TheResurrectionOfJesusChrist
Mark16:1-9
TheResurrectionofJesusChrist--TheFocalPointofGospelPreaching
§ 29Menandbrethren,letmefreelyspeakuntoyouofthepatriarchDavid,thatheisbothdeadandburied,andhissepulcheriswithusuntothisday.
§ 30Thereforebeingaprophet,andknowingthatGodhadswornwithanoathtohim,thatofthefruitofhisloins,accordingtotheflesh,hewouldraiseupChristtositonhisthrone;
§ 31Heseeingthisbeforespake oftheresurrectionofChrist,thathissoulwasnotleftinhell,neitherhisfleshdidseecorruption.
§ 32ThisJesushathGodraisedup,whereofweallarewitnesses.§ 33ThereforebeingbytherighthandofGodexalted,andhavingreceivedofthe
FatherthepromiseoftheHolyGhost,hehathshedforththis,whichyenowseeandhear.
§ 34ForDavidisnotascendedintotheheavens:buthesaith himself,TheLORDsaiduntomyLord,Sitthouonmyrighthand,
§ 35UntilImakethyfoesthyfootstool.§ 36ThereforeletallthehouseofIsraelknowassuredly,thatGodhathmade
thatsameJesus,whomyehavecrucified,bothLordandChrist.§ 37Nowwhentheyheardthis,theywereprickedintheirheart,andsaidunto
Peterandtotherestoftheapostles,Menandbrethren,whatshallwedo? (Acts2:29-37)
TheResurrectionofJesusChrist--TheFocalPointofGospelPreaching
• Acts3:15à AndkilledthePrinceoflife,whomGodhathraisedfromthedead;whereofwearewitnesses.
• Acts4:2à Beinggrievedthattheytaughtthepeople,andpreachedthroughJesustheresurrectionfromthedead.
• Acts17:30-31à AndthetimesofthisignoranceGodwinkedat;butnowcommandeth allmeneverywheretorepent:31Becausehehathappointedaday,inthewhichhewilljudgetheworldinrighteousnessbythatmanwhomhehathordained;whereofhehathgivenassuranceuntoallmen,inthathehathraisedhimfromthedead.
• ICor.2:2à ForIdeterminednottoknowanythingamongyou,saveJesusChrist,andhimcrucified.
ImplicationsoftheResurrection• JesusistheMessiah,theSonofGod.Hisclaimsarevalidated.(Jn.2:19-22;Rom.1:3-4)
• JesuswasvictoriousoverSatanashadbeenpromisedandprophesied.(Gen.3:15;Heb.2:14-15)
• JesusisnowreigningasKingonhisthrone.(Acts2:30)
• Deathisnottheend.(ICor.15:19-20)• Wemustliveasthosewhowillalsoberaisedwithaneternaldestiny.(Col.3:1-2)
ChallengesToTheResurrectionofJesusChrist
• TheclaimthatJesuslived,taught,wasagoodmanandgreatteacher,butdidnotperformmiraclesandwasnotraisedfromthedead.
• TheallegationthatthegospelwerewrittenlongafterthelifeanddeathofJesus,notbyeyewitnessesandcontemporaries;andcontainmythsandfablespasseddownbyhisdisciples.
• Thenotionthatonehastosiftthroughthe“myths”toseethe“realJesus”.
• OutrightdenialsofJesusandhisresurrectionfromthedead.
ChallengesToTheResurrectionofJesusChrist
• ThechallengetoprovideananswertothosewhowouldquestionthehopeofachildofGod.– IPet.1:3-4à BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,whichaccordingtohisabundantmercyhathbegottenusagainuntoalivelyhopebytheresurrectionofJesusChristfromthedead,4Toaninheritanceincorruptible,andundefiled,andthatfadeth notaway,reservedinheavenforyou,
– IPet.3:15à ButsanctifytheLordGodinyourhearts:andbereadyalwaystogiveananswertoeverymanthatasketh youareasonofthehopethatisinyouwithmeeknessandfear:
SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist…• Tacitus(RomanSenator/Historian,52-120A.D.)– “…Christus,fromwhomthenamehaditsorigin,sufferedtheextremepenaltyduringthereignofTiberiusatthehandsofoneofourprocurators,PontiusPilatus,andamostmischievoussuperstition,thuscheckedforthemoment,againbrokeoutnotonlyinJudæa,thefirstsourceoftheevil,buteveninRome,whereallthingshideousandshamefulfromeverypartoftheworldfindtheircentre andbecomepopular.
