Evidence Of The Resurrection - The Scriptures (Part 2) Series

EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION

EXHIBIT B: THE SCRIPTURES

(PART 2)

I Corinthians 15:1-2

One of my favorite post Resurrection appearances of Jesus is that of the two followers who encountered the Savior on the road to Emmaus. As they were walking, Jesus approached them and “their eyes were kept from recognizing him”. Jesus asked them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad”. In response to His question, they began to tell Jesus, the story of Jesus!

After listening to their words and observing their sad countenance, Jesus said, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-26)

Later, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus, they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Commenting on this passage, R.C Sproul says, “A Christian is not a skeptic. A Christian is a person with a burning heart, a heart set aflame with certainty of the resurrection.”

One of the reasons that we can have hearts set on fire and unshakable certainty concerning the resurrection is the testimony of the Holy Scriptures. As Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians of the “gospel that he delivered unto them”, the gospel that they “received, and in which they stand”, he says “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”.

- In the previous session of this study we began to consider the scriptures as evidence for the resurrection, we examined Paul’s declaration that:

CHRIST DIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCRIPTURES

Paul appeals to the many Old Testament “scriptures” that pointed to the fact that the Messiah would die for the sins of God’s people. Those prophecies were given several hundred and even thousands of years before Jesus was born, yet every single one of them was fulfilled in the death of our Lord and Savior.

- Just as there are many Old Testament passages that pointed to Jesus’ death, there are several scriptures that reference His burial. This is why Paul could say that:

CHRIST WAS BURIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCRIPTURES

The burial of Christ fulfilled prophecy, Isaiah prophesied that “they made his (Messiah’s) grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death…” (Isaiah 53:9). The Gospels tell us that Jesus was put to death along with two criminals and He was buried in a tomb owned by a wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea. These things did not happen by chance, they happened “in accordance with the scriptures”. As Paul reminded the Corinthians, I remind you today that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and he was buried.”

There is one more element of the scriptures that serves as evidence for the authenticity of the resurrection and that is the fact that while the scriptures that prophesied the life, death, and burial of the Messiah are fascinating, and the fulfillment of them bring us great hope and assurance, they would mean nothing at all Christ had not risen. As Paul declares in this very chapter, without the Resurrection, everything we believe would be in vain. If Christ is not risen then those who have died have perished forever. If the Resurrection did not occur and If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we truly are of all people most to be pitied.

I am glad that I can confidently echo the words of the Apostle Paul and say “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”. Jesus did rise and it happened “in accordance with the scriptures”.

As was the case concerning the death and burial of the Messiah, there are various Old Testament passages that point to the fact that He would rise. The most obvious are Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Daniel 12, and Psalm 16. It is Psalm 16 that I would like to examine today as we continue to consider “Evidence For The Resurrection” and conclude our investigation of:

EXHIBIT B: THE SCRIPTURES

- Christ died in accordance with the scriptures, He was buried, and:

CHRIST WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCRIPTURES

In Psalm 16:10-11, King David declares “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”.