Dave Wottle was an
athlete who astonished many.
00:00:03.65\00:00:07.40
He ran the 1/2 mile
or 800 meter race so well
00:00:07.43\00:00:10.30
that he made it to the Olympics.
00:00:10.33\00:00:12.94
The interesting part, however,
00:00:12.97\00:00:14.35
is that Dave Wottle always
started in the back of the pack
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but would kick himself into gear
00:00:18.46\00:00:20.07
at the end of the
race in order to win.
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People watched him
run, with amazement
00:00:24.12\00:00:26.59
because amongst the competition
he was running against,
00:00:26.62\00:00:29.64
there was no way
to come from behind
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and win every
single time. But he did.
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He won race after
race until he finally won
00:00:36.39\00:00:39.06
the gold medal at
the 1972 Olympic Games
00:00:39.09\00:00:43.59
by 3/100 of a second.
00:00:43.62\00:00:47.57
Dave wottle epitomizes
why people stay engaged
00:00:47.60\00:00:50.74
during a race or sporting event.
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They want to see the finish.
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They want to see the
culmination of the whole thing.
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The end or the finale
summarizes and represents
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the entire
process of getting there.
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Human interest
is based on endings.
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That is to say,
we don't read books
00:01:08.34\00:01:10.43
or watch movies or
go to sporting events
00:01:10.46\00:01:13.30
without wanting to hear
or see the end, the finale.
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And speaking of endings,
every single living being
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on this earth has
one thing in common.
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They will all eventually die.
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All life at some
point comes to an end.
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However, there lived one man
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who claimed to
overcome the grave.
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We've talked about
how the radical teachings
00:01:35.76\00:01:38.18
of this man caused
thunder in his day and ours.
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But is it possible that
what happened after his death,
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even more than the miracles
and teachings of his whole life,
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is the true
cause for the thunders,
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reverberations that have
rattled the world for centuries?
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All the major world religions
have one thing in common.
00:02:48.98\00:02:52.73
They were all founded or
initiated by the teachings
00:02:52.76\00:02:55.96
or inspiration
of one main person.
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Some examples include Judaism
00:02:59.09\00:03:01.05
which follows the
teachings of Moses.
00:03:01.08\00:03:03.72
Buddhism, which follows
00:03:03.75\00:03:05.42
the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.
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Islam, the
teachings of Mohammed.
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And Christianity,
Jesus of Nazareth.
00:03:11.74\00:03:16.05
To many, their lives
appear somewhat similar.
00:03:16.08\00:03:19.30
But what about their deaths?
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One and only one leader was said
to have risen from the dead.
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Jesus of Nazareth has a
strikingly different ending
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than all the other religious
leaders and all of humanity.
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For He died, was
buried and then rose again
00:03:35.00\00:03:38.21
the third day
according to the Scriptures.
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Many scoff at such
a preposterous claim.
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They can believe that he lived,
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that He was a
teacher, maybe even a prophet,
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but to believe that
he came back to life
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goes beyond the
realm of possibility.
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However, this claim is
crucial to the Christian faith.
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Our reporters are
standing by at the Garden Tomb
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just outside the old
city walls of Jerusalem
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to take a look at the evidence
00:04:05.38\00:04:06.88
that substantiates
such a radical claim.
00:04:06.91\00:04:11.35
Thanks, Charles. To
begin our investigation,
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we're gonna start
with a historical account
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or record of the death of Jesus.
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To review this account,
we'll be using the Bible,
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which even if you discounted
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is still classified as a
valid historical document.
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It should be noted that
the event being discussed
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happened some 2,000 years ago.
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It's rare to find any
written history about royalty
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and other famous
persons from this time period,
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much less an
entire written description
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about a typical crucifixion
of a so-called criminal.
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So the fact that
there's any historical record
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is fascinating enough in itself.
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The death of Jesus
has also been addressed
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in other historical sources
00:04:48.84\00:04:50.52
such as the writings
of Cornelius Tacitus,
00:04:50.55\00:04:52.75
the greatest
historian of ancient Rome
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and Flavius Josephus, core
historian for Emperor Vespasian.
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Wilbur Smith says
it best in his book,
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"Therefore
Stand," when he writes,
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"Let it simply be
said that we know more
00:05:03.98\00:05:06.19
about the details of
the hours immediately before
00:05:06.22\00:05:09.15
and the actual death of Jesus
00:05:09.18\00:05:11.04
than we know about the death
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of any other one man
in all the ancient world.
00:05:12.47\00:05:15.44
We know more about the
burial of the Lord Jesus
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than we know of the
burial of any single character
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in all of ancient history.
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There are four Biblical
reports on the happenings
00:05:22.39\00:05:24.14
surrounding the death of Jesus.
