Is Jesus Alive?. Acts 17:30-32 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day.

Is Jesus Alive?Is Jesus Alive?

Acts 17:30-32Acts 17:30-32

The times of ignorance God overlooked, The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because everywhere to repent, because he has fixed he has fixed a daya day on which on which he will judge the worldhe will judge the world in in righteousness righteousness by a manby a man whom he has whom he has appointed; and of this appointed; and of this he has given he has given assuranceassurance to all by raising him from the to all by raising him from the deaddead." Now when they heard of the ." Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about others said, "We will hear you again about this." this."

I Cor. 15:16-19I Cor. 15:16-19

For if the dead are not raised, not even For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. Christ has been raised. And if Christ And if Christ has has not not been raised, your faith is futile been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sinsand you are still in your sins. Then . Then those also who have fallen asleep in those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.people most to be pitied.

The Cornerstone of ChristianityThe Cornerstone of Christianity

If Christ If Christ has been raisedhas been raised, then He will , then He will judge the world. judge the world.

If Christ If Christ has not been raisedhas not been raised, then , then Christianity is the biggest sham this Christianity is the biggest sham this world has ever seen!world has ever seen!

Empirical EvidenceEmpirical Evidence

Jacob Neusner, JP Meyers, Jon Jacob Neusner, JP Meyers, Jon Dominic Crossan don't even Dominic Crossan don't even

consider the resurrection consider the resurrection because it is supernatural and because it is supernatural and

unempirical!unempirical!

Empirical EvidenceEmpirical Evidence Stone Moved and Empty Tomb (Matt. Stone Moved and Empty Tomb (Matt.

28:2; Mk. 16:4-6; Lk. 24:2, 3; Jn. 20:1-28:2; Mk. 16:4-6; Lk. 24:2, 3; Jn. 20:1-8)8)

Eyewitnesses and Eating (Jn. 21:8-15; Eyewitnesses and Eating (Jn. 21:8-15; I Cor. 15)I Cor. 15)

Scars from Crucifixion (Jn. 20:24-28)Scars from Crucifixion (Jn. 20:24-28) Preaching and Writings of 1Preaching and Writings of 1stst Century Century

Christians and Non-ChristiansChristians and Non-Christians

The CrucifixionThe Crucifixion

Confirmed by all four gospel accounts.Confirmed by all four gospel accounts.– Scourged and CrucifiedScourged and Crucified– Verified Death (Jn. 19:34) Verified Death (Jn. 19:34)

Confirmed Extra-biblicallyConfirmed Extra-biblically

– TacitusTacitus– JosephusJosephus– Many others...Many others...

BurialBurial

Confirmed By All four Gospel AccountsConfirmed By All four Gospel Accounts– Carefully Wrapped for BurialCarefully Wrapped for Burial– In Tomb that was Sealed with a Large In Tomb that was Sealed with a Large

StoneStone– Guarded by Soldiers Guarded by Soldiers

Confirmed Extra-biblicallyConfirmed Extra-biblically

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection

Proclaimed In All Four Gospels (Mt. Proclaimed In All Four Gospels (Mt. 28; Mk. 16; Lk. 24; Jn. 20)28; Mk. 16; Lk. 24; Jn. 20)– Stone Rolled AwayStone Rolled Away– AngelsAngels– AppearancesAppearances– Prophecy (of Jesus Himself) Prophecy (of Jesus Himself)

Proclaimed By Paul as “of First Proclaimed By Paul as “of First Importance” (I Cor. 15:1-8)Importance” (I Cor. 15:1-8)

Suetonius - Secretary to Hadrian Suetonius - Secretary to Hadrian (117-138AD)(117-138AD)

““After the great fire at Rome... After the great fire at Rome... punishments were inflicted on punishments were inflicted on the Christians (by Nero) who the Christians (by Nero) who created a new mischievous created a new mischievous belief.” belief.”

What could this new belief be?What could this new belief be?

Acts 4:33Acts 4:33

And with great power And with great power the apostles were the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesusof the Lord Jesus, and great grace was , and great grace was

upon them all. upon them all.

The AttacksThe Attacks

Was Jesus buried in a tomb?Was Jesus buried in a tomb?

Jesus: A Revolutionary Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography (JDC)Biography (JDC)

Jesus was not buried in a tomb. Jesus was not buried in a tomb. Thrown in revene or shallow grave Thrown in revene or shallow grave Eaten by dogs Eaten by dogs The Resurrection was fabricated storyThe Resurrection was fabricated story

Problems:Problems:

Acts 2 & 13 – The disciples preached Acts 2 & 13 – The disciples preached the empty tomb from the very the empty tomb from the very beginning. beginning.

Justin Martyr (2Justin Martyr (2ndnd Cent. Christian Cent. Christian Author)Author)

Dialogue w/ Tripho Dialogue w/ Tripho (educated non-Christian Jew)(educated non-Christian Jew)

“A Galilean deceiver, whom we (the Jews) crucified, and his disciples began to

proclaim he rose from the dead after stealing his body.”

Dialogue w/ TriphoDialogue w/ Tripho

Does not even discuss the validity of Does not even discuss the validity of death, burial, or empty tomb. death, burial, or empty tomb.

The best the Jews could come up with The best the Jews could come up with because they could not produce the because they could not produce the body was that Jesus' Body was stolen.body was that Jesus' Body was stolen.

