The Resurrection of Jesus: An Easter Bible Study

Introduction

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event of Christianity. It is a historical fact that has been confirmed by numerous eyewitnesses. The resurrection is proof that Jesus is who He said He is: the Son of God. It is also a sign of hope for all believers. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, we can be sure that we will also rise from the dead and live with Him forever.

The Eyewitness Accounts

The resurrection of Jesus is recorded in all four of the Gospels. The Gospel writers were careful to document the details of the resurrection, including the names of the eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead.

• Matthew 28:1-10: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb on the first day of the week and found it empty. An angel appeared to them and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.
• Mark 16:1-8: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb on the first day of the week and found it empty. A young man appeared to them and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.
• Luke 24:1-12: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James went to the tomb on the first day of the week and found it empty. Two angels appeared to them and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.
• John 20:1-18: Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on the first day of the week and found it empty. She saw two angels in the tomb and then saw Jesus Himself.

The Historical Evidence

In addition to the eyewitness accounts, there is also a wealth of historical evidence that supports the resurrection of Jesus. This evidence includes:

• The empty tomb: The tomb where Jesus was buried was found empty on the first day of the week. This is a fact that has been attested to by both Christian and non-Christian sources.
• The appearances of Jesus: Jesus appeared to over 500 people after He rose from the dead. These appearances were witnessed by people from all walks of life, including His disciples, His family, and His enemies.
• The conversion of Saul: Saul was a persecutor of the early Christians who later converted to Christianity after he saw Jesus in a vision. Saul's conversion is a powerful testimony to the reality of the resurrection.

The Significance of the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in human history. It is the event that证明Jesus is the Son of God. It is also the event that gives us hope for eternal life.

The resurrection of Jesus is proof that He is who He said He is: The Son of God. Jesus made many claims about His identity during His ministry. He said that He was the Son of God, that He had come to save the world from sin, and that He would rise from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is proof that all of these claims are true.

The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope for eternal life: Because Jesus has risen from the dead, we can be sure that we will also rise from the dead and live with Him forever. The resurrection of Jesus is a sign of hope for all believers. It is a reminder that death is not the end, but only the beginning of a new life with God.

Conclusion

The resurrection of Jesus is the central event of Christianity. It is a historical fact that has been confirmed by numerous eyewitnesses. The resurrection is proof that Jesus is who He said He is: the Son of God. It is also a sign of hope for all believers. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, we can be sure that we will also rise from the dead and live with Him forever.

Additional Resources

• The Resurrection of Jesus: A Historical and Theological Investigation by Gary R. Habermas
• The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona
• The Resurrection of Jesus: A Rational Inquiry by William Lane Craig

Table 1: The Eyewitness Accounts of the Resurrection

Table 2: The Historical Evidence for the Resurrection

Table 3: The Significance of the Resurrection

Stories

Story 1

A young woman named Mary was struggling with doubt. She had been raised in a Christian home, but she had never really believed in the resurrection of Jesus. One day, she was talking to a friend who told her about the evidence for the resurrection. Mary was intrigued, so she decided to do some research of her own.

Mary spent hours reading about the resurrection. She learned about the eyewitness accounts, the historical evidence, and the significance of the resurrection. The more she learned, the more she became convinced that Jesus had truly risen from the dead.

Mary's faith was transformed by her study of the resurrection. She now believes that Jesus is the Son of God and that she will one day rise from the dead and live with Him forever.

What we learn:

• We can overcome our doubts about the resurrection by studying the evidence.
• The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful source of hope and faith.

Story 2

A man named John was an atheist. He didn't believe in God or in the resurrection of Jesus. One day, he was reading a book about the resurrection of Jesus. The book presented a compelling case for the resurrection, and John began to reconsider his beliefs.

John decided to do some research of his own. He talked to scholars, read books, and examined the evidence for the resurrection. The more he learned, the more he became convinced that Jesus had truly risen from the dead.

John's conversion to Christianity was a dramatic event. He went from being an atheist to being a strong believer in the resurrection of Jesus. John's story is a reminder that anyone can come to faith in Jesus, no matter how skeptical they may be.

What we learn:

• Even atheists can be convinced of the truth of the resurrection.
• The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful force for conversion.

Story 3

A woman named Sarah was grieving the death of her husband. She was filled with despair and didn't know how she would go on without him. One day, she was reading the Bible and came across the story of the resurrection of Jesus.

Sarah was deeply moved by the story of Jesus' resurrection. She realized that Jesus had conquered death and that she would one day be reunited with her husband in heaven. Sarah's grief was replaced with hope, and she was able to move on with her life.

What we learn:

• The resurrection of Jesus offers hope and comfort to those who are grieving.
• The resurrection of Jesus is a reminder that death is not the end, but only the beginning of a new life with God.

Pros and Cons

Pros of believing in the resurrection of Jesus:

• It gives us hope for eternal life.
• It proves that Jesus is who He said He is: the Son of God.
• It gives us a reason to live a moral life.
• It brings us peace and comfort in the face of death.

Cons of believing in the resurrection of Jesus:

• It requires faith.
• It can be difficult to believe in something that we cannot see.
• It can lead to persecution.

Call to Action

If you do not yet believe in the resurrection of Jesus, I encourage you to do some research and to consider the evidence. The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in human history, and it