The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus, part 3

I am not sure how many days this will take and I am excited every day to wake and read more evidences for the resurrection of Jesus. Paul gives us some clear proofs and that being that this was not only a belief of the Church in their generation but people knew it because they had met the risen Jesus!

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 3-8)

Let me extend with evidence from other Scriptures as well as using what Paul has stated here.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to:-

Mary Magdalene, John 20:14

Joanna (wife of Chuza), Luke 24:10

Mary (mother of Jesus, widow of Joseph of Nazareth), Acts 1:14

 Mary (mother of James and Joses/Joseph), Matthew 27:56

Salome (mother of James and John), Mark 16:1

The gospel writers then write of the following:-

Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus,

Cephas (Peter),

11 disciples and others,

10 apostles and others with Thomas absent,

Thomas and the other apostles,

7 apostles,

500 disciples,

James,

Apostles at the Mount of Olives for their commissioning,

Acts 13:30-31 “But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had travelled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.”

On 13 different occasions the risen Jesus appeared to a total of 552 people.

Look at v6 in our verses this morning: “most of whom are still living”. They can be checked out.

“I’m not making this up!” “I know these people will back up this story!”

These people really did believe in the resurrection of Jesus not only because many had seen the empty tomb but they had met the risen Jesus. But this was Jesus who touched them and who ate with them.

They didn’t just believe it they knew it!