What Jesus Said About Resurrection

The Jesus-Event

 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

(Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:17)

God tabernacled (John 1:14) with us. "God is with us" in the person of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:23, Colossians 2:9) God was "in Christ" reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). God entered into His very own creation and existed as a man. It includes an historical event. For over 30 years God, while existing as a man walked on earth. Once He was despised, rejected, beaten, crucified, and buried He did as He had said, and raised Himself from the dead on the third day (John 2:19). He is God all in all and seated at the supreme place of the universe.

This is the Jesus-event. This is where the invisible God was made visible. This is not to say God stopped being God or that God had to empty heaven. Simply, the Creator partook in creation. God is simultaneously creator, sustainer, father, son, holy, redeemer at the same time. Since Jesus is God in quality, rather than in terms of quantity, the personality, identity and character of God was in Christ Jesus (Colossians 2:9).

The Scriptures also speak of Saul, a Christ-hater, turned Christ-lover, better known as Paul who gave his life for what he once considered heresy and worthy of death (Acts 7:50ff.). Paul makes this contribution to the testimony of the Resurrection of our Lord and its life-changing effect. Notice 1 Corinthians 15:

1 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. 3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. NRSV

Notice some of these statements of Paul:

1. In vs. 3 he has and is handing them something of "first importance". 

2. Christ died and was buried in accordance with Scripture.

3. Christ appeared to Cephas, the twelve, more than 500 people most of which were still alive, to James, all the apostles and lastly Paul himself.

4. God's grace in him has not been in vain.

5. If Christ has not been raised our proclamation and faith is in vain.

6. If Christ has not been raised then you are faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 

Notice that Paul correlates the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as being in accordance with the Scriptures. Paul obviously sees Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic references (e.g. Genesis 3:15; Psalms 2:1–2; 16:10; 22:1; 22:6–7; 22:22; 69:21; 89:26–28; Isaiah 7:14; 24:16; 42:1; 42:6; 49:6; 53:5). This conviction, shared by all the New Testament writers, was core to the early church. Notice also that Paul is making propositions that he emphatically believes to be true. He also shows it to be true based upon a) being in accordance with Scripture (cf. John 5:39) b) eyewitness accounts including his own first hand account. 

The Resurrection of Christ provides us with a future hope of resurrection. Clement of Rome (A.D. 30-101) speaks of this hope and even calls it the "future resurrection" in The First Epistle of Clement. These only serve to echo was Paul had earlier written. In Ephesians 2:6 Paul says that Christ has "raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (NRSV). Therefore, since we are united with Christ we will also be raised as Christ. 

In the Old Testament Jacob left his encounter with God at the river and he left never to be the same. He left changed. The physical and psychological impact of Jesus upon the Bible writers and clearly Paul here is indeed profound. Penetrating to the depths of the human person. Paul was smitten. He was struck by Jesus, the Christ, the man from Nazareth. He was so moved by his encounter with Jesus that it changed not only his career direction but caused him to leave what he had known to be true until that point. As a devout Pharisee he left no doubt people and things he loved. Are we that moved by the Jesus-event? Are you that moved by the Jesus-event? Would you believe even if you're life depended on it? 

The Resurrection does not rely only in an empty tomb but also, among other evidences, eyewitness accounts of the risen Lord. (See Matt 28:8-10, 16-20; Luke 24:13; John 20:11-29 and Acts 1:1-11). This ratifies the faith and personal experiences (Paul's in Acts 9 and 22) that multiplied millions have had and are having with Jesus until this day. The tomb was empty, the disciples were transformed from uncertain to bold preachers of the Resurrection, for which they would die.

JN Anderson

The Only Thing Worth Knowing by Steve Pixler

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 11:59 PM PDT

Text: I Corinthians 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (3) And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Religious Tradition vs. Pagan Philosophy

Paul told the church at Corinth that he “determined”—which means to me that he decided after deep reflection—to “know nothing among them save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” It is quite likely that Paul wrestled with the question of how to best reach the pagans with the gospel, of whether to approach them with religious tradition (the Jewish approach) or with pagan philosophy (the Greek approach). Some wonder if Paul may have worked through this on Mars Hill in Athens when he utilized a philosophical approach to reach the pagans. There is no certainty on this point.

Regardless of the Athens angle, Paul had “determined” that he could not win the Gentile world by using the wisdom of man. He could not win the world by presenting the gospel in a way that removed the offense and folly of the Cross. The answer for the world is not religious tradition or secular philosophy. The answer is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Paul, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” presupposes the resurrection. As Paul argues elsewhere, there is no reason to preach Christ crucified if Christ is not raised from the dead (I Corinthians 15).

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. If this story is true, then God has intervened in history to make all things new. Thus, all religion must be reinterpreted in light of the resurrection. Any religion that does not confirm to this reality is false worship, and thus, idolatry. All philosophy must be reinterpreted in light of the resurrection. Every philosophy that does not account for the meaning of life with the resurrection as its fundamental explanation is a deeply flawed, indeed, false, philosophy of life. All religion and philosophy must be reoriented toward—in and through—the Cross.

All Knowledge Must Conform to Christ

In fact, all knowledge must be conformed to the truth of the gospel to be true knowledge. All knowledge must die and be resurrected with Christ in order to live as true knowledge. This means that every realm of life, all knowledge—reality as we know it in everything—must be conformed to the reality of the new creation that arose with Christ in His resurrection. Science must conform to the reality of the resurrection. Politics must conform to the reality of the resurrection. Education must conform. Entertainment must conform. Medicine must conform. Environmentalism must conform. Social services must conform. Social justice must conform. Technology must conform. Sports and recreation must conform. The family must conform. And, believe it or not, theology must conform!

