May 3 AM
They Led Him Away (27:1-2)
INTRODUCTION
1. In the night and morning prior to His crucifixion, the Son of God
suffered many ignobilities...
a. Illegal trials held during the night
b. Shuffled back and forth before different authorities
c. Falsely accused, mocked, and physically abused
2. There is a phrase used several times that may be used to summarize
this ill treatment...
a. That phrase is "they led Him away"
b. It (or a variation) is found eight times - Mt 26:57; 27:2,31; Mk
15:1,16; Lk 23:26; Jn 18:13; 19:16
3. Being led around like this was in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy:
"He was led as a lamb to the slaughter..." - Isa 53:7
I. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE ANNAS
A. ANNAS, FATHER-IN-LAW TO CAIAPHAS...
1. John records this meeting in his gospel - Jn 18:12-14
2. Annas had been high priest, but was deposed in 15 A.D. by
Roman authorities
3. He continued to exercise considerable influence, as he was
still viewed by the Jews as a high priest - Lk 3:2
4. After Pentecost he was involved in the questioning of Peter
and John - Ac 4:6
B. BEFORE ANNAS...
1. Jesus was asked about His disciples and His doctrine - Jn 18:
19-21
2. Jesus was struck by one of the officers - Jn 18:22-23
3. At this point, Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas - Jn 18:24
II. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE CAIAPHAS
A. CAIAPHAS, THE HIGH PRIEST...
1. It was Caiaphas who with others plotted the arrest and death
of Jesus - Mt 26:3-5
2. He also was involved in the later questioning of Peter and
John - Ac 4:6
B. BEFORE CAIAPHAS...
1. Jesus faced an assembly of scribes and elders - Mt 26:57
a. This was an illegal assembly of the Sanhedrin (high council
of the Jews)
b. It was illegal for taking place at night
2. False witnesses were finally found - Mt 26:59-61
3. Jesus first kept silent, then told them of His coming in
judgment - Mt 26:62-64
4. In anger Caiaphas tears his clothes, and accuses Jesus of
blasphemy - Mt 26:65
5. Jesus is pronounced worthy of death - Mt 26:66
6. He is spat in the face, beaten, slapped, and mocked as the
Messiah - Mt 26:67-68
III. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE PILATE
A. PONTIUS PILATE, THE ROMAN GOVERNOR...
1. To whom Jesus was bound and delivered - Mt 27:2
2. He governed Judea from 26-36 A.D.
3. He did much to anger the Jews - cf. Lk 13:1
4. But without his approval, the Jews could not execute Jesus
B. BEFORE PILATE...
1. Jesus was asked if He was the king of the Jews - Mt 27:11
a. Because Jesus was accused of forbidding to pay taxes and
claiming to be a king - cf. Lk 23:1-2
b. Jesus did not reply to the accusations of the Jews - Mt 27:
12-14
c. But He did converse with Pilate about the nature of His
kingdom - Jn 18:33-38
2. Pilate found no fault in Him - cf. Lk 23:4
3. But Jesus was accused further of stirring up people throughout
all Judea, beginning from Galilee - cf. Lk 23:5
IV. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE HEROD
A. HEROD, KING OF THE JEWS...
1. This was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great
a. His father was the Herod who massacred the infants - Mt 2:
16-18
b. Antipas was the one who beheaded John the Baptist - Mt 14:
1-12
c. He was tetrarch over Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C.-39 A.D.
