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The Credibility of Jesus' Resurrection

Text: Jn. 20:3-8

Introduction:
The resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord is not a mere speculatory matter.   The fact that He arose is a very credible and substantiatied fact. It is not wishful thinking; it is a fact and can be counted on by sinner and saint alike.

You might ask, "Well, how do you know?"  I am going to share several things with you that underscore for me that face that His resurrection is real.

I.   The Empty Tomb
Three times in relation to the body of Jesus in regard to His tomb, the Bible says in the Gospels, "He is not here"(Matt. 28:6; Mk.16:6; Luke 24:6).  That alone should settled the matter of His resurrection forever.

II.  The Undisturbed Grave Clothes
Jn.20: 3-8 states:
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

The "mummy type" wrappings that were around the Lord Jesus Christ was undisturbed.  No wrappings were removed; He simply went through those wrappings with disturbing a one of them.  Even the napkin that was over his face was neatly folded.   If the disciples had come to steal the body, they would have been in a big hurry to get out of that tomb before more soldiers came (that is, assuming they could even over power the ones who were already stationed to guard the tomb).  There would have been chaos, haste, and carelessness if they had been in a hurry (which they would have been).

III. The Lord's Day
Jews had traditionally worshipped on the Sabbath, which of course is our Saturday.   Sunday worship did not originate with the pagan Rome a few centuries after Christ.   It's origin comes from the desire of the apostles to change the day of worship in honor of Christ's physical resurrection.  They had the Lord's approval to do so.

IV. The Christian Church
Why is there a church in this world?  It has to be traceable to some cause.
The disciples hopes were dashed when they felt Jesus had not risen. But, when the church found that Christ had risen from the grave, churches were started all across the land. A living Savior moved the disciples to meet with others and proclaim that Jesus died for sin and rose from the grave, ever living to make intercession.

See Peter's sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2.

V.  The New Testament
How could the Bible ever had been written if Christ did not rise from among the dead?   If he had not risen his life story would have been buried with Him.
The New Testament consists of several inspired, inerrant, infallible books that testify of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Here are a few references:
See Acts 13:30, 33,34,37; Rom.4:24,25; 1 Cor.15:15; 2 Cor.4:14; Gal.1:1;
Eph.1:20; Col.2:12; 1 Thess.1:10; 2 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet.1:21).

Conclusion:
The facts are indisputably clear Jesus is alive.  How could He return the second time, as the Bible says He will, if He were still in the tomb?  Have faith in Christ and what He did in living for you, dying for you, raising for you, ascending for you, and one day coming back for you.

Sermon by Dr. Tom Walker
Founder of the Preacher's Corner Internet Ministry

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