The church—and this is the most crucial, for on this all other conformance depends—must conform. The church is the means by which the kingdom of God breaks into the world. Nothing on earth can experience resurrection apart from baptism into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The only way all of the areas of life and culture can conform is to be transformed through the lives of individuals within each area that bring the power of the resurrection to bear upon it. Science cannot be saved unless scientists are saved! Politics cannot be saved unless politicians are saved! And so on.

Of course, we affirm that the fullness of the new creation awaits the resurrection at the end of history when the Lord Jesus returns victorious over all nations, but we also affirm, and we boldly affirm it, that the resurrection of Christ in the middle of history has brought the end of history to us in advance. Christ brought the future into the present. We already know the outcome of history, and it is Christ, the only thing worth knowing!

The Resurrection as a Present Reality

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. The new creation had already broken in upon the world, and the future is now. The first century world of Jewish believers expected Messiah to come and make all things new all at once. But Jesus, the true Messiah, revealed that God’s kingdom rule over creation would come gradually like leaven in the meal. And this gradual coming of the kingdom would begin in the personal resurrection of Jesus as the embodiment of both Yahweh and humankind as the federal head of the new creation. The resurrection, then, would be the “seed planting” of the KOG. This “seed planting” would spread throughout the field of the world by being planted in the lives of individual believers, who would then extend the vine of the kingdom into every field of personal endeavor. Through the resurrection of Jesus, the resurrection breaks forth in the earth through the individual lives of believers, and through the lives of believers, the resurrection breaks forth into all creation, subduing the enemies of Christ as He rules from heaven through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit in believers.

Paul declares that, in the resurrection, Christ Jesus has become a new kind of human, a glorified human, and now, a “life-giving spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45). The man, Christ Jesus, has now been “omnipresenced” in the universe, and because we have been baptized into Him, we share in His life-giving Spirit, which flows into all of us as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit mediates Christ to us, and we mediate the presence of Christ to the world. Thus, His resurrection is flowing through us into all creation as the catalyst of the coming universal resurrection and the new creation.

So often on Easter the focus is primarily on Good Friday, when Jesus died, and Resurrection Sunday, when Jesus rose again. In other words, we usually see Easter as a time to reflect on the past, on what God did in Christ back then, way back on Calvary. And this is good, as far as it goes. But Easter must be more than a memorial service. Easter must be a continuing celebration, which, in fact, we celebrate every Lord’s Day, of the ongoing work of Christ’s resurrection now in us! We must see more today than just what Jesus did; we must see what Jesus is doing!

To only preach about yesterday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, without preaching about today, good Monday and ordinary Tuesday, is to drastically reduce the gospel down to mere memory. But the resurrection of Jesus is much more—so much more—than mere memory. It is the living witness of the daily presence and power of Christ to make all things new! We are living between the push of Easter Sunday and the pull of the Second Coming, both moments pulsing with the power of Christ's resurrection in the world.

When we preach about Easter we are preaching about Jesus, about His present work at the right hand of the Father, about His ever-living intercession as priest for us and His ever-subduing reign as king for us. And through our baptism into Christ, we share in His resurrection and stand to minister daily, both in the weekly corporate worship and in our daily work as agents of Christ’s dominion in the world. The resurrection of Jesus continues daily in the resurrection that works in us and flows out of us into a world dead in sins and trespasses. We are Christ’s life for the world, and we are hastening the coming of Christ and the resurrection of all things.

Conclusion: Celebrating Easter

Do you want to celebrate Easter? Then, do more than attend an annual service to honor a parent or please a spouse. Do more than paint eggs and chase bunny rabbits around the lawn. Do more, do much more! Celebrate Easter by hearing the gospel, the story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection; by believing that story, for it is true; by participating in that story through repentance and baptism confessing Jesus as Lord and being filled with the Spirit; and by living out the ongoing story of the resurrection in your world until the story of Christ's victory is complete in the last resurrecion. Celebrate Easter so that the world may know “Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” which is the only thing worth knowing!

Click here to visit the blog of Pastor/Muscian Steve Pixler.

The Resurrection of Christ: A Rock for Philosophical Speculation

“The empty tomb, then, forms a veritable rock on which all rationalistic theories of the resurrection dash themselves in vain.” ~J.N.D. Anderson, Evidence for The Resurrection

While reading C. S. Lewis & Francis Schaeffer: Lessons for a New Century recently I came across this analogy that is fitting for this discussion. Note what Scott Burson and Jerry Walls suggests here:

“What would you say if you picked up the newspaper tomorrow morning and the lead headline screamed, “Bones of Jesus Found: Scholars Refute Resurrection”? Your first reaction might likely be grave skepticism and a quick glance through the body of the story to identify the names of these radical revisionists. But suppose upon reading the opening paragraph you discovered that the academicians who made this pronouncement are not of the Jesus Seminar variety but rather a battery of the most respected evangelical New Testament scholars in the world. The article indicates that these venerable professors had secretly gathered at an archaeological site in Jerusalem to examine a new find and that the whole group, much to their chagrin, concluded that these were the actual bones of Jesus of Nazareth. In light of this startling revelation, would you give up your Christian faith?”

