THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST: FACT OR FABLE?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundational truth of the Christian faith.  Take that away, and nothing else matters.  Listen to Paul’s words in 1 Cor.15:13-19.  

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

Can we really believe that Christ arose?  The resurrection of Christ—is it fact or fable?  Here is some evidence to consider from a physician’s account in Luke 24:1-12. 

Fact #1: THE STONE WAS REMOVED. “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. (v. 1-2). 

This is important for several reasons.  First, it was a massive stone, guarded by armed soldiers, (cf. Matt.27:62-28:4, 11-15).  Secondly, it was not removed to let Jesus out, but the witnesses in, (cf. Mark 16:2-5).  One theory the skeptics put forth is that Jesus only appeared to be dead, and after being in the tomb, revived and came out.  Right…He fooled the professional executioners, who stuck a spear right into His heart.  Without medical attention, He not only survived burial, but got well.  Then He rolled the stone away and escaped the guards.  It is far easier to believe the truth of the resurrection than that kind of nonsense!

Fact #2: THE BODY WAS GONE. “Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus,” (v. 3). The disciples were in no condition to steal the body.  They were terrorized by the events, holed up like scared rabbits.  Then, there was the problem of the stone and the soldiers as we’ve already seen.  Some skeptics suggest that the authorities removed His body, so it couldn’t be stolen.  Had that been the case, and the disciples began to preach the resurrection, all they would have had to do was produce the corpse—case closed and Christianity killed.  But, there was no body!  The tomb was empty and it still is!

Fact #3: THE WOMEN WERE SHOCKED. “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?’ “ (v. 4-5).  Still another argument is that the disciples wanted to believe Jesus would be raised from the dead so much that they convinced themselves it was true; the disciples then were delusional, kind of a mass hallucination.  The fact is that none of them expected Him to rise.  The women were going to embalm a body.  They were shocked as any that Christ’s corpse was not there!

Fact # 4: THE TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN. “ ‘He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘ “ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” ‘ And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. (v. 6-10).  The women heard the incredible explanation from the angels that were there, and they eagerly went and told it.  This is significant also.  In those days, women were second-class citizens.  Their testimony carried with it no credibility in a courtroom.  If you were making up a story—some grand conspiracy—as the skeptics will argue, then you would have had men giving the first testimony and not women!  The only way that women would be chosen is because this is what really happened!

Fact #5: THE STORY WAS REJECTED. “And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them,” (v. 11).  The testimony of the women is met with skepticism.  They did not believe it.  They would not have believed it, unless Jesus really met them and rose from the dead (24:33-43).  The first skeptics were the disciples themselves!  Do you recall the reaction of Thomas to the report of the resurrection? 

“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ ” (John‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬-‭29‬‬).

Then, weigh the witness of the hateful opponent of Christianity’s witness to the Risen Christ, who was converted to a faithful proponent of the Resurrected Lord. Here is what Paul wrote:

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.” (1 Cor. 15:3-11)  

This is an undeniable transformation of a man who was turned from an antagonist to an apostle, from a persecutor to a preacher. There is no other reasonable explanation for the conversion of Saul the Pharisee to Paul the Apostle except that He met the risen and glorified Christ on the Damascus Road!

As concerning any historical claim—how do we know the reliability of events we ourselves did not observe?  For instance, how do we know there was a real man named Alexander the Great?  How do we know that Columbus sailed to the New World in 1492?  How do we know Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet?  All we have is the testimony of reliable witnesses. Yet, we accept these as facts. So, we can believe the testimony of eyewitnesses, and especially of converted skeptics and haters!

Fact #6:  THE EVENT WAS INVESTIGATED. “But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” (v. 12). What Peter saw convinced him.  The linen burial cloths were intact—just empty—as though someone had passed right through them!  A grave robber would have torn everything apart.  What a change this produced in Peter—from cowardice to courage.  He was willing to suffer and die for the cause.  People don’t do that for what they know to be a lie.  Nothing can explain this transformation apart from the reality of the resurrection.  