The AttacksThe Attacks

They must have gone to the wrong They must have gone to the wrong tomb.tomb.

Wrong Tomb?Wrong Tomb?

In the dimness of the morning In the dimness of the morning (“early”), ladies lost their way. (“early”), ladies lost their way.

Peter and John ran to the wrong tomb Peter and John ran to the wrong tomb in a rush.in a rush.

Problems:Problems:

Wrong Tomb, Right Circumstances? Wrong Tomb, Right Circumstances?

Joseph, Sanhedrin, or any other anti-Joseph, Sanhedrin, or any other anti-Christians could not find the right Christians could not find the right tomb just a short time later?tomb just a short time later?

The AttacksThe Attacks

The Disciples Stole the Body!The Disciples Stole the Body!

““The Disciples Did It!”The Disciples Did It!”

Matt. 27:62-66 Matt. 27:62-66

Matt. 28:11-15Matt. 28:11-15

Problems:Problems:

Punishment for Guards to fall asleep: Punishment for Guards to fall asleep: Most likely Death (Jewish or Roman Most likely Death (Jewish or Roman Guards) Guards)

All the guards fell asleep? All the guards fell asleep?

““Liars Make Bad Liars Make Bad MartyrsMartyrs!”!”

The AttacksThe Attacks

The Swoon TheoryThe Swoon Theory

Could it be?Could it be?

Jesus drank a chemical that made Him Jesus drank a chemical that made Him unconscious. unconscious.

Woke up 3 days later and escaped the Woke up 3 days later and escaped the tomb. tomb.

Appeared to the disciples needing no Appeared to the disciples needing no medical attention.medical attention.

Problems:Problems:

No water or food for over 3 days. No water or food for over 3 days. No one could survive the scourging No one could survive the scourging

and Crucifixion with no medical and Crucifixion with no medical attention (Crucifixion From A Medical attention (Crucifixion From A Medical Standpoint – Davis)Standpoint – Davis)

Blood and Water Flowed (Jn. 19:34)Blood and Water Flowed (Jn. 19:34) Roll the Stone and Escape GuardsRoll the Stone and Escape Guards Appear and then Hide for rest of life?Appear and then Hide for rest of life?

The AttacksThe Attacks

Mistaken Identity or HallucinationsMistaken Identity or Hallucinations

Mistaken Identity and Mistaken Identity and HallucinationsHallucinations

Time of Mourning; Emotionally Forced Time of Mourning; Emotionally Forced Everyone looks like Jesus to those who Everyone looks like Jesus to those who

cannot accept His death. cannot accept His death. Just men who do look similar Just men who do look similar Dreams and VisionsDreams and Visions

Mistaken Identity and Mistaken Identity and HallucinationsHallucinations

Group Hallucinations (I Cor. 15; Jn. Group Hallucinations (I Cor. 15; Jn. 20)? 20)?

Paul's Testimony; He would have no Paul's Testimony; He would have no remorse for killing Jesus (Acts 9; Acts remorse for killing Jesus (Acts 9; Acts 22; Acts 26)22; Acts 26)

Resurrection TransformationsResurrection Transformations

Paul and JamesPaul and James

JamesJames

Brother of Jesus who did not Brother of Jesus who did not believe(Jn.7:5)believe(Jn.7:5)

Jesus appeared to him(1 Cor.15:7)Jesus appeared to him(1 Cor.15:7) James became leader at the church in James became leader at the church in

Jerusalem(Acts 15, Gal.2)Jerusalem(Acts 15, Gal.2) He wrote the book of JamesHe wrote the book of James

PaulPaul

Trained by Gamaliel, Pharisee of Trained by Gamaliel, Pharisee of Pharisees (Acts 22:3, 23:6)Pharisees (Acts 22:3, 23:6)

Member of Sanhedrin or will be.Member of Sanhedrin or will be. Persecuted and murdered Christians Persecuted and murdered Christians

(Acts 8:1, 9:1)(Acts 8:1, 9:1) Suffered and was killed for Christ Suffered and was killed for Christ

(Acts 22,26, 2 Cor. 4, 2 Tim. 4)(Acts 22,26, 2 Cor. 4, 2 Tim. 4)

Acts 2: About 3,000Acts 2: About 3,000

3,000 Believers - Why?3,000 Believers - Why?

Most witnessed Jesus' death or knew Most witnessed Jesus' death or knew that it was undeniable.that it was undeniable.

There was an empty tomb and no one There was an empty tomb and no one could produce the body. could produce the body.

Prophecies became clear.Prophecies became clear. This means he is the Son of God and This means he is the Son of God and

has authority to judge the world (Rom has authority to judge the world (Rom 1:4, Matt.28:18, Mal. 3)1:4, Matt.28:18, Mal. 3)

Weigh the Evidence for YourselfWeigh the Evidence for Yourself

Everybody says he lived.Everybody says he lived. Everybody says he was murdered.Everybody says he was murdered. Over 500 people said they saw him Over 500 people said they saw him

alive again. alive again. Prophecies of resurrection up to 1,500 Prophecies of resurrection up to 1,500

years old.years old. Disciples suffered and died because Disciples suffered and died because

they believed in Jesus. they believed in Jesus.

Do You Believe?Do You Believe?

John 3:16-18John 3:16-18