00:05:24.17\00:05:25.84
And while all are
written by different authors
00:05:25.87\00:05:27.83
and bring out different details,
00:05:27.86\00:05:29.66
there are
absolutely no contradictions.
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Let's review the four accounts.
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The chief priests and
the elders of the people
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brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate
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accusing Him of blasphemy
00:05:38.11\00:05:39.70
and Pilate questioned Him,
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"Art Thou the King of the Jews?"
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And He answered
and said unto him,
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"Thou sayest it."
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And the chief priests
accused Him of many things
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but He answered nothing.
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And Pilate asked
Him again, saying,
00:05:50.47\00:05:52.61
"Answerest Thou nothing?
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Behold how many things
they witness against Thee."
00:05:54.21\00:05:56.70
But Jesus answered nothing,
so that Pilate marveled.
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And Pilate
called the chief priests
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and rulers of the
people and told them
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that he examined Jesus
but found no fault in Him.
00:06:04.01\00:06:07.32
Since it was the feast
where he could release someone,
00:06:07.35\00:06:09.52
Pilate offered
to release Barabbas
00:06:09.55\00:06:11.63
who was an evil
murderer, or Jesus.
00:06:11.66\00:06:14.66
Pilate told the
people that Jesus
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was not worthy of death
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but that he would chastise
and release Him instead.
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But the people cried
out, all at once saying,
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"Away with this man, and
release unto us Barabbas."
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Pilate therefore,
willing to release Jesus,
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spake again to them.
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But they cried out saying,
"Crucify Him, crucify Him!"
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So Jesus bearing His
cross was brought to the place
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of the skull and crucified
on the hill between two thieves.
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At 3 p.m., Jesus cried out,
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"My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?"
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And a while later He concluded,
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"It is finished" and died.
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He was taken down from
the cross and laid in a grave
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and three days later,
He rose from the dead.
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The account is
repeated not once,
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twice or even three times,
00:07:02.41\00:07:04.32
but four separate times
by four different disciples.
00:07:04.35\00:07:07.86
And yet, it is
so straight-forward,
00:07:07.89\00:07:09.77
so clear and so full of detail
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that to question
the historical record,
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one would have to
put forth a great effort
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to come to a reasonable doubt.
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They sure would, Stephen.
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And today, I'd like to address
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some of those
different areas of doubt.
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Some have proposed that
maybe Jesus didn't actually die.
00:07:24.99\00:07:28.70
Maybe He just
fainted on the cross
00:07:28.73\00:07:30.33
but after three days of
recuperation in the tomb,
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was able to revive Himself.
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It's amazing that the
gospel authors did not know
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that this would be a
doubt many years later.
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And yet, they gave specific
details to quiet such questions.
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First, when Jesus was brought
before Pilate after His death,
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Pilate marveled that
Jesus was already dead.
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And summoning the centurion,
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he asks him if He had
been dead for some time.
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So when he found
out from the centurion,
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he granted the body to Joseph.
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This verse points out that
His death was double checked.
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For Pilate's own
respect and reputation,
00:08:06.02\00:08:08.41
he needed to make
sure that the criminal
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that he sentenced to
death was in fact dead.
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He gave the body to Joseph
only after verifying the death.
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Second, when the
soldiers came to Jesus
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and they saw that
He was already dead,
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they pierced His side
with a spear and immediately,
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blood and water came out.
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If the
crucifixion hadn't killed Him,
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this thrust of the
Roman soldier's spear
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certainly would
have done the job.
00:08:32.16\00:08:34.55
Also, Dr. Subodh
K. Pandit points out
00:08:34.58\00:08:37.16
that the only way for blood
to have the appearance of water
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is for the blood
cells to completely settle,
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separating the red
corpuscles from the clear serum.
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And this does not
happen unless the blood
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is completely motionless
for a solid one to two hours.
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Dr. Pandit goes on to explain,
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"The fact that John
was no modern day physician
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and so described it in the
terms of an ordinary laymen
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layman (water instead of
serum) gives great credibility
00:09:00.68\00:09:04.54
to that simple, specific,
yet significant observation."
00:09:04.57\00:09:09.45
Another doubt that is
often raised due to the fact
00:09:09.48\00:09:12.01
that the body of
Jesus was never found,
00:09:12.04\00:09:14.40
is the idea that
the body was stolen.
00:09:14.43\00:09:17.05
However, this is easily refuted
because there were guards
00:09:17.08\00:09:20.34
on duty night and day to
prevent that exact happening.
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In addition, there
are details of the scene
00:09:24.63\00:09:26.69
which include a
folded handkerchief
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and the linen
grave cloths left behind.
