Evidence Of The Resurrection - The Testimony Of The Witnesses (Part 1)

EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION: TESTIMONIES OF THE WITNESSES

(PART 1)

I Corinthians 15:5-7

Thus far in our study of I Corinthians 15 we have been considering the evidence that Paul submits in defense of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We’ve looked closely at Exhibit A: The Church. We saw how the inception and endurance of Christ’s Church serves as vivid proof that our Savior lives. Following this, we examined Exhibit B: The Scriptures. We went throughout the Bible and saw how the Prophets and Old Testament scriptures spoke of the Messiah and predicted His suffering, death, burial, and Resurrection.

If this were a case that was brought to trial, Paul has already presented enough evidence to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that Christ is risen. However, the Apostle continues to submit evidence and in the following verses he brings in several key witnesses who are able to provide personal testimonies of their encounters with Jesus after His Resurrection.

The great hope that we have concerning the Resurrection of Jesus is that He is “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v20). Because He is risen, we have the hope of our own future resurrection. As the old hymn says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow”.

- I would like to continue to examine the Evidence Of The Resurrection and listen to:

THE TESTIMONIES OF THE WITNESSES

v5 Jesus appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

- In these verses we see that Paul has come prepared with many witnesses who saw the Risen Lord with their own eyes. First on that list is:

WITNESS #1: SIMON PETER

Paul does not save his best witness for last, he (metaphorically) summons to the witness stand Simon Peter. A man who was one of the first Disciples of the Lord Jesus. One who had been with Him most every step of the way throughout His earthly ministry. Not only was Peter a Disciple, he was a member of the Lord’s “inner circle” along with John and his brother James. These men saw things that even the other Disciples were not privy to.

Peter was there for the Sermon on the Mount. He heard the Olivet Discourse with his own ears. With his eyes he witnessed Jesus heal the sick, give sight to the blind, make the deaf able to hear, the mute able to speak and the lame receive the ability to walk. Peter saw the Lord cast out demons, cleanse lepers, and even raise the dead. When Jesus fed thousands with minimal resources, Peter passed out the food and gathered up the leftovers. He was there when Jesus calmed troubled waters in the midst of a great storm by uttering the words “peace, be still”. He saw Christ walk on the water in the midst of another great storm and he even stepped out and walked with Him for a while.

This is the man that Jesus looked at and said, “you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19)

Peter was not just an Apostle; he was the voice of the Apostles during the time when Jesus walked the earth. Furthermore, he would become the obvious leader of the Apostles after Jesus ascended. Paul knew that when he appealed to Peter as an eyewitness of the Resurrection, he was calling on a man who knew Jesus more intimately than most. Therefore, his testimony of the Resurrection could not be written off as a case of mistaken identity.

On Friday Jesus was crucified, Paul reminds us in verse 3 of this chapter that, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures”. After His death, Joseph of Arimathea approached Pilate and received permission to remove Jesus’ body from the Cross and provide Him with a proper burial. He and Nicodemus then took the body of the Lord, wrapped it in linen cloths and spices, and then placed Him in the Garden Tomb.

As these things were taking place, “The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:55-56). Luke tells us that it was “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them” who reported the news of the empty tomb to Peter and the rest of the Apostles.