The Article is: "Evidence for Christ's Resurrection"

From Larry:

The book, "The Case For Christ" authored by Lee Strobel raises the case against the resurrection, then answers the charges with good, solid evidence. This and other objections to Jesus being who He said He is are addressed in this outstanding work. It is available at nominal cost from Christian booksellers. The publisher is Zondervan Publishing.

From Eric:

Fragments of the Lost Work of Justin on the Resurrection

From Brent:

Although I do not have anything on the net, there is a very good book by Josh McDowell called, "The Resurrection Factor" I find that he addresses many arguments and gives good historical details with footnotes from reliable scientific sources all in a small 178 page book. (Unfortunately, this book is currently out of stock.)

"Evidence That Demands a Verdict" is also a good book, but is in 2 volumes, and deals with apologetics for all of the faith, not just the resurrection.

Another book is "Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?" by Gary Habermas and Antony Flew, Published by Harper and Row. This is a much more heady book, and is in the form of an actual debate. (This book may be found through an "out of print" search.)

From Emily:

The views which you are asking for are outlined and argued in the book, "More than A Carpenter" by Josh McDowell.

The scriptures testify amply of the literal resurrection! To those who go looking, all of the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and his literal resurrection, and that gift - the resurrection of the body - to all of us. Isaiah is famous for his testimony. All of these testimonies, however, need to be accompanied by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) to confirm them.

The Gospels of the New Testament also testify of this resurrection. All of these witnesses are ancient, however. The real confirmation of the resurrection comes when you are able to feel the Lord's Spirit and talk with those who know the resurrection is real. I know it is real because the Spirit witnesses this to me. I know that families are supposed to be together in God's presence - eternal families, eternal life. This is God's life - Eternal.

About those who have views against the resurrection (and there are many): You won't find the knowledge about God amongst those who have distanced themselves from God. Miracles and spiritual knowledge come to those who seek the Spirit. Lack of spiritual knowledge plagues those who will not seek, for our Savior said "Seek and ye shall find, Knock and it shall be opened unto you."

I know something of this process. I spent some years not seeking and some years half-heartedly seeking. James 1: 5 "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally..." (I hope I am quoting it exactly, but it is from memory.) I testify that God hears and answers prayers and will give a witness of spiritual things through the Spirit to those who will seek and really listen. I testify that Jesus Christ is our redeemer. He died for us and was resurrected. All people will also be resurrected. Those who seek and will follow the promptings of the Spirit, according to the promises made in scripture will be able to return to God and gain Eternal Life. The teachings of our Savior, the prophets and the Lord's Spirit confirm this to me. If you will seek and listen, you can know this to be true. I promise it, God promises it!

"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." (Mark 16:6)

There is nothing more important than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

QUESTION - Does it really matter that the Bible claims that Jesus is alive? Why, why not? Some didn't believe it then. Some don't believe it now. Have you ever known anyone who claimed to believe in Christ, but faltered at the empty tomb - just couldn't quite believe that?

BUT, there is no more pivotal teaching in the Bible! If this truth were not there, you would never have heard of Him - there would be no church - He would be just another dead man!

It is CENTRAL TO CHRISTIANITY. More importantly, it is central to YOUR CHRISTIANITY. It is the most important truth in YOUR life, whether you realize it or not. Do you agree? It is also the thing that should motivate us more than anything else to tell the world about Jesus Christ.

I. His resurrection means you have no excuse for unbelief. (Or stated positively, you have a reason to believe!)

A. Many did not believe He WOULD rise again. (Mark 16:1 KJV) And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

What were they doing? Coming to the tomb of Jesus. Why were they doing it? To anoint HIS dead body. What does this action on their part teach us about what they believed? They didn't believe HE rose from the dead.

B. Many did not believe He HAD risen again.

(Mark 16:11 KJV) And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

(Mark 16:13 KJV) And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

(Mark 16:14 KJV) 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.

(Mat 28:17 KJV) And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

If you had been there, would you have been any different? Would you have believed or doubted?

What do we learn about the nature of belief / disbelief from the experiences of the disciples here?

1. We learn from this that God's word is true!

(1 Ki 8:56 KJV) Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

(Ezek 12:25 KJV) For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.

(Luke 21:33 KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

2. We learn from this that UNBELIEF IN GOD'S WORD DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY LESS TRUE! (Bumper sticker, "God said it, I BELIEVE IT, that settles it.") BUT, the truth of God's word stands whether we believe it or not! We live in an age where some think there is no such thing as black and white, no such thing as a FACT - … everything is relative. However, the claims of scripture are FACT, whether we believe them or not!

C. The resurrection was the UNDENIABLE PROOF backing up His claims.

How so?