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Neatness and the time it
would take to undress the body
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do not lend themselves to
the scene of a hasty theft.
00:09:34.48\00:09:38.31
Finally, the most
important argument
00:09:38.34\00:09:40.30
against the idea of the
body being stolen is the motive.
00:09:40.33\00:09:44.57
Even though they were told that
Jesus would rise from the dead,
00:09:44.60\00:09:47.86
the disciples did not understand
it to be literal and true.
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The Bible makes it
clear, the disciples were not
00:09:52.60\00:09:54.63
expecting the resurrection
of Jesus when it says,
00:09:54.66\00:09:57.46
"For as yet they did
not know the scripture,
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that He must rise
again from the dead."
00:10:00.34\00:10:03.67
So if the disciples did not
have the courage to claim Jesus
00:10:03.70\00:10:06.85
during His
sentencing and crucifixion,
00:10:06.88\00:10:09.47
where did the confidence
come from to go against
00:10:09.50\00:10:11.58
Roman authority
and trained guards
00:10:11.61\00:10:13.78
to steal the body of Jesus
00:10:13.81\00:10:15.43
when they didn't even
understand the necessity
00:10:15.46\00:10:17.98
of the
resurrection in the first place?
00:10:18.01\00:10:20.63
Therefore, the
Biblical account of Jesus' death
00:10:20.66\00:10:23.33
and resurrection proves
itself consistent and accurate.
00:10:23.36\00:10:28.45
That's true, Andrea.
00:10:28.48\00:10:29.85
And while the Bible
sets the factual footwork
00:10:29.88\00:10:32.45
for the world's greatest event,
00:10:32.48\00:10:34.32
it's the after
effects of that happening
00:10:34.35\00:10:36.16
that truly give it credence.
00:10:36.19\00:10:38.43
Let's take the
disciples, for example.
00:10:38.46\00:10:40.47
One day they are fleeing
cowards who wouldn't even claim
00:10:40.50\00:10:43.80
to know their beloved teacher
and just three days later,
00:10:43.83\00:10:47.40
they were a powerful
force willing to face death
00:10:47.43\00:10:51.07
to proclaim the name of Jesus.
00:10:51.10\00:10:53.62
What changed?
00:10:53.65\00:10:55.81
The witnessing of
resurrection, perhaps?
00:10:55.84\00:10:58.29
The Book of Acts
tells us that the disciples
00:10:58.32\00:11:00.60
and others of that time period
00:11:00.63\00:11:02.62
were witnesses of
a resurrected savior.
00:11:02.65\00:11:06.21
Even in today's court system,
00:11:06.24\00:11:07.63
the greatest evidence is
that of empirical evidence
00:11:07.66\00:11:11.24
which includes someone's solemn
oath of being an eye witness.
00:11:11.27\00:11:16.40
And Peter said,
00:11:16.43\00:11:17.80
"This Jesus hath God raised up,
00:11:17.83\00:11:20.68
whereof we all are witnesses."
00:11:20.71\00:11:24.13
John said, "For we can not
00:11:24.16\00:11:25.82
but speak the things
which we have seen and heard."
00:11:25.85\00:11:30.19
And Paul said that Jesus
00:11:30.22\00:11:31.78
"was seen many days of
them which came up with Him
00:11:31.81\00:11:35.20
from Galilee to Jerusalem,
00:11:35.23\00:11:37.86
who are His
witnesses unto the people."
00:11:37.89\00:11:41.57
If the disciples were
so positive of their report
00:11:41.60\00:11:44.31
of what they saw
with their own eyes,
00:11:44.34\00:11:46.28
and that they were
willing to face death,
00:11:46.31\00:11:49.20
still swearing its truth,
00:11:49.23\00:11:51.66
after the resurrection
the eleven disciples gathered
00:11:51.69\00:11:54.15
together to discuss
the event and its meaning.
00:11:54.18\00:11:57.60
After they
separated, they dispersed into
00:11:57.63\00:11:59.94
different parts of the
country to spread the truth
00:11:59.97\00:12:02.60
and the promise of
the resurrected Messiah.
00:12:02.63\00:12:05.68
Now, let's just pretend
00:12:05.71\00:12:07.65
that these eleven
men made up the story.
00:12:07.68\00:12:10.24
It's an awesome
story for mere men,
00:12:10.27\00:12:12.65
but let's just say they did.
00:12:12.68\00:12:14.72
The fact that all of them
died swearing the validity
00:12:14.75\00:12:18.77
of a story they
made up, is fascinating.
00:12:18.80\00:12:22.57
Furthermore, if they
had all died together
00:12:22.60\00:12:25.30
with the encouragement
and support of one another,
00:12:25.33\00:12:28.26
I might be persuaded to believe
00:12:28.29\00:12:30.05
that they could peddle
the lie to their death.