- Lk 3:1
2. Herod was glad to see Jesus - Lk 23:8
a. He had heard many things about Jesus - cf. Lk 9:7-9
b. He hoped to see some miracle done by Jesus
B. BEFORE HEROD...
1. Jesus was questioned, but answered Herod nothing - Lk 23:9
2. Jesus was vehemently accused by the chief priests and scribes
- Lk 23:10
3. Jesus was treated with contempt and mocked by Herod and his
soldiers - Lk 23:11
V. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE PILATE (AGAIN)
A. PILATE SOUGHT TO RELEASE HIM...
1. Using the custom of releasing one prisoner during the feast
- Mt 27:15; Jn 18:38-39
a. Offering a choice between Jesus and Barabbas - Mt 27:16-18
b. The latter a notorious prisoner, who was a robber, rebel
and murderer - Mk 15:7
2. Encouraged by his wife to have nothing to do with Jesus - Mt
27:19
B. BEFORE PILATE (AGAIN)...
1. The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude to ask
for Barabbas and to have Jesus crucified - Mt 27:20-23
2. Bowing to the multitude, Pilate succumbed to their wishes - Mt
27:24-25
3. Jesus was then scourged - Mt 27:26
VI. THEY LED HIM AWAY TO FACE THE SOLDIERS
A. THE SOLDIERS OF THE GOVERNOR...
1. Roman soldiers, who likely had little love for any Jew
2. Who took Jesus into the Praetorium (the barracks in the
governor's house) - Mt 27:27
3. Surrounding Jesus with the whole garrison of soldiers - Mt 27:
27
B. BEFORE THE SOLDIERS...
1. Jesus was stripped and clothed with a scarlet robe - Mt 27:28
2. A twisted crown of thorns was placed on His head, and a reed
in His right hand - Mt 27:29a
3. The soldiers bowed the knee and mocked Him as King of the Jews
- Mt 27:29b
4. They spat on Him, and struck Him on the head with the reed
- Mt 27:30
5. When they were finished mocking Him...
a. The soldiers took off the robe and put His own clothes on
Him - Mt 27:31a
b. The soldiers led Him away to be crucified - Mt 27:31b
CONCLUSION
1. Up to this point, the Son of God had been...
a. Struck by officers of the high priest
b. Spat in the face, beaten, slapped, and mocked as the Messiah by
the chief priests
c. Falsely accused by the chief priests and scribes before Pilate
and Herod
d. Treated with contempt and mocked by Herod and his soldiers
e. Scourged by Pilate, mocked, spat upon and beaten by his soldiers
And then they "led Him away to be crucified", to face the cross
of Calvary
2. Why did Jesus allow Himself to be so led...?
a. At any time He could have called for twelve legions of angels
- cf. Mt 26:53
b. "They Led Him Away" only because He allowed them to do so!
c. Jesus understood that all this was necessary to fulfill Scripture
- cf. Mt 26:54; Lk 24:44-47
And the purpose of the Scripture was that Jesus would die for our sins
(Isa 53:5). As expressed beautifully in the song "Ten Thousand Angels"
by Ray Overholt:
They bound the hands of Jesus
In the garden where He prayed;
They led Him through the streets in shame.
They spat upon the Savior
So pure and free from sin;
They said "Crucify Him, He's to blame."
Upon His precious head
They placed a crown of thorns;
They laughed and said, "Behold the King."
They struck Him and they cursed Him
And mocked His holy name.
All alone He suffered everything.
He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world
And set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels
But He died alone
For you and me.
He died alone for you and me...will we not heed and obey His message of
repentance and remission of sins first proclaimed in Jerusalem? - cf.
Lk 24:46-47; Ac 2:36-38
May 10 AM
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
What Then Shall I Do With Jesus? (27:22)
INTRODUCTION
1. In Mt 27:11-22, we read of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Roman
governor...
a. While Jesus admitted to being the King of the Jews, He refused to
answer the accusations of the chief priests and elders - Mt 27:
11-12
b. His silence caused Pilate to marvel greatly - Mt 27:13-14
c. Pilate sought to release Jesus, but the multitude asked for
Barabbas instead - Mt 27:15-21
d. Which prompted Pilate to ask the question: "When then shall I do
with Jesus who is called Christ?" - Mt 27:22
2. Pilate's question, "What then shall I do with Jesus?", is one that
every person must ask...
a. Many would prefer to ignore it
b. Many try to let others make the choice (as did Pilate)
3. But it is a question from which we cannot run away...
a. We shall all one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ
- 2Co 5:10
b. His words will be the standard by which we will be judged
- Jn 12:48
[And so each one of us should be asking ourselves, "What Then Shall I
Do With Jesus?" To help answer this question, consider another
question...]
