The Great Resurrection Debate. I watched a program the other night featuring the Resurrection. On this program were theologians, debating weather the Resurrection of Jesus was real or a spiritual vision. I wanted to answer all these men about their uncertainty of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We shall take scripture by scripture. 1st. Lets look at weather Jesus died or not. 1A. References; Mat 27:34-50 -
Mat.27:34-50. Crucifixion and death of the Lord Jesus. ( Mar.15:25-37; Luke 23:33-46; John 19:18-30). For the exposition, see John 19:18-30.
1. Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. The chief priests and Pharisees knowing later that, Jesus actually did raise from the dead, put an order out that the story would be that, the disciples of Jesus bribed the Roman Guards and took the body. The chief priests and Pharisees, were afraid of the results of Jesus coming back to life. In Jewish records and here in Matthew 27:64, we see that, Yes, Jesus was dead. (Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.) Witnesses? 1. The Roman Centurion, what we would call a captain of the guard. Romans had no reason to lie about a Jew. For the Jews were under their control. Matthew 27:54. 2. Joseph of Arimathaea, A Rich man of Nobility, known of the Jews. Mat 27:58. 3. Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus. Mat 27:56. 4. Mary, The Mother of Jesus. Mat 27:56. 5. Pontius Pilate, The sixth Roman procurator of Judea. 6. Many women of Jerusalem. Mat 27:55. 7. The Priests, scribes, and elders of the Sanhedrin. Mat 27:41 8. Salome, Wife of Zebedee. There is no doubt that Jesus was killed on the Cross. History and even His unbelievers concur that the man Jesus was Dead.
The Life and death of Jesus is documented in records from the Roman Library, The Jewish Sanhedrin Records and even the Records of the Islamic Koran. The next question that was raised, Was Jesus buried in Joseph Arimathaeas tomb, or was He thrown into a pit of dead convicts outside the city wall? Yes, some of these theologians actually believe this. But Lets find out from witnesses.
Qumran Text of Isaiah 53, Catholic Encyclopedia of 1908, Nicodemus Text, Church historian Eusebius of Caesarea (writing ca 325), The main body of Acta Pilati is in two sections, with an appendix, Descensus ad Infernos—the Harrowing of Hell—that does not exist in the Greek texts, and is a later addition to the Latin versions. The first (chapters i–xi) contains the trial of Jesus based upon Luke 23. The second part (xii–xvi)regards the Resurrection. In it, Leucius and Charinus, the two souls raised from the dead after the Crucifixion, relate to the Sanhedrin the circumstances of Our Lord’s descent to Limbo. A literature of miracle-tale Romance developed around "Leucius Charinus" as author. The Harrowing of Hell episode depicts St Dismas accompanying Jesus in Hell, and the deliverance of the righteous Old Testament patriarchs. The writings of these men and many others are historical facts. Many writings of Jesus, Death, Burial and Resurrection are well documented by Historians and even some that didn’t even believe in Jesus. So we see that Jesus, 1. Was Born. 2. Was Crucified. 3. Was buried in a tomb. Now lets talk about the Resurrection itself. Now the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, is quite a controversial subject. Many prominent theologians believe that the sightings of Jesus were sightings of a visionary means. They believe that The disciples were so distraught, that they all imagined an apparition of Jesus, making it a spiritual encounter instead of a physical one. They do not take into account that the Bible tells us that Thomas actually, felt of Christ, that Jesus ate fish and was clothed. Their doubt stems from, Jesus being able to appear and disappear at will. From the meeting room that the disciples were in and the meetings of Jesus and the disciples on the road. (Ref. John 20:14-16, Mark15:40, Mark 15:47; Luke 24:10; John 20:14-18.) Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. The biggest reasoning for these theologians to doubt the physical Resurrection is in a single word; (appeared)which means,
To come into view: emerge, issue, loom, materialize, show. Idioms: make put in an appearance, meet the eye. To begin to appear or develop: arise, commence, dawn, emerge, originate. They have mistakenly confused these two words, appeared and apparition. The word apparition means; spiritualistic manifestation of a person or object in which a form not actually present is seen with such intensity that belief in its reality is created. The ancient and widespread belief in apparitions and ghosts (specters of dead persons) is based on the idea that the spirit of a man, or of any object, is endowed with volition and motion of its own. Mar 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Appearances; Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. he appeared: Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19, John 20:20; 1Co 15:5
The Physical; Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luke 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luke 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Acts; 10:41
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
In Mark 16:16 ; we see that Jesus, after His resurrection, gave the only two alternatives to Salvation, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” We must understand that, “Faith”, is believing in the Birth, Ministry, Death, Resurrection and Assention of Christ. We must believe that the Bible is the ultimate truth. If we do not believe that Jesus rose from the Dead, our Faith is in vain. This is our Hope, Faith and future in Christ. We either believe or we don’t. As For Me; I and My House shall serve the Lord. 1Co 15:16 -19; For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
