Can’t Buy the Resurrection

Belief in a resurrection is not rational. Only an irrational or

unscientific person would believe that someone rose from the

dead.

The Resurrection

1. What is the evidence?2. Why does it matter?

Accounting for 2 Facts:

1. The empty tomb2. Hundreds of witnesses

“They were prescientific and predisposed to believe.”

Were they predisposed?

1. Did they expect the resurrection? Mt 16:21-23

2. Did they believe the initial reports?– Women’s report – Luke 24:11 – Emmaus report – Mark 16:12-13 – The disciples in a room – Luke 24:38-

41– Thomas – John 20:24-29– Before the ascension – Mt 28:16-20

3. Was ANYONE predisposed to expect it?

Alternative Explanations

1. Myth or legend2. Body Stolen3. Body Double

4. Wrong tomb5. Swoon theory6. Hallucinations

Myth or LegendNT written to close to events (see last two sermons in Hard to Believe Series).

Body was Stolen1. Logistically implausible. Mt 27:62-

662. Morally implausible.3. Psychologically implausible.

Body DoubleFails to account for hundreds of witnesses

Wrong Tomb• Seriously? No one can remember

where Jesus was buried?• Does not account for hundreds of

witnesses.

Swoon Theory1. Physically implausible2. Religiously implausible – lets start

a new religion and tell everyone Jesus conquered death.

3. Biographically implausible – Jesus lied

Hallucinations1. No one expected to see Jesus.2. Odd that many did not recognize

their own hallucinations.3. Hallucinations are private and

subjective not corporate and objective.

4. Hallucinations are short term not 40 day occurrences shared by hundreds

What are we left with?

1. An empty tomb.2. Cowards who became fearless.3. Skeptics who became leaders.4. Misfits who changed the world.5. A Savior who conquered sin and

death.

Why does it matter?

“My question – that which at the age of fifty brought me to the verge of suicide – was the simplest of questions, lying at the soul of every man… a questions without the answer to which one cannot live. It was ‘What will come of what I am doing today or tomorrow? What will come of my whole life? Why should I live, why wish for anything, or do anything?’ It can also be expressed thus: Is there any meaning in my life that the inevitable death awaiting me does not destroy?” Leo Tolstoy, A Confession