The Evidence is Over Whelming!!!

In this episode, we continue our journey to the empty tomb by looking at the powerful truth found in 1 Corinthians 15. The resurrection of Jesus isn’t just a matter of faith—it’s backed by eyewitness testimony, transformed lives, and undeniable proof.

But this message goes deeper than the evidence.

If Jesus is alive… what does that mean for you?

Would there be enough evidence in your life to prove that you are a follower of Christ? Or would there be reasonable doubt?

We’ll explore how the resurrection changed everything—not just for the disciples, but for us today—and challenge ourselves with a question we can’t ignore:
Is there visible evidence that we belong to Him?
This episode also sets the stage for our next series:
“The Tomb Is Empty… The Mission Has Begun.”
contact.pastorontheroad@gmail.com
https://sharingjesusandlife.printful.me/ 
https://ontheroadwithpastoranthonylucas.buzzsprout.com/
https://rumble.com/user/travelingPastor334
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bwfaz5P1f/
buymeacoffee.com/contactpasq

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Good morning and welcome back to On the Road with Pastor Anthony. And I am your host, Pastor Anthony, and am so glad you're here. Hey, as always, before we get started, real quick, um ask you to consider to please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so you never miss another episode. And if you enjoyed what you hear, give us a thumbs up and share the podcast with your friends. And by joining us each week, you will discover practical ways to live out your faith and to connect others as we share Jesus in life one mile at a time. I have a question. If you were put on trial today for being a follower of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Yeah, think about that for a moment. You know, over the past few weeks we've been on a journey, a journey to the empty tomb. We've walked through the cross, and last week we stood together and declared it plainly. The empty tomb changes everything. But today I want to take that even further. You know, as I was preparing this episode here, and I was spending some time in 1 Corinthians 15, which is where we'll be looking at today, I realized that there was far too much here for just a one-and-done episode. And so I think our conversation needs to continue, and that's why this episode launches us into a new series called The Tomb is Empty. The mission has begun. Because the resurrection of Jesus isn't just something we believe, it's something that was proven. Paul lays it out clearly. Jesus died, he was buried, he rose again on the third day, just as the scripture said he would. That's not just a rumor. I mean, these are eyewitness testimony. I mean, come on, you know, this is important. Jesus walked with them, he talked with them, he even ate with them. This wasn't a vision, this wasn't imagination, this wasn't some you know, story that was made up. This was the risen Christ, alive, a present. And if a single eyewitness can settle a matter in a courtroom, what do you do with 500? I mean, the evidence is overwhelming. That's the title of this episode. Jesus, yes, he is alive, but that raises a new question, one that we can't avoid. What about the evidence in our own lives? Because this resurrection didn't just prove a moment in history, it produced transformation, it changed the disciples, it changed Paul, and it was and it's meant to change us. This episode will be encouraging and it will be challenging, and it will also call us out of hiding into boldness. So let's pray and get started into today's episode. Let's pray together. Father God, Lord, uh, we thank you so much for what the empty tomb really represents. And Father, there's so much going on in our world today, and I really believe the church is struggling and and maybe we're hiding. Uh, Father, maybe we're not being bold enough. And and so, Lord, I've you know, uh just whatever it is that you've been downloading into my spirit and uh pushing me and challenging me, Lord, uh uh these these episodes we've been doing, Lord. I really believe that it's um it's a call to the church to you know to wake up, bold up, you know, you know, be standing tall and firm on the gospel message. And Lord, there shouldn't be no more hiding. So Lord, anyway, today as we dive into this this episode here, we ask your blessing upon the reading of your word. We ask you to bless the time together, and Lord, also those who are listening or watching, Father, if they're uh if they do not know you, maybe today will be the day of their salvation. Father, again, we love you and thank you for all that you do in our lives in Jesus' name and amen. All right, so the evidence that Jesus is alive. Paul makes it clear this isn't blind faith, it is you know proven truth. Jesus didn't just rise and disappear, he showed himself over and over again to individuals, to groups, even to hundreds at one time. So let's think about that courtroom, you know, thought process. You have a lawyer, aka Paul, presenting the evidence. So let's listen to how Paul the apostle lays it out. This is first Corinthians 15 verses 3 through 8. It says, For I delivered to you the first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he was seen by Siapas, then by the twelve, and after he was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. But after he was seen by James, and then by all the apostles, and then the last of all he was seen by me also as one born out of its due time. Paul, you know, he isn't speaking in theory here, he is laying out the evidence. He says Jesus appeared to Peter. He said, Then he the you know, the 12, and then to over 500 people at one time, you know, over a matter of 40 days. And I love this part. He says most of them are still alive, and other words, if well, if you don't believe me, go ask them. This is not a mythology, that's a verifiable testimony. Jesus didn't rise in secret, he didn't disappear into the shadows, he didn't just go back to heaven, like I done my job, I'm out. He made sure that there were witnesses, I mean, many witnesses, and it wasn't just a quick glimpse, it was you know, he's he made sure that they understood who it was, and and uh and then you know, hey, look, I'm not in that tomb anymore. I'm right here, I'm standing here looking at you, you know, and you know, many of them could be like, I can't believe it, but I guess I got to because I'm looking right at you. You know, that that type of sense. But