DID THE RESURRECTION REALLY HAPPEN?

SECTION 1

  In considering the matter of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is
important to show that each and every one of the present "theories" claiming
that it did not happen is delt with, in turn.  Therefore, it is on this basis
that we will show by the elimination of any other possibility, that the
Resurrection not only occured but that all known arguments against it are
unfounded and can be rejected as invalid.

     Any explanation of the resurrection MUST take into consideration the
following features:

     1.  It must incorporate all known facts surrounding the resurrection
event.

     2.  We cannot "whittle" the evidence into a presupposed mold.  We must
evaluate the evidence or events in context and within reason of logic - or -
"could it have happened that way?"

     In this vein, there are to major considerations - CHRIST'S TOMB WAS
EITHER (1) OCCUPIED OR IT WAS (2) EMPTY.

     I.  CHRIST'S TOMB WAS OCCUPIED

          A.  Unknown Tomb

This theory was based, primarily, on the historical documentation that
indicated that crucified victims were cast over a particular wall in 
Jerusalem and burned in a trash pit.  This theory was difficult to 
refute -other than the Gospels - until 1968 when the grave of a crucified 
victim was located in a family tomb just outside of Jerusalem (Yohanan ben 
Ha'galgal).  The other major failings of this is (1) even if the disciples 
and the women did not know where the grave, Joseph of Arimathea DID; (2) 
the Roman Guard knew where it was and (3) the women sat at the entombment 
and dressing of the body.

          B.  Wrong Tomb

This theory is a variation on the Unknown tomb theory in that the women went
to the wrong tomb.  The major proponent of this heresy is one Professor Lake.
He concludes that the "gardener" told the women, "He is not here, but see the
place where they laid Him." The complete text of what was said is recorded in
the Gospel as "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.  Come, see
the place where He was lying.".  Matthew clearly shows in 27:61 (Mark in 15:47
and Luke in 23:55) that the women had clearly noted the location of the tomb
less than 72 hours before.  The professor notes that this explanation provides
a natural explanation for the rock not being at the opening.  The professor
picks and chooses his information, but the parts that he ignores clearly
refutes his position.  An additional thought is not as clearly refuting it,
but have you buried a loved one and ever lost the location of that grave in
your mind?

          C.  Legend Fantasy

This theory fails immediately when we read Paul's comments that there were
over 500 eyewitnesses still alive to prove the resurrection.  History proves
the writings of the Gospels and the accounts of the resurrection to be no
later than 56 A.D.  The writings were directed to people that could have,
easily, gone to the grave themselves and verified if the grave was empty.  The
FACT is that the accounts were NOT written many years later.

          D.  Spiritual Resurrection

Only In Luke 24:39, Jesus Christ, himself, demolishes this theory.  Let's look
at that verse.  ******** READ ********** Later on, Jesus even eats some fish.
this, again, proves a body.  Matthew tells how they grabbed the feet of Jesus.
I do not believe that you can grab the feet of a spirit!  This is a major
precept of the Jehovah Witnesses.

          E.  Hallucinations

DEFINED: "wandering of the mind, idle talk, etc." but the American Psychiatric
Association defines it as "a false sensory perception in the absence of an
actual external stimulus." ad elsewhere it is defined as "an apparent
perception of an external object when no such object is present".  It is also
recognized by science that hallucinations occur only in certain people and are
linked to the person's personal experiences.  The fact that many diverse
people saw Jesus and all concurred with their versions of that sighting
negates this theory completely.  An hallucination does not sit down with you,
eat with you, allow certain persons to examine the wounds, or talk with
certain individuals of a group.  Hallucinations are highly subjective and no
two people have ever been found to experience the same hallucination - how
then can 500 people do so?!  Hallucinations recorded are within a specific
time frame and under favorable conditions - usually the person having the
hallucination had been concentrating on the object or desiring the object
prior to the hallucination.  These conditions are absent in the resurrection.
No expectancy, fifteen different appearances, many different people, 500 at
one time to one or two people.  Hallucinations usually occur with regularity
and this is not the case here.  When the day of Pentecost came, no other
reports or stories occured as to having seen the risen Lord!

     I wish to point out that NONE of the above theories uses the two "rules"
of evidence spoken of at the beginning of this session.

     If the tomb were EMPTY, then there are two additional possibilities.
These are (1) it was by NATURAL causes and (2) it was due to SUPERNATURAL
causes.


II.  CHRIST'S TOMB WAS EMPTY DUE TO NATURAL REASONS

     A.  Stolen by Disciples This theory is the most common (especially in
Jewish communities) possibility expressed.  In fact, Matthew even records this
theory, but did not take time to refute it as it was so false that he didn't
feel the need to refute it.  It is recorded that the Roman guard went to the
high priest and were bribed to tell the stolen body story.  This also refute
the idea that it was Temple Guards that guarded the tomb - the high priest
would not have needed to bribe his own guards.  (Matthew 28:11-15) Let's take
the matter on logic.  If the Roman guard had fallen asleep how could they have
known that it was the disciples that took the body.  If you have ever watched
Perry Mason, you could well imagine an attorney getting this testimony in
court!  The other factor is to look at the possibility of the ENTIRE guard
unit falling asleep.  This SECURITY UNIT of the Roman army was the most
devoted to duty because the failure to be on guard meant certain death if
discovered!  This unit was highly skilled in fighting and would have made
mincemeat of the disciples had they attempted to steal the body.  (Also look
to Matthew 26:56 where he describes the courage of the disciples "all the
disciples left him and fled"!!  The two ton boulder is another matter to
contend with.  The Greek shows that the stone was not just moved to the side
but actually picked up and moved away from the tomb area!  I cannot picture
anyone group of men being able to move such a force without making enough
noise to "wake the dead"!  This problem of the stone is really a "roadblock"
to any of the theories.  The final feature of this theory is to consider the
very character of the disciples.  History records that these men, because of
some unexplained (secular world only) reason, became men of the highest and
purest though and deeds.  Their moral character and honor were NEVER
questioned by anyone - even the very people who put them to death.  The very
idea that these men could conceive of such a lie in direct conflict with what
Jesus had taught and to continue the lie EVEN TO THEIR OWN DEATHS is absurd.
This one factor is not recorded any where else in history.  No other person
has had the testimony of men such as the Apostles who never recanted their
faith or their Lord.  If this had been a lie, these "ordinary" men did not
break under the most severe pressure.  I can only believe that ONLY a face to
face confrontation with the Living Jesus could have given them the knowledge
that a death on this Planet was only the door to be with the risen Lord!
Finally, if the body had been stolen, how can you explain the manifestations
of Christ to the many eye witnesses - including the 500?

           END OF SECTION ONE