00:12:30.08\00:12:33.07
But these men did not die
together with the fortitude
00:12:33.10\00:12:35.98
of brotherhood to motivate them.
00:12:36.01\00:12:38.74
Each man died alone.
00:12:38.77\00:12:41.53
Each man died with the
ability to recant their story
00:12:41.56\00:12:45.14
without any of the
other disciples even knowing.
00:12:45.17\00:12:48.57
Each man died swearing
that Jesus rose from the grave.
00:12:48.60\00:12:53.41
That's not human nature.
00:12:53.44\00:12:55.11
Sure, put a bunch
of people in a room
00:12:55.14\00:12:56.74
and ask them to
drink the Kool-Aid
00:12:56.77\00:12:58.87
and peer pressure might kick in.
00:12:58.90\00:13:01.24
but separate each
one, interrogate them,
00:13:01.27\00:13:04.27
torture them, ridicule them
00:13:04.30\00:13:06.71
and find not one
willing to change
00:13:06.74\00:13:09.60
their faith in the
story of a risen Christ?
00:13:09.63\00:13:12.96
Peter was crucified upside down.
00:13:12.99\00:13:15.27
James was stoned to death.
00:13:15.30\00:13:17.50
Matthew was killed by the sword.
00:13:17.53\00:13:19.50
James, the son of
Alpheus was crucified.
00:13:19.53\00:13:22.45
James, the son of
Zebedee was killed by the sword.
00:13:22.48\00:13:25.23
Thadaeus was shot
through with arrows.
00:13:25.26\00:13:27.12
Bartholomew was crucified.
00:13:27.15\00:13:29.05
Philip was crucified.
00:13:29.08\00:13:30.45
Simon, the Zealot was crucified.
00:13:30.48\00:13:32.50
Thomas was killed with a
spear and though John survived,
00:13:32.53\00:13:35.68
tradition tells us
that he was put into
00:13:35.71\00:13:37.42
a cauldron of boiling oil.
00:13:37.45\00:13:39.62
And that's the eleven
and then there's the one
00:13:39.65\00:13:41.71
who replaced Judas Iscariot.
00:13:41.74\00:13:43.55
Matthias was
stoned and then beheaded.
00:13:43.58\00:13:46.22
And the apostle Paul was
tortured and then beheaded.
00:13:46.25\00:13:49.69
Not only did almost all
suffer an excruciating death,
00:13:49.72\00:13:54.29
but they died knowing
that all they would have
00:13:54.32\00:13:57.49
had to do was simply
denounce their claim about
00:13:57.52\00:14:00.03
Jesus'
resurrection in order to live.
00:14:00.06\00:14:03.15
Now, don't misunderstand me,
00:14:03.18\00:14:05.40
many people die for the
things they fully believe in,
00:14:05.43\00:14:08.26
which in many cases
are unfortunately not true.
00:14:08.29\00:14:11.91
Suicide bombers are
notorious for this trait.
00:14:11.94\00:14:15.01
However, the disciples
were actually witnesses.
00:14:15.04\00:14:19.09
This is different
because if they were
00:14:19.12\00:14:21.12
lying about the fact
that Jesus rose from the dead,
00:14:21.15\00:14:23.92
if they were lying
about what they witnessed,
00:14:23.95\00:14:27.10
they'd be dying for a known lie.
00:14:27.13\00:14:31.28
It's one thing to die for
something you believe is true,
00:14:31.31\00:14:35.10
but unfortunately is not.
00:14:35.13\00:14:37.67
It's altogether
another to die for something
00:14:37.70\00:14:40.38
that you don't believe
and that you know is not true.
00:14:40.41\00:14:44.45
The disciples no doubt
knew that Jesus was the Messiah.
00:14:44.48\00:14:49.52
That He died, but then He rose.
00:14:49.55\00:14:52.71
That He conquered the grave.
00:14:52.74\00:14:54.60
And they were willing to go
to theirs shouting His victory.
00:14:54.63\00:14:59.23
The disciples did
have a marked change
00:14:59.26\00:15:02.40
following the resurrection.
00:15:02.43\00:15:04.39
But another thing
to notice is the impact
00:15:04.42\00:15:06.68
the risen Jesus has
had on our world today.
00:15:06.71\00:15:10.54
There are respected
learning institutions
00:15:10.57\00:15:12.94
which carry His name.
00:15:12.97\00:15:14.34
Entire musical compositions,
art pieces and literary volumes
00:15:14.37\00:15:18.30
that were inspired by His
life. A multitude of people
00:15:18.33\00:15:22.23
whose personal
testimonies have changed lives.