Jesus is still in the life-changing business!  If Jesus did not rise, nothing else matters.  If He did, then everything else the Scriptures claim and command must be taken to heart.  

“ ‘Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’ ” (Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭30‬-‭31‬‬)

HE LIVES—AND WE ARE WITNESSES!

We are in the season of STRESSING the Gospel message of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Yet, we must ever be SHARING that redemption story, “In season and out of season,” as Paul told Timothy (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2b). That is, every season is “in season”, even if it is considered by some to be “out of season”!  

The central truth of the Christian faith is that Christ is risen from the dead, for without it we have no hope. Apart from it, we have no message.  Should Christ not be risen, then the preacher should close his Bible, walk out of the pulpit, turn off the lights, lock the doors, and never waste his time, or that of anyone else ever again. Indeed, life itself would be “futile,” as Paul puts it, (cf. 1 Cor. 15:17). 

Yet, as the hymn says, “I serve a risen Savior!”  Every Lord’s Day is a reminder of the reason we gather as the saints of God. That is the day Christ rose from the tomb. We meet not just because of a commandment to do so, but for a celebration in doing so. 

The story never gets old. It must never fail to be told and retold. As witnesses we must be bold!

If the preacher is not faithful to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ consistently, then He is guilty of sermonic malpractice.

AT THE FEET OF JESUS

There are many lessons to learn from the visit of the Magi. It is a wise man indeed who falls at Jesus’ feet to worship Him. There are numerous occasions where this act of submission, devotion, and adoration is recorded in Scripture.

They bow at Christ’s INCARNATION.  “When they … saw the young Child … [they] fell down and worshiped Him.”  (Matt.2:11).  This stresses His humanity. We marvel that God would become man—the Infinite as an infant; the Creator becoming a creature!  To know He came in love to be one of us in order to save us fills us with awe.

They bow at Christ’s TRANSFIGURATION. “They fell on their faces” (Matt. 17:6).  This stresses His deity. Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of His glory. For one brief, shining moment, who Jesus was on the inside burst through to the outside. They were smitten by His splendor and fell at His feet.  Only a man could die for us, but only God could save us. How marvelous!

They bow at Christ’s RESURRECTION. “They came and  held Him by the feet” (Matt. 28:9).  This stresses His victory. He stands before them as Conqueror of death!  It is now nail-scarred feet before which they fall. Wonder and worship is their response, and ought to be ours as we bow before the One who holds the keys to death, hell, and the grave!

Later, John would record how he would bow at Christ’s GLORIFICATION.  “I fell at His feet as dead” (Rev. 1:17a).  This stresses His supremacy. Those who bow before Him now as the Lord and Savior, will bow before Him in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. When we gather for worship, spiritually we may bow before the glorified Christ in anticipation of literally bowing before Him someday!

The Gospel song, written by Squire Parsons, Jr., puts it:

If I leave this world of sorrow sometime before you do,
Just look for me in heaven and we'll talk the ages thru;
But if, at first, you fail to see me, let me tell you where I'll be,
I'll be thanking Christ, my Savior, for saving a wretch like me.

Don't look 'neath the gates of pearl, don't look on the streets of gold,
Don't look by the walls of jasper, nor among the many sights untold;
For I've been longing and I've been waiting for the precious, holy One to meet,

There I'll be thru the countless ages, look for me at Jesus' feet.

THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD: THE TRIUMPH WE CAN EXPERIENCE

“and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His 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 age but also in that which is to come.” (Eph.1:19-21‬)

If we could have our eyes opened to the power that is ours. Paul knew and would proclaim, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”(Phil.4:13).

This is power to carry out the Great Commission—that’s what Jesus promised, the early church experienced, and is ours if we would claim it!  This is power to drive back the darkness.  Demons shrieked in fear of Jesus and were driven out by Him.  Paul said in Rom.16:20, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.”  But, it is not in our strength, but in our weakness, that we know God’s power.  Paul records this in 2 Cor.12.  Read the whole text, and note this truth, “And He said, ‘My strength is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (v.9)

You may feel very tired today. I can identify. Here is a promise from Almighty God to lift you:

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isa.40:28-31‬)

CHRIST’S REIGN: The Manifestation of Sovereignty

Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28.

