual.• TheyhadeverymotivefromaworldlystandpointtodenythatJesushadbeenraisedfromthedead.Yet,theyaffirmeditanddiedforitbecauseitwastrue.

WhatDoesTheResurrectionofJesusFromTheDeadMeanForMeToday?

• JesusistheChrist,theSonofGodandtheonlywaytotheFatherandeternallife.(Jn.14:6)

• Imustbedietosin,beburiedwithhiminbaptismandraisedtowalkinanewnessoflife.(Rom.6:1-4)

• Havingbeenraisedwithhim,Imustseekthosethingswhichabove,whereChristsitsontherighthandofGod.(Col.3:1-2)