Easter Examined - Jesus Christ is Alive
April 27, 2025

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IF YOU WERE A FIRST CENTURY JEW FABRICATING A RESURRECTION HOAX TO PERSUADE JEWS & ROMANS, YOU WOULD NOT USE A WOMAN AS YOUR FIRST WITNESS AND EVANGELIST. THE EVANGELISTS RECORDED WOMEN BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN HISTORY.

“Let the words of the Torah be burned rather than be handed over to women.” - Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus (prominent 1st-century Jewish rabbi)

“And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” —Luke 24:8–11

“But let not the testimony of women be admitted, on account of the levity and boldness of their sex…” - Flavius Josephus (1st-century Jewish Rebel turned Roman Historian)

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she 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.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.” —John 20:1–10

“But who saw this? A hysterical female, as you say, and perhaps some other one of those who were deluded by the same sorcery, who either dreamt in a certain state of mind and through wishful thinking had a hallucination due to some mistaken notion (an experience which has happened to thousands), or, which is more likely, wanted to impress others by telling this fantastic tale” - Celsus (2nd-century Roman critic of Christianity)

IN ADDITION TO HISTORICAL VALIDATION, THE TESTIMONY CONFRONTS MODERN IDEOLOGICAL OBSTACLES THAT NO AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE COULD EVER OVERCOME. HOW? GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE TO ELEVATE A WOMAN AS THE FIRST WITNESS AND EVANGELIST OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION CONTRADICTS 2ND & 3RD WAVE FEMINISTS’ ACCUSATION THAT CHRISTIANITY DEVALUES AND OPPRESSES WOMEN.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” —2 Timothy 4:3–4

CRITICAL QUESTION: DOES MY IDEOLOGY SHAPE MY THEOLOGY, OR DOES MY THEOLOGY SHAPE MY IDEOLOGY?

Some reminders:
1. God will not submit to your ideology (Isaiah 55:8–9)
2. Ideologues didn’t make you (Colossians 1:16)
3. Ideologues are finite and not all-knowing (Job 38:2–4)
4. Ideologues don’t have authoritative judgment (James 4:12)
5. Ideologues can’t offer you eternal life (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:16)


How do I give to 1MSO?

The people of One Missoula Church give tangible resources back to God in order to suffocate greed in our own lives and amplify the impact of the Gospel in the lives of others. We’ve removed every barrier and inconvenience to make this sacrificial act as accessible and simple as possible. At present, here are the avenues for this act of devotion:

  • Sunday Morning – offering boxes on the communion tables at the back
  • Snail Mail – postage-paid envelopes available
  • Text “1MSO” to 406-631-3323
  • Online at https://onemissoulachurch.com/give
  • Via the One Missoula App under the “Giving” tab

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