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Believe the Infallible Proofs of Jesus' Resurrection

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Believe the Infallible Proofs of Jesus' Resurrection Believe The Infallible Proofs Of Jesus’ Resurrection Dr. Oliver Blosser In the prologue to the Scroll of Acts, Luke affirms that the Resurrected Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, Acts 1:3. Here is the timespan from the Resurrection to the Ascension. It is a period of forty days which Jesus used to further instruct the disciples. For the Church Age, the Apostle Paul informs us about the current meaning of the kingdom of God. Romans 14:17— For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God is: • Righteousness (Jesus’ righteousness is imputed to the believer by faith.) • Peace (Jesus made peace between God and man by means of His Shed Blood.) • Joy (Jesus sent His Spirit to indwell us so that we could experience the joy of salvation.) I. The Infallible Proof Of Jesus’ Resurrection Appearances The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is Christianity’s most important teaching. It is extremely difficult to deny Jesus’ Resurrection if over five hundred individuals at different times and in different places were eyewitnesses to the Post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus. The empty tomb, with the grave clothes left behind, stood readily available for inspecting by even the strongest skeptics. Here is the chronological order of Jesus’ Resurrection appearances: 1. J esus’ Resurrection Appearances On The Day Of The Resurrection A) Mary Magdalene Mark 16:9-11— 9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. John 20:11-18— 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. B) The Women Returning From The Tomb Matthew 28:9-10 —9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Matthew 28:9-10 —9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” C) Simon Peter Luke 24:34 —Saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” I Corinthians 15:5a—and that He was seen by Cephas, …. (‘Cephas’ is Peter’s Aramaic name; while ‘Simon’ is his Hebrew name. ‘Peter’ is Greek.) D) The Two Disciples On The Road To Emmaus Luke 24:13 -35—13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 18 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And begin- ning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things con- cerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicat- ed that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 35 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered togeth- er, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. Jesus became known to the Emmaus disciples when He held up His hands to bless the unleavened bread and the nail wounds in His wrists became visible. Mark 16:12-13—12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. E) The Ten Apostles With Thomas Absent Mark 16:14-18—14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Luke 24:36-43 —36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honey- comb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
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