History of Christianity, Lesson 4.ppt

History of Christianity Lesson 4: Significance of Resurrection Epistles The First Christians Review Jesus lived for about 30 years and ministered to the Jewish people, miraculously healing the sick, performing other miracles, and showing love and compassion to the outcasts of society. The religious leaders saw him as a threat and, with the help of the Romans, had him crucified. According to the gospels, however, this was part of Jesus’ plan, to be the perfect blood sacrifice for the sin of the world. On the Sunday after Jesus died, his followers found the tomb empty, and then began to see him at various times and realized he’d come back to life. According to the Bible, he was seen by about 500 people total. Mind, when this was written, many of these people (according to the text) were still alive, and could be interviewed. Theories about the Resurrection Jesus didn’t really die—he just fainted, and when he came to, he came out of the tomb. But if we give any credence to the “blood and water” part, we know he was really dead. Roman soldiers were usually pretty good at making sure people were dead. Even if he wasn’t dead, he had lost a lot of blood through scourging, and it was normally impossible for a healthy man to move a grave stone by himself. The soldiers fell asleep and the disciples stole the body, then spread rumors that Jesus had come back to life. We never hear of the soldiers being executed, which they most certainly would have been. But nearly all of the disciples allowed themselves to be killed rather than stop telling people Jesus was alive; seems a bit strange to die for something you know is a lie. Doesn’t account for alleged eye-witnesses. Theories about the Resurrection The religious leaders and/or Romans stole and hid the body. More possible than the first two, but what motivation would they have to make people think Jesus had come back to life? It would only cause trouble. Also, why wouldn’t they just tell the disciples that to make them stop