Jesus proves the resurrection

The Christian faith is based on the resurrection of Jesus. If a person does not believe in the resurrection he or she is not a Christian. At the very beginning of the public ministry of Jesus He was asked, “What sign do You show us for doing these things?” Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (John 1:9-10). Jesus based His entire ministry on His resurrection. The ultimate proof for the deity of Jesus is the resurrection.

If someone came to you and asked you to prove the resurrection, what would you say? Thankfully, Jesus proved the resurrection for us! In Luke 24:36-49 Jesus provided three types of evidence for His resurrection.

First, He provided real evidence. Real evidence in a court of law is something the jury can hold and inspect. Jesus provided the best possible evidence. He appeared to ten of His disciples. They were gathered together in the upper room. The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost. Jesus said, “Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I myself. Touch Me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (verses 36-38).

Verses 41-43 states, “And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate before them.” Israel is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. Fish is very plentiful in Israel. People in Israel eat fish for breakfast and fish for lunch and even fish for dinner!

Jesus provided His disciples with real, tangible evidence. They saw He was resurrected. They touched His hands and His feet. They watched Him eat.

Second, Jesus provided biblical evidence. Jesus said, “These are My Words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (verses 44-45).

Jesus took His disciples back to the Old Testament. The Jewish Tanakh (our Old Testament) is divided into three sections- the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. For example, Genesis 3:15 (the Law) said that the Messiah (Jesus) would crush the head of the serpent (Satan).

Isaiah 53:5 (the prophets) predicted, “But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” The word pierced means “to be run through with a spear or a sword.” On the cross, after His death a spear was thrust into His side. God the Father crushed His Son Jesus for our sins. His death, burial and resurrection bring peace with God.

Psalm 22 (the writings) predicted the death of the Messiah. Psalm 22 was written a thousand years before the death of Jesus. Verses 17 and 18 say, “I can count all My bones- they stare and gloat at Me; they divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Not one bone of Jesus was broken during His crucifixion. The Romans crucified their victims naked to add to the humiliation. The four Roman soldiers assigned to the crucifixion gambled for the clothing of Jesus.

In Luke 24 Jesus provided real evidence. He also provided biblical evidence. Third, He provided testimonial evidence for His resurrection. In Luke 24:48 Jesus told His disciples, “You shall be My witnesses to these things.” The apostles provided testimonial evidence of the resurrection of Jesus.

People will not die for a lie. The disciples went to their deaths proclaiming the truthfulness of Christ’s resurrection. Peter’s wife was crucified and then he was crucified upside down. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross. For two days as he hung in agony, he exhorted people to repent and trust in Jesus for their salvation. Thomas took the gospel to India. He was run through with spears. Matthew was stabbed to death in Ethiopia. In almost every case, they were given the chance to live if they denied the resurrection. The apostles died for the truth of the resurrection.

What difference does the resurrection make? The resurrection changes everything! First, it demonstrates the truth of everything Jesus said. Romans 1:4 says, “Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power by His resurrection.” God the Father declared Jesus to be His Son by raising Him from the dead.

Second, it demonstrates that Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice. The Father accepted His sacrifice on the cross. This was demonstrated by the resurrection.

Third, it shows that Jesus is coming again to judge this world. Acts 17:30-31 says, “He (God the Father) commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man (Jesus) Whom He has appointed; and of this He (the Father) has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.” Won’t you put your faith and trust in Jesus today?

Ethan Hansen is the pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.