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Christianity for Dummies - 9 - Resurrection

by Michael Russell
November 2002

Based upon a sermon series by Pastor Jim Henry, senior pastor of First Baptist Orlando, and enhanced with my personal commentary. Apologies to the book publisher for the title.

Of all the world's major religions or belief systems, Christianity is unique in it's claim that the founder of the religion came back to life from the dead -- was resurrected. While there may be a tomb for the religion's leader, that tomb is empty.

The empty tomb is also a major source of hope and confidence for believers. For Jesus is the first and He promises believers that they too will be resurrected at the time of His second coming.

In this lesson, we look at some of the evidences about the resurrection event. Time and space does not permit a detailed study.

1. Introduction

As mentioned before, Christianity is unique because it does not follow a dead leader or founder. The central character, Jesus, died but was raised from the dead.

This was even prophecised several hundred years before the event.

Psalm 16:10 (NIV)
because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

The resurrection is not reincarnation. Reincarnation is the belief that a person may come back in another form or occupy another body. But, Jesus retained the same body.

The resurrection is not resuscitation. This is reviving someone from a potentially fatal incident, like drowning or a heart attack. However, everyone who is revived from such an event still eventually dies. Jesus only died that once, He will not die again.

The core Scripture for the lesson includes:

Matthew 28:5-8 (NIV)
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NIV)
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

2. Common objections

There are three common objections given to explain away the resurrection.

The first is the "swoon theory", which states that Jesus didn't die but simply went into mass shock and was like dead, but not really. However, this theory fails medical evidence given, especially in the gospel of Luke, who was a medical doctor of that time. Further, the Romans were very efficient at killing and were able to tell if someone was dead or just in shock. This theory also cannot explain how Jesus could have recovered, with no food or water, and three days later succeed in rolling back the large stone in front of the tomb.

The second is the "stolen body theory", which states that the disciples stole the body. However, this theory fails because of the behaviour of the disciples. The disciples were not expecting Jesus to come back, so they went into hiding. The ladies went to prepare the body expecting it to still be in the tomb. Also, it is doubtful that so many would die martyr deaths if the resurrection was just some elaborate hoax.

The third is the "projection theory", which states that the resurrection was just wishful thinking on the part of the disciples. However, this theory fails because of the large number of eyewitnesses to the risen Lord. With over 500 eyewitnesses, beyond just the disciples and women such as Mary, the account must be fairly creditable.

3. Interesting evidences

There are several interesting evidences associated with the resurrection.

First, the way Jesus' grave clothes were left undisturbed in the tomb (see John 20). They were not tossed aside or even stacked in a pile. Instead, they retained the layout they were in when wrapped around Jesus' body. It was as if the body just disappeared and the cloths collapsed in place.

Second, the witness of over 500 people who had direct encounter with the risen Jesus. This includes walking with some disciples between two cities, eating with Peter and a couple other disciples next to one of the major lakes, appearing to the collected disciples several times, and more.

Another is the indirect evidence that this event radically changed peoples' lives (see Acts 15). Fishermen, tax collectors, and others changed the world; they approached the religious leaders and political leaders of the time.

There is also the large amount of fulfilled prophecy between the Old Testament and the life of Jesus. Space does not permit me to list all of the verses in the OT and the fulfillment listed in the NT.

4. Impact on believers

4.1. Our faith is not in vain

1 Corinthians 15:16-20 (NIV)
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then we have nothing to believe in. Living the Christian life with the hope of resurrection then becomes vain and moot. Paul even says it would be worse, because if there is only this life and no life eternal, then we are to be pitied for not getting the "most" out of life now.

However, the good news is that Jesus is indeed raised from the dead. As a result, our faith and following Jesus' instruction are beneficial.

4.2. Freedom from sin

Romans 6:6-7 (NIV)
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

We are no longer in bondage to sin. However, during this lifetime we will be in a constant struggle between the old self and habits and the new self that the Holy Spirit is transforming in us.

4.3. The promise of our own resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NIV)
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”