00:15:22.26\00:15:25.88
As well as those who are
willing to give up everything
00:15:25.91\00:15:28.85
this world offers
to share His story.
00:15:28.88\00:15:32.52
How could someone who was killed
00:15:32.55\00:15:34.45
as a despised criminal
by the most contemptible
00:15:34.48\00:15:37.41
form of
execution have a following
00:15:37.44\00:15:39.68
that outnumbers any
other religion ever formed?
00:15:39.71\00:15:44.03
Furthermore, notice
that every single leader
00:15:44.06\00:15:46.74
of a major
religion was greatly revered
00:15:46.77\00:15:49.73
at the time of their death.
00:15:49.76\00:15:51.78
The loss of the
Hindu masters and sages
00:15:51.81\00:15:55.13
were mourned for generations.
00:15:55.16\00:15:57.12
At the death of Mohammed,
00:15:57.15\00:15:58.52
there was a nationwide
grief and intense lamenting.
00:15:58.55\00:16:02.47
But Jesus of Nazareth was
crucified by His own people.
00:16:02.50\00:16:07.53
Something huge and
beyond human capacity
00:16:07.56\00:16:10.54
such as
resurrection must have happened
00:16:10.57\00:16:13.13
between the horrific
death and the creation
00:16:13.16\00:16:16.44
of the Christian
religion which exists today.
00:16:16.47\00:16:19.66
As I investigate
outside literary sources,
00:16:19.69\00:16:22.89
Biblical evidence and
historical happenings,
00:16:22.92\00:16:25.81
I find the necessary
evidence for a solid foundation
00:16:25.84\00:16:29.27
on which to build a
faith in the resurrection.
00:16:29.30\00:16:33.06
Lord Darling, Chief
Justice of England said
00:16:33.09\00:16:35.50
it best when he said,
00:16:35.53\00:16:37.71
"On the greatest point we are
not merely asked to have faith.
00:16:37.74\00:16:42.36
In its favor as a living truth,
00:16:42.39\00:16:44.64
there exists such
overwhelming evidence,
00:16:44.67\00:16:47.69
positive and negative,
factual and circumstantial,
00:16:47.72\00:16:51.71
that no intelligent
jury in the world could fail
00:16:51.74\00:16:55.38
to bring in a verdict that
the resurrection story is true."
00:16:55.41\00:17:01.56
But what does this
mean for our lives?
00:17:01.59\00:17:04.64
Why is a
resurrection that occurred
00:17:04.67\00:17:06.50
some 2,000 years ago
so pertinent for us today?
00:17:06.53\00:17:10.98
Well, first of
all, our God is a God
00:17:11.01\00:17:13.08
that knows the future.
00:17:13.11\00:17:14.75
"Declaring the end
from the beginning,
00:17:14.78\00:17:16.27
and from the ancient times
00:17:16.30\00:17:17.67
the things that are
not yet done, saying,
00:17:17.70\00:17:20.39
'My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure.'"
00:17:20.42\00:17:24.52
So the first reason it
was necessary for Jesus
00:17:24.55\00:17:26.62
to rise from the dead was
because it was prophesied.
00:17:26.65\00:17:30.47
In the Old Testament
before Christ was even born,
00:17:30.50\00:17:32.72
it details His life,
death and resurrection.
00:17:32.75\00:17:36.73
His resurrection is specifically
noted in Psalm 16:10."
00:17:36.76\00:17:41.40
For You will not
leave my soul in Sheol,
00:17:41.43\00:17:43.95
nor will You allow Your
Holy One to see corruption."
00:17:43.98\00:17:47.57
And also in Psalm 49:15,
00:17:47.60\00:17:50.01
"God will redeem my soul
from the power of the grave,
00:17:50.04\00:17:52.96
for He shall receive me."
00:17:52.99\00:17:55.13
Then in the New Testament,
00:17:55.16\00:17:56.56
Jesus himself
predicted the future
00:17:56.59\00:17:58.55
when He spoke to His
disciples in Matthew 20:19.
00:17:58.58\00:18:02.18
"They shall deliver
Him to the Gentiles to mock
00:18:02.21\00:18:05.14
and to scourge
and to crucify Him,
00:18:05.17\00:18:07.84
and the third day,
He shall rise again."
00:18:07.87\00:18:11.00
According to Jesus Himself,
00:18:11.03\00:18:12.61
prophecy is not
meant for the purpose
00:18:12.64\00:18:14.22
of necessarily
predicting the future.
00:18:14.25\00:18:16.42
Instead, it exists so that when
prophecies come to fruition,
00:18:16.45\00:18:19.98
we can look back and recognize
00:18:20.01\00:18:21.45
that God does
indeed foretell the future.
