Why Jesus
The Bible Starts Here
Pastor Ehizele Giwa-Agbomeirele
08/16/2023
What We All Know
- Jesus lived
- His life culminated in His crucifixion at the hands of the Roman Empire.
- These are historical events that are well-documented and not disputed by credible historians.
The Death, Burial & Ressurection of Christ are central to the theme of
. “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” —1 Corinthians 15:14
In this study, we will explore two pivotal topics, namely the Empty Tomb & The Resurrection, that emphasize why we believe in Jesus Christ as God.
My primary source for this lesson, outside of the biblical text, is On Guard by Creigh Allen
- “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” —Matthew 28:6
- “And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.’” —Mark 16:6
- “But when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” —Luke 24:3
- “So she [Mary Magdalene] ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’” —John 20:2
Note: Remember the Gospels are not part of a single book—such a viewpoint is a gross misrepresentation of what the Bible is. Instead, the biblical texts are groupings of separate ancient documents, fragments from diverse sources, eyewitness accounts, and traditions from the early first century. This fact puts to rest the misconceived concept of “a book cannot prove itself” which is a misunderstanding of what the Bible is.
I. The
a. There are two major points surrounding the empty tomb:
b.as Witnesses
c.: Intriguingly, even Jesus’s adversaries did not dispute the emptiness of the tomb
From these points, we can logically deduce that the tomb was genuinely empty and its emptiness was unanticipated.
II. The
a. Having established the factuality of the empty tomb, let’s further delve into the profound belief that Jesus was resurrected to life post-mortem.
The Complexity of Explanation
The intricacy of an explanation matters greatly. The more one feels compelled to “interject into the historical narrative,” the less credible that perspective becomes.b. The
: i. An
mind, referred to as God, employed the same unparalleled power He utilized to create the universe to physically resurrect Jesus Christ from the dead.
ii. This act is a divine affirmation that Jesus was indeed the Messiah—God in human form.
iii. This viewpoint addresses all major concerns tied to the mystery of the empty tomb.
- Appearances - Transformation of the
- Origin of the Christian Faith
When addressing the mystery of the empty tomb, several questions emerge:
iv. The
v. Various instances where JesusHimself to many post-resurrection.
vi. The contrast in the disciples’ demeanor
- From exhibiting fear at the Garden of Gethsemane to a readiness to face torture and death.
vii. The
of the Christian faith
- Historically, the demise of a so-called “messiah” symbolized the end of their respective movements.
- Acts 5:34-39
a. Cites the rise and fall of several self-proclaimed “messiahs,” emphasizing that movements built on mere human efforts inevitably falter. However, divinely ordained endeavors
viii. This context is vital when considering:
: Roman forces quelled this movement, leading to Theudas’ execution and the dispersion of his followers. the Galilean: Post his death, his movement gradually waned. of Peraea: Emerged as a messianic figure revolting against the Romans. His capture and subsequent execution by the Romans marked the end of his movement.
c. By understanding these foundational issues (Empty Tomb, Resurrection appearances, Transformation of Deciples, origins of Christain faith) we can discern the fallacies in alternative theories, leaving the resurrection as the most plausible cause.
III.
a. The
Theory: Suggests Jesus didn’t truly die but merely fainted and later revived.
b. TheTheory: Asserts Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances were mere hallucinations.
c. TheTheory: Claims the disciples stole Jesus’ body and lied about his appearances.
d. TheTheory: Suggests a case of mistaken tomb identity.
e. The Legend Theory: Proposes the resurrection narratives are later additions and legends.
f. TheTheory: Posits Jesus’ resurrection was spiritual, not physical.
In understanding the flaws in the alternative theories, one recognizes the weight of evidence supporting the resurrection.