Proof of Jesus' Resurrection

Imagine you were there in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. You were in the crowds. You had seed this Jesus in the streets, the desert, the synagogue, and the market. Maybe even seen Him heal someone. You saw Him crucified, you saw Him die.

How does all this fit in with history? How does all this fit in with the Jewish law? Was it necessary? If it was, why? As in all history before, sin had to be paid (atoned) for. But how?

a. Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
b. Exodus 29:36 And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement:
c. Heb 10:1-4 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because, that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
d. Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
e. Heb 10:5-10 Once and for all

Death was only part of the plan
a. I Cor 15:3,4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
b. I Cor 15:12-22 Without Jesus' resurrection; our salvation, doctrine and faith come crashing down.

Proof that Christ rose again
Interesting fact that, it is never disputed that Christ did live! Just as it is a historical fact that Christ lived - it's a historical fact that He rose again.

A. Proof #1 -The Christian Church: The disciples "turned the world upside down" with their teaching (Acts 17:6). Jesus, His miracles, death and resurrection, were so widely reported that if the disciples teaching were lies, those that were alive then would have known better and the church would have never grown to world wide proportions.

B. Proof #2 - Sunday: The acceptable day of worship for thousands of years was Saturday. Now it is Sunday. What caused such a change in such devout Jews other than the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead on Sunday?

C. Proof #3 - The empty tomb: Many, many explanations have been lodged to explain this. But, the tomb IS empty. The foolish explanations are as follows:
1. The disciples stole the body.
Did the disciples kill the Roman Guards? No, the Jewish leaders had to bribe the guards to lie and say that they fell asleep. There would be no bibery if the disciples had attacked them.
2. They were at the wrong tomb.
Wrong tomb? Surely, with so many disciples and followers they would remember three days ago. How about Joseph of Arimathea. He owned it. He would know where the right one was.
3. The Jews moved the body.
Jewish leaders took the body. That would cause their biggest fear to be realized. And to eliminate the teachings that He arose, why didn't they just produce the dead body of Jesus and shut them all up?
4. Proof #4 - The many appearance of Christ following His death.
I Corinthians 15:5-8 And that, He was seen of above 500 brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
* Disciples in the upper room - John 20:19-29
* Mary at the tomb - John 20:15,16
* Of Many- Acts 1:3
* They saw Him ascend into heaven - Acts 1:9-11
5. Proof #5 -The change in the Disciples.
First change; their fear of the Jews had gone.
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, "Peace [be] unto you." - Then boldly and fearlessly preaching to them.

People don't risk their lives for what they know is a lie. Luke 24:46-48:

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

I Cor 15:12-22
Without Jesus' resurrection; our salvation, doctrine and faith come crashing down.