Dr. Paul R. Baxter, Pastor
B – Biblical accounts are historical not legendary. It takes at least two generations for legends to develop. The historical account of the resurrection recorded in I Corinthians 15 could be cross-checked by witnesses who were still alive.
E – Empty Tomb. Critics of first century Christianity admitted the tomb became empty. They tried to explain it away by saying that the disciples stole the body and then lied about it. This explanation doesn’t work because the disciples would not have been willing to die for a lie!
L – Love for people characterized the first Christians: They were known for their willingness and eagerness to share their faith in the resurrected Christ even in the face of ridicule, persecution and death.
I – Impact Jesus Christ has had on the course of human history, splitting history into two parts: B.C. and A.D. Even those who steer clear of any reference to Christ’s name by using B.C.E. (Before the Common Era instead of Before Christ) and C.E. (Common Era instead of Anno Domine) are faced with the fact that this de-Christianized dating system is still tied to the approximate birth date of Christ.
E – Extraordinary Day of Worship – Sunday. Although the first Christians were Jewish with a well ingrained Sabbath (from Friday sundown until Saturday sundown), “the” day of worship became Sunday: The Day Jesus was resurrected. Christianity was built on the resurrection!
V – Veritable Witnesses. The witnesses to the resurrected Christ are believable for several reasons:
- A made-up story would never have made women the first witnesses.
- Something obviously changed cowardly disciples into courageous witnesses.
- Paul who gave his life for the Christian faith clearly believed in the resurrection as the lynchpin of Christianity. He and many other Christians put their lives on the line with the absolute assurance that Jesus had been resurrected.
E – Experience we have had with Christ which has changed our lives, our way of thinking, feeling, speaking, listening and doing – our relationships with God and each other.