THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION

Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhDFamily Worship Center

John 20:24-2924 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

John 20:24-2926 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

John 20:24-2928 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Part One: The Myth of the Swoon

Theory

The Myth of the Swoon Theory

Jesus never actually died, he just passed out and was buried alive. The cool damp tomb then resuscitated Him.

The medical evidence declares it impossible.

Dr Alexander Metherell M.D., PH.D.

Concerning the swoon theory… “I tell them it’s impossible. It’s a fanciful theory without any possible basis in fact.” The Case for Easter, Lee Strobel pg 24.

Journal of the American Medical Association

“Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead before the wound to his side was inflicted and supports the traditional view that the spear, thrust between his right ribs, probably perforated not only the right lung but also the pericardium and heart and thereby ensured his death (Fig 7).

Journal of the American Medical Association

Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge. “ William D. Edwards et al., “One the Physical Death of Jesus Christ,” Journal of the American Medical Association (March 1986), 1455-63.

THE EXECUTIONERSRoman crucifiers were experts at killing people.

They verified he was dead.

Incentive: To let a prisoner go free meant they would be killed.

SIMPLE LOGIC“If the resurrection of Jesus can be

explained in that He didn’t die, he only “swooned”, it is an even greater miracle. The swoon theory means Jesus revived from severe flogging, hypovolemia, crucifixion where He had nails driven through hands and feet and hung for 6 hours. He had a spear driven into His side by a professional executioner.

SIMPLE LOGICHe went without food and water for 2

days while lying in a cold and damp tomb and then extricated Himself from tight linen wrapping from the neck down. He rolled away a giant stone and defeated at least four Roman soldiers.

SIMPLE LOGICThen just 48 hours after crucifixion He

walked 7 miles to Emmaus on feet that were just nailed completely through. When the facts are weighed in the swoon theory becomes the ultimate farcical display of ignorance.”

Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer RN PhD

Part Two: The Myth that the Disciples

Stole the Body

Matthew 28:2-42 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

Matthew 28:11-15

11 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. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’

Matthew 28:11-15

14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 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.

Matthew 27:62-66

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.

Matthew 27:62-66

Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

Matthew 27:62-66

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Precautions Taken... SEALThere was a Roman seal

placed on the tomb removal of which was under penalty of death.

Precautions Taken... GUARDS

Minimum of 4 top professionals.

Sleep was under penalty of death.

Spear, sword and knife, for distant, close and hand to hand combat- against fisherman.

Once again we have a theory that defies

common sense. If the disciples stole the body why would they die for

their belief? All but one died a martyr refusing to

recant.

Part Three: The Myth

that He Only Rose

Spiritually

Luke 24:37-4337They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Luke 24:37-4340When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Part Four: The Reality of

the Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:3-83For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

I Corinthians 15:3-86After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Frank Morrison- English Lawyer

Determined to write a book to disprove the resurrection finally and forever.

After thorough examination of the evidence, he was converted.

His book is entitled “Who moved the stone?”

Simon Greenleaf, 1783-1853Famous Royall Professor of

Law, Harvard University.He wrote the textbook “A

treatise on the Law of Evidence” which is still considered the single greatest authority on evidence in the entire literature of the legal profession.

Simon Greenleaf, 1783-1853His conclusion on the

resurrection.There is no other tenable

explanation.Consider the witnesses.The disciples refused to

recant.

CONTINUING MISSION DIRECTIVE

Invite Friends over tonight and Watch

A.D. The Bible Continues, 8pm on NBC 26