Lk 24:3 they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus 4 two menin shining garm ents 5 "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.' " 10 told these things to the apostles 11 their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12  Peter ran to the tomb; saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; departed, wondering to himself at what had happened. Cx Jn 20:8

13 Emmaus 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18              "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"  19 And He said to them, "What things?" "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." 25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

38 "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." 44 "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."  46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." cf Acts 1:8

1. Biblical Christianity rests on historic realities and revelation, best explaining all the facts; hence it is True.

Acts 2:14 "Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know ---23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.25 For David says...36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

2. God is serious about sin being bad, and bad for us.

Rom 3:21 revealed..22 righteousness of God, thru faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, thru faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

3. There's more to life than meets the eye; this life is not all there is; God's got a better one coming, guaranteed by the resurrection.

Acts 23:6 concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" 8 Sadducees: no resurrection no angel or spirit;
Rev 20:5 the rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years were finished. This is the 1st resurrection 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the 1st resurrection. Over such the 2nd death has no power, they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a 1000 years

4. God brings triumph out of apparent tragedy, working all things together for good, according to His infinite planned wisdom

1Cor 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
Heb 11:35 received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

5. Failure is never fatal; fortunately, God works to strengthen fractured, frail but forgiven people, to accomplish His purposes.

Jn 21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"..." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

6. Satan is at work in non-believers and believers to distort reality and truth, causing people to miss the blessings of God

1Cor 15:12 if Christ is preached...been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
2Tim 2:18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

7. God provides us the power to please Him, but that doesn't mean it's easy, because we're tainted by the temporal, needing purification

1Pt 1:3 acc to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope thru the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 to an inheritance..reserved in heaven for you 5 who are kept by the power of God thru faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time
Phil 3:10 that I may know Him..power of His resurrection, fellowship..sufferings, conformed..death, 11 may attain to the resurrection..
2Cor 4:14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why didn't God have Jesus appear to everyone in Jerusalem (and the world for that matter) after He rose from the dead? Lk 16:31
2. How should the resurrection make a difference in a believer's daily life? Does it usually? Why/why not? How about your expectation?
3. If Christianity is a myth, how do you explain its unique, cross-cultural, timeless influence on the world for the better? Any competitors?
4. What would a life infused with resurrection power look like? What steps would someone have to take to look like that? Christlikeness?
5. Could Jesus' reproof in Lk 24:25 ever apply to you? He said: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!