Jesus Sightings

Removing the resurrection from our faith and hope is like removing the linchpin that holds it all together. Without it our faith comes apart. Our faith disconnects without the linchpin fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. But, as Paul stated, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” I Corinthians 15:20

B. Eyewitnesses secure the linchpin of our faith.

Whenever we want to discover the truth about something we turn to the experts. Experts assess and diagnose. Experts uncover and explain. Experts dig in and dig up and display what they find. Experts analyze and finalize truth. But whatever conclusion the experts make, it is hard to discount the testimony of a simple eyewitness.

Our story says that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were the first to encounter the risen Christ on Easter Sunday Morning. It is not surprising that Jesus revealed himself to them before anyone else.

1. Mary and the other Mary were at the cross. “Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” Matthew 27:55-56

2. Mary and the other Mary were at the tomb when Jesus was buried. “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.” Matthew 27:61

3. And Mary and the other Mary, bringing spices, went to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning to properly prepare the body of Christ for burial. The bible says the stone had been rolled away from the tomb opening and they went to look into the tomb.

But instead of finding the bruised and broken, hastily wrapped, stone-cold and stiff body of Christ resting on a slab… they saw an angel from God who said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples.” ( Matthew 28:5-7) And it was as they hurried away to tell the disciples the news of Christ’s resurrection that Jesus appeared to them and talked to them.

Eyewitnesses are critical to knowing the truth.

A man with a gun went into a bank and demanded their money.

Once he was given the money, he turned to a customer and asked, “Did you see me rob this bank?” The man replied, “Yes sir, I did.” The robber then shot the man.

He then turned to a couple standing next to him and asked the man, “Did

you see me rob this bank?” The man replied, “No sir, I didn’t, but my wife did.”

Eyewitnesses are critical to knowing the truth.

One of the most powerful proofs of the resurrection is recorded in I Corinthians 15 where Paul wrote, “For this is what I received… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

And that he appeared to Peter…

And that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also.”