There has never been a time that Jesus has not been Lord, nor a time that He will not be. As the Second Person of the Godhead, He reigns as God eternally. The incarnation did not make Him less than fully God, rather it made Him fully man.

In His crucifixion, He died as man, but in His resurrection, He rose as glorified humanity. In doing so, He conquered death and crushed the serpent’s head. Satan is still dangerous in his death throes, however, as a snake can inject venom as it writhes in dying. The devil has been cast down, but not cast out—not yet.

Christ has ascended, and is extending His reign spiritually as He calls the elect to salvation. Each time a sinner repents of his rebellion and bows at the feet of the Savior, His reign is extended on earth.

The full manifestation of that awaits the future. Christ’s resurrection is the prototype of those whom He will raise from death. There is an order in the resurrection, as Paul  notes here. The dead in Christ will rise at the rapture of the church, to be joined by the living saints, transformed and taken up to glory. Following seven years of tribulation judgments on earth, Christ returns with His bride to reign. The Old Testament saints and tribulation martyrs will be raised to share in a thousand years of Christ’s reign on the earth. Following that the wicked will be raised and judged. Then Christ delivers over the kingdom to the Father and the Eternal State of new heavens and a new earth begins.

“And He shall reign forever and ever! Hallelujah!”

ETERNAL HOPE; EVERLASTING HOME

Unless Christ rose from the dead, I am wasting my time writing this and you are wasting your time reading.  Thankfully, He lives!  There are so many implications to that truth.    For one, it establishes eternal hope and provides an everlasting home.  Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10.

Life is relentless—it just keeps coming at you, like the waves of the restless sea.  At times, those waves become tsunamis of trouble.  It is easy to lose heart.
 
Yet, we need not.  Paul reminds us here that although the pain of earth is real, the promise of eternity is far superior.  Outwardly, our strength and health will decline over time—this physical frame eventually grows frail and will fail.  Inwardly, the real person that is housed in a body, can grow stronger and stronger, and with it, the magnetic appeal of heaven overcomes the bonds of earth and we are lifted up to real home in glory.

Paul knew what it was like to suffer.  Do you hear him whining?  His tone is one of triumph.  Far from affliction overwhelming him, he sees how pain aids him—the knowledge that God uses the sorrows of this world to shape us into Christlikeness—that the weight of glory is incomparable when placed on the scales of our soul, in relation to the lightness of difficulty. What we see is temporary, as this material universe passes away, while what we know by faith concerning the spiritual, invisible Kingdom of God is eternally fixed.

For now, we groan.  Today we abide in a tent—a temporary structure that houses our souls.  Someday it will be exchanged for a permanent dwelling in a resurrection body.  Our groans give way to glory!  Our homesickness for heaven will eventually be met with a happy homecoming.  God’s Spirit within the child of God gives us that tug heavenward and His presence assures us of ultimate arrival.

So, let us walk by faith, and not by sight.  Looking around us will burden us.  Looking above us will bless us!  The moment we die, gazing into the face of Jesus will make every heartache forgotten.

Some have accused Christians of, “being so heavenly minded as to be of no earthly good.”  Not so!  Paul tells us that a correct perspective of eternity brings a compelling passion on earth.  Living in light of eternity makes us into difference-makers!  We labor for the Lord as those who must give account at the judgment seat of Christ.  Lord, make us faithful that in the judgment we may be declared fruitful!

MARCH ON!

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will. ”

And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

(Matthew 26;30, 39, 57; 27:2, 31, 50, 59-60; 28:6-7, 16; Acts 1:9-11)

Jesus left the Upper Room following the institution of the Lord’s Supper—crossing the Kidron Valley and up the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane.  Knowing what He was going to face, He did not hesitate. March on Jesus!  March on!

Into the garden, He left the disciples to pray—and instead, they slept—so He prayed alone, wrestling as He would drink the cup.  Might it be avoided?  No, for this cause He came.  March on Jesus!  March on!