00:18:21.48\00:18:24.39
They're meant so that we may
00:18:24.42\00:18:25.79
have yet another
reason to believe.
00:18:25.82\00:18:28.64
In this case,
Christ fulfilled prophecy
00:18:28.67\00:18:30.89
by both dying on the cross
00:18:30.92\00:18:32.29
and rising
again on the third day
00:18:32.32\00:18:34.30
according to the scriptures.
00:18:34.33\00:18:36.67
The inspired
word of God is truth.
00:18:36.70\00:18:39.52
When God says
something it happens.
00:18:39.55\00:18:41.16
I mean, He spoke the
world, the sun, the moon,
00:18:41.19\00:18:43.88
and all the
animals of this planet
00:18:43.91\00:18:45.53
into existence with His words.
00:18:45.56\00:18:48.50
Likewise, His
words told of a time
00:18:48.53\00:18:51.04
when His son would
die and rise again.
00:18:51.07\00:18:53.74
So the
resurrection was inevitable,
00:18:53.77\00:18:56.17
simply because God spoke it.
00:18:56.20\00:18:59.39
That's true, Stephen,
00:18:59.42\00:19:00.79
but God definitely
had a purpose or a reason
00:19:00.82\00:19:03.46
behind the
resurrection He spoke of.
00:19:03.49\00:19:05.87
You see, the reason we
need a savior in the first place
00:19:05.90\00:19:08.71
is because we are
descendants of Adam.
00:19:08.74\00:19:12.02
We are born into the
lineage of Adam as man.
00:19:12.05\00:19:15.31
The lineage of Adam is sinful.
00:19:15.34\00:19:17.43
It is not eternal and
it is destined to perish.
00:19:17.46\00:19:20.98
The only way to end a lineage
00:19:21.01\00:19:23.07
is to completely
kill it off, or to die.
00:19:23.10\00:19:26.21
Therefore, the only way
to change lineage is to die
00:19:26.24\00:19:30.23
and then to
resurrect into a new lineage.
00:19:30.26\00:19:33.33
While mortal man
cannot do this, God can.
00:19:33.36\00:19:37.17
When Christ died as man, He
put an end to Adam's lineage.
00:19:37.20\00:19:41.40
When He rose again,
He created a new lineage.
00:19:41.43\00:19:45.08
The lineage of
Christ is not sinful,
00:19:45.11\00:19:47.59
it is eternal and it
is destined for glory.
00:19:47.62\00:19:51.38
Paul explains this phenomenon
in 1 Corinthians 15: 20-22.
00:19:51.41\00:19:56.38
"But now is Christ
risen from the dead
00:19:56.41\00:19:58.69
and become the first
fruits of them that slept.
00:19:58.72\00:20:01.57
For since by man came death,
00:20:01.60\00:20:03.84
by man came also the
resurrection of the dead.
00:20:03.87\00:20:07.33
For as in Adam all die,
00:20:07.36\00:20:09.36
even so in Christ
shall all be made alive."
00:20:09.39\00:20:14.24
Adam's mistake
brought death into this world.
00:20:14.27\00:20:17.06
In other words, sin
brought death into the world.
00:20:17.09\00:20:21.03
So if we overcome
sin, we overcome death.
00:20:21.06\00:20:25.71
The death alone of
Jesus would have succeeded
00:20:25.74\00:20:28.18
in paying the
penalty for our sins.
00:20:28.21\00:20:30.48
But if it had ended there,
00:20:30.51\00:20:32.17
we would only have
proof that sin does,
00:20:32.20\00:20:34.65
in fact, lead to death.
00:20:34.68\00:20:36.53
We would only have the
example of Christ's life.
00:20:36.56\00:20:39.85
And once again we would be
sinful men trying to be good.
00:20:39.88\00:20:44.15
The resurrection
provided a different option.
00:20:44.18\00:20:47.21
It provided the
power to overcome the grave
00:20:47.24\00:20:49.83
and thus to overcome sin.
00:20:49.86\00:20:52.54
A new lineage
humanity could share in,
00:20:52.57\00:20:56.28
if they choose to say yes.
00:20:56.31\00:20:58.58
If we choose to live in
Him who overcomes the grave,
00:20:58.61\00:21:02.25
we
automatically overcome the sin
00:21:02.28\00:21:05.07
that would have
put us in the grave.
00:21:05.10\00:21:07.85
Let me expand on this
point a little further.
00:21:07.88\00:21:10.12
In Romans 6:23,
where it says that
00:21:10.15\00:21:12.87
"the wages of sin is death."