Some of you may have never considered this and yet others may have. However, as difficult as it may be to unpack the implications here we must find ourselves agreeing with Paul. In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul writes:

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14 NRSV)

Unlike many faiths today Christianity is rooted in space-time history and is open to both verification and falsification. The bodily Resurrection of Christ, from the dead, is a pillar of the Christian faith. No other person has been able to achieve such a feat. In fact, it is this divine feat that enables us to rightly identify Jesus as God. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then He is not God, and was only a good man, a miracle worker from Nazareth. If Jesus did not rise from the dead our sin remains.

Paul tells us that we preach Christ in vain if He “has not been raised”. This belief in a Christ that was resurrected from the dead was new. The disciples did not adopt some Jewish belief. Plato and Judaism believed in some sort of after-life where our bodies would be changed; however, Christ was resurrected from the dead in actual time and space—before the end of time—and He was later seen by many eyewitnesses.

The implications of this will not be fully explored here but they should awe us and increase our faith. As believers Christ abolished the limitations, at least those we perceived, of space and time and therefore the significance of Jesus Christ cannot be measured.

Trends of the Resurrection:

Beliefs on the Resurrection have changed over time. Many philosophical trends have come and gone as well (e.g Hegelianism is almost gone from Germany). G.K. Chesterson, in Orthodoxy, noted that “the man of the nineteenth century did not disbelieve in the Resurrection because his liberal Christianity allowed him to doubt it. He disbelieved in it because his very strict materialism did not allow him to believe it.” Today, there are liberals who believe in the Resurrection yet would suggest it was a spiritual or non-physical resurrection (Wolfhart Pannenberg, Marcus Borg). Gnosticism and Jehovah’s Witness would also support a spiritual resurrection.

Rudolf Bultmann, believed that the historical resurrection could never be proved, believed the essence of the resurrection is that Christ is raised in our hearts, not that He was raised physically from the dead. N.T. Wright notes that Bultmann believed “the resurrection-language of the early church was used to denote not a separate event from the crucifixion but the early disciples’ faith that the crucifixion was not a tragic defeat but the divine act of salvation. Easter is thus about the arising, not of Jesus, but of the faith of the early church.”[1] The Resurrection however is more than just subjective visions by 1^st Century followers of Christ.

As atheism is increasingly defining and organizing itself, as a relatively recent philosophy, materialistic and naturalist impulses are also growing. This is a war for the minds of men today. Many are committed to a naturalistic, even Darwinian, worldview that does not allow for miracles. Darwinian evolution has laid a foundation upon which the naturalist builds their worldview. To the naturalist, who rejects supernaturalism, there is no transcendent God since there is nothing outside the natural world and therefore if Jesus did rise bodily from the dead then He was indeed God.

We should not be surprised by similar stories found in the mythological tales of different cultures and time periods. Just as with the near east creation and flood stories we should expect to find them for in someway they echo or are derivative of the events in Genesis, which in reality transcend such stories. In his, Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis noted that the monotheistic writings of Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten anticipate the poetry of the Psalms. The rising and dying kings of the eastern mystery religions could also anticipate the death and resurrection of Christ. Although they are not exact parallels they could point to a spiritual resonance with what was to come.

Proofs of the Resurrection:

“The appearances of Jesus and His resurrection are as well authenticated as anything in ancient literature…there can be no doubt that they occurred, and that the main reason why Christians became sure of the resurrection in the earliest days was just this. They could say with assurance, “We have seen the Lord.” They knew it was he!”
~British theologian Michael Green

Here is a quick list of proofs for the Resurrection:

1. The empty tomb.
2. Sudden transformation of frightened and uncertain disciples into bold proponents of the Resurrection for which they would die.
3. The claim that the church was the Body of Christ.
4. The transformation of the Christ-hater Saul, to the Christ-lover Paul.
5. A hermeneutical conviction by the early church which correlated the death, burial and resurrection of Christ with Old Testament Messianic references.
6. The inability of the Jewish leaders to disprove the Resurrection event.
7. The use of Sunday or worship on the “first day” instead of the Sabbath.
8. The conversion of James, the brother of Christ, who originally opposed the teachings of his brother.
9. This A.D. 117 account by Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrneans:

“For I know that after His resurrection also He was still possessed of flesh, and I believe that He is so now. When, for instance, He came to those who were with Peter, He said to them, “Lay hold, handle Me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit.” And immediately they touched Him, and believed, being convinced both by His flesh and spirit. For this cause also they despised death, and were found its conquerors. And after his resurrection He did eat and drink with them, as being possessed of flesh, although spiritually He was united to the Father.” Ch. III

10. The theme of the Resurrection of Christ and the believer’s future resurrection are interwoven throughout the New Testament.
11. Non-Christian historical sources such as Josephus, Tacitus, Lucian, Mara Bar-Serapion and the Talmud all confirm the crucifixion of Jesus.
12. The Romans were very good at what they did. There are many appearances and eyewitness of Christ after the crucifixion being resurrected from the dead. (See Matthew 28:8-10, 16-20; Luke 24:13; John 20:11-29 and Acts 1:1-11).
13. The Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium. These are centuries old burial cloths which bear the image of a crucified man. Advocates for the Shroud of Turin believe it to be the burial shroud of Christ. Many have declared it to be a medieval forgery (dating to 1350) but others assert its authenticity. The debate continues to this day.

• These proofs are not without their critics but this post is not designed to be exhaustive. Therefore I have not endeavored to present argument for or against any of these arguments. I can do so at a later time or in future comments. You can also see my other articles on the Resurrection here.