I. WHAT HAS JESUS OFFERED YOU?
A. JESUS HAS PROVIDED THE CHANCE...
1. For an abundant life, filled with true peace - Jn 10:10; 16:33
2. To find salvation - Lk 19:10
3. To enjoy cleansing from sin through His blood - 1Jn 1:7
B. JESUS HAS PROCLAIMED THE CONDITIONS...
1. We must believe in Him - Jn 8:24
2. We must repent of our sins - Lk 13:3
3. We must confess our faith before men - Mt 10:32-33; Ro 10:9-10
4. We must be baptized for the remission of our sins - Mt 28:19;
Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38
5. We must remain faithful even to death - Re 2:10
C. JESUS HAS PREDETERMINED THE ALTERNATIVES...
1. Reject Him, and we will die in our sins to face the terrible
consequences - Jn 8:24; 2Th 1:7-9; Re 21:8
2. Believe in Him, and we receive everlasting life - Jn 5:24;
Mt 19:29
[Having consider what Jesus has offered us, we return to our original
question...]
II. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?
A. WHAT SOME HAVE TRIED TO DO...
1. Pilate tried to pass the choice on to others - Mt 27:24
a. Are we guilty of doing something similar today?
b. Trying to let others decide for us what we will do or
believe about Jesus?
2. Some in Athens simply mocked - Ac 17:32
a. Many take this route in what they do with Jesus
b. Rather than make the effort to decide what they should do,
they simply laugh
3. Felix tried to wait for a more convenient time - Ac 24:25
a. This is another common reaction
b. Hoping that through delay, they will not have to make the
choice
-- But we cannot escape the fact that we will one day be judged
by Him - Ac 17:30-31
B. WHAT WE SHOULD DO...
1. Accept His gracious offer of salvation by obeying Him - He 5:9
2. Become His disciples, committed to doing what He commanded
- Mt 28:19-20
3. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ - 2Pe 3:18
4. Walk in Him, well-established in the faith - Col 2:6-7
5. Develop the mind of Christ, the attitude of sacrifice and
service - Php 2:1-8
CONCLUSION
1. We have seen the feeble attempt by Pilate and others to answer the
question "What Then Shall I Do With Jesus?"
2. Let us not think we can answer the question by...
a. Simply ignoring Him
b. Simply not doing anything actively against Him
-- For as Jesus said on another occasion: "He who is not with Me is
against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."
- Mt 12:30
Jesus has given us every reason to accept and obey Him as our Savior
and Lord. If you have not yet done so, will you not today respond to
His gracious invitation to receive eternal life?
May 17 AM
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Crucifixion Of Jesus (27:32-50)
INTRODUCTION
1. Without question, the crucifixion of Jesus was a terrible event...
a. It was an excruciating and painful way to die, which Jesus was
willing to accept without pain-killing drugs - Mt 27:32-35
b. It was a shameful way to die, mocked by those who watched,
crucified with common thieves - Mt 27:36-44
c. Along with the physical suffering, there was the spiritual agony
- Mt 27:45-50
2. While there may be a place for contemplating upon the actual
physical agony Jesus endured...
a. Jesus did not want people to weep for Him, but for themselves
- cf. Lk 23:26-31
b. Even on the cross, His concern for others was evident - Lk 23:34
-- So the purpose of the crucifixion was not just to engender pity
for Jesus
[The significance and lessons to be learned from the crucifixion go far
beyond feeling sorry for what Jesus suffered. For example, we should
never forget that "The Crucifixion Of Jesus" is...]
I. THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN
A. JESUS DIED BECAUSE OF SIN...
1. As foretold, He died for our sins - 1Co 15:3; Isa 53:5-6
2. He gave Himself for our sins - Ga 1:4
3. He bore our sins on the cross - 1Pe 2:24
-- May the thought of the crucifixion remind us of our own
sinfulness and the need for redemption - 1Jn 1:8-10
B. JESUS KILLED SIN...
1. He condemned sin in the flesh through His death - Ro 8:3
2. Now making it possible for sinners to destroy their own body
of sin, when united with Him by baptism into His death - Ro 6:
3-6
-- May the thought of the crucifixion remind us of our duty to
crucify the sinful passions of the flesh - Ga 5:24; Col 3:5-11
[To motivate us in our efforts to let Jesus' death help us deal with
the problem of sin, we should also remember that "The Crucifixion Of
Jesus" is...]
II. THE REVELATION OF LOVE
A. JESUS DIED BECAUSE OF LOVE...
1. The love of the Father for a lost world - Jn 3:16; Ro 5:8
2. The love of the Son - Ep 5:2
-- May our contemplation of the crucifixion never neglect the
love that was behind the fact - 1Jn 4:9-10
B. JESUS THEREBY DEMONSTRATED WHAT TRUE LOVE IS...
1. We now understand the meaning of true love - 1Jn 3:16; Jn 15:13
2. His love serves as the pattern for our love - Jn 13:34-35;
15:12
-- May our contemplation of the crucifixion remind us of the high
standard of love we are called to show toward one another
- 1Jn 4:11
[As we strive to overcome sin and love one another, assisted and
motivated by the death of Jesus on the cross, we should also be mindful
that "The Crucifixion Of Jesus" is...]
III. THE REDEMPTION OF THE WORLD
A. JESUS DIED FOR ALL...
1. God desires all men to be saved, not desiring any to perish
- 1Ti 2:3-6; 2Pe 3:9
2. Therefore He offered Jesus as a propitiation for all - 1Jn 2:
1-2
-- May our meditation upon the crucifixion include thinking about
the need of others
B. JESUS IS THE WORLD'S ONLY HOPE...
1. He is the only way to the Father - Jn 14:6
2. Only in His name is salvation to be found - Ac 4:12
3. Deny the Son, and one does not have the Father - 1Jn 2:23
4. Abide in His doctrine, and one has both the Father and the Son
- 2Jn 9
-- May our meditation upon the crucifixion move us to do what we
can to proclaim the message of redemption to those lost in sin
- cf. 2Co 5:18-6:1
[And so the death of Jesus on the cross should prompt us to look both
inward and outward, to address both our spiritual needs and those of
others. To what extent effort may be required in these areas, we should
also view "The Crucifixion Of Jesus" as...]
IV. THE INSPIRATION OF SACRIFICE
A. JESUS PROVIDED THE EXAMPLE...
1. His death demonstrated the mind of humility - Php 2:3-8
2. His suffering demonstrated the example of suffering patiently
- 1Pe 2:20-24
-- May our reflection upon the crucifixion move us to consider
what His sacrifice should inspire us to do
B. JESUS' SACRIFICE IS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE US...
1. To walk in love - Ep 5:2
2. To walk in humility - Php 2:3-5
3. To suffer patiently when mistreated for doing good - 1Pe 2:
20-24
4. To give of ourselves to others - 2Co 8:9; 1Jn 3:16-18
CONCLUSION
1. Certainly more could be said about "The Crucifixion Of Jesus"
2. But perhaps these few thoughts will increase our appreciation of
this significant event...
a. His death is the condemnation of sin
b. His death is the revelation of love
c. His death is the redemption of the world
d. His death is the inspiration of sacrifice
3. Have you taken advantage of what "The Crucifixion Of Jesus" means
for you...?
a. Have you been crucified with Christ?
b. Are you putting to death the deeds of the flesh?
c. Are you growing in love?
d. Are you concerned and doing something about the redemption of the
world?
e. Are you inspired in your service to your brethren and the lost by
the example of Jesus' sacrifice?
