Proof of the Resurrection

Matthew 27:62-66

In this series we will be looking at several matters of concern which relate to the Christian experience and see the evidence that help promote our confidence in the Bible, the Word of God, and our faith in the Heavenly Father.

There is far more evidence for the Resurrection than any other single event in the history of the world.

Before we deal with the Resurrection, the question of Jesus’ existence needs to be clarified.

The record

• Religious historical records
  • Virtually all major religions, even those Jesus opposes, acknowledge Jesus’ existence
  • His existence is as widely accepted as that of Abraham Lincoln
  • Various writings that affirm a historical Jesus
    • Julius Caesar – Gallic Wars
    • Pliny the Younger – History
    • Thucydides – History
    • Herodotus – History
    • Homer – Iliad
    • The New Testament
  • There are more than 24,000 references to a historical Jesus
• All of this when:
  • Jesus was not in a position of political importance (king, general, religious leader)
  • Records of Jesus have survived eradication efforts
    • In 303 A.D. an edict was issued to destroy all of the world’s Bibles
      • Death was the penalty for having a Bible
  • There were no printing presses
    • Duplication was done by the scribes
    • Recording the Holy Scriptures was a serious responsibility
    • Scribes were forced to adhere to demanding rules for copying a manuscript
      • Scrolls had a special paper, ink, and surface preparation
      • Tight specifications included the number of columns allowed
      • A master copy was always used – no copy of a copy could be used
      • Each letter was individually confirmed meaning they did  not copy phrases but individual letters
      • Distance between letters was checked with a thread
      • Each letter was counted and compared to the original
      • Letters per page counted and compared to the original
      • Middle letter of the scroll was verified to be the same as the master
      • One mistake and the scroll was destroyed
• Proof of authenticity
  • The Septuagint Scriptures
    • Almost 300 years B.C. the world was so accustomed to the Greek language that Hebrew was almost lost
    • The Bible was translated into Greek following the scribe’s rules
    • There are still copies of the early translations
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls
    • Doubt about the accurate translation of Scriptures was erased in 1947 with the discovery of hundreds of scrolls buried in caves for 2000 years
    • Many were written 100 B.C.
    • Comparison of Biblical books with recent Jewish copies showed virtually no change in words or even letters
  • Non-Christian writings
    • There was almost nothing of history written between 30 – 60  A.D.
    • All such books could fit between bookends spaced 1 foot apart
    • Many of these books reference Jesus and the Resurrection
• Did the Resurrection occur?
  • Matthew 27:62-66
  • The key to this is the extreme importance placed on handling this execution
    • Both the absolute death of Jesus and protection against a hoax was critical since Jesus proclaimed He would overcome death
  • Precautions to protect His corpse
    • The Roman guards
      • 16 soldiers with four hour rotations
        • To sleep carried the penalty of crucifixion
        • That all guards would be asleep at the same time was unthinkable
        • A two ton stone with the Roman seal was rolled to prevent entrance into the tomb
      • The explanation
        • Since they could not produce a body they had to explain themselves
        • The accusation the disciples stole the body wasn’t credible
          • 16 guards prevented anyone from stealing the body
          • The disciples were in shock and disarray
          • What would be the motive for the disciples to steal the body
            • If Jesus were not the Son of God, stealing the body would create a lie with no benefit making His death  without purpose
  • Eyewitnesses
    • Martyrdom for a belief is not unique
    • What kind of person would die for a known lie?
      • The disciples died cruel deaths in defense of the truth of the Resurrection
        • James was stoned
        • Peter was crucified upside down
        • Paul was beheaded
        • Thaddaeus was killed with arrows
        • Matthew and James died by the sword
        • Other believers were crucified
        • John alone lived a natural life experience yet was placed in exile on an island
    • Underneath Rome lie some 900 miles of carved caves where over seven million Christians executed for their faith are buried
      • The earliest inscription goes back to 70 A.D.
    • Hostile witnesses turn Christian
      • Paul, a leading executioner of Christians, gave up wealth, power, and comfort upon seeing the resurrected Christ
        • He then wrote a significant portion of the New Testament