The Word This Week
John 20:1…
On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Jesus’ resurrection is the most important event in human history. It is not just Biblical history, as many people outside the Church presume, it is also a historical event recorded by Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, and Chrysostom, among others.
For centuries people have sought to disprove the resurrection of Christ, without success.
More recently, people have asserted Jesus was not killed on the cross. They say Jesus merely ‘swooned,’ and when He was placed in the cool of the tomb He reawakened. This is an absurd theory which denies the professionalism of the Roman execution team who routinely put to death those convicted of crimes against the Roman empire. They knew a dead body when they saw one.
Had the executioners failed in their mission to kill the one they were assigned to put to death, they would have been put to death themselves.
Another theory – pertaining to the empty tomb – which remains empty to this day – is that Jesus’ disciples came in the night and stole His body away. This theory is also absurd, as a Roman guard had been placed at the tomb at the request of the Chief Priests and elders, and the tomb had been sealed. Of this ridiculous assertion we remember when the Roman guard reported to the Jewish leaders Jesus was gone, they provided this cover story they were to tell everyone, and they were bribed to make sure this was the story they would spread far and wide. The religious leaders told them they would square this story with Pilate.
Can you imagine the eleven disciples overcoming a Roman guard? Can you imagine an entire contingent of Roman guard falling asleep? Again, if those charged to guard Jesus’ body had failed, Roman Law would call for them to be put to death themselves for their failure.
Some of the greatest proof we have for the resurrection of Christ is the witness of His disciples following His ascension. Each one of the remaining eleven except John died a martyr’s death, proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and refusing to deny His resurrection. It is inconceivable any man would die for what he knows to be a lie. These men died because they refused to deny the truth.
But the greatest proof of all is what we see here today. The existence of the Church is inexplicable apart from Christ’s resurrection. That eleven men could turn the world upside down would have been impossible had they not been telling the truth.
On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.
Pastor Bill
On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Jesus’ resurrection is the most important event in human history. It is not just Biblical history, as many people outside the Church presume, it is also a historical event recorded by Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, and Chrysostom, among others.
For centuries people have sought to disprove the resurrection of Christ, without success.
More recently, people have asserted Jesus was not killed on the cross. They say Jesus merely ‘swooned,’ and when He was placed in the cool of the tomb He reawakened. This is an absurd theory which denies the professionalism of the Roman execution team who routinely put to death those convicted of crimes against the Roman empire. They knew a dead body when they saw one.
Had the executioners failed in their mission to kill the one they were assigned to put to death, they would have been put to death themselves.
Another theory – pertaining to the empty tomb – which remains empty to this day – is that Jesus’ disciples came in the night and stole His body away. This theory is also absurd, as a Roman guard had been placed at the tomb at the request of the Chief Priests and elders, and the tomb had been sealed. Of this ridiculous assertion we remember when the Roman guard reported to the Jewish leaders Jesus was gone, they provided this cover story they were to tell everyone, and they were bribed to make sure this was the story they would spread far and wide. The religious leaders told them they would square this story with Pilate.
Can you imagine the eleven disciples overcoming a Roman guard? Can you imagine an entire contingent of Roman guard falling asleep? Again, if those charged to guard Jesus’ body had failed, Roman Law would call for them to be put to death themselves for their failure.
Some of the greatest proof we have for the resurrection of Christ is the witness of His disciples following His ascension. Each one of the remaining eleven except John died a martyr’s death, proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and refusing to deny His resurrection. It is inconceivable any man would die for what he knows to be a lie. These men died because they refused to deny the truth.
But the greatest proof of all is what we see here today. The existence of the Church is inexplicable apart from Christ’s resurrection. That eleven men could turn the world upside down would have been impossible had they not been telling the truth.
On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.
Pastor Bill