The Results of the Resurrection:

Some may say, “So what?” Others may ask how does the Resurrection event relate to me today? First, the Resurrection gives us eternal life. A hope for a future beyond this finite world. Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26 NRSV

Second, there is an impartation of power. Paul writing to the church at Ephesus, “and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:19-20 NRSV

Third, the Resurrection of Christ brought about the reality of Justification for believers. Paul, again, states: “It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.” Romans 4:24-25 NRSV

The fourth result is perhaps one of the most important. The Resurrection of Christ provides us with a future hope of resurrection. Clement of Rome (A.D. 30-101) speaks of this hope and calls it the “future resurrection” in The First Epistle of Clement. Prior to the comments by Clement the Apostle Paul would tell the Corinthians:

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:17-22 NRSV

Fifth, Paul also reminds us of our union with Christ. He says that Christ has “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6 NRSV Therefore since we are united with Christ we will also be raised as Christ.

The Significance of the Resurrection:

First, the Resurrection of Christ signified the beginning of the Last Days and the Final Resurrection. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God. The coming of the Kingdom brings stark reality to the fact that God is about to intervene in time and space. To judge the righteous and the wicked.

The time following the Resurrection event is one leading to all believers glorification and immortality in the resurrected life (See 1 Corinthians 15:50-56). In his letter to the church at Colossae Paul reminded them that Jesus was the “first born from the dead” (Colossians 1:18). Thankfully this means he is only one, or the first, of many to come.

Second, the Resurrection of Christ was the vindication of the message and mission of Jesus, the Christ. Since Christ was raised from the dead his claims are true and His message of salvation is authentic. This, then, means something very important and powerful. By His Resurrection Christ has defeated Satan, sin and has overcome death. Jesus is Lord of our salvation but is also the victor. He has put the forces of evil under Him.

It is obvious that Jesus understood Himself as being the atonement for humanity. It was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of man, which reversed the deadly effects of Adam in the Garden of Eden. In the Garden Eve was tempted by Satan and as disobeyed God resulting in The Fall. Jesus essentially began the restorative process of God’s creation. He was “God with us” reconciling the world to Himself.

The Assurance of Salvation:

Finally, the resurrection is eternally significant because it brings us the assurance of our salvation (See Acts 17:31). Donald Bloesch noted,

“The New Testament does give us evidences of Jesus’ resurrection, among which are the empty tomb and the appearance of Jesus to his disciples after his death. Yet these are not proofs that can compel reason, because they leave too many unanswered questions. They are evidences, however, that ratify faith.” [2]

Bloesch firmly believes in the historical bodily Resurrection of Christ. He sees the New Testament evidence as ratifying our faith yet they are not rationally certain. Historical analysis can give us approximations. For example, in Science measurements are not exact. The last digit of a measurement is always estimated or sometimes rounded off. This does not mean the measurements are invalid or inaccurate but rather they are not exact.

In his Pensees mathematician Blaise Pascal notes,

“This religion, so great in miracles…so great in science, after having displayed all her miracles and all her wisdom, rejects all this, and declares that she has neither wisdom nor signs, but only the cross and foolishness.” He goes on to say, “for those, who, by these signs and that wisdom, have deserved your belief, and who have proved to you their character, declare to you that nothing of all this can change you, and render you capable of knowing and loving God, but the power of the foolishness of the cross without wisdom and signs, and not the signs without this power.” (Pensees, 586-587)

In other words the Christian faith has many evidences in its support, but it is not these evidences that cause us to believe. Bloesch goes on to say,

“the empty tomb is a sign of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, but divine revelation alone is the cause of our acceptance of belief in this resurrection. The women at the tomb of Jesus believed not because they saw a tomb that was empty but because an angel appeared to them and announced Jesus’ resurrection (Mt 28:1–7; Mk 16:5–6).”

A similar account is true with Paul. Even though Paul knew many of the disciples and eyewitnesses of the Resurrected Christ he became convinced by his personal encounter with Christ where he actually heard the voice of the Lord (See Acts 9 and 22). This is probably why Paul would later pen these words under divine inspiration:

“So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.”
Epistle of Paul to the Church at Rome 10:17 NRSV

JN Anderson

NOTES:

[1] http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Historical_Problem.htm

^[2]Donald G. Bloesch, The Last Things : Resurrection, Judgment, Glory (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2004), 1.

The Vindication of God in Christ

Written by: Kirk VanOoteghem

When Jesus made His final approach into Jerusalem before His crucifixion, He paused just before entering the city. As He beheld the city, He was stirred with emotion and wept saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes" (Lk. 19.42). He went on to remorsefully and prophetically reveal the destruction that would inevitably fall upon Jerusalem. Why would this great "city of kings" have to meet such a tragic fate? Jesus Himself answered this question with His unforgettable words, "because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation" (Lk. 19.44). The inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem, along with most of those who came into contact with with Him during His earthly ministry, failed to recognize the deity of Jesus Christ. Even in all of the amazement that surrounded the dramatic, sacrificial death of Jesus, most still failed to realize the true identity of the crucified One. Therefore, it pleased the Lord that an irrefutable "sign" be provided to confirm once and for all the veracity of the Incarnation (Mt. 12.38-40). Indeed, the Resurrection of Jesus is undeniable evidence that He is in fact "God manifest in flesh." Although the Resurrection is the source of many important doctrinal truths, we often overlook one of the most profound objectives of this mighty act: the vindication of God in Christ.

