THE GREATEST “STORIES” EVER TOLD
RESURRECTION SERVICE 2023
Matthew 28:1-17
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of
the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on
it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards
shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the
women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for
He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His
disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there
you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear
and great joy and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold,
Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there
they will see Me.” 11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city
and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled
with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if
this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took
the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the
Jews until this day. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which
Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
I. WHAT THE RESURRECTION MEANS
1. We can be Justified because sin has been defeated
2 Cor 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him
1 Cor 15:17
And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins
2. We too will rise
1 Cor 15:21-22
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.
1 Thess 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him
those who sleep in Jesus
3. Death is Conquered
1 Cor 15:55-57
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of
death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
4. Scripture is True
Job 19:25-26
For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And
after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God
5. We Don’t Have to Grieve Like Everyone Else
1 Thess 4:13-14
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have
fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep
in Jesus
6. We have an Eternal Intercessor (Arbitrator)
Heb 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God
through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them
II. LYING STORIES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION
1. Swoon Theory- He didn’t die He just fainted
a. Roman Law made sure nothing like that would happen
b. John saw blood and water come out of his side after he was pierced with a
spear John 19:34-35. This proves that his lungs collapsed and de died from
asphyxiation.
c. The body was totally wrapped and covered with about 100 pounds of spices
and placed in a tomb.
d. How could a half-dead man move the stone?
e. His post resurrection appearances persuaded everyone including “Doubting
Thomas” that he was alive John 20:19-29.
f. How were the roman guards overpowered by a swooning corpse?
2. Hallucination Theory - They all imagined it
a. There were too many witnesses. Hallucinations are private.
b. Hallucinations usually last for seconds or minutes. This one was 40 days
Acts1:3.
c. Hallucinations usually happen only once- this one many times. John 20:19;
John 21:14; Acts1:3.
d. The disciples didn’t expect a resurrection or believe it at first. Luke 24: 36-43
e. Hallucinations don’t eat. The resurrected Christ did. Luke 24:42-43;John
21:1-14.
f. The disciples touched him. Matt 28:9; Luke 24:39.
g. Hallucinations don’t speak to 11 people at once.
3. Conspiracy – The disciples made it up or stole the body
a. This is contrary to the character of the disciples.
b. There was no advantage or reward for such a lie. They suffered terribly for
being a witness of the resurrection.
c. The Jews would have to immediately produce the body to refute them.
d. The death of the apostles.
Peter crucified upside down
Andrew crucified on Saint Andrews cross
James killed by Herod.
John boiled in oil, then died of natural age.
Philip was hanged
Bartholomew was flayed to death with knives.
Matthew was killed in Ethiopia
Thomas was killed with a spear in India
James was crucified in Egypt
Thaddeus Was killed with arrows in Persia.
Simon the zealot was crucified.
4. Myth
a. The style of the Gospel is radically different from a myth.
b. There was not enough time to come up with a myth.
c. The empty tomb was discovered by women.
5. Wrong Tomb
a. Roman soldiers or the Jews would have solved that immediately by showing
the correct tomb.
III. EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION
1. The Broken Roman Seal. Matthew 27:63-66
2. The Empty Tomb. Matthew 28:6
3. The Large Stone Moved. John 20:1
4. Roman Guard Goes AWOL. Matthew 27:65
5. The Empty Graveclothes. John 11:44
6. Eyewitnesses of His Appearance
7. Transformation of the Disciples
8. Transformation of K.C.S. and Y.O.U.
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