00:21:12.90\00:21:15.87
When Jesus took the burden
of sin on His own soldiers,
00:21:15.90\00:21:19.31
He fully represented
what the effect of sin is.
00:21:19.34\00:21:23.25
He was addressing the lie
which is still spreading today.
00:21:23.28\00:21:26.77
A little sin isn't so bad.
00:21:26.80\00:21:29.28
But that's exactly
what Lucifer argued as well.
00:21:29.31\00:21:32.54
When Lucifer first got the
bits of rebellion in his heart,
00:21:32.57\00:21:35.68
he did not believe
that it would lead to death.
00:21:35.71\00:21:38.23
How could a
teeny tiny little bit
00:21:38.26\00:21:40.20
of disobedience lead to death?
00:21:40.23\00:21:42.83
However, Christ came
to this world to live out
00:21:42.86\00:21:45.89
the effects of that
little disobedience.
00:21:45.92\00:21:48.78
He wanted to prove the
unavoidable result of every sin.
00:21:48.81\00:21:52.68
After displaying to the universe
00:21:52.71\00:21:54.57
what the end
effect of sin truly is,
00:21:54.60\00:21:57.61
Jesus proved that
sin could be overcome.
00:21:57.64\00:22:01.90
Many might argue that He
proved sin could be overcome
00:22:01.93\00:22:04.88
before His death
because He lived a perfect life,
00:22:04.91\00:22:08.08
a life without sin.
00:22:08.11\00:22:09.77
However, it was not
until Sunday morning
00:22:09.80\00:22:12.25
when He overcame the
grave that He fully proved
00:22:12.28\00:22:15.29
and demonstrated to the universe
00:22:15.32\00:22:17.33
and to humanity that
sin had been overcome.
00:22:17.36\00:22:21.34
In 1 Corinthians 15:26, it says,
00:22:21.37\00:22:24.60
"The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death."
00:22:24.63\00:22:28.87
Jesus destroyed the final enemy.
00:22:28.90\00:22:32.11
Death has been overcome.
00:22:32.14\00:22:34.50
The entire plan of
salvation exists for the purpose
00:22:34.53\00:22:37.79
of atonement or
being made one with God.
00:22:37.82\00:22:41.24
The death of Christ was
payment for our offences.
00:22:41.27\00:22:44.54
And the resurrection
was for our justification.
00:22:44.57\00:22:48.41
To be justified means to
be proven right or acceptable.
00:22:48.44\00:22:52.96
The resurrection
proved that God had accepted
00:22:52.99\00:22:55.79
the payment of Jesus'
sacrifice on the cross.
00:22:55.82\00:22:58.98
It was everything
that He had required.
00:22:59.01\00:23:01.31
Perfect and complete.
00:23:01.34\00:23:03.72
The monumental
death on the cross
00:23:03.75\00:23:05.57
paid our past debts and
the resurrection provided
00:23:05.60\00:23:09.72
a new life for the future.
00:23:09.75\00:23:12.81
Not only did Jesus fulfill
00:23:12.84\00:23:14.21
the requirements for
the plan of salvation,
00:23:14.24\00:23:16.97
but He also proved that He was
00:23:17.00\00:23:20.02
and is who He
claimed to be, God.
00:23:20.05\00:23:24.51
And throughout His
time here on earth,
00:23:24.54\00:23:26.19
Jesus claimed both by word
and deed to be the son of God.
00:23:26.22\00:23:30.89
Now, however, no matter
00:23:30.92\00:23:32.70
how many miracles He performed,
00:23:32.73\00:23:34.56
no matter how
insightful He appeared,
00:23:34.59\00:23:37.63
there existed doubt.
00:23:37.66\00:23:39.10
And Paul says that
Christ's declaration
00:23:39.13\00:23:41.75
"to be the son of
God was given with power,
00:23:41.78\00:23:44.59
according to the
spirit of holiness,
00:23:44.62\00:23:46.77
by the
resurrection from the dead."
00:23:46.80\00:23:50.36
And notice here
that Paul doesn't mention
00:23:50.39\00:23:52.68
any of the
other incomprehensible
00:23:52.71\00:23:54.96
and fantastic parts of
Christ's life in this statement.
00:23:54.99\00:23:58.44
He says it was the resurrection
00:23:58.47\00:24:01.04
which legitimized Christ's
claim to be the son of God.
00:24:01.07\00:24:05.13
Now one might think
that a virgin birth,
00:24:05.16\00:24:07.43
a perfect life, healing powers,
extraordinary comprehension,
00:24:07.46\00:24:12.15
the ability to walk on
water and raising people
00:24:12.18\00:24:15.17
from the dead would
provide the validation
00:24:15.20\00:24:18.05
needed to convince the
world that He was divine.