The term "vindication" has often been used by theologians in reference to the Resurrection of Christ. Many times, no doubt, the Resurrection has been described as such without a complete understanding of the powerful truths that the concept implies. Although the word "vindication" (or the verb form, "vindicate") does not actually appear in the Bible, the term accurately describes many motives and results of the Resurrection that are related in purpose. The American Heritage Dictionary provides five similar definitions for the word "vindicate." Each definition, however, has its own unique distinction which illustrates a portion of God's beautiful design for the most significant event in history.

The first definition of vindicate is "to clear of accusation, blame, suspicion or doubt with supporting arguments or proof." When Jesus was put on trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin, His accusers found Him guilty of blasphemy against the God of Israel. Many times during His public ministry the religious leaders of the day claimed that Jesus blasphemed in that He, among other things, forgave sins (Mt. 9.2,3; Mk. 2.3-7; Lk. 5.18-21), claimed to be the Son of God (Mt. 26.63-66; Mk. 14.61-64) and claimed to be one with the Father (Jn. 10.30-33). The admission of Jesus that He was indeed "King of the Jews" sealed his fate as this confession was the official charge for which He was sentenced to the penalty of death by crucifixion (Mt 27.11,37; Jn. 19.19). Concerning these accusations of blasphemy against Jesus, only one of three alternatives can contain the truth. Jesus was either insane, deliberately deceptive or "God manifest in flesh." Through His Resurrection, Jesus proved the latter to be correct. In so doing, He cleared Himself of all "accusation, blame, suspicion or doubt" regarding the charges of blasphemy for which He was sentenced. The Apostle Paul promoted this very concept when he wrote that Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:" (Rom. 1.4). Had Jesus been a mere mortal, He would have decidedly been a blasphemer. But, the Resurrection exposed the error of Jesus' accusers, that they slew Him in whom "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2.9)

The second definition of vindicate is "to provide justification or support for [something]." The attestation of the many Resurrection passages in the Bible provide more than adequate justification and support for the deity of Jesus. The Word of God describes Christ's Resurrection using various, similar terms and expressions. For example, Jesus is depicted twenty-five times as being "raised by God," thirteen times as having "risen" and six times as having "rose." In addition, Jesus foretells His own Resurrection ten times by saying that He shall "rise." The first of these expressions makes it clear that God is responsible for the Resurrection of Jesus while the remainder insinuate that Jesus rose of His own accord. Again, only one of two explanations can account for this apparent inconsistency. Either the Word of God is contradictory or these similar expressions are synonymous and are, therefore, used interchangeably. The only logical conclusion is that the expressions are indeed equivalent. To say that "God raised Jesus from the dead" is exactly the same as saying "Jesus raised Himself from the dead," because Jesus is in fact God. The words of Jesus Himself illustrate this concept. While abiding in Galilee, Jesus once told His disciples:

"The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again" (Mt. 17.22b,23).

However, on the road to Jerusalem, as well as at other places, Jesus told his disciples:

"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again" (Mk. 10.33,34; et. al.).

It is interesting to note two things about the above comments of Jesus. The first is that He used the two different expressions, regarding His Resurrection, interchangeably. The second is that Jesus used the designation "Son of Man" to emphasize His physical body; for the the Spirit of God could not die and be raised, only the flesh which housed that Spirit. This pattern of utilizing the title "Son of Man" recurs throughout all of the Resurrection discourses of Jesus.

Other statements of Jesus further illustrate the power that He possessed to resurrect Himself, which is overwhelming evidence of His deity. Consider the following passages.

"[Jesus speaking] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received from the Father" (Jn. 10.17,18).

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up ... But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said" (Jn. 2.19,21,22).

These passages make it abundantly clear that Jesus did indeed assert His deity by proclaiming that His Resurrection would be a result of His own power.

Perhaps the most convincing justification or support for Christ's divinity is the testimony of the disciples who witnessed the risen Jesus. "It is the Lord," said John to Peter upon the recognition of their glorified Master (Jn. 21.7). Mary Magdalene also "told the disciples that she had seen the Lord" following her encounter with the risen Jesus in the empty tomb (Jn. 20.18). To Thomas, who was not present at Christ's initial appearance to his followers, the disciples proclaimed, "We have seen the Lord" (Jn. 20.25). The subsequent encounter between the glorified Jesus and Thomas is decisive evidence as to the identity of the Risen One. John 20:28-31 reads:

"Then saith he [Jesus] to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

Many Bible scholars and commentators agree that this verbal response of Thomas is the climax to John's Gospel and a beautiful summary of its theme.

The third definition of vindicate is "to justify or prove the worth of, especially in light of later developments." The "worthiness" of Christ is typically expressed in connection with His sacrificial death (e.g. Rev. 5.12,23). Indeed, the "worthiness" of His sacrifice can only be attributed to His deity (Acts 20.28; 2 Cor. 5.19; Phil. 2. 5-11). However, it is the Resurrection that affirms the acceptance of His death as a worthy sacrifice to satisfy His own just Law (Rom. 4.24,25; 5.10). The Apostle Paul demonstrates the worth of the Resurrection in that it elicits recognition of the ultimate power and authority of Jesus. To the Church in Ephesus, Paul wrote:

"And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1.19-23).

