• The evidence: the empty tomb - Matthew 28:1-10

  • Why believe: thewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection - John 17:20

  • Number of witnesses: I Corinthians 15:3-8

  • Cephas - Luke 24:34

  • Twelve (apostles) - Luke 24:36-43

  • 500 at one time (Galilee) - Matthew 28:10

  • James, the Lord’s brother

  • Paul (on the road to Damascus) - Acts 22:6-10

  • Mary Magdalene - Mark 16:9

  • Other women returning from the tomb - Matthew 28:9-10

  • Two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-33

  • Apostles, Thomas absent - John 20:19-24

  • Apostles, Thomas present - John 20:26-29

  • Seven disciples by sea of Galilee - John 21:1-23

  • Apostles (His ascension) - Acts 1:3-12

  • Are the witnesses reliable?

  • Brothers in the flesh - John 7:3-5

  • Thomas - John 20:24-28

  • Saul of Tarsus, former great enemy - Acts 9:1-2

  • Strength of their witness: “infallible proofs” - Acts 1:3

  • They ate and drank with Jesus - Acts 10:41

  • They saw, heard, and touched Him - John 20:24-28

  • The witness of their transformation

  • Before…

  • Afraid at His arrest - Mark 14:50

  • Peter denied Him three times - Mark 14:66-72

  • The women mourned His crucifixion - Luke 23:27

  • After His death…

  • His disciples were sad - Luke 24:13-17

  • They hid behind closed doors in fear - John 20:19

  • After His resurrection…

  • They fearlessly praised God in the temple - Luke 24:52-53

  • They proclaimed Christ, despite persecution - Acts 5:28-32

  • The witness of their high moral standards afterwards

  • They taught others to live holy lives - I Thessalonians 4:1-7

  • They lived their own lives in unimpeachable ways - I Thessalonians 2:3-12

  • The witness of the price they paid

  • The apostles endured much suffering - I Corinthians 4:9-13

  • All, but one, died a martyr’s death

  • The significance of the resurrection for unbelievers

  • Proves that Jesus truly is the Son of God - Romans 1:4

  • Demonstrates that the Christ truly has all authority - Matthew 28:18

  • Verifies the truthfulness of Jesus - Matthew 16:21

  • If the truth, His other teachings are true

  • He was from God and spoke the words of the Father - John 8:28

  • No one can come to the Father but through Him - John 14:6

  • His blood was shed for the remission of sins - Matthew 26:28

  • He came to offer abundant life - John 10:10

  • He went to prepare a place for us - John 14:2

  • He shall come again - John 14:3

  • There will be a resurrection and judgment - John 5:28-29

  • What if Christ is not raised?

  • Gospel preaching is vain - I Corinthians 15:14

  • Your faith is vain - I Corinthians 15:14

  • The apostles were false witnesses - I Corinthians 15:15

  • They swore that God raised Jesus from the dead - Acts 2:32

  • They claimed to eat and drink with Him - Acts 10:39-41

  • We are still in our sins - I Corinthians 15:17

  • All perished at death - I Corinthians 15:18

  • We are to be most pitied - I Corinthians 15:19

  • What the resurrection of Jesus does for the Christian

  • It verifies our justification - Romans 4:24-25

  • It demonstrates power available to the Christian - Ephesians 1:18-20

  • The power of our conversion - Colossians 2:11-12

  • The power available to live the Christian life - Romans 8:11

  • It gives us living hope in our own resurrection - I Peter 1:3

  • It demands our complete loyalty to Him - Romans 14:9

  • He was raised and exalted to be our Lord - Acts 2:32-26

  • As the risen Savior, our lives and service belong to Him - Romans 14:7-8

  • Conclusion: Do you believe in the empty tomb? - John 8:24