In the words of the apostle Paul: "We then, as workers together with
Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain." (2 Co
6:1)
May24 AM
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Significance Of The Resurrection (28:1-10)
INTRODUCTION
1. According to the four gospels, Jesus rose from the dead following
His crucifixion...
a. Matthew records how the women found the tomb empty and were
instructed by an angel to tell the disciples - Mt 28:1-8
b. Also how Jesus appeared to them while on their way - Mt 28:9-10
In all, the New Testament records ten distinct resurrection
appearances of Christ prior to His ascension to heaven
2. The significance of the resurrection of Jesus to the Christian faith
cannot be overestimated...
a. It has great significance for one who has yet to believe in Jesus
b. It also has great significance for those who are Christians
I. FOR THE UNBELIEVER
A. IT VERIFIES THE DEITY OF JESUS...
1. The resurrection proves that Jesus truly is the Son of God
- Ro 1:4
2. It also demonstrates that He truly has all authority in heaven
and on earth - Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36
B. IT VERIFIES THE TRUTHFULNESS OF JESUS...
1. Jesus foretold His resurrection on three occasions - Mt 16:21;
17:22-23; 20:17-19
a. If Jesus was telling the truth in describing His suffering
and resurrection...
b. ...then He was telling the truth in everything else He said
Would God raise a liar?
2. Therefore the following teachings of Jesus are true:
a. He was from the Father above, and spoke the words of the
Father - Jn 8:28-29
b. No one can come to the Father but through Him - Jn 14:6
c. His blood was shed for the remission of sins - Mt 26:28
d. He came to offer abundant life - Jn 10:10
e. He went to prepare a place for us - Jn 14:2
f. He shall come again - Jn 14:3
g. There will be a resurrection of the dead and ensuing
judgment - Jn 5:28-29; 12:48; Ac 17:30-31
II. FOR THE BELIEVER
A. IF JESUS HAS NOT BEEN RAISED...
1. Gospel preaching is vain - 1Co 15:14
a. The preaching of the apostles is empty, meaningless
b. There would be no purpose in preaching about a liar, or
lunatic
2. Our faith is vain - 1Co 15:14
a. Our belief in Christ would also be empty, meaningless
b. For our faith would be in a liar, or lunatic
3. The apostles were false witnesses - 1Co 15:15
a. They swore that God raised Jesus from the dead - Ac 2:32
b. They claimed to spend 40 days with Him after the
resurrection, eating and drinking with Him - Ac 10:39-41
c. There is no way they could have been deceived or mistaken;
either they told the truth or they were deliberate liars,
deceivers, and frauds!
4. We are still in our sins - 1Co 15:17
a. It would have been a liar or lunatic that died on the cross
b. No such person could have provided a sacrifice that was
holy and without blemish
5. Believers have perished at death - 1Co 15:18
a. Their faith would have been in a false Messiah
b. They would have had no atonement for their sins
c. Dying in their sins, there would be no hope
6. Christians are to be pitied - 1Co 15:19
a. Because we believe in a false Messiah
b. Because our faith in Him leads us to refrain from much
worldly pleasure
c. Because we are often ridiculed or persecuted for our faith
B. IF JESUS HAS BEEN RAISED...
1. It verifies our justification - Ro 4:24-25
a. Jesus claimed His blood would be adequate - Mt 26:28
b. By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated His
acceptance of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins! - Ro 8:
33-34
2. It demonstrates the power available to the Christian - Ep 1:
18-20
a. Power available at our conversion - Col 2:11-12; 1Pe 3:21
b. Power available to live the Christian life - Ro 8:11-13;
Php 2:12-13; 4:13; Ep 3:20; 6:10
3. It gives us hope concerning our own resurrection - 1Pe 1:3
a. His resurrection gives us a living hope! - 1Pe 1:21
b. Especially concerning the resurrection of believers! - 1 Th 4:13-14
4. It demands our complete loyalty to Him - Ro 14:9
a. He was raised and then exalted to become our Lord - Ac 2:
32-36; Ep 1:20-23
b. Thus our lives and service belong to Him - Ro 14:7-8; 2 Co 5:15
CONCLUSION
1. The impact of the resurrection of Jesus should not go unfelt in our
lives...
a. As a historical event it has everlasting implications
b. For both the unbeliever and believer
2. The unbeliever needs to examine the evidence for the resurrection
carefully...
a. The nature of the testimony provided by the witnesses
b. The unfeasibility of alternative explanations for the empty tomb
For if Jesus rose from the dead, one must believe in Him! - Jn 8:
24
3. The believer must never lose sight of the significance of the
resurrection...
a. Do our lives demonstrate that we serve a risen Lord and Savior?
b. Do we possess the hope, peace, and strength that the reality and
power of His resurrection gives to the Christian?
May we never forget "The Significance Of The Resurrection" of Jesus
Christ in our lives!
May 31 AM
"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Witnesses Of The Resurrection (28:1-10)
INTRODUCTION
1. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ really took place, it has great
significance...
a. For those who have yet to believe in Christ
b. For those who are Christians
Which we examined in another lesson
2. Upon what basis should one believe Jesus actually rose from the
dead?
a. The evidence presented in the New Testament involves eyewitness
testimony
b. Ten distinct resurrection appearances of Christ are recorded in
the New Testament
c. One such case is that found in Mt 28:1-10
3. It is clear from the Scriptures that our faith in Jesus is based
upon such testimony...
a. As Jesus intimated in His prayer, and John in his gospel - Jn 17:
20; 20:30-31
b. Jesus expected His apostles to be His witnesses - Jn 15:27; Ac 1:8
c. Especially concerning His resurrection - Ac 1:22; 2:32; 3:15;
4:33; 10:39-41; 13:31
4. Since our faith rests upon the testimony of these witnesses...
a. Were they credible witnesses, that we should take them seriously?
b. How strong is their testimony?
c. How do we know they did not make it up, or were simply deluded?
I. THE NUMBER OF WITNESSES
A. WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT...
1. The strength or weakness of any testimony is affected by the
number of witnesses
2. The Law of Moses required at least two or three witnesses
- Deut 17:6
3. Today, the number of witnesses also plays a crucial role in
our justice system
The more witnesses you have, the stronger your evidence!
B. THERE WERE MANY WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION...
1. Paul lists many of these witnesses in 1Co 15:3-8
a. Jesus was seen by Cephas (Simon Peter) - Lk 24:34
b. Jesus was seen by the twelve (apostles) - Lk 24:36-43; Ac 1:2-3
c. He was seen by five hundred people at one time (probably in
Galilee) - cf. Mt 28:10,16-17
d. He was seen by James, the Lord's brother
e. He was seen by Paul, on the road to Damascus - Ac 22:6-10
2. Other appearances are recorded in the Scriptures
a. To Mary Magdalene - Mk 16:9; Jn 20:14
b. To other women returning from the tomb - Mt 28:9,10
c. To two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Lk 24:13-33
d. To the apostles, Thomas absent - Jn 20:19-24
e. To the apostles, Thomas present - Jn 20:26-29
f. To seven disciples by the Lake of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee)
