Can We Really Know That Jesus Rose From The Dead?

Easter Service – Covenant College – South Africa – 14 April 2022

Can we really know that Jesus rose from the dead?

Luke 24:1-12 – Read

The funny story about the Taxi Driver

One Easter a priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. St. Peter was at the Pearly gates waiting for them. 'Come with me,' said St. Peter to the taxi driver.

The taxi driver did as he was told and followed St Peter to a mansion. It had everything you could imagine from a bowling alley to an Olympic size pool. 'Oh my word, thank you,' said the taxi driver.

Next, St. Peter led the priest to a rough old shack with a bunk bed and a little old television set.

'Wait, I think you are a little mixed up,' said the priest. 'Shouldn't I be the one who gets the mansion? After all I was a priest, went to church every day, and preached God's word.'

'Yes, that's true.' St Peter rejoined, 'But during your Easter sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone prayed.'

Introduction:

As we begin to celebrate Easter starting tomorrow with Good Friday and ending on Sunday with Easter Sunday, I would like to address one question…

Why should anyone believe in Jesus?

1 Peter 3:15 says we should “always be ready to give …a reason for the hope that is in [us]…”

If you · Listen to the radio · Watch TV · Or just surf the internet

You might have noticed that the world does NOT hold Christianity in the highest regard. In fact, Christians are commonly the object of ridicule by skeptics in politics, TV, and legal circles. I’m so tired of how Hollywood depicts Christians. Christians are often misrepresented as naive, sweet idiots, judgmental hypocrites, or dangerous fanatics. Have you noticed this when you watch Netflix or DSTV? You know what is worse, we are slowly but surely starting to just accept it and laugh it of.

How many of you have heard of James Cameron- He is the guy who brought us the motion pictures - Titanic, Avatar.

Back in 2007 he produced a documentary where he claimed that he found the tomb in which Jesus was buried and he claimed he had discovered the bones and remains of Jesus, based on various scientific methods of discovery. Influential people will do anything to deny the resurrection.

To deny the resurrection, there are many false arguments that are doing the rounds, and you can go on the internet and find these theories:

1. Jesus Fainted Theory

2. People Looked for Jesus in the wrong tomb Theory

3. The Disciples stole the body Theory

4. Unknown body thieves stole the body

5. Wild Dogs ate Jesus’ Body Theory

The question is: ARE THEY RIGHT???

My goal with today’s message is to give you a few good sound reasons to believe that the resurrection of Jesus is true. Let me begin by reading to you seven words from the bible. Words that capture the central reason why anyone should believe.

They were spoken by an angel…to a small group of broken-hearted women. These women had just returned to a tomb where a few days earlier, their master, their cherished friend – Jesus – had been buried.

But now his body was missing. And these women didn’t know where it was or who had taken it.

And in the midst of their grief and confusion, an angel appeared. And in the heart of his message were seven of the most powerful words that the world has ever heard.

Matthew 28:6 -- "He is not here; he has risen."

Words with profound implications, telling of the first and only person in all of history who had conquered death. Jesus broke the grave.

These words conveyed an idea totally contrary to mankind’s belief in the absolute permanence and finality of death.

Yet the angel proclaimed that what was impossible for man had been accomplished by God.

Because of Easter we never have to fear death.

So for 20 centuries, the world has wrestled over the truth of these seven powerful words:

The greatest attacks on Christianity have been against the resurrection. Believers and Non-believers alike understand that the resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity. If Jesus rose from the dead, then Christianity is true. If he did not, then it is false. It is that simple.

So, the question of whether we can or should believe in Jesus is dependent upon whether the resurrection actually happened.

Are the seven words of the angel true? Did Jesus really die and come back to life?

Is there evidence to support our belief? The implications are huge!

If the resurrection did NOT happen…Then the implications are summed up by the apostle Paul in: