It all comes back to one question – did it really happen?

1. It all comes back to one question – did it really happen?

2. Evidence that it is true • Many in this world are afraid to admit that it’s true • Doing so means that they are accountable for their actions • If there is a God, how could He possibly accept me, knowing all the things I’ve done. • Many have spent a life time trying disprove, or discredit the message of His resurrection

3. He was publicly executed • The court of Pontius Pilate was public • He was crucified on a hill just outside Jerusalem • In lieu of breaking his legs, they thrust a spear into His side to make sure He was dead • Even those not Christians, or Jews, attested to this (Josephus Book 18, Chapter 3, Section 3) • A wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man

4. Officials secured the grave • The tomb was sealed with the seal of Pilate • The penalty for falling asleep while on watch was death to the Roman guard • Multiple accounts by many individuals, both guards, disciples, and friends

5. Many saw Him alive afterward • All 12 disciples and over 500 others • The account of the Acts of the Apostles begins with the statement “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by [the apostles] during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” – Acts 1:3

6. People were made different • Folks like Peter, Paul, and James carried themselves different after seeing the risen Lord. • Imprisonment, beatings, and public scorn did not keep them from proclaiming His death and resurrection • Many of them paid for it with their lives, and did not shrink back

7. Witnesses died for their claim • They did not die for a belief system • They did not die as a result of desiring public advancement • They died because they insisted that they saw Him alive after He was put to death • They died because they would not compromise, modify, or be silenced in their proclamation that He Lives!

8. The Sabbath became Sunday • They began worshipping on a Sunday instead of a Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath) • This was because they wanted to recognize the day on which He arose • This put them on a crash course with the traditional Jew, since it was in direct conflict with the Jewish Sabbath teachings

9. It was predicted • The timing, the process, and the Messiah fulfilled 134 old testament prophesies. • The Jews were looking for someone to set them free from Roman rule, God was sending someone to set them free from Sin rule • Because their expectation was for the now, the right away, they missed the fact that it fulfilled the old testament prophesies

10. It was the climax of His life • Think logically – someone who walked on water, healed the sick, cast out demons, opened the ears of the deaf, taught the truth with authority, confronted the self righteous, loosed the mouths of the mute, restored crippled limbs, calmed violent storms, and raised the dead…..couldn’t free himself from 3 nails? • Why would anyone think that evil would have the last word?

11. Lives still testify to it today • Lives are still being changed at the name of Jesus • The name of Buddha does not deliver people from the oppression or possession of the devil • The name of Muhammad does not heal the sick • It is the name of Jesus Christ that is the name above all names