Physical Proof Of The Resurection Series

Physical Evidence of the Resurrection

1) It starts with faith.

Tonight we will look at proof the resurrection of Jesus actually took place.

*It is however important to remember that our starting place must be faith.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Jesus said to Thomas after the Resurrection “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

We have started our study recognizing that we must

start with faith… but what are some proofs of that the resurrection of Jesus actually hapened?

2) Archeological Proof of the resurrection.

Many base their hope on artifacts that as they say prove Jesus rose from the dead.

A) Shroud of Turin:

Many claim that the Shroud is an undeniable proof of Jesus’ resurrection.

Most shroud researchers agree this ancient cloth does date back at least to the 13th century, but there is no proof that it existed before that point.

What if a scientific breakthrough proved that this cloth was simply a mideval forgery… a hoax?

WOULD THOSE WHO PUT SO MUCH HOPE IN THIS ARTIFACT KEEP THEIR FAITH IN JESUS?

B) Location of The Empty tomb.

Often times we preachers put our proclamation of faith in another archeological artifact. -The empty tomb in Jerusalem

What if the empty tomb that so many people tour each year was proven to be false?

The tomb Jesus was placed in is empty… no doubt about that… in a few minutes we will discuss how the empty tomb provides proof that Jesus rose from the dead.

**But what if the specific tomb tour guides and archeologist claim to be authentic was proven to be false?

WOULD THOSE WHO PUT SO MUCH HOPE IN A SPECIFIC ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE KEEP THEIR FAITH IN JESUS?

It is important to realize that archeology has never disproved anything in the Bible… but archeology alone cannot be the basses of our faith…

To answer our question “Does Archeology Prove the resurrection?”

*Archeology findings do support our faith, but they cannot be what we base our faith on*!

3) Does Logic prove the Resurrection?

Jesus’ body was gone from the tomb. No one has ever produced a body. No one has ever successfully dis-prooved the fact that Jesus’ rose from the dead.

Lets look at four Logical Arguments of what may have happened to the body of this man Jesus Christ!

Argument 1: His followers could have stolen the body.

There are several problems with the theory that Jesus’ followers stole His body.

(1) They were too fearful to steal the Body of Jesus.

This is the story that the Bible says the religious leaders circulated about Christ.

Mat. 28:11-15

This story which was originally circulated is a ridiculous story if you look at the character of the fearful followers of Jesus.

Listen to what the New Testament says about Jesus’ closest circle of friends after the cruxifiction.

“That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.” John 20:19 (NLT)

At Jesus’ execution only one of them had the courage to even be there.

John… JN 19:26

The rest of his ‘friends& followers’ were scared & scattered like sheep.

(2) These men just didn’t understand or even believe

in the resurrection.

Not only were they fearful, these men just didn’t understand or even believe in the resurrection. Although Jesus had told them over and over it would happen they never got it and must have concluded he was speaking figuratively.

”When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene …She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.” Mark 16:9-11 (NIV)

Initially they doubted, but something did happen that changed these fearful men to bold witnesses - the resurrection.

(3) Tradition tells us that all the remaining

disciples of Jesus, except for one, were tortured

and executed for their faith.

Each one was given the choice: deny Jesus Christ of Nazareth or die.

-They all chose death. They saw Jesus, back from the grave, and it changed their lives forever.

Some people throughout history have died for things that were not true. I’d agree. But nowhere in history do you find people suffering torture and death for something they know is a lie.

-If they had stolen his body and made up the story they would have never been willing to suffer this way.

Logically we CANNOT conclude that Jesus’ followers stole the body and fabricated the story.