The fourth definition of vindicate is "to defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of [something]." In the humility that characterized His earthly ministry, Jesus strove to keep His identity somewhat secret. He admonished many of whom He had healed to "tell no man" (Mt. 8.4; 9.30; 12.16; 17.9; Mk. 5.43; Lk. 5.14). The few who recognized His deity were commanded to keep their revelation private (Mt. 16.20; Mk. 3.11,12; 8.29,30). However, after His Resurrection He commissioned His disciples to preach His Gospel and be "witnesses" unto Him that the "uttermost parts of the earth" may know of His greatness and majesty (Mk. 16.15; Acts 1.8).

There is yet another manner in which the Bible establishes that a result of the Resurrection is the insistence on the recognition of Christ's divinity. Jewish Law forbids the worship of any entity other than the God of Israel (Deut. 6.13; 10.20). Jesus Himself upheld the necessity of compliance to this holy commandment (Mt. 4.10;Lk. 4.8). Being God, therefore, He allowed many to worship Him (Mt. 2.11; 9.18; 14.33; 15.25; 20.20; Jn. 9.38). However, at no time during His public ministry did Jesus require, or even request, that anyone worship Him. Prior to the Crucifixion, Roman soldiers mockingly worshiped Jesus saying, "Hail, King of the Jews" (Mt. 27.29; Mk 15.18; Jn. 19.3). But, Jesus would not be the object of humiliation for long, for the "Risen King" does indeed insist upon the recognition of His deity. "All hail" was the first commandment of the glorified Jesus to His disciples who responded by falling at His feet and worshiping Him (Mt. 28.9; also see Lk. 24.51-53). The Word of God speaks plainly to all:

"For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living ... For it is written, As I live saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14.9,11).

And again:

"That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2.10,11).

The fifth, and final, definition of vindicate is "to exact revenge for; to avenge." The Resurrection of Jesus is not the only resurrection to be recorded in the Bible. Furthermore, it was neither the first nor the last resurrection to take place. There are several resurrection experiences in the Bible in addition to that of Jesus including: the widow of Zepephath's son (1 Kings 17.17-24), the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4.18-37), Jairus' daughter (Mk. 5.22-43), the widow of Nain's son (Lk. 7.11-17), Lazarus (Jn. 11.1-44), Tabitha (Acts 8.36-43), Dorcas (Acts 9.36-41) and Eutychus (Acts 20.7-12). All of these individuals undoubtedly died again. However, the uniquenes, and greatness of Jesus' Resurrection lies in the fact that He rose with a glorified body and ascended into heaven, never to die again (Mk. 16.19,20; Lk. 24.51; Acts 1.9 with Rom. 6.9). In so doing, He has "abolished" death (2 Tim. 1.10) and slated it for eventual destruction (1 Cor. 15.26; Rev. 20.13,14). Therefore, the enemy that Jesus "avenged" was, in fact, death. Only as God could Jesus have accomplished such a terrific feat. The Bible states:

"And being found in fashion as a man, he [Jesus] humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2.10).

However, as God it was impossible for death to have dominion over Jesus. The Word of God tells us:

"Him [Jesus], being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it" (Acts 2. 23,24).

And again:

"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Rom. 6.9).

Moreover, Jesus Himself demonstrated that His final victory over death is a direct result of His deity when He told John the Revelator:

"Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Rev. 1. 17b,18).

In conclusion, the grandeur of Resurrection Sunday lies in the fact that this miraculous event verified the divine identity of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches in numerous, different fashions that Jesus, as God, did indeed vindicate Himself by rising from the dead. Through this dramatic climax to the Gospel, all generations may assuredly know that Jesus is "Lord" and "God" and "have life through His name" (Jn. 20.28,31).


References:

The American Heritage Dictionary. Third Edition. [computer file] Novato, CA: WordStar International Inc./Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993.

Bernard, David K., The Oneness of God. Hazelwood, MO: Word Aflame Press, 1983.

Buttrick, George Arthur, Ed.. Interpreter's Bible Dictionary. Vol. 4. "Resurrection in the New Testament." New York: Abingdon Press, 1962.

Thiessen, Henry C. Lectures in Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.

________________

About Kirk:

Pastor Kirk is an executive Pastor at River of Life in Muncie, Indiana. Kirk's primary responsibilities at River of Life include assisting the Lead Pastor with the administrative and operational oversight of the church and providing counseling services. Prior to becoming the Executive Pastor, he served River of Life in many capacities over the years including Youth Pastor, Outreach Director, and Sunday School Director. During his time in Youth Ministry, he also served on the Youth Committee of the Indiana District, United Pentecostal Church International.

Pastor Kirk holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology, a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Education, History, and Religious Studies - both from Ball State University - and is currently enrolled in a graduate Business program. He enjoys studying, teaching and writing, especially in the areas of doctrinal studies, leadership, church administration/organization, counseling, and apologetics. He is also accomplished in the field of Information Technology.

Pastor Kirk is a committed husband and father. His wife, Tammy (formerly Caldwell), is a former Jackson College of Ministries (Jackson, MS) student and is active in the ministries of River of Life. They have three children: Gabrielle Hope, Silas Haywood, and Ella Grace.

Resurrection: The Key To The Christian Faith

“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. (2) And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,[1] and sat on it. (3) His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. (4) And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. (5) But the angel answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. (6) He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:1-6 NKJV)

The arch of the gospel rests upon two great pillars: the death of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ.

In fact, without the latter there can be no Christian faith. Without the Resurrection Christianity is in vain. Paul declares, "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14 KJV) He went on to say, “…we have testified of God that he raised up Christ…” In addition, Luke records, in Acts 1:3, that by MANY INFALLIBE PROOFS did Jesus show himself and declare that He; God manifest in the flesh, had risen and He is alive!