- Jn 21:1-23
g. To the apostles at the ascension - Ac 1:3-12
II. THE CHARACTER OF THE WITNESSES
A. SOME HAD NOT BELIEVED IN JESUS...
1. Like His brothers in the flesh - Jn 7:3-5
2. They even thought Him crazy - Mk 3:21
But seeing Him after His resurrection, they became His
disciples! - Ac 1:14
B. SOME WERE SKEPTICAL AFTER JESUS' DEATH...
1. Thomas would not accept the words of others - Jn 20:24-25
2. Not until he had empirical evidence would he believe - Jn 20:
26-28
3. This demonstrates witnesses who were not gullible or easily
deceived
a. Which is why the Lord appeared to select witnesses - Ac 10:
40-41
b. Witnesses qualified to know if it really were Jesus
C. ONE WAS EVEN A FORMER ENEMY...
1. Saul of Tarsus, who later became known as Paul the apostle
- Ac 9:1-2
2. Until he saw Jesus raised from the dead, he believed it to be
God's will to oppose Jesus and His followers - Ac 26:9-11
III. THE STRENGTH OF THEIR WITNESS
A. DEMONSTRATED BY THE NATURE OF THEIR TESTIMONY...
1. Their testimony appealed to empirical evidence
a. Evidence derived from experiment and observation rather
than theory
b. For forty days they were given infallible proofs - Ac 1:3
c. They ate and drank with Jesus - Ac 10:41
d. They saw, heard, and touched Him - Jn 20:24-28; 1Jn 1:1-2
2. There is no way they could have been deceived or deluded
a. If all they had were individual dreams, visions, or
hallucinations...perhaps
b. But they testified that Jesus appeared to them in groups as
well as to individuals
B. DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR TRANSFORMATION...
1. Prior to the resurrection, Jesus' disciples were afraid and
without hope
a. They fled at his arrest - Mk 14:50
b. Peter cowardly denied Him three times - Mk 14:66-72
c. The women mourned His crucifixion - Lk 23:27
d. After His death, the disciples were sad - Lk 24:13-17
e. After His death, the disciples hid behind closed doors, for
fear of the Jews - Jn 20:19
2. But after the resurrection, they fearlessly praised God and
proclaimed Jesus!
a. Praising God in the temple - Lk 24:52-53
b. Proclaiming Christ, despite persecution - Ac 5:28-32,41-42
3. This transformation in their lives is strong evidence for the
resurrection, as admitted by one Orthodox Jewish scholar:
a. "If the disciples were totally disappointed and on the
verge of desperate flight because of the very real reason
of the crucifixion, it took another very real reason in
order to transform them from a band of disheartened and
dejected Jews into the most self-confident missionary
society in world history." - Pinchas Lapide, former
Chairman of the Applied Linguistics Department at Israel's
Bar-Iland University (TIME, May 7, 1979)
b. He concluded that a bodily resurrection could possibly have
been that reason!
C. DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR HIGH MORAL STANDARD...
1. They taught others to live holy lives - 1Th 4:1-7; Ep 4:25
2. They lived their own lives in unimpeachable way - 1Th 2:3-12
Does this sound like people who propagate lies when they know
better?
D. DEMONSTRATED BY THE PRICE THEY PAID...
1. The apostles endured much suffering because of their testimony
- 1Co 4:9-13
2. All but one died a martyr's death because of their testimony
3. Even Jesus' brother, James, was thrown off the temple and then
clubbed to death for his testimony
There was no motive for them to persistently lie about Jesus'
resurrection!
CONCLUSION
1. The nature of their witness does not allow for the option that they
were simply deceived or deluded...
a. Again, they professed empirical evidence
b. They claimed to eat and drink with Him, touch Him, see Him
2. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, there is only one
alternative...
a. These witnesses were liars, deceivers
b. Even Paul admits this is the only alternative - 1Co 15:14-15
3. Is it reasonable to believe they successfully propagated a lie?
a. Too many people attested to the same fact
b. They were not the kind of people to fabricate such a falsehood
c. They lived noble lives, and were ALL willing to suffer and die
for their testimony!
When we carefully examine the lives and testimony of "The Witnesses Of
The Resurrection", the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that
they really saw what they claimed: Jesus is risen!
And His resurrection from the dead is assurance from God that Judgment
is coming and we must repent:
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands
all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on
which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He
has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising
Him from the dead." - Ac 17:30-31
Are you ready for that Day?
