Resurrection - 19th Oct 2008

On Sunday, we looked at the case for the resurrection. In many ways, the resurrection lays the foundation for the church as we know it today.


What happened after the death on the cross?
After Jesus died on the cross, we find in Matthew 27 that Joseph from Arimathea requested for Jesus' physical body. The body was then embalmed (a process used to slow down the process of decay) and wrapped in linen cloth and placed in a tomb with a big stone covering the opening.

Roman guards were placed to ensure the disciples would not steal the body. On Sunday when the women went to the tomb, Jesus' body was no longer there. He has risen.

Where is the proof?

1 Corinthians 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Many people including me would ask for proof of the resurrection.
What "evidence" do we have? We did explore a few possibilities

1) Jesus' appearances to many

• Visual nature (Jesus ate, walked and spoke) to His disciples (Luke 24/John 20)
  
• Was seen by over 500 people at once (1 Cor 15) and this was recorded by Paul, a persecutor of Christian who was transformed later on.
  
• The risen Jesus made a scheduled appearance in Galilee (Mark 14)
• Including his brother James who did not believed Jesus himself (1 Cor 15)
  

2) Transformation of the disciples

• Disciples were an afraid bunch of people but were later transformed and were willing to die for Jesus.
  
• We can die for our friends, but not for a lie!!

3) Empty tomb

• Jerusalem was the place in which Jesus died and the start of the preaching about His resurrection. The people knew of Jesus and would not have believed the disciples if the knew that they were being lied too.
  
• Women were not fit to give trial during those times. It would not have been logical to appear to women and tell everyone unless it was the truth.
  
• Roman soldiers (honoured soldiers) were guards of the tomb and took their jobs with pride.
  

4) Historical evidences

• Creed that was used by the early church (1 Cor 15)
  
• Notes from historians including Josephus/Pilate/Thallus

Does is matter to us?
Yes, it certainly does. With Jesus' resurrection, we now have eternal life. We are forgiven of our sins and reminded that the basis of our faith in Jesus is indeed real. A few more points are mentioned in the pdf below.

Conclusion : What shall we do?
We can start to learn to apply what Jesus taught us. To forgive others, to share the story of His resurrection and begin to seriously bear our cross daily.

There are 2 major parts in justifying the resurrection. One would be the historical road and the other, a personal road. Both would lead to the same conclusion of indeed Jesus did die and is now resurrected.

We have seen the historical road. Do our lives have the personal relationship with Jesus that indeed we can say without doubt, He is truly the Son of God and our lives?

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*Notes are adapted from Norman Wong's Can you answer these Questions?
Includes points from http://sguthrie.net/resurrection.htm and http://www.garyhabermas.com/