• Accordingly,anarrestwasfirstmadeofallwhopleadedguilty;then,upontheirinformation,animmensemultitudewasconvicted,notsomuchofthecrimeoffiringthecity,asofhatredagainstmankind.
SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist…• Suetonius(RomanhistorianàA.D.69- A.D.140)– LivesoftheCaesars- Claudius,sec.25:• SincetheJewsconstantlymadedisturbancesattheinstigationofChrestus,heexpelledthemfromRome.
– LivesoftheCaesars- Nero,sec.16• PunishmentwasinflictedontheChristians,aclassofmengiventoanewandmischievoussuperstition.
SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• FlaviusJosephus(JewishHistorian– 37-100)• Aboutthistime therelived Jesus,awiseman ifindeedoneoughttocallhimaman.Forhewasonewhowroughtsurprising featsandwasateacherofsuchpeopleasacceptthetruthgladly.Hewonovermany Jewsandmany oftheGreeks. HewastheMessiah.WhenPilate, uponhearinghimaccusedbymenofthehigheststandingamongus, hadcondemnedhimtobecrucified, thosewhohadinthefirstplacecometolovehimdidnot cease. Onthethirdday heappearedtothem restoredto life. For theprophets ofGodhadprophesiedtheseandmyriadsofothermarvellous things abouthim.And thetribeof the Christians,socalledafterhim,hasstilluptonow,notdisappeared. (Antiquities 18.63)
SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• PlinytheYoungerà 61-113A.D.;ProconsulofBithyniaunderTrajan(98-
117)• Itismypractice,mylord,torefertoyouallmattersconcerningwhichIam
indoubt.Forwhocanbettergiveguidancetomyhesitationorinformmyignorance?IhaveneverparticipatedintrialsofChristians.Ithereforedonotknowwhatoffensesitisthepracticetopunishorinvestigate,andtowhatextent.AndIhavebeennotalittlehesitantastowhetherthereshouldbeanydistinctiononaccountofageornodifferencebetweentheveryyoungandthemoremature;whetherpardonistobegrantedforrepentance,or,ifamanhasoncebeenaChristian,itdoeshimnogoodtohaveceasedtobeone;whetherthenameitself,evenwithoutoffenses,oronlytheoffensesassociatedwiththenamearetobepunished.
• Meanwhile,inthecaseofthosewhoweredenouncedtomeasChristians,Ihaveobservedthefollowingprocedure:IinterrogatedtheseastowhethertheywereChristians;thosewhoconfessedIinterrogatedasecondandathirdtime,threateningthemwithpunishment;thosewhopersistedIorderedexecuted.
SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• Soonaccusationsspread,asusuallyhappens,becauseoftheproceedingsgoingon,andseveralincidentsoccurred.Ananonymousdocumentwaspublishedcontainingthenamesofmanypersons.ThosewhodeniedthattheywereorhadbeenChristians,whentheyinvokedthegodsinwordsdictatedbyme,offeredprayerwithincenseandwinetoyourimage,whichIhadorderedtobebroughtforthispurposetogetherwithstatuesofthegods,andmoreovercursedChrist--noneofwhichthosewhoarereallyChristians,itissaid,canbeforcedtodo--theseIthoughtshouldbedischarged.OthersnamedbytheinformerdeclaredthattheywereChristians,butthendeniedit,assertingthattheyhadbeenbuthadceasedtobe,somethreeyearsbefore,othersmanyyears,someasmuchastwenty-fiveyears.Theyallworshippedyourimageandthestatuesofthegods,andcursedChrist.
