Walk Through the Bible
◼ TABLE TALK: How would you rebut the “arguments” against the resurrection? (Difference between an assertion and an argument. Assertion is a statement. Argument is the evidence raised in defense of the statement).
o The disciples stole the body.
o Jesus wasn’t really dead.
o The women went to the wrong tomb.
o The disciples were seeing things.
o The gospel is a fictional story.
◼ Arguments against the resurrection/rebuttal
o Argument 1: The disciples stole the body.
o Rebuttal: This is what the Jewish leaders wanted people to think (Matthew 28:11-15).
▪ To commit a crime, you would need motive and opportunity. How on earth could 11 disciples who would not even stay around when Jesus was captured somehow get up the nerve to storm the tomb, overpower the guards, move the rock, and steal the body?
▪ And besides, why would they? None of the eleven even believed it when they were first told about the resurrection.
▪ On top of that, desecrating a grave was a serious offense in Judaism, one that would desecrate the body and those who moved it. Just taking Jesus out of the grave would not look good to the people.
▪ In addition, they would have to be the stupidest criminals in the world, taking time to fold Jesus’ burial linens!
▪ And if the guards were asleep, how would they know who took the body?
▪ And then they go off around the world telling about their Lord, and almost all of them die violent deaths for their Savior! Why would they die for a lie?
o Argument 2: Swoon theory (Jesus wasn’t really dead)
o Rebuttal: Jesus was flogged by professionals.
▪ Many who were beaten died before they even GOT to the crucifixion. He was hung on the cross (see material from last week).
▪ When Joseph asked for the body, Pilate had the soldier doublecheck to see if Jesus was really dead. The soldier pierced his side, releasing blood and plasma, indicative of a ruptured heart.
▪ He was wrapped in linens and 75 pounds of spices, which could suffocate anyone!
o Argument 3: The Wrong tomb
o Rebuttal: This was a private tomb of a wealthy man, not a public cemetery.
▪ There were probably no other tombs near this one.
▪ Besides, how difficult would it be for his own mother to forget so quickly where her son was buried, especially since his would be the only one with a large stone at the entrance and armed guards!
▪ But Moore notes (324) that the weakest part of this theory is that it doesn’t explain why the officials couldn’t produce Jesus’ body later on. If the women, Peter, and John went to the wrong tomb, then Jesus’ body should have still been in the place it was.
o Argument 4: Hallucination (The disciples were seeing things)
o Rebuttal: I Corinthians 15:6 says that 500 people saw him at the same time.
▪ That many people simply cannot have the same hallucination at the same time.
▪ Remember that none of the disciples really expected a bodily resurrection, so why would they subconsciously imagine one?
▪ There is also the problem again with the fact that the Sanhedrin couldn’t produce the body.
o Argument 5: Myth (The gospel is just a great fiction story)
o Rebuttal: There are several problems with this story if it were indeed “just made up.”
▪ First of all, the women were the first to see the resurrected Lord. No author would have allowed women to be the first to see Jesus (sexism – In Jewish culture, women’s testimony was either completely discounted or only counted for a fraction of what a man’s story was worth).
▪ If you were writing this as a fictional account, would you not have “produced” witnesses who actually saw the resurrection? We have none (only the guards, and they fainted at the sight of the angels).
o The proof is in the pudding. Those who doubt the resurrection only need to look at the results it gave to us (Moore, 325-6):
▪ 3000 people converted on the Day of Pentecost (recording in Acts 2).
▪ The lives of Peter and Paul were forever changed.
▪ The Apostles all died for their faith (all except John died violently; John died in exile on the isle of Patmos).
▪ The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are still practiced 2000 years later.
▪ The day of worship was changed from Saturday (the Sabbath) to Sunday (the first day of the week to honor the Lord’s resurrection)
▪ The incredibly consistent testimony of the early church.
▪ The billions of people throughout history whose lives have been changed because of the gospel. It is documented that much of the charitable work throughout history has been done through the church.
◼ The Women Find the Empty Tomb (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-10; John 20:1)
o Women mentioned in the account:
▪ Mary Magdalene (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
▪ Mary the mother of James (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
▪ Salome (Mark)
▪ Joanna, others (Luke)
▪ “We” (John)
o The women bought and prepared ointment for Jesus’ burial on Friday afternoon (Luke 23:56) and Saturday evening (Mark 16:1).
▪ It was a little late to cover up the stench of decomposition.
▪ It was unnecessary since Joseph of Arimathea had already provided 75 lbs. of ointment for the job.
▪ But it was an act of loving devotion that these women would not be deprived of.
▪ Besides, what are you supposed to do when you are grieving? You have to do SOMETHING.
o Emotions of the moment
▪ Shaken by the earthquake (Matthew 28:2).
▪ Perplexed in how they were going to get the stone rolled away (Mark 16:3).
▪ Confused as to where Jesus’ body went (Luke 24:3).
