WHY THE RESURRECTION MATTERS
Good morning! Welcome to Calvary and to our celebration of our Risen Lord! We have prayed over you, your family, and this service. We prayed that God would strengthen the faith and witness of His believers and that God would save and make new believers today. My message is titled, Why The Resurrection Matters. For those who may be unfamiliar, I want to begin with the glorious moment when everything changed the morning Jesus rose from the dead.
Matthew 28:1-10
The Apostle Paul, once an enemy of Christianity, gives us a snapshot of the resurrection and how it impacted his life. 1 Corinthians 15:1-9
The resurrection of Christ is the most important event in Biblical history. Our Christian faith hinges on whether Jesus died and rose again. Few events in ancient history are supported by as many early sources and eyewitness claims as the resurrection of Jesus. Meanwhile, the message of the resurrection determines whether we have salvation from sin and death, and the hope and promise of eternal life. In fact, let’s take a look at what Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 15:12-20… Can we be sure the resurrection happened? Absolutely!
Five compelling arguments that authenticate the Resurrection of Christ
The testimony of His female followers - Matthew 28:1-10
All four gospels report that multiple women, like Mary Magedelene, Joanna, and Salome, were the first to discover and testify to the risen Lord. We read that in our modern culture, and we don't think twice about it, but in that time, a woman was typically not educated the same way as a man, and their witness didn’t hold weight in matters of testimony. In fact, there are some ancient Jewish proverbs not in the scriptures that say, “Better the words of the law burnt than delivered to women.” Unfortunately, women were looked down upon, and so if the gospel writers were inventing a story of an empty tomb and they wanted to convince people that it was true, women are the least likely witnesses they would use. This is called the criterion of embarrassment: a historical argument where an author uses criteria that would be embarrassing or difficult to persuade, but they care more about communicating the truth. - Sean McDowell, Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The disciples doubted the women’s testimony (Mark 16:11-13; Luke 24:11).
The female followers went to anoint His dead body - Mark 16:1-4
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way, they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. -Mark 16:1-4
This was a burial tradition and a duty often given to women in the Jewish community. This affirms why women were there first and serves as historical evidence for the resurrection. These women had intentions to find Jesus dead in the tomb, exposing their own doubts about the resurrection of Christ.
His grave in Jerusalem could be verified and authenticated - Matthew 27:57-60
If you're going to invent a story that's not true, the hardest place to do this would be in Jerusalem. Joseph of Arimathea collected Jesus’ body. Joseph was a prominent member of the Jewish Council; his property, where the Tomb was located, would have been well-known to the very leaders who wanted to suppress the story. John’s Gospel notes that it was "nearby" the public execution site, making it easy for witnesses to find and check. The people could just go check Joseph’s property and see if the body was there. The apostles willingly risked their lives to preach the risen Jesus in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was publicly crucified and buried in a known tomb. This shows incredible confidence that the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive.
The validation of an empty tomb by the Jewish leaders - Matthew 28:11-15
They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” Matthew 28:13-14
The body wasn’t there, but the tomb was close by to verify, so they had to create a false story and pay false witnesses.
The tomb was empty, and they never found Jesus’ dead body because He is alive!
Eyewitness accounts, including doubters, skeptics, and enemies - 1 Corinthians 15:3–9
Thomas refused to believe unless he saw and touched the nail marks (John 20:24-29).
The Apostle James, Jesus’ half-brother, was a skeptic but later became a believer and leader in the church (Galatians 1:18-19; Acts 1:14).
The Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8-9).
These are authentic reports of real events, capturing doubt and skepticism, not storytelling.
Can we be sure the resurrection happened? Absolutely!
This is why the resurrection matters…
The Resurrection of Christ validates His divine nature and His claims
Jesus claimed divine authority
John 2:18-22 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” 19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
Matthew 16:1-4 The sign of Jonah, three days in the belly of a fish = death.
Jesus claimed He would be killed and then raised three days later
Mark 8:27-31 27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” 29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” 30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.
Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and the life
John 11:25-27 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”
Notice that Mary has always believed Jesus was the Messiah
If the resurrection of Christ didn’t happen, then Jesus wouldn’t be true to His Word, and he wasn’t the answer for our sin and death…
The Resurrection of Christ affirms that He is our salvation from sin and death
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:24b-25 …God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
Our justification, our forgiveness of sin, being made right with God, hinged on the resurrection of Christ.
The resurrection is God’s receipt that the debt of sin was paid. We are forgiven!
The Resurrection of Christ affirms our living hope and future resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:56-57 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
A dead Savior cannot save nor promise eternal life.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We have a living hope, rooted in truth, and a certain future. New life now. Victory over sin. Joy instead of despair. We don’t have to fear death because eternal life with Christ is certain. We also have the hope of a future reunion with fellow believers who have gone before us.
Church, the resurrection of Christ proves Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the prophesied and anointed one sent from God to save the world from sin. Jesus was and is true to His word. He said he would die and be raised three days later. Jesus said that anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying! His resurrection is a vindication of His innocence and validation of His promises! The resurrection of Christ is a historical event that no one should ignore.
Sin could not corrupt Him. Death could not contain him. Hell could not stop him. Lies won’t discredit Him. Skeptics will not quiet Him. False gods won’t dilute Him. Jesus is alive! Salvation and Victory over sin and death are available to all who will believe and receive Jesus.
Closing
Sin has grave consequences, but the death and resurrection of Christ have provided forgiveness and new life. Our old life can be in the rear-view mirror, and a fresh start and a new life are available. The only way to be saved from sin and death and receive eternal life is by trusting in Jesus, our risen Lord.
Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
Romans 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
A Prayer for Salvation
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of Your grace.
Today I confess You as my Lord and put my trust in You alone.
I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again.
Thank you for forgiving me and making me new.
Lead me as I follow You from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion
Which of the five arguments for the resurrection stood out to you the most, and why?
Why do you think the disciples initially doubted the women’s testimony?
How does the doubt and disbelief of Thomas, James, and Paul impact the way you view your own questions or doubts?
Why do you think it’s important that even skeptics and enemies of Jesus became believers after the resurrection?
Pastor Ryan talks about a future reunion with other believers. How does that idea encourage or comfort you?
Is there an area of your life where you need to more fully trust in the power of the resurrection?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!