The resurrection of Jesus is the changing and glorification of His physical body. The Greek word is “Anastasia,” which means to make to stand up or rise up. There are many infallible proofs of the resurrection of Jesus recorded in the scriptures.
Did Jesus Really Die?
Numerous religious and political motives caused the Jews and Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, to kill Jesus and make sure that He remained dead and buried. Therefore important security precautions were taken.
1. Christ was put to death by crucifixion. Who was on guard to verify the crucifixion?
2. Who was holding Jesus’ body?
(58) Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
3. What was the body wrapped with?
4. What was the tomb cut out of? What was rolled in front of it?
Traditionally the stones that were rolled in front of these tombs weighed 2 tonnes.
5. How did Pilate secure the tomb?
(63) “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
(64) So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
(65) “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
(66) So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Traditionally a Roman guard comprised of 16 men of the most effective fighting unit. And tombs were sealed shut with the official authority and signage of Rome. Breaking the seal meant death.
The Many Infallible Proofs of the Resurrection of Jesus
1. The tomb was empty.
(6) He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
2. The body was missing from the grave clothes.
(7) as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
3. Many Witnesses
Name the witnesses from the following scriptures:
Mark 16:9 (NIV)
(9) When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
John 20:11-18 (NIV)
(11) Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
(12) and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
(13) They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
(14) At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
(15) He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
(16) Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
(17) Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
(18) Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Luke 24:10 (NIV)
(10) It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
Luke 24:34 (NIV)
(34) and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
1 Corinthians 15:5 (NIV)
(5) and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Mark 16:12-13 (NIV)
(12) Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
(13) These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Luke 24:13-35 (NIV)
(13) Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
(14) They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
(15) As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
(16) but they were kept from recognizing him.
(17) He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
(18) One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
(19) “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
(20) The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
(21) but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
(22) In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
(23) but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
(24) Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
(25) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
(26) Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
(27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
(28) As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
(29) But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
(30) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
(31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
(32) They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
(33) They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
(34) and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
(35) Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
(20) After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
(21) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
(22) And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
(23) If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
(24) Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
(27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
(28) Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
(29) Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
(2) Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
(3) “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
(4) Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
(5) He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
(6) He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
(7) Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
(8) The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
(9) When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
(10) Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
(11) So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
(12) Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
(13) Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
(14) This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
(15) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
(16) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
(17) The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
(18) Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
(19) Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
(20) Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)
(21) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
(22) Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
(23) Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
(7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
Matthew 28:16-17 (NIV)
(16) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
(17) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Mark 16:19 (NIV)
(19) After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
Luke 24:50 (NIV)
(50) When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
Acts 1:3-12 (NIV)
(3) After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
(4) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
(5) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
(6) Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
(7) He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
(8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(9) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
(10) They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
(11) “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
(12) Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
4. The large rock was rolled away.
5. The enemies of Jesus didn’t deny the resurrection.
(12) When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,
(13) telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
(14) If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
(15) So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
6. The changed lives of the disciples.
Ask
Do you have any questions about the death & resurrection of Jesus?
Application
Knowing that Jesus has risen from the dead, how can you live each day confidently and unafraid?
Prayer Model
Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me. I rejoice in You because You conquered death once and for all time.
Key Verse
“… but the angel said, ‘don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!’”