▪ Frightened by the angels, they bowed their heads to the ground (Luke 24:5).
▪ The angels tell them not to be afraid and to remember what Jesus said He would do. (Luke 24:8 – Then they remembered His words). They ask the women to tell the disciples (Mark adds “and Peter”). Luke notes that their words seemed like nonsense to the eleven.
◼ Peter and John race for the tomb (John 20:3-10; Luke 24:12)
o “The other disciple” is most likely John. He also has the most complete information on this part of the story.
o John is faster than Peter for some reason (age, athletic ability most likely) and looked in the tomb. Peter arrived last and went into the tomb.
o What they see:
▪ The body is gone.
▪ Strips of linen are carefully placed where the body should have been. Peter sees the head cloth is folded and lying separately.
▪ This is not the work of grave robbers. Why would they avoid the Roman guards to steal a rotting corpse, leaving only the part that might have some value?
o The result:
▪ John believed.
▪ Peter was confused.
◼ Appearance to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11*; John 20:1-18).
o *Mark 16:9-20 is a disputed text.
o Peter and John appear to ignore Mary, which would be neither surprising or rude in this culture.
o Mary looks in the tomb and sees something that Peter and John do not – two angels are seated on the ledge where Jesus’ body had been before. This leads me to believe she ran off before the angels appeared to the other two women.
o The angels ask her why she is crying. She turns to see Jesus, whom she does not recognize.
o Two questions Jesus asks her:
▪ Why are you crying?
▪ Who are you looking for?
o Mary thinks he is the gardener, until Jesus calls her name as only He could.
o Why did Jesus tell Mary not to hold onto Him? After all, He made the offer to Thomas that he could touch Jesus.
▪ He is not staying indefinitely (I have not yet returned to the Father).
▪ There is work to do (Go and tell the brothers that I am returning to my Father and your Father, my God and your God).
o She told the disciples what had happened and they did not believe.
◼ The soldiers report to the Jewish authorities (Matthew 28:11-15).
o Just as the women did, the guards now make their own report.
o These guards are in trouble. They would take on the penalty of the prisoner they allowed to escape. This is why they did not go to the Roman leaders first, but the chief priests.
o The religious leaders apparently had the power to protect the soldiers, so they accepted the bribe and shared the story that Jesus’ disciples stole the body while they were sleeping.
◼ Jesus appears to the two men on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-32).
o Like the women at the tomb, this event epitomizes Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances.
▪ You have two legal witnesses to validate the event.
▪ You have Jesus hidden then revealed.
▪ You have sorrow becoming joy.
▪ You have fulfilled prophecy.
▪ You have a report to the Apostles.
o One is given a name – Cleopas (Luke 24:18). The other is assumed to be Luke himself.
o Two dominant themes:
▪ Walking
▪ Talking
o Jesus appears to the two in a different form and asked them what they were discussing on the road.
o The two are incredulous that this stranger does not know what happened in Jerusalem. Jesus employs a Socratic question: “What things?” He is not playing dumb. He is encouraging the walking and talking to continue.
o Powerful statement: We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel (Luke 24:21).
o What’s the problem?
▪ Jesus is crucified and now dead for three days. There is no going back.
▪ The women told us (and Peter and John confirmed) that His body was gone.
o Jesus’ response – He is incredulous as well.
▪ Cleopas accused Jesus of being culturally clueless. Jesus responds that they are spiritually clueless.
▪ He went back to Moses and the Prophets to explain how the Scriptures pointed to Himself.
o After giving thanks and breaking bread with them, Jesus reveals His true glory and then disappears.
▪ Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32).
▪ Only Jesus could open up the Word like that!
◼ Jesus appears to the Ten (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:33-43; John 20:19-25).
o Cleopas and the other disciple report back to the Apostles.
o While they are telling the story, Jesus stood among them, bypassing a locked door.
▪ Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
▪ Jesus asked them why they were troubled. He showed them His hands and feet and asked for something to eat, so the disciples gave him a piece of broiled fish, which He ate in their presence.
▪ Jesus spoke peace on them once more. He didn’t come to prove He was alive; He came to reiterate His mission for them. He used the same words He told them three days ago: As the Father has sent me, I am sending you
• It would remind them of the persecution to come.
• It would remind them of the Holy Spirit to come.
▪ He breathed on them and said:
• “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
o This would remind them of the life breath God poured into Adam.
o It would serve as a promissory note of what is to come in Acts.
• “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” This must be read in the context of Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18-20.
o This would express Jesus’ will and authority for the church. The Apostles would only do what Christ gave them authority to do in order to achieve the Father’s purpose.
o Church leaders are responsible for exercising authority over the disciples. “Whatever sins you forgive, they stand as already having been forgiven…stand as having been unforgiven.”
• They have three things:
o The commission to preach
o The promise of persecution
o Jesus’ authority over the church.