In the context of the Resurrection Sunday or Easter holiday we have been reviewing the doctrine related to our Lord's resurrection that is recorded in Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1-6; and John 20:1;
When we ran out of time last time we were discussing the appearances that he made to his disciples after his resurrection in order to fully demonstrate to them that he had really been resurrected.
The seventh appearance was to seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee after Peter had decided to go fishing; John 21:3;
They fished all night and caught nothing, at dawn, after the Lord had provided a large catch of fish John 21:4-11; they had breakfast John 21:12-13; and he spoke to Simon Peter regarding his responsibility to teach the Word of God rather than return to his former occupation. John 21:15-17;
The eighth appearance was to more than five hundred and is used by Paul as an especially significant proof of His resurrection 1Cor 15:6;
The ninth appearance was to James, the Lord's brother; 1Cor 15:7;.
It is possible that James was not a believer prior to the resurrection John 7:5; but immediately after the resurrection he is included among the believers Acts 1:14;
James become one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem and is included among the apostles. Gal 1:19;
The tenth appearance was to eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. On that occasion he gave them the great commission to preach the gospel to all nations. Matt 28:16-20;
A similar commission is given in Mark 16:15-18; but that is most likely a reference the same event.
The eleventh appearance occurred at the time of His ascension from the Mount of Olives Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-9;. This is the last appearance of Christ to His disciples prior to His ascension.
The twelfth appearance of Christ after his resurrection was to Stephen just prior to his being stoned to death. Acts 7:55-56;
His thirteenth appearance was to Paul on the road to Damascus when he was traveling to extend the persecution of Christians out from Judea into the gentile areas and the Lord stopped him. Acts 9:3-6; Acts 22:6-11; Acts 26:13-18:This is when Paul became a believer in TLJC and was made the apostle to the church.
The fourteenth appearance is inferred from Gal 1:12; when Paul was personally taught by the Lord in Arabia Acts 20:24; Acts 26:17; Gal 1:12, 17;
The fifteenth appearance of Christ was to Paul in the temple when Paul is warned concerning the coming persecution. Acts 22:17-21; Acts 9:26-30; Gal 1:18;
The sixteenth appearance of Christ was to Paul while he was in prison in Caesarea, where it is recorded that "the Lord stood at his side," and told him that he would be a witness for the Lord in Rome Acts 23:11;
The seventeenth and final appearance of Christ was to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos at the beginning of the revelation given to him Rev 1:12-20;.
The evidence that is provided is more than what is available for any other first century historical event that is commonly accepted as fact by historians.
All the evidence that exists concerning the tomb after the resurrection of Christ indicates that it was empty. This was the report of the disciples who carefully examined the tomb after they found the stone rolled away.
The guards that were stationed at the tomb, according to Matthew's account, also reported that the tomb was empty.
Some skeptics have suggested that the disciples may have gone to the wrong tomb, but this is idea is refuted by the presence of the angels and the Roman guards who certainly would not have been guarding the wrong tomb.
The soldiers themselves made the suggestion that someone had stolen the body while they slept. If this had been the case, the guards would have been executed for dereliction of duty.
Instead, Matthew clearly states that they were given money to spread the false story that someone had stolen the body. This was an obvious attempt at bribery to prevent the truth being told and was gladly accepted by the soldiers because it assured them of intervention with the Roman authorities if they were actually charged with dereliction of duty.