The Resurrection of Christ is also the precursor for the resurrection of all believers when we are "caught up" with the Lord in the air. Read these words of the Apostle Paul:

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:50-57 NKJV)

In the Gospels it is very apparent that political tension both existed and was mounting during the times of Jesus. This is due, in large part, because of His being the Messiah. In Matthew 18 we see the disciples asking Jesus, “Who is the greatest?” An obvious question used to determine which of them would be His “right hand” man during the dominance of His Kingdom. It is very likely, then, that the disciples were expecting a physical kingdom, probably even one of military dominance.

It is interesting to note, also, in the Gospels that we see Jesus imparting understanding and revelation, more so, to the disciples during the end of His earthly ministry (e.g. Lord's Supper; Luke 24:27; John 20:22), obviously deepening and correcting their understanding of His purpose. In retrospect we can understand how misunderstood Jesus may have been, until the Resurrection. As we shall see the Resurrection has transforming power.

For many years we have heard the voice of the skeptic as he examines the doctrines of Christianity. However, modern skeptics and certain cultural conspiracies have emerged and given credibility by Hollywood. There are many who oppose Christianity and particularly the Resurrection. Many of the modern or recent skeptics, such as the Da Vinci Code or the Lost Tomb of Jesus are simple marketing ploys. They are designed for financial gain gotten from the gullible, the naïve, and the uninformed—and not the propagation of truth.

“Attempts to reinvent Jesus are nothing new. The vines of radical skepticism toward the biblical Christ have been creeping up the walls of the ivory tower for two centuries. But only in recent years has such intense cynicism sprouted at the grassroots. And it has spread quickly.

This comes as no surprise. After all, our culture is ripe for conspiracies about Jesus.

The seeds of radical skepticism have been widely sown by mass media for over a decade. From the Jesus Seminar—a fringe group of scholars whose color-coded version of the Gospels repeatedly made headlines in the 1990s—to the recent blockbuster novel and now movie The Da Vinci Code, skeptics of all stripes have used the popular media to promote their demoted versions of Jesus.”(1)

Modern Skeptics:

Jesus Seminar:

The Jesus Seminar is a fringe group of scholars whose color-coded version of the Gospels made headlines in the 1990s. They were given much publicity through national media, e.g. 2000 ABC News program "The Search for Jesus" hosted by news anchor Peter Jennings.

This group estimates that about 80% of what Christ said throughout the Gospels is inaccurate. A member of the Seminar, John Dominic Crossan, wrote: “The…resurrection…latter-day wishful thinking.” He continues on by saying that the corpse of Jesus went the way of all abandoned criminals—covered with dirt and vulnerable to wild dogs that roamed the wasteland of execution grounds.(2)

The Da Vinci Code:

Dan Brown and Co. authored this book, which eventually became a movie. This work by Brown is a literal attempt to undermine the Christian faith by fusing fact with fiction, without warning. On a June 9, 2003 interview on the Today Show Brown said that it was his goal to "challenge certain long-held beliefs or truths about religion.” So he is obviously interested in persuading readers to a certain point of view.

The Lost Tomb of Jesus:

This is another marketing effort to build financial gain based upon conspiracy and deceit. This “Tomb” was found in 1980 and the archaeologists who discovered it then are saying the same now, “This is NOT the tomb of the Family of Jesus, nor Jesus Himself!”

The names on these ossuaries were very common in the first century Jewish world and in those days, family members were normally buried in their hometown. In Jesus' case, this would have been Galilee, not Jerusalem.

Uninformed Individuals:

These are people who simply do not know anything about Christianity, really, but yet they yield their minds to rebellious and doubtful impulses. The human man naturally drifts to carnality and self-centeredness, not to spirituality and awareness of the Body of Christ.

Various False Religions:

1. Confucianism, founded by one man (Confucius) around 470-550 B.C.!
2. Buddhism, founded by one man, Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) around 5-600 B.C.!
3. Christian Science founded by one woman—Mary Baker Eddy in 1879!
4. Islam, founded by one man named Mohammed around 700 A.D.
5. Mormonism, founded by Joseph Smith in 1830!
6. Jehovah’s Witness, founded by Charles Russell around 1850!

The coming of these leaders was never prophesied of; they have all long since died, and have passed off the scene! They are never coming back to earth. Each of these leaders were individuals inspired to bring glory to man and NOT one grave that entombs their bodies is empty today!

Objections Refuted:

The dismissal arguments of the Resurrection are typically based upon the Tomb being empty all along. In fact, many of the skeptics mentioned just prior attack this fact routinely. This is incredibly false for several reasons. I will introduce several of them for discussion.

The Female testimony was not considered legitimate, reliable testimony in a 1^st Century Jewish culture. Therefore to propagate or to confirm this would demand the story to be true because no thinking man would’ve used a woman as testimony in any alleged fabrication.

Jesus was a well- known figure in Israel (Roman Historian—Tacitus and Jewish Roman Historian—Josephus). His burial site was known by many people. In fact Matthew records the exact location of Jesus' tomb. He states, "And Joseph of Arimathea took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb" (Matt. 27:59). Mark says that Joseph was "a prominent member of the Council" (Mark 15:43).

