Who Is Jesus? the ques(on that won t go away

Who Is Jesus? the ques(on that won t go away

1 Corinthians 15:3, (NLT, p.959) I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

1 Corinthians 15:4, (NLT, p.959) He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

1 Corinthians 15:5 6, (NLT, p.959) He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. A@er that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one Cme, most of whom are scll alive, though some have died.

1 Corinthians 15:7 8, (NLT, p.959) Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong Cme, I also saw him.

1 Corinthians 15:14, (NLT, p.959) if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.

Unless Jesus dies and rises again, his claim to be the Son of God is meaningless.

Evidence for the Death and Burial of Jesus

Three Common Theories Denying Jesus s Death Subs(tu(on Theory Ascension Theory Swoon Theory

Γίνεται δὲ κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν χρόνον Ἰησοῦς σοφὸς ἀνήρ, εἴγε ἄνδρα αὐτὸν λέγειν χρή: ἦν γὰρ παραδόξων ἔργων ποιητής, διδάσκαλος ἀνθρώπων τῶν ἡδονῇ τἀληθῆ δεχομένων, καὶ πολλοὺς μὲν Ἰουδαίους, πολλοὺς δὲ καὶ τοῦ Ἑλληνικοῦ ἐπηγάγετο: ὁ χριστὸς οὗτος ἦν. καὶ αὐτὸν ἐνδείξει τῶν πρώτων ἀνδρῶν παρ ἡμῖν σταυρῷ ἐπιτετιμηκότος Πιλάτου οὐκ ἐπαύσαντο οἱ τὸ πρῶτον ἀγαπήσαντες: ἐφάνη γὰρ αὐτοῖς τρίτην ἔχων ἡμέραν πάλιν ζῶν τῶν θείων About this ( me there esus, μaυρία wise π mερὶ an. α For he was προφητῶν ταῦτά τε κlived αὶ ἄjλλα ὐτοῦ one wεho performed εsἰς urprising eeds and was a teacher of θαυμάσια ἰρηκότων. ἔτι τε νdῦν τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀπὸ τοῦδε ὠνομασμένον οὐκ gἐladly. πέλιπε τὸ φoῦλον such people as accept the truth He w on ver many Jews and many of the Greeks. And when, upon the accusa(on of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross. (Josephus, AnCquiCes, 20.9.1)

Crucifixion and Scourging So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead- Cpped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified. (MaŠhew 27:26, NLT, p.827)

Pilate Verified His Death Pilate couldn t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, (Mark 15:44 45, NLT)

Jewish Burial Customs Nicodemus,..brought about seventy- five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. (John 19:39 41, NLT p.901)

Paul s Words Early ChrisZan Creed I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:3 4, NLT)

Evidence for the ResurrecZon of Jesus

Jesus Appeared to His Disciples And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. Peace be with you, he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! (Luke 24:36 37, NLT, p. 880)

Cowards Become Martyrs At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled. (MaŠhew 26:56, NLT, p. 826) About that Cme King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John s brother) killed with a sword. (Acts 12:1 2, NLT, p.916)

The Empty Tomb Early on Sunday morning, while it was scll dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, They have taken the Lord s body out of the tomb, and we don t know where they have put him! (John 20:1 2, NLT, p.901)

Women Entrusted with the Story Don t cling to me, Jesus said, for I haven t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (John 20:17, NLT, p.902)

ResurrecZon Faith Begins in Jerusalem And he said, Yes, it was wri`en long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also wri`en that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nacons, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent. (Luke 24:46 47, NLT, p.880)

Coversion of Key SkepZcs Meanwhile, Saul was u`ering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord s followers. So he went to the high priest. (Acts 9:1, NLT, p.913)

Why was the tomb empty?

What Evidence Is There Today?