by Pastor Mark Taylor
“For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:16-17)
The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most important doctrines of our faith. We have many proofs that He died, was buried, and rose again after three days in the grave. One of the greatest proofs of the resurrection I have witnessed in my life time are the people who I have met that have experienced the “new birth” and their lives have been changed. I also have walked with Him and talked with Him and have experienced His presence for over 50 years. These two proofs give me enough faith to accept by faith all the other proofs that others have given for our Lord’s resurrection. We have the eyewitness testimony in the word of God from several sources.
- The guards who were assigned to guard His body experience a “great earthquake” and saw “an angel of the Lord descended from heaven” and roll away the stone. (Matthew 28:2-4).
- He appeared to Mary Magdalene in John 20:14 and in Mark 16:9.
- He appeared to women returning from the tomb in Matthew 28: 9-10.
- He appeared to Peter later in the day in Luke 24:34 and I Corinthians 15:5.
- He appeared to the Emmaus disciples in Luke 24: 13-33.
- He appeared to the disciples twice in Luke 24: 36-43 and John 20 19:29.
- He appeared to seven of the disciples by the Lake of Tiberias in John 21:1-23.
- He appeared to a multitude of over 500 believers on a Galilean mountain in I Corinthians 15:6.
- He appeared to the eleven in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24: 33-52, and Acts 1:3-12.
- He appeared at His ascension in Acts 1:3-12. He appeared to Paul in Acts 9:3-6 and I Corinthians 15:8.
- He appeared to Stephen in Acts 7:55.
- He appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos in Revelation 1:10-19.
There is no record of the Roman soldiers, the chief priests, the Pharisees or Pilate and the Roman government disputing the resurrection.
We have the overwhelming proof of the dramatic change in the disciples after the Resurrection. All of the disciples gave their lives as a witness of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection. Thousands if not millions of men and women have spoke of a personal relationship with this resurrected Savior. Their testimonies of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives continued to confirm the fact of our Lord’s resurrection.
On this resurrection Sunday I would like to share with you some of the proofs I have seen of His life and power today.
I have seen the lives of people who were on drugs and were alcoholics have the power to overcome their addictions. “And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him… For Jesus said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” (Mark 5:14-15)
I have seen people who were mean and hateful change into people with loving hearts. “And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:5-6). “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9).
I have seen people sick and dying healed through the prayers of other Christians as God’s Word promised. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:13-15).
I have seen people who were full of guilt and fear be forgiven and receive grace and peace to follow God. "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:20-24).
