02.20. Review of the History of the Resurrection
LESSON XX.--Review of the History of the Resurrection. THE APPEARANCES OF JESUS. Did any man or woman see Jesus when he arose? Where and in whose presence did his first appearance take place? Mark 16:9; John 20:11-16. His second appearance? Matthew 28:9. His third appearance? Luke 24:13-15. His fourth appearance? Luke 24:33-34; 1 Corinthians 15:5. His fifth appearance? Luke 24:36. His sixth? John 20:26. His seventh? John 21:1-4. His eighth? Matthew 28:16-18. His ninth? 1 Corinthians 15:7. His tenth? Mark 16:14-19; Luke 24:50-51; 1 Corinthians 15:7. Is there any account of his visible appearance after his ascension? See Acts 9:4-5. 1 Corinthians 15:8; Revelation 1:12-18. How many times, then, was Jesus seen after his resurrection?
SUFFICIENCY OF THE PROOF. Are the accounts of the evangelists in regard to the resurrection credible? Ans.--They certainly are as to what was stated by the witnesses; for they could have no reason for misrepresenting what the various witnesses claimed to have seen and heard. Did the witnesses, or any of them, claim to have seen him only at a distance, or in a dim light? Mention some of the circumstances which show how well they saw him, if the story is true. When he did appear to them at a distance, or under such circumstances as not to be recognized at first, how was it before the interview was concluded? Mention some instances of this kind.
What other sense besides sight was employed in testing his personality? Did they hear his voice under a sufficient variety of circumstances to be certain they were not mistaken?
Supposing the possibility of their being deceived as to his form and countenance and voice, was there any other circumstance which must have rendered deception impossible? See John 20:25-27. Is there any possibility, then, that the eleven were mistaken?
If these witnesses were not mistaken, on what other supposition can the story be untrue? Had they any motive to tell this story, if it were not true? If it were not true, would they have told it with so little regard to verbal agreement among themselves? What motives had they not to tell the story: that is, what would their love of money, their love of popularity, and their love of life have prompted them to do? Is it possible, then, that they were deliberately and willfully lying when they gave their testimony? If they were neither false nor mistaken, what must be our conclusion as regards the resurrection of Jesus?
VALUE OF THE RESURRECTION.
What did the resurrection of Jesus prove? Romans 1:4. What would we been the value of all that he did in life had he not risen from the dead? 1 Corinthians 15:17-29. If he did arise, what does this fact prove in reference to what he taught? What does it prove in reference to what he authorized the apostles afterward to teach? What bearing has it, then, on the truth of the New Testament? As he endorsed the Old Testament, what bearing does his resurrection have on the truth of that book? What, then is the most conclusive proof of the divine origin and authority of the whole Bible? What bearing has Christ’s resurrection on our resurrection? 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.