April 24, 2025
I Corinthians 15:3-8
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 Cephas,
and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters 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.
This early date rules out the possibility that what it says is a product of a myth that developed long after the time of Jesus. I find it rather intriguing that historians have pieced together the historical account of Alexander the Great from writings dated over four hundred years after he lived and from only two men. Obviously much fewer sources than the Gospels, and much later writings, yet still widely accepted by historians and scholars as historically accurate.
Today's passage gives us three crucial points to investigate as evidence for the resurrection: Jesus’ death, an empty tomb, and eyewitnesses.
First, the scholarship of both skeptics and believers has concluded irrefutably that Jesus’ death by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans is the most knowable fact about His time on earth. Tacitus, who not only served as a Roman senator, but is also regarded as one of ancient Rome’s best historians actually references Christians who resided in the area at the time of Nero. His contempt for these Christ followers was apparent; yet in his disdain, Tacitus provided strong evidence of the person of Jesus by acknowledging His execution. In Judea. By Pontius Pilate.
Like the Bible says: “And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” (Read Matthew 27:1-2)
The Jewish priest and historian, Josephus, in his work, Jewish Antiquities, Josephus mentions Jesus twice, even calling Him “Jesus who is called Messiah” to make His identity clear. Neither Tacitus nor Josephus were friends or followers of Jesus.
Second, the empty tomb, a vital piece of evidence for the resurrection, even the enemies of Jesus, Jewish Religious authorities and Roman soldiers did not debate that the tomb was empty. Matthew 28:11-15, records "While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8, written within a few years of Christ’s death provides a list of appearances that could be verified as many were still alive.
The conclusion that these lead us toward is that
And finally, we come to the eyewitnesses who had, either individually or in a group setting, an experience that convinced them that Jesus had risen. Our reading today says that the Risen Jesus
appeared to Cephas,
and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters 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.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8, written within a few years of Christ’s death provides a list of appearances that could be verified as many were still alive.
The conclusion that these lead us toward is that
"HE IS RISEN!!
HE IS RISEN, INDEED
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