1. No resurrection - no deity. (But the resurrection proves / demonstrates that He is, indeed, GOD!) (Romans 1:4 KJV) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

2. No resurrection - nothing to believe in, for He is only a man. (But the resurrection proves that there is something to believe in, because He is GOD!)

(1 Cor 15:14 KJV) And if Christ be not risen, then is … your faith … vain.

3. No resurrection - nothing to preach about, for He is only a man. (But the resurrection proves that we have A LOT to preach about, because He is GOD!)

(1 Cor 15:14 KJV) And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain,

4. No resurrection - no forgiveness of sins, for He is only a man. (But the resurrection proves that we can have forgiveness of sins, because He is GOD!)

(1 Cor 15:17 KJV) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

5. No resurrection - no hope for eternal life, for He is only a man. (But the resurrection assures us that we will, indeed, live forever with Him, because He is GOD!)

(1 Cor 15:17-18 KJV) 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.

6. It is the resurrection that sets Jesus Christ apart from all others. "The late Dr. Harry Rimmer, while traveling in Egypt, was negotiating with the then Secretary of State who was a refined and cultured Egyptian. In a conversation regarding their respective faiths Dr. Rimmer stated that, 'We believe that God has given to man three revelations of Himself. First, we believe that He has revealed Himself in the work of creation.' 'We, too, believe that,' interjected the Egyptian. 'We believe that God has revealed Himself in a book, the Bible,' continued Dr. Rimmer. 'We, too, believe that God has revealed Himself in a book, the Koran,' replied the Egyptian. 'We believe that God has revealed Himself in a Man, and that Man is Jesus Christ,' added Dr. Rimmer. 'We believe that God has revealed Himself in a man, and that man is the prophet Mohammed,' said the Egyptian. 'We believe that Jesus died to save His followers, said Dr. Rimmer. 'We believe that Mohammed died for his people,' replied the Egyptian. 'We believe,' continued Dr. Rimmer, 'that Jesus is able to substantiate His claims because He rose from the dead.' The Moslem hesitated, then his eyes fell. He had no answer to that statement. Finally he admitted, 'We have no information concerning our prophet after death.'"

7. The resurrection can only be explained if Jesus Christ is God!

D. To see the empty tomb is to be presented with an argument that is undeniable. The cross is the last argument of God. (Mark 16:6 KJV) And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

A. They had reason to fear when He died. (John 20:19 KJV) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

B. They had reason to fear when He rose.

(Mark 16:5 KJV) And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

(Mark 16:8 KJV) And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

READ Luke 24:36f

C. The unbeliever today has reason to fear BECAUSE He arose! Why? Why should the resurrection of Jesus Christ be a reason for anybody to fear? For those of us who believe, is the resurrection a reason to fear? Why / why not?

1. You need not fear if He is your Savior.

(Isa 41:10 KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

(Isa 43:1-3 KJV) But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

(Mat 10:30-31 KJV) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

There are 365 'fear nots' in the Bible, or one for every day of the year.

2. You should fear, though, if He is NOT your savior. (Because if He spoke the truth about His deity, and then backed up His claims by resurrection, what about His claims of judgment?) (Mat 10:28 KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

"A group of university students from Toronto went up to Georgian Bay for a fishing trip. They hired a boat and a captain to take them out into the bay. Without warning, a storm broke. The captain an old tar, sat at the helm with a worried look on his face. The students laughed at him in his fear and through their laughter declared: ' We are not afraid!' The old sea dog looked at them and said, 'Yes, you are too ignorant to be afraid.'"

Not all fears are bad. Many of them are wholesome, indeed, very necessary for life. The fear of fire, the fear of electricity, are life-saving fears, that, if heeded, bring a new knowledge to life. (Mark 16:6 KJV) And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

A. Note that He had a special invitation to Peter. (vs. 7)

Why do you suppose that Mark is the only gospel that mentions this special message to Peter? How does this speak to the hope that His resurrection brings?

B. He invites you, no matter how undeserving you may be.

(John 6:47 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

(Rev 22:17 KJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

1. There was hope for the woman taken in adultery.
2. There was hope for the thief, Zaccheus.
3. There was hope for the demon-possessed Mary Magdalene.
4. There was hope for the doubter, Thomas.
5. There was hope for the denier, Peter.
6. There was hope for the murderer, Saul.
7. There is hope for you.
8. There is hope for me.

C. SEE THE EMPTY TOMB, and you will see the only real reason for hope! (Mark 16:6 KJV) And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Does the resurrection matter? OF COURSE IT DOES. Does the resurrection matter to you, personally? YES - more than anything else in this world.