What evidence do we have that a resurrection actually happened?
Empty Tomb – Christianity is the only major religion in the world, where the faithful do not have a grave to make pilgrimages to. We have only an empty tomb where our Lord’s grave once was. Hallelujah, Lord Jesus Christ is Risen!!!
Angelic testimony – The angel of the Lord was a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection, and moved the stone from the tomb to open it. He announced to Mary that Christ had risen from the dead – (Matthew 28:5-7)
The enemies of Jesus Christ – The chief priests assembled the elders together for a religious council, to plot a way of discrediting the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – (Matthew 28:11-15)
Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them to the sepulcher – (Luke 24:1-10)
The wounds of his crucifixion – The disciples, including doubting Thomas, saw the wounds in the hands, feet and side of Jesus Christ – (John 20:20,27)
Jesus was seen by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who became His witnesses to the people – (Acts 13:29-31)
Jesus appeared to two men from Emmaus – (Luke 24:13-18)
Jesus was seen by Cephas, then of the twelve; after that he was seen by 500 brethren at once – (1 Corinthians 15:5-6)
Jesus appeared to Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples at the sea of Tiberias – (John 21:1-14)
Many infallible proofs – The Resurrected Jesus Christ, Son of God, showed himself alive by many specific and unerring ways. He was seen for forty days after his passion, and spoke of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God – (Acts 1:3)
So why should the empty tomb, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death even matter to us this morning in April of 2015?
- To bring us back to a living hope – (1 Peter 1:3)
- Most importanly – to justify the believer – (Romans 4:20-25)
Give the Lord praise this morning for the empty tomb!