Top 10 Reasons Why I Believe in the Resurrection of Christ

1. Top 10 Reasons Why I Believe in the Resurrection of Christ

2. Reason No. 10 –The Shroud of Turin • The blood stains on the shroud on the hands (nails), head, (crown of thorns), feet (nails) and side (spear) is real blood • The coloration is not painted, dyed or stained • The picture was not created by heat • The image appears on the top part of the fibers • The entire image was formed by the same mechanism • A slight reverse image of the face on the reverse side of the Shroud that lines up with the image in front of the cloth Blood on hands Wounded side Crown of thorns Drawing from Shroud Jim Caviezel in The Passion

3. Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus, Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews • About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats and as a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared. Reason No. 9 –Historical Evidence

4. Many people were persecuted and died for Christ during the Roman persecution and later throughout history • Had the resurrection been a lie, so many people would not have been willing to give their lives as Jesus did for us.“For whoever shall save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:24) Reason No. 8 –The Army of Martyrs

5. One of seven yearly feasts • Moses was instructed by God to create this feast (Lev. 23:9-14) • “But now is Christ risen from the dead and is become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20) • Annual feast on the day after the Sabbath (Sunday) • On Feast of First Fruits a single sheaf for the whole nation was waved symbolizing Christ • A male lamb without blemish was sacrificed symbolizing Christ • Included a meat offering with oil and wine – symbolizing the Body and Blood of Christ Reason No. 7 –The Feast of Firstfruits

6. Reason No. 6 – Old Testament Prophecy • For you will not leave my soul in hell; neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10) • Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us: he has been struck and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight (Hosea 6:1-2)

7. Reason No. 5 – Jesus Prophesied His Resurrection • At a Passover two years before the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. Then the Jews said, “This temple was being built for 46 years, and will you destroy it in three days? But Jesus spoke of the temple of his body.(John 2:19-21; Matt. 26:61) • Jesus said, “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40)

8. Reason No. 4 – Lazarus Came Back to Life • Lazarus was called up from the dead in John 11 • Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26) • Jesus is risen from the dead because He has the power, the keys over death and hell(Rev. 1:17-18)

9. Peter who was a coward became fearless at Pentecost • Other disciples ran off during the trial of Jesus and didn’t show up until Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection • All the disciples went separately to the world to spread the Good News of Jesus and His Resurrection • Paul was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, robbed, in pain, in hunger and thirst, in prison many times (2 Cor. 11:24-27) and later killed • All the disciples except for John died painful deaths individually for their faith in Jesus; persecution didn’t kill off Christianity and the Good News of the Resurrection Reason No. 3 – The Disciples and Others Were Changed

10. From Foxes’ Christian Martyrs of the World and other Sources • Stephen - stoned to death in Jerusalem • James, son of Zebedee – killed by Herod Agrippa • Philip – imprisoned and then crucified in Heliopolis in Phrygia • Matthew – killed by the sword in Ethiopia • James, brother of Jesus – brains bashed out with a club in Jerusalem at 94 years old • Matthias (replaced Judas) – stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem • Andrew and Thaddeus – both crucified at Edessa • Mark – dragged to pieces in Alexandria • Peter – crucified upside down in Rome at his own request • Bartholomew – beaten and crucified in India • Thomas – thrust through by a spear in India • Luke – hanged by olive tree in Greece • Simon (Zelotes) – crucified in Britain • John – attempted killing him in boiling oil; banished to Patmos How the Disciples Died

11. The Word of God, written by men, has been proven to be historically, scientifically and spiritually true and is inspired by the Holy Spirit • All four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) tell about the resurrection in detail and with a slightly different perspective which shows the truth of their story that they didn’t make up a story and tell the same thing. • No one could have stolen the body of Christ because of the enormous stone and the soldiers Reason No. 2 – The Bible is the True, Proven and Inspired Word of God

12. Reason No. 1 – The Power of Jesus Changes Our Lives Today • Jesus lives in my heart • I’ve seen people miraculously changed • I have seen an angel and believe that I have seen Jesus • Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

13. 10 Reasons to Take Partin Christ’s Resurrection • We have the chance to be part of the resurrection of Christ. • You can pray to receive the resurrected Christ in your life today, on Easter Sunday! • “Blessed and holy is he that takes part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6)