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ILLUS – Former atheist, now defender of the Christian faith, Josh McDowell, was once asked by a student from the University of Uruguay, “Why can’t you refute Christianity?”

1. It has been rightly said that Christianity stands or falls on whether Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:14, … if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and so is your faith.

2. Since the death of Jesus took place almost 2,000 years ago, how can we be certain that He was truly raised from the dead as Christianity claims?
3. Tonight, we’re going to study one of the post-resurrection appearance accounts of Jesus Christ and discover life-changing answers to this question, answers which confirm what the angel said to the women at the garden tomb that Sunday morning, “He is not Here, He is Risen!”

Luke 24:13-35

Context
1. Ever since the Resurrection of Jesus “Conspiracy Theories” have been concocted to argue against the most important event in human history.
2. How do we know the Gospel accounts are reliable?
3. Scholars have developed a standard for determining authenticity, standards similar to what detectives use to determine if a witness is credible.
a. Early Testimony – How soon after the event was the testimony recorded? Less time means greater credibility.
b. Eyewitness Testimony – Eyewitness testimony is stronger than second-hand accounts. When more than one independent witness attests to an event, there is a strong support that the event occurred.
c. Embarrassing Details – Details which may embarrass a witness or potentially weaken one’s argument increases credibility because people typically try to make themselves “look good”.
d. Unsympathetic Sources – If testimony affirming an event is given by a source who does not sympathize with the person, message, or cause, then authenticity increases. Typically, a person is biased against his or her enemy, not the other way around!

I. Eyewitnesses Confirmed Jesus is Alive (15-24)

A. First Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:9-11, Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. And when they heard that He was alive, and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

1. It was the first day of the week, Sunday.
2. We’re told in Luke 24:1-12:
a. Some women went to the tomb and found it empty. But angels told them Jesus had risen from the dead just like He had said.
b. The women ran back to the apostles, but the eleven thought they were speaking “nonsense”. (11)
c. Peter and John ran to the tomb. Their report was true; the stone had been rolled away, the tomb was empty, and only grave clothes remained. (John 20:4-10)
3. The Gospels of Mark and John are clear that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene and then to the other women.
4. Why is this significant? Embarrassing Details!
a. In that day and culture, women were treated like second class citizens.
b. Their testimony wasn’t admissible in court.
c. Therefore, if the Gospel writers wanted to avoid any questions about the resurrection of Jesus, they would have said that He only appeared to His “male” apostles!
d. By declaring that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and then to the other women, God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, strengthened the credibility of the Gospels accounts!

APPL – At Christmas we celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.
• His was not a noble birth, though none born of a woman is more noble!
• He was born in a manger and His first bed was a feeding trough for farm animals.
• His first worshippers were dirty, despised shepherds.
• Then after His resurrection, His first worshipper was a former prostitute who had been possessed by seven demons!
• Jesus is not a Messiah for the rich and famous only. He is Savior for all!

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