00:24:18.08\00:24:21.79
But it was
overcoming the grave Himself
00:24:21.82\00:24:25.31
that truly sealed His
rank and mission as a deity.
00:24:25.34\00:24:30.63
And throughout
history, there have been many
00:24:30.66\00:24:32.44
who claim to do
miraculous things
00:24:32.47\00:24:34.59
and today there are
entire television shows
00:24:34.62\00:24:37.32
dedicated to people who
have the power of healing.
00:24:37.35\00:24:40.66
Also, other religions claim
00:24:40.69\00:24:42.73
their leaders
have divine abilities.
00:24:42.76\00:24:44.93
It is said that
Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
00:24:44.96\00:24:47.61
walked within the
first few hours of birth
00:24:47.64\00:24:50.61
and flowers sprung up on
the ground he walked across.
00:24:50.64\00:24:53.91
Islam followers
believe the insightful creation
00:24:53.94\00:24:56.81
of the Quran by
Mohammed was a miracle.
00:24:56.84\00:24:59.63
In fact, there
are still people today
00:24:59.66\00:25:01.60
who claim to be God on earth.
00:25:01.63\00:25:05.07
These various
religions talk about miracles
00:25:05.10\00:25:07.47
that have happened in the lives
of their founders and leaders,
00:25:07.50\00:25:10.70
but no other
religion or person has ever
00:25:10.73\00:25:14.01
claimed to come
back from the dead.
00:25:14.04\00:25:17.09
If there was ever any
one truly distinguishable
00:25:17.12\00:25:20.35
difference between Jesus
and other religious leaders
00:25:20.38\00:25:23.30
and teachers, it
is His resurrection.
00:25:23.33\00:25:27.04
One might consider it
blasphemy to make the confident
00:25:27.07\00:25:29.95
claims Jesus did
about being the son of God.
00:25:29.98\00:25:32.69
The Jewish teachers of
His time certainly did.
00:25:32.72\00:25:35.60
However, Jesus
made it absolutely clear
00:25:35.63\00:25:38.65
that He was divine.
In John 10: 30, He said,
00:25:38.68\00:25:42.18
"I and my Father are one."
00:25:42.21\00:25:45.24
And in John 14:
11, when He said,
00:25:45.27\00:25:48.05
"Believe me that
I am in the Father
00:25:48.08\00:25:51.38
and the Father in me,"
00:25:51.41\00:25:53.78
Jesus was and is "The
way, the truth and the life."
00:25:53.81\00:25:59.97
And not only did He
say He was the son of God,
00:26:00.00\00:26:02.55
the "Great I
Am," but He proved it.
00:26:02.58\00:26:05.83
The physical act of
rising from the dead
00:26:05.86\00:26:08.17
was the pinnacle
piece of evidence
00:26:08.20\00:26:10.27
needed to ensure
His divine nature.
00:26:10.30\00:26:15.64
Dave Wottle came from
behind to win a foot race.
00:26:15.67\00:26:19.56
Jesus came from behind the stone
sealed with the Roman seal.
00:26:19.59\00:26:24.39
He came from behind
a troop of Roman guards
00:26:24.42\00:26:27.11
charged with
keeping His lifeless body
00:26:27.14\00:26:30.00
in a borrowed tomb.
00:26:30.03\00:26:32.19
But that just made more dramatic
00:26:32.22\00:26:34.17
the Sunday morning surprise.
00:26:34.20\00:26:36.48
The angel rolled away the stone
and then tore down the wall.
00:26:36.51\00:26:41.19
Jesus did not leave the
tomb bowed down as if in defeat,
00:26:41.22\00:26:45.55
He stood tall, victorious
00:26:45.58\00:26:48.13
and proclaimed
over the rent sepulcher,
00:26:48.16\00:26:51.11
"I am the
resurrection and the life."
00:26:51.14\00:26:54.88
He came forth in majesty
and glory worthy of worship.
00:26:54.91\00:27:00.40
Paul understood the
significance of the resurrection
00:27:00.43\00:27:03.28
when he wrote in
1 Corinthians 15:14,
00:27:03.31\00:27:07.38
"And if Christ be not risen,
then is our preaching vain,
00:27:07.41\00:27:11.68
and your faith is also vain."
00:27:11.71\00:27:15.82
The empty tomb is
living proof of His divinity.
00:27:15.85\00:27:20.13
The resurrection
of Christ is God's
00:27:20.16\00:27:22.43
triumphal proclamation
that the forces of evil
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are a defeated
foe and all who accept
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the atonement of
Christ can be assured
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of their own final
victory over sin and death.
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We can trust and base our
faith on a God that is risen,
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on the God who
overcame the grave.
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