The Curious Case of Extra Resurrections in Matthew 27:52

M.R. Conrad

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52–53)

Imagine your shock. You mourned the death of a loved one. You watched him get buried. Not long afterward, the sky goes dark followed by an earthquake. Days later, still unsettled by these phenomena, your dead relative walks in the door.

Discussion

Would Christianity Be Worth It If There Was No Resurrection?

Filings

“ ‘You know, kids. Your mom and I were talking about it recently, and we agreed that even if in the end, Christianity ended up not being true, it was still worth it.’… something seemed to be off. The tension became even stronger for me when I read 1 Corinthians 15:19” - P&D

Discussion

The Resurrection of Jesus Should Not Have Been a Surprise

Filings

“The accounts of Resurrection Sunday morning in scripture seem to indicate that the resurrection of Jesus bodily from the tomb was a surprise—to the women who went there, to the disciples, and to Jerusalem….

Discussion

Christ's Resurrection and Our Newness of Life

Guest

By C. H. Spurgeon. Sermon 2197 delivered on Lord’s-day morning, March 29th, 1891 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:4)

Discussion

With the Resurrection, the Evidence Tells the Story

Filings

“Today’s scholars seriously discuss the resurrection’s historicity. They recognize that the ancient sources tell a coherent narrative about the days following Jesus’s death. The mainstream view among historians today is that it’s more probable than not that Jesus’s tomb was empty and that people genuinely believed they saw the resurrected Jesus.” - TGC

Discussion

The Archaeology of Easter

Filings

“Some … accuse Christianity of stealing the “death-and-resurrection-of-a-god” motif from other religions. However, scholars have rightly pointed out that stories of the death and resurrection of other gods, such as Dionysus and Adonis, post-date Christianity” - Associates for Biblical Research

Discussion

The Next Best Theory of Easter is Still Pretty Weak

Filings

“What we’re going to do is highlight the strength of the historical evidence of the resurrection of Christ by considering an alternative theory—some regard as the best alternative—grave theft plus hallucinations.” - Truth Unites

Discussion

7 Suggestions for Preaching the Resurrection Story this Weekend

Filings

“1. Make sure your own heart is celebrating the resurrection…. 2. Don’t forget that some believers around the world risk their lives by telling this story….4. Recognize that your job is not to impress with your oratory skills; it’s to tell the story of a borrowed cross and an empty tomb.” - Chuck Lawless

Discussion

Proclaiming the Resurrection needs to be continuous

Filings

“The Resurrection of Jesus is tragically under-taught, under-preached, and as a result, under-appreciated ….Apart from Easter weekend or funeral messages, it often becomes a footnote rather than the focal point of modern preaching.” - Baptist Press

Discussion

What I Love About Easter

Paul J. Scharf

I remember my mother once saying—quoting her father—that Easter Sunday is a lot like heaven. Perhaps it is the closest thing to it that we will ever experience here upon the Earth.

I cannot prove that statement Biblically, but I have attempted to meditate upon it through the years, and I think there is much truth in it.

Discussion