he spent time with them. You know, Luke 24, if you look there, uh it says he ate with them, you know. In John 21, he cooked breakfast for them on the beach while they've been out fishing. This wasn't a vision, this wasn't imagination, this was a risen physical Jesus, not a ghost, but a real live dude standing right here. And then you have Thomas. You know, I think poor old Thomas gets a bad reputation. We don't know what all kinds of good he could have did, and you know, how you know he might have been a stand-up guy, but he had that doubt. And so the one time we see in scripture where he says, like, I ain't gonna believe till I touch his hands and his and his feet and feel this you know the cut in his side. Yeah, so now he's known as the doubter. But but I mean, really, let's be honest. He asked the question, well, a lot of people would ask, can you imagine today? Oh, it's AI generated, it's this, it's that. I mean, it it would be a nightmare. It would definitely be viral on TikTok or face face or something, but but I mean, there would be probably be more doubt nowadays than there was then, and shouldn't be, because we have all the evidence laid out in front of us. In John 20, he said, uh, this is talking, you know, this is what we were just talking about with uh with Thomas. He, you know, he was talking about, he said, and unless I see his the marks in his hands, and unless I touch his side, I will never believe. And so, what did Jesus do in that moment? He didn't reject Thomas, he didn't look at him and go, dude, man, I can how can you not believe me after everything that I have taught you, everything that you've seen, everything that you experienced with me? How could you not believe? He didn't do any of that, he met him right where he was, which is what Jesus does with all of us. He meets us right where we are, but then he loves us too much to leave us there. But Jesus showed up and he looks at him and says, Well, look, put your finger here. You know, there's a hole right there. See it? Touch it. And there's my feet, you know. You know, now put your hand in my side. Don't be faithful, you know, faithless, but believe. Jesus gave Thomas exactly what he needed, and Thomas responded, My Lord, my God. Amen. That's what happens when doubt meets undeniable evidence. And here's what we need to know, or what we need to understand here. Jesus wasn't afraid to prove who he was, he didn't ask for blind faith, he gave them a reason to believe. You know, the resurrection isn't some weak claim. I mean, it's backed by overwhelming evidence, eyewitnesses after eyewitnesses, you know, the encounter after encounter, moment after moment, where Jesus proved he is alive. And if one eyewitness can settle a matter in a courtroom, what do you think hundreds you know would do? I mean, the evidence is overwhelming. Jesus is alive, and so if we go back to that courtroom thought with all the evidence, we know that there is solid proof. Everything that Jesus said was true, and now he's walking around and alive. I mean, when we think about the time that he spent here on earth, especially towards the end there uh before he went to the cross. I mean, he was telling people, his disciples and the people around him, I must be handed over, I'm going to be crucified, but then I'm going to walk out of that tomb. He was telling them. And they're like, just you know, over top of their head, you know, just but now here he is. He's walking with them, talking with him. You know, he could have just been like, City, I told you so, but he didn't do that. He's like, hey, dude, here I am. You know, over 500 people were eyewitnesses. And if you had over 500 people testify in a courtroom with the same story, I mean, one would take, you know, that would take a long time to listen to, but it would also guarantee that it's factual. This evidence changed the disciples. It changed a lot of people, but it really changed the disciples because you know they were hiding out. You know, after Paul lays out the evidence or the eyewitnesses that we read it earlier, you know, in that first section there, the verses three through eight. You know, Paul doesn't stop, you know, at that evidence. Paul turns to what the evidence did to the eyewitnesses. So let's go ahead and read this the next section here that uh 1 Corinthians 15, 9 through 10. It says, For I am the least of the apostles, who I am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all than all, not yet. I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. So now stay with this. Paul goes from the persecutor or the prosecutor to the preacher, from the enemy of the church to the messenger of the resurrection, and he's saying that the reason I changed is not because I improved myself, it's because of God's grace met me. Then he sums it up with the whole movement in the verse, whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believe. In other words, you know, this message didn't stay as information on a page, it became conviction and real people that includes Paul, that includes Peter, and it includes the eyewitnesses that he just listed. Because when you actually encounter the risen Christ, it just doesn't give you something to believe, it changes who you are, and that's the point Paul is making. That evidence wasn't just to prove that Jesus was alive, it produced a completely different kind of life in those who saw him, and you know, and that's what it should do. When we present the gospel to people, if they believe it, it will change their lives. You know, I'm sure that during this time, during those 500, and there was, I guarantee there was probably more, but this is what we know of from scripture. But I'm sure there were some who's like, ah, hogwash, they just set all this up. You know, I'm sure there was there's there was unbelievers then that just walked away and be like, Yeah, who cares? I'm going to Applebee's, yeah, or something, you know, something along those lines. So, but those who grab a hold of the gospel message, it will change them. It will change your life with the evidence that's been presented that we know is factual. And so now the question is, is there evidence in your life? That's something to think about. You know, after Paul lays out the eyewitnesses and the transformation of those who saw the risen Christ, you know, in Paul the apostle, you know, 1 Corinthians 15, the message naturally pushes us to a response. Because evidence always demands a verdict. So let me ask you plainly. If