In addition, it is apparent by a superficial reading of the Gospels that the leaders of both the Roman and Jewish governments recognized and understood the immense effect that Jesus, the Messiah, was having or would have upon the populous. In fact, in Matthew’s Gospel we see that King Herod was so vexed about the birth of the Messiah that he took great efforts to stop it from happening (See Matthew 2:16). Also, prior to the crucifixion Jesus was a great concern to Pontius Pilate.

It would have been counterproductive, then, for the writers to invent a man of such prominence, name him specifically, and designate the tomb site, since eyewitnesses would have easily discredited the author's fallacious claims, if they were indeed fallacious.

The Tomb was NEVER considered to be anything but empty in the 1^st Century. The Jewish argument against the Messiah-ship of Jesus was that the disciples had taken Him. Thus they recognized that the Tomb was indeed empty. There was no body to parade in the streets of Jerusalem.

Jewish and Roman sources both testify to an empty tomb. Matthew 28:12-13 specifically states that the chief priests invented the story that the disciples stole the body. All the Jewish authorities needed to do to put an end to Christianity were to produce the body of Jesus. It never happened.

The Bible gives a very clear testimony of 500 witnesses of Jesus’ being alive after his death in 1 Corinthians 15:6 “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”

Here Paul states that some witnesses are still living, they "remain unto this present"; so Paul must have known them or had been told that they are still walking around willing to be interviewed. Paul would not have written such a phrase to the Church at Corinth unless he could back it up, because he was virtually inviting them to check it out for themselves. The witnesses were alive and could be verified.

Nine additional eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ re-appearing after His resurrection.

1. Mary Magdalene in John 20:10-18
2. Various women in Matthew 28:8-10
3. Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus, in Luke 24:13-32.
4. 11 disciples and others in Luke 24:33-39.
5. 10 Apostles and others with Thomas absent in John 20:19-23.
6. To Thomas and the other apostles in John 20:26-30.
7. To 7 Apostles in John 21:1-14.
8. To the disciples in Matthew 28:16-20.
9. And on Mt. Olive before His ascension in Luke 24, and Acts 1.

Some proclaim that Jesus’ Resurrection and re-appearances are legends told by his disheartened followers. The problem is secular historians, religious historians, theologians and scholars all agree that legends develop over a long period of time after the death of the legend. Therefore, Christ’s resurrection being a legend has to be excluded because there are only a few years between the death of Jesus and when the writings of the Gospels and other Bible books were written. Also, if the Resurrection were merely a legend, the tomb would still be filled.

Josephus, a Jewish historian writing at the end of the 1^st Century A.D. records this, “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. (Antiquities 18.3.3)”

Another objection to the resurrection of Christ has been that Christ really didn’t die and that he moved the stone aside and in His weakened condition appeared to His disciples.

Firstly, we are fully aware according to science and popular medicine that no human can endure such an ordeal. Secondly, the structure of the tombs and stones of those days is very important. The stone sat before the opening of the tomb in a canal or rut, when it was entirely shut the stone at the end of its course would drop into an even deeper canal where the stone sat until it could only be opened from the outside. In this position the stone would require several men to push it from its lowered position. To remove it from the inside is virtually impossible—unless you are God!

Thirdly, considering the beatings, the torment, and the torture of the days prior to His resurrection; if He truly NEVER died how can a man in such a state walk several miles along the road to Emmaus and be in several places within only a few hours, sit and break bread, and have the strength to preach several times to even crowds over 500 people—all the while parading a hoax!

The changed lives of the Apostles. It is recorded in the Gospels that while Jesus was on trial, the Apostles deserted Him in fear. Yet 10 out of the 11 Apostles died as martyrs believing Christ rose from the dead. The Resurrection event must have been a very compelling event to account for such human transformation.

The Apostles began preaching the Resurrection in Jerusalem. This is significant since this is the very city in which Jesus was crucified. All the evidence was there for everyone to investigate. Legends take root in foreign lands or centuries after the event. Discrediting such legends is difficult since the facts are hard to verify. However, in this case the preaching occurs in the city of the event immediately after it occurred. Every possible fact could have been investigated thoroughly.

Jewish culture. The things that made a Jew a Jew was the social structures. This gave them their national identity and was so vitally important to them. The Jewish people would pass these social orders down to their children, celebrate them in synagogue meetings every Sabbath, and reinforce them with their rituals, because they knew if they didn’t there soon would be no Jews left.

They believed many of these social structures were entrusted to them by God and to abandon them would be to risk their souls being damned to hell after death. Then a rabbi named Jesus appears, teaches for 3 years, gathers a following of lower and middle class people, gets in trouble with authorities, and gets crucified along with 2 thieves.

5 weeks after he’s crucified He’s resurrected and over 10,000 Jews are following him and claiming that he is the initiator of a new religion, and they are willing to give up or alter all of their social and religious institutions that they had been taught since childhood that are so vitally important to them. All because of a man who was God become man; died, was buried and truly was resurrected!

Conclusion:

The disciples had to have three things to spread Christianity. They had to be convinced from firsthand experience that their Christ had indeed risen again. They had to become committed to the mission of Jesus Christ, believing in its scriptural significance. Finally, they had to be commissioned to fulfill His mission to the world. Jesus faithfully discharged these significant obligations to His disciples. The Cross without the commission would be as fruitless as the commission without the message.

NOTES:

1. Quote by Reinventing Jesus Copyright © 2006 by J. Ed Komoszewski, M. James Sawyer and Daniel B. Wallace.
2. Richard N. Ostling, “Jesus Christ, Plain and Simple,” Time, 10 January 1994, from the Time website.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979938-2,00.html (accessed April 6, 2006)