Apologetics

Today’s question: Is Jesus really the Son of God?

Point 1 – There was a

1. Biblical Sources

John 19:33–34 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

Mark 15:44–45 Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.

Luke 23:46 Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’ And with those words he breathed his last.

2 – Non Biblical Sources

Josephus: “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man… He was [called] the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross… he appeared to them alive again the third day…”

Tacitus: “Christus, from whom the name [Christians] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate…”

3 – Medical Proof concerning the crucifixion

Point 2: There was no

Matthew 28:1–7 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

Luke 24:9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.

Matthew 28:11-13 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’

Point 3 – People saw

1.  Mary Magdalene
John 20:11–18; Mark 16:9

2.  Other women at the tomb
Matthew 28:9–10

3.  Peter
Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5

4.  Two disciples on the road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13–35; Mark 16:12–13

5.   Ten apostles (minus Thomas).
Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–23

6.  All eleven apostles including Thomas.
John 20:24–29

7.  Seven disciples fishing at the Sea of Galilee
John 21:1–14

8.  To the disciples on a mountain in Galilee
Matthew 28:16–20

9.  To over 500 people at once
1 Corinthians 15:6

10.  To James
1 Corinthians 15:7

11.  To the apostles before he ascended.
Acts 1:3–9; Luke 24:50–53

Some things to note:

1 – There were numerous eyewitnesses, including .

2 –These were physical and tangible encounters, not .

C.S. Lewis “You must make your choice: either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?