SecularWitnessesToTheLifeofChrist• Theyasserted,however,thatthesumandsubstanceoftheirfaultorerrorhadbeenthattheywereaccustomedtomeetonafixeddaybeforedawnandsingresponsivelyahymntoChristastoagod,andtobindthemselvesbyoath,nottosomecrime,butnottocommitfraud,theft,oradultery,notfalsifytheirtrust,nortorefusetoreturnatrustwhencalledupontodoso.Whenthiswasover,itwastheircustomtodepartandtoassembleagaintopartakeoffood--butordinaryandinnocentfood.Eventhis,theyaffirmed,theyhadceasedtodoaftermyedictbywhich,inaccordancewithyourinstructions,Ihadforbiddenpoliticalassociations…
ChallengesToTheResurrection• Falsetheoriesregardingthebody:– Thewomenwenttothewrongtomb.
• ItwasidentifiedasJosephofArimathea’stomb.Thewomensawit.(Matt.27:57-61)
– Someonestolethebody.• Itwaswheretheenemieswantedit.Theycouldhavestoppedthegospelbyproducingit.(Acts4:1-2)
• Thatthedisciplesstoleitisthelietheguardswerepaidtotell.(Matt.28:11-15)Thedisciplesweredoubtingatfirst.(Matt.28:17;Jn.2:20-22)
• Doesnotexplaintheirproclamationandradicallychangedlives.– Swoontheory.
• Jesusdidnotreallydieonthecross– revivedinthecoolnessofthetombandclaimedthathewasresurrectedfromthedead.
• ThisabsurdityrequiresonetobelievethatJesusenduredthescourging,crucifixion,piercingofhissidewithaspear,rolledawaythestoneandovercametheguards…
TheTestimonyofTheEyewitnesses• Thegospelsareinspiredhistoricaldocumentsprovidingeyewitnessaccountsofthedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesus.
• Thegospelaccountsarewrittenwithgreatspecificity– notfearfulofinvestigation-- astheyprovidenamesandotherdetailsthatwereverifiable.(cf.Luke1:1-4;Acts1:1ff)– Mk.10:46à Bartimeus,thesonofTimeus.– Mk.15:21à SimonofCyrene,fatherofAlexanderandRufus,tobearhiscross.
– ICor.15:5-8à Paul’swroteofover500whowerewitnessesoftheresurrectedJesus.
TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses
• Considerthewomenwhowereeyewitnesses(notetheverbsof“seeing”)ofthedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesus.– Matt.27:55-56à 55Andmanywomenweretherebeholding afaroff,whichfollowedJesusfromGalilee,ministeringuntohim:56AmongwhichwasMaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJamesandJoses,andthemotherofZebedee'schildren.
– Matt.27:61à AndtherewasMaryMagdalene,andtheotherMary,sittingoveragainstthesepulcher(oppositethetomb–NET)
TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses– Matt.28:1à IntheendoftheSabbath,asitbegantodawntowardthefirstdayoftheweek,cameMaryMagdaleneandtheotherMarytoseethesepulcher.
– 6Heisnothere:forheisrisen,ashesaid.Come,seetheplacewheretheLordlay.
– 7Andgoquickly,andtellhisdisciplesthatheisrisenfromthedead;and,behold,hegoeth beforeyouintoGalilee;thereshallyeseehim:lo,Ihavetoldyou....
– 9Andastheywenttotellhisdisciples,behold,Jesusmetthem,saying,Allhail.Andtheycameandheldhimbythefeet,andworshippedhim.
TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses–Mk.15:40-47à Therewerealsowomenlookingonafaroff:amongwhomwasMaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJamesthelessandofJoses,andSalome;...47AndMaryMagdaleneandMarythemotherofJoses beheldwherehewaslaid.
–Mk.16:1-9à “…MaryMagdalene,andMarythemotherofJames,andSalome…whentheylookedtheysawthatthestonewasrolledaway…beholdtheplacewheretheylaidhim…heappearedfirsttoMaryMagdalene,outofwhomhehadcastsevendevils.”
TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses
– John20:1,11,16,18à “ThefirstdayoftheweekcomethMaryMagdaleneearly…andseeth thestonetakenaway…lookedintothesepulcher…Jesussaith untoher,Mary.Sheturnedherself,andsaith untohim,Rabboni;whichistosayMaster…MaryMagdalenecameandtoldthedisciplesthatshehadseentheLord,andthathehadspokenthesethingsuntoher.”
TheTestimonyoftheEyewitnesses• Interestingaspectofthistestimonyinviewoffirstcenturyculture:Womenwerenothighlyregardedaswitnesses.– Josephusà “butletnotthetestimonyofwomenbeadmittedonaccountofthelevityandboldnessofthegender…sinceitispossiblethattheymaynotspeaktruth,eitheroutofhopeofgain,orfearofpunishment.”(Antiquities4.8.15)
– TheJewishTalmudà “anyevidencewhichawomangivesisnotvalidtooffer.”
– Observations:• Ifyouwerefabricatingaresurrectionstoryinthefirstcentury,youwouldnotusewomenasyourchiefwitnesses.
• Theforemostofthosewitnesseswouldmostlikelynotbeawomanwithahistoryofdemonpossession.
• Thiswouldhavehappenedonlyifyouwereaccuratelyrecordingtheevents:Thedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesusfromthedead.
TheCircumstancesInWhichThisMessageWasProclaimedandFlourished
• Inthefaceofpoliticalopposition:– ARomanCaesarwhodemandedtobeacknowledgedasgod.(Rev.6:9-10;13:1-7;1:18)
• Inthefaceofculturalopposition:– Thegospelwasconsideredfoolishbythe“wise”.(ICor.1:22-23;Acts17:18,32)
• Inthefaceofreligiousopposition:– FromtheSadducees– Acts4:1-3,17;5:40-42– Others:Acts7:58-60– Stephenisstonedtodeath.– Saul’spersecutionofthechurch– Acts8:1-4
TheCircumstancesInWhichThisMessageWasProclaimedandFlourished
• FromTacitus(RomanSenatorandHistorian– 56-120)– “…Nero…falselychargedwiththeguilt,andpunishedwiththemostexquisitetortures,thepersonscommonlycalledChristians,whowerehatedfortheirabominations.Christus,thefounderofthename,wasputtodeathbyPontiusPilate,procuratorofJedea inthereignofTiberius:butthepernicioussuperstition,repressedforatimebrokeoutagain,notonlyinJudea,wherethemischieforiginated,butthroughthecityofRomealso.”(AnnalsXV.44)
TheIntegrityoftheWitnesses…• ThewitnessesofthelivesearlyChristianslivedasaresultoftheirfaith…
• Theirwillingnesstosuffermateriallosses,persecution,mockingandevendeath.(ICor.4:9-13)
• Objection:therearemanywillingtosufferforwhattheybelieve.– Thesewerewillingtosufferanddienotmerelyforwhattheybelievedtobetruebasedonthewordofothers,butforwhattheyknewtobetruebecausetheywerepresentandwereeyewitnesses.• TheapostleseithersawJesusaliveordidnot…• Iftheydidnotandsaidtheydid,theydiedforalie,withabsolutelynothingtogain.
• Thatisnottheactionofasaneindividual.• TheyhadeverymotivefromaworldlystandpointtodenythatJesushadbeenraisedfromthedead.Yet,theyaffirmeditanddiedforitbecauseitwastrue.
WhatDoesTheResurrectionofJesusFromTheDeadMeanForMeToday?
• JesusistheChrist,theSonofGodandtheonlywaytotheFatherandeternallife.(Jn.14:6)
• Imustbedietosin,beburiedwithhiminbaptismandraisedtowalkinanewnessoflife.(Rom.6:1-4)
• Havingbeenraisedwithhim,Imustseekthosethingswhichabove,whereChristsitsontherighthandofGod.(Col.3:1-2)