HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Luke 24:1-7 "Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important detail in our Christian faith. If Jesus just died on the cross and did not rise again, that would cause him to be just like any other"spiritual leader" that lived and died. This is what separates Him from anyone else. He not only died in our place, but He rose again conquering sin and death for us. For anyone who may doubt the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, here is a list of recorded appearances of Jesus after His Resurrection:

· To Mary Magdelene (Mark 16:9)
· To several other women (Matthew 28:1-10)
· To Simon Peter (Luke 24:34)
· To Cleopas and another person (Luke 24:13-35)
· To ten of the eleven apostles (Thomas was not there) and others who were present (Luke 24:33-40)
· To all eleven of the apostles (John 20:26-27)
· To some of the disciples (John 21:1-23)
· To the eleven apostles (Matthew 28:16-20
· To his half-brother James (1st Corinthians 15:7)
· To the apostles (Luke 24:50-52)
· To more than 500 witnesses at the same time (1st Corinthians 15:6)
· At the Ascension (Acts 1:3-12)
· To the apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-9)
· To Stephen (Acts 7:55)
· To Paul (Acts 22:17-18)
· To Paul (Acts 23:11)
· To John (Revelation 1:12-18)

"If you were to call each of the witnesses cited in the New Testament to be cross-examined for 15 minutes, and you went around the clock without a break, it would take you from breakfast on Monday until dinner on Friday to hear them all. Would nearly 129 straight hours of eyewitness testimony make you more likely to believe that Jesus came back to life? Why or Why not?"
LEE STROBEL