Against All Odds: He Rose From the Grave
April 20th, 2025
Pastor Dustin Warford
“…the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled eight prophecies is 1 in 1017” -Dr. Peter Stoner
1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000
What are the odds that a dead person could come back from the grave?
Jesus wasn’t revived, he was resurrected
What does the Resurrection Prove?
- God is powerful.
- Jesus was and is who He said He was.
- There really is life after death.
“But it was the Lord’s good plan to bruise him and fill him with grief. However, when His soul has been made an offering for sin, then He shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again, and God’s program shall prosper in His hands.” – Isaiah 53:10
And when he sees all that is accomplished by the anguish of his soul, he shall be satisfied; and because of what he has experienced, my righteous Servant shall make many to be counted righteous before God, for he shall bear all their sins. – Isaiah 53:11
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. ,“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered his words. Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened. – Luke 24:1-12
- Just before dawn, three women went to the tomb to finish dressing Jesus’ body.” 24:1-12; Mk. 16:1
- While on the way, there was an earthquake. Mt. 28:2
- Angels announced that Jesus was risen. Lk. 24:4; Jn. 20:12
- The women reported the news to the Disciples. Lk. 24:9-10
- On the way to report, they encountered Jesus in the flesh. Mt. 28:9-10
- The Disciples didn’t believe their report. Lk. 24:11
- Peter and John investigated the tomb for themselves. Lk. 24:12; Jn. 20:3-10
- Jesus revealed Himself to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Lk. 24:30
- Jesus came to the Disciples. Lk. 24:36; Jn. 20:19
When it was evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” – John 20:19-23
- The Disciples rejoiced and believed. Jn. 20:20b
- Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit and authority. Jn. 20:22
The Resurrection changed everything. It means that there really is life after death, and God has made a way for us to get there.