Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
Sermon Series: Big Questions
Sermon Title: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Pastor: Nate Crew
Questions:
1. If someone you care about expressed doubts about Jesus' resurrection, which piece of evidence (from this sermon) would you feel most comfortable sharing with them, and how would you explain it?
2. How does knowing that the gospel writers recorded potentially 'inconvenient' truths affect your trust in other parts of their accounts? What does this mean for how we should approach difficult or confusing parts of the Bible?
3. Pastor Nate emphasized that if Jesus really rose from the dead, then 'everything's going to be okay' even when life is difficult. How can believing in the resurrection help someone navigate everyday struggles like work issues, marriage problems, parenting challenges, or life’s disappointments?
4. Pastor Nate quoted Charles Colson saying that powerful men in Watergate couldn't keep a lie alive for three weeks, so how could twelve fishermen keep a lie alive for forty years? What does this suggest about what the disciples truly believed?
Sermon Highlights:
Context:
This sermon is the third in a "Big Questions" series designed to help people logically work through foundational truths. Week one addressed whether God exists; week two examined whether the Bible is trustworthy. This week builds on those foundations to address the cornerstone of Christian faith: the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The sermon draws primarily from 1 Corinthians 15, where the Apostle Paul recounts the eyewitness testimony of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances and grounds the entire Christian faith on this historical event. Written ~20 years after Jesus' death 1 Corinthians appeals to living witnesses who could still verify the claims. Pastor Nate also references John 11, where Jesus declares to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life"—a claim that demands a response.
R — Reliable: The Gospels Are Reliable Historical Documents
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." 1 Corinthians 15:3–5
The Gospels are not myths or religious philosophy; they are rooted in real history at a specific time and place.
Virtually every scholar on the planet agrees that Jesus was a real historical figure who was crucified.
Minimal Facts (what pretty much all scholars agree upon):
Jesus died by crucifixion
Jesus appeared to his followers after the crucifixion
Paul, the Pharisee who persecuted Christians, was converted
James, the skeptic brother of Jesus, was converted
The tomb was empty
The Gospel writers pointed to named eyewitnesses whose memories they were recording.
The events surrounding Jesus—miracles, crucifixion, resurrection—were extraordinary, making them memorable even decades later (like remembering exactly where you were on 9/11).
Even skeptical New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman acknowledges consistency in the historical core of the resurrection accounts, particularly the role of Mary Magdalene.
The logical conclusions, according to Ehrman, is that this is probably how it really happened.
I — Irrational: Alternative Explanations Don't Hold Up
Five Minimal Facts nearly all scholars agree on:
Jesus died by crucifixion.
The disciples sincerely believed Jesus appeared to them.
Paul the persecutor was converted.
James, Jesus' skeptical half-brother, was converted.
The tomb was empty.
The Stolen Body Theory Is Implausible
The tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers—elite executioners and warriors.
Jesus' followers were fishermen and an accountant, not trained fighters.
The idea that unarmed civilians overpowered Roman guards is as absurd as claiming fishermen could kidnap a president from the Navy SEALs.
Matthew 28 records that Jewish leaders paid guards to spread this rumor—it was a cover-up, not fact.
The Apparent Death Theory Is Medically Impossible
Jesus endured torture so brutal that it sometimes killed people before crucifixion.
Roman soldiers were experienced executioners; they were experts with thousands of crucifixions under their belt.
A spear was thrusted into Jesus’ side confirming His death by releasing blood and water.
Even if Jesus survived, he would have been unable to move a stone, defeat guards, and appear glorified to his disciples.
If he looked beaten and half-dead, the disciples would have called a doctor, not worshiped him.
The Hallucination Theory Violates How Hallucinations Work
Hallucinations are individual experiences, not group phenomena.
Jesus appeared to groups, even up to 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6).
If it were a hallucination, authorities could have simply produced Jesus' body and ended the movement immediately.
Conclusion: "The complete inability of opposing theories to account for the disciples' belief that they had seen the risen Jesus, coupled with the supporting evidence favoring truthfulness of their beliefs, leaves Jesus' resurrection as the best explanation; in fact, it is the only plausible explanation."
S — Supernatural: When God Exists, Miracles Are Expected
"The rule that science is the only way to know something is unscientific. It cannot be tested. The claim that only science can demonstrate truth actually flunks its own test since it cannot validate itself."
Saying "people don't rise from the dead" only disproves resurrection if there is no God.
If God exists, then supernatural intervention is not only possible but expected.
Week one of this series established that belief in God is the most reasonable conclusion based on the evidence of the world around us.
A purely naturalistic worldview (only matter and science) cannot explain moral realities, love, beauty, or meaning.
Science is a tool, but it cannot measure or prove everything that is real.
You can't measure love with a Geiger counter, or any other tool for that matter.
Once the God question is answered affirmatively, the resurrection becomes logical and, more importantly, probable.
E — Eyewitness: The Witnesses Are Credible and Costly
"Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me." 1 Corinthians 15:6–8
The Kind of Eyewitnesses: Enemies and Women
Enemies
The most compelling testimony comes not from supporters, but from enemies who had no reason to lie.
Roman soldiers reported the empty tomb to Jewish leaders (Matthew 28).
Paul (formerly Saul) was a violent persecutor of Christians who converted after seeing the risen Jesus.
James, Jesus' half-brother, mocked him during his life (John 7) but became a believer after seeing him resurrected.
Women
The Gospels hinge their testimony on women, specifically Mary Magdalene, even though women's testimony was not accepted in first-century courts.
If the disciples were fabricating a story, they would never have made women the first witnesses, as their testimonies would never have held up as believable.
The Amount of Eyewitnesses: Over 500 People
Paul records that 500 people saw Jesus at the same time.
Paul is writing approximately 20 years after the resurrection and says most of these witnesses are still alive, which invites skeptics to go ask them directly.
This wasn't a one-time appearance; Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:3).
The risen Jesus was seen by individuals, small groups, and large crowds over an extended period of time.
This is not two or three people making a claim; it's widespread, verifiable eyewitness testimony.
The Cost of Being an Eyewitness: Martyrdom
Nobody dies for something they know is a lie.
People may die for a lie they believe is true, but not for something they fabricated.
Historical records show the disciples died brutal martyrs' deaths:
James, son of Zebedee was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:2).
James, brother of Jesus was stoned to death under High Priest Ananias.
Peter was crucified upside down under Emperor Nero.
Charles Colson (Watergate conspirator) observed: "Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world, and they couldn't keep a lie alive for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie alive for 40 years? Absolutely impossible."
The disciples' willingness to suffer and die for their testimony is powerful evidence they genuinely witnessed the risen Jesus.
The Invitation: Do You Believe This?
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" John 11:25–26
Jesus asked Martha this question at the tomb of Lazarus, and he asks each of us the same question today.
The Bible promises: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
Jesus didn't just rise to prove a point; He rose so that you could be forgiven and saved.
He is not just a good idea or moral teacher; He is the risen Savior, and this is objectively true.
Your life can be built on this foundation.
Two Responses to the Resurrection:
For those who don't yet believe:
Repent from your sins and put your trust in Jesus Christ as the risen Savior of your soul.
This is the hope and answer you've been looking for all your life.
It's not just comforting—it's true, and worth building your entire life on.
For those who already believe:
Let the truth of the resurrection provide comfort and hope in your current struggles.
Because Jesus really is alive, you really will be okay, no matter what is going on in your life yesterday, today, or tomorrow.