Jesus Christ is Risen!

1. Jesus Christ is Risen! It is appropriate that we pause in our study of prophecy to talk about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Living Water Fellowship

2. This is the day Christians all over the world celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!If there is one event in history that is important to validate, it is His-story ! Jesus lived, died, and is risen today! Jesus Christ is Risen!

3. You can live a little over 40 days without food, 4 days without water, 4 minutes without oxygen – but without faith you will surely die. Faith! You can’t believe in the resurrection without faith! So what is ‘faith’?

4. Do we REALLY need faith? The world in which we live often presents itself as cold and heartless – which in turn leads to a world of discouraged, depressed, and despairing people. So YES we need faith! Yet true faith is in short supply! So, some make faith equal with hope…they simply are not the same!

5. Some ‘hoped’ that Jesus was the Messiah… Luke 24:13-21 - "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

6. Luke 24:13-21 - "He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

7. Luke 24:13-21 – "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

8. Hope is not Faith! Luke 24:13-21 – but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place." They ‘hoped’ but they did not have ‘faith’!

9. So what is faith? • Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. • Webster Greek def: “The sense of the verb, from which that of rope and binding is derived, is to strain, to draw, and thus to bind or make fast. A rope or cable is that which makes fast.” • The Hebrew and the Greek suggest a trust or belief in a known truth, validated by evidence that would lead to a conviction. • It is not a ‘blind leap’!

10. Belief + Proof=Faith • Heb 11:1 Now faith (the solid rope that holds something together – the belief in a known truth) is the assurance(concrete foundation) of things hoped for, the conviction(evidence, proof) of things not seen. • Faith in Jesus Christ is valid and reasonable!If Christ wasn’t resurrected, our faith would be worthless – because faith is in a known truth!

11. Many Pastor’s have preached that you should be a Christian by blind faith. Even if Jesus didn’t raise from the dead. The Apostle Paul doesn’t agree…

12. Everything rests on the Resurrection! 1 Corinthians 15:13-20a - "IF there is no resurrection of the dead, THEN not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

13. 1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.”

14. 1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”

15. 1 Corinthians 15:13-20a – “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead”

16. 1Co 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless.So if faith is based on solid evidence that holds a truth together, where is the evidence? Christianity is based on the resurrection. Paul said I know nothing but Christ & Him crucified and raised! I’m glad you asked!

17. Let’s examine the proof & discoverwhy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s Resurrection, known today as… When we started our Prophecy series, we went over the Prophecy in the book of Daniel that boldly proclaims the exact time the Messiah would come to the earth!

18. Quick Review… • Daniel 9: 25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ • We know when the decree was given…

19. “From the issuing of the decree to the Messiah…” From the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem Until the Messiah will be... 7 sevens and 62 sevens 7 X 7 = 49 62 X 7 = 434 • 49 + 434 = 483 years • = 476 solar years See number one in our series for the complete calculation…

20. So when was the decree given? • Nehemiah 2:1ff In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, Neh 2:7 And I said to the king, "If it please the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me. • (The letters were the decree to rebuild, using the Kings lumber!) When did this take place?

21. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica… Nehemiah 2:1ff In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes

22. 465-20=444 This is historical fact! From the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem Until the Messiah will be... 476 years 7 sevens and 62 sevens 33 AD When Jesus rode in on a donkey - & the crowd hailed Him Messiah! 444 BC

23. Was this foretold? • Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted onadonkey, Even ona colt, the foal of adonkey. Mat 21:6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, Mat 21:7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Mat 21:8 Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. Mat 21:9 The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

24. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 1:21-23 “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, 25 and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son;” a Virgin Birth

25. Forth-Telling: Micah 5:2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Fulfillment in Christ: Luke 2:4-6 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. Born in Bethlehem

26. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 9:6-9 “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.” Fulfillment in Christ: Luke 1:32,33 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” Unto us a child

27. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 11:4-6 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up,” A ministry of miracles

28. Forth-Telling: Psalm 41:9 “Even my close friend, in whom I trusted,Who ate my bread,Has lifted up his heel against me.” Psalm 55:12, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. 13 But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend. Fulfillment in Christ: John 13:18 “that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 21 “He became troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” Betrayed by a friend

29. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 53:7 “ He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He did not open His mouth;Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 27:12-14 “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer. 13 Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” 14 And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.” Silent before his accusers

30. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 50:6 “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matt. 27:30 “And they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.” And they plucked out His beard. Spat upon

31. Forth-Telling: Psalm 22:7,8 “All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, 8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matt. 27:31 “And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.” Matthew 27:39 “And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads,” mocked

32. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 27:26 “; but after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” 1Pe 2:24 and He Himself boreoursins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. scourged

33. Forth-Telling: The 22nd Psalm Fulfillment in Christ: Matt. 27:35 “And when they had crucified Him” Death by crucifixion

34. Forth-Telling: Psalm 22:16 “They pierced my hands and my feet.” Zechariah 12:10 “so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced;” Fulfillment in Christ: John 19:18 “There they crucified Him” Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Pierced his hands and feet

35. Forth-Telling: The Passover in Exodus 12:46 “nor are you to break any bone of it.” Psalm 34:20 “He keeps all his bones; Not one of them is broken” Fulfillment in Christ: John 19:33-35 “but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; 34 but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. 35 And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.” Yet, no bones were broke

36. Forth-Telling: Psalm 69:21 “They also gave me gall for my food,And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 27:34 “they gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.” Given vinegar to drink

37. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 53:12 “Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors;” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 27:38 “At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.” Counted a transgressor

38. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 53:12 “Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors;Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.” Fulfillment in Christ: Luke 23:34 “But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Prayed for his persecutors

39. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 53:12 “They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.” Fulfillment in Christ: John 19:23-25 “The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 They said therefore to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things.” Divided lots for his garments

40. Forth-Telling: Amos 8:9 ““And it will come about in that day,” declares the Lord God, “That I shall make the sun go down at noon And make the earth dark in broad daylight.” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 27:45 “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.” A darkness over the land

41. Forth-Telling: Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” Fulfillment in Christ: Luke 23:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Forsaken by the Father

42. Forth-Telling: Isaiah 53:9 “His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death,” Fulfillment in Christ: Matthew 27:57-60 “And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given over to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his own new tomb,” With a Rich man at death

43. Forth-Telling: Psalm 16:10 “For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay.” Fulfillment in Christ: Acts 2:31,32 “he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.” He would not see decay

44. Forth-Telling: Psalm 68:18 “Thou hast ascended on high,” Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.” Fulfillment in Christ: Acts 1:9 “He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Hebrews 1:3 “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Ascended …..

45. Who wrote Jesus’ Story in the NT? • Matthew & John (eyewitness disciples) • Matthew, former tax collector • John, a angry young man who became the Apostle of love • Mark (followed Peter, eyewitness disciple) • Luke (medical doctor turned historian who followed Paul – Luke was a Gentile, not a Jew) • “Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness…Luke is a historian of the first rank…this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians”.[Sir William Ramsey - renown archaeologist]

46. When were these bio’s written? • Alexander the Great’s biography was written 400 years after his death • vs. Jesus Christ’s, within 50 years – some fragments date soon after the resurrection! • Moreover, the Apostle Paul’s earlier letters include Confessions of Faith, Creeds, and Hymns which speak of Jesus’ life/death/resurrection, which were circulated within several years time! (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:3-7)

47. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He persecuted Christians before his conversion! He did have faith untill… • 1Co 15:3 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”

48. How close to the original manuscripts or our copies of the New Testament? Original copy « Oldest existing copy [shorter time gap, more reliable] Time gap • Aristotle’s Poetics 1400 years • Caesar’s Gallic Wars 1000 years • Homer’s Iliad 500 years • New Testament < 100 years(some fragments date within a few years of Christ’s resurrection!

49. Number of existing ancient copies [More # of copies, more reliable] # of copies • Aristotle’s Poetics 5 MSS • Caesar’s Gallic Wars 10 MSS • Homer’s Iliad 643 MSS • New Testament 20,000 MSS

50. Do all copies say the same thing? • Homer’s Iliad: • 764 lines (5%) is doubtful • New Testament: • Only 40 lines(0.05%) is doubtful