The violent mobbed seized Him.  Peter whipped out his sword to fight for Him, but He could have summoned the legions of heaven to rescue Him.  But, He surrendered Himself—the Holy One in the bloody hands of those brutes.  March on Jesus!  March on!

Marched to trial before the religious and government authorities—a kangaroo court—yet He did not protest, a Lamb led to the slaughter. Brutally beaten and cruelly mocked, yet He did not flee.  March on Jesus!  March on!

Shouldering the cross:

Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on a cross,
That He might save them from endless loss. (Avis Christiansen)

March on Jesus!  March on!

And so He was nailed to that cross—suffering as none had ever suffered, paying the excruciating price of all sins of all men of all time, that we who received Him might be forgiven.  He went where no one else could go—marching to the gates of hell—and declaring His victory over the demonic realm.  He crushed the serpent’s head!  March on Jesus!  March on!

Out of the grave, He walked!  Conqueror over death, hell, and the grave—nail-scarred feet strode from the tomb in triumph!  No stone could seal His grave.  No guards could prevent His exit.  March on Jesus!  March on!

He walked among men, the Lord of Glory for forty more days until He met the disciples on the Mount of Olives again, where He would commission His church and depart through the clouds—and on to heaven itself.  What a reception He received as He returned from His mission now accomplished—on to the throne of His Father, and reunion!  March on Jesus!  March on!

And the promise is that the very place where His feet last touched the ground, will once more be the place where they will touch down—maybe very soon—and He will seize the scepter of universal dominion, treading all His foes beneath those blessed feet.  Lord, hasten that day!  March on Jesus!  March on!

JUDGMENT DAY

But the LORD shall endure forever;

He has prepared His throne for judgment.

He shall judge the world in righteousness,

And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.  (Psalms 9:7-8)

Jesus Christ has risen—and that changes everything!  His victory over death, hell, and the grave assures the believer of justification and the unbeliever of judgment.  Paul put it this way, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”  (Acts 17:31)  If the grave was the end of Him, then it is the end for us—and there is no concern for the future.  “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’”  (1 Cor.15:32)  Paul says that is the reasonable thing to do—enjoy this life, cramming whatever pleasure in that you can, if that’s all there is.  Yet, because He lives, I can face tomorrow—and with hope since the judgment meant for me has passed on Christ.  Because He lives the wicked face judgment.  Those who reject that gracious payment then have no choice but to someday stand face to face before this One they have spurned—and hear the pronouncement of judgment in the lake of fire.  God’s righteous judgment is the theme of Psalm 9.

David begins with a word of PRAISE (v.1-2).  No reason for God’s children to fear judgment for their sins, for that judgment has passed upon Christ.  We have reason to rejoice in Him and share a message of good news to the world. 

There is also bad news—and that is if we continue in our rebellion against God—if we like those in the parable—speaking of the people of that day—cry, “We will not have this man to reign over us!” (Luke 19:14), then God will let us have our way.  There is a line God has fixed, however, beyond which sinful man may not pass—an appointed time when the pent-up wrath of God is released.  It is that which the Psalmist speaks of next—a word about PUNISHMENT (v.3-8).  David faced fierce foes—but their real hate was ultimately against His God.  God identifies with His people.  An attack on us, is an assault on Him—and in His time that will come to an abrupt halt.

Logically, then David next speaks a word about PROTECTION (v.9-14).  The sentence upon the rebellious is the salvation of the righteous.  In times of trouble, when the enemy lashes out in fury, God is our refuge.  We can trust in Him, and not be afraid.  That does not mean we may not suffer—even be slain—for our faith, but that God will avenge the blood of His martyrs.  Our lives are in His hands.  There is a protective hedge around us.  Satan has not power to harm us except to the degree God permits—and we may be confident that what the God of perfect love and wisdom allows will always be for our ultimate good and His glory!

The concluding stanza of the psalm is a word about PERDITION (v.15-20).  Individuals will be judged in eternity, but nations are judged now.  To forget God and to oppress the poor is to shake a fist in the face of the Almighty.  That never ends well—and America will be no exception.  Judgment Day is coming—are we ready to meet God?