you again, we you know, we already asked this question once, but I want to ask it again now that you've had a little time to ponder on it. But if you were put on trial for being a follower of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Or would the case fall apart? Would there be witnesses in your life, your words, your actions, your priorities, your decisions that clearly point to Christ? Or would there be reasonable doubt? Have you said yes to Jesus, but you're still hiding? Afraid of what it might cost, afraid someone might find out that you follow Jesus. We're not called to blend in. We are called to stand out. You know, whenever Jesus was first crucified, this is what you know all of the apostles did. They took off. And I mean, they locked themselves in a room, pushed the dresser up against there, turn out the lights, shut the curtains, we're not home. I mean, they went into hiding because they were like we hung out with Jesus, and everything just come crash, our whole world just crashed around our heads, and you know, this man walked this, you know, we were with him for three and a half years, and now he's dead. And they're gonna know that we were hanging out with him, they're gonna kill us next. This is the fear that they had. This is that doubting. The the you know, you know, we talked a couple weeks ago about you know having to remember, and well, they didn't remember anything at this point. You know, they were scared to death, they were terrified, they were just they were locked down in hiding. But let me make it clear. When you say yes to Jesus, there is no witness protection program for the Christian life. Jesus said it himself in Matthew 5, verse 14 through 16. You are the light of the world, a city that cannot be hidden on a hill, or a city that set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. Light was never meant to be hidden, it was meant to be seen. And when Paul writes about the resurrection in this chapter, he is not just defending a belief system, he's declaring a life-change reality, and that reality produces something visible. So if you look at that so if someone looked at your life and asked you directly, are you a follower of Jesus? What would your response be? Would you speak with boldness and kind of get excited? Like, yes, I can share the gospel, or would you hesitate hesitate in fear? You know, one of the things that I've heard over many times as as a pastor is I don't know what to say. Um or what if they challenge me on a question that I don't know? Make me look like an idiot. That's fear. You know, the Bible tells us that God will give us what we need to say when we need to say it. But one of the things that I go to as well on that is if we're not reading our Bibles, we're not gonna know anything. But when we truly, you know, are all in and we're reading our scriptures and we're doing things, going to church and you know, doing listening to some podcasts and Bible studies and and that those types of things, and it's when we truly encounter the risen Christ. I mean, when we truly are all in with him, it will show. You know, one of my favorite verses, I know I got a bunch of them, but this one right here, I think really uh it kind of challenges you because it says in 1 Peter 3 15, says, But sanctify the Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and in fear. And now that fear is not oh my gosh, I'm scared, it's a reverence that awe in you know of God. You know, let me tell you about my Jesus. You know, we should be able to jump up. I mean, if somebody I talked to a guy uh when I delivered down there in Greer, South Carolina, you know, we I was getting ready to leave, and he brung up something about uh Easter or something, and he and I got the I'm you know, we had a Bible study right there, you know, just chit-chatting, talking. We was talking about the podcast and talking about Jesus and how you know the church, you know, really needed that just an on fire, you know, let's go get it and get it. And you know, I love it. And you know, you start talking to me about Jesus, we're gonna talk a while, you know, not just because I'm a pastor, but just because I love my Lord, and I always want to find opportunities to talk about him. And that's why that first Peter 3.15 is like we always gotta be ready because you never know if you are living your life for Christ. I mean, people are going to wonder, and they will ask questions. You know, I yeah, the shirt that I'm I'm wearing right now, my daughter-in-law made me, but it's it's got three crosses on it, if you're just listening, and there's been probably sure, I'm sure some of us on the channel that have seen this, but it's got saved on the right side, cross Christ in the middle, and on the left it says the lost, and it's got the scripture, uh, Luke 9, 23, but it says, Which side of the cross are you on? You know, and so, but not that this has anything to do with our lesson today, but the the thought of it is is people see this, it immediately goes to thinking, and it you know, and it has struck up conversations. I got another shirt that says uh knee prayer with a question mark, you know, it's those types of things. I look for opportunities to to share Christ. I don't beat somebody over the head and try to you know force them into something because if somebody talks you into something, it's easy enough to talk you out. But I want to be ready so and if anybody you know wants to talk to me about the Lord, hey, let's talk. What do you want to know? I don't know at all. And if I don't know, I'll be like, look, I'll I'll get you the answer. I'll look. Um, you know, okay, I'll tell you, I'm not a Bible theologian, I'm not a seminary degree graduate that knows all the Greek and history, and not yeah, you know, I'm that's not me. I'm just a guy that loves Jesus, you know, who has been called to preach the word. And so, but I will talk to you all day about Jesus. Well, you know, because now I've just been rambling here from the past you know three minutes here talking about this. You know, I love evangelism. But one thing we need to understand when you talk to somebody, you're not always gonna have the answer, you're not always gonna be uh spot on. Uh you're not gonna have you know a bunch of scripture doing this quote off or whatever. You just tell them your story. This is not you know perfection, but it's a direction, you know. Show them what tell them what God has done in your life, you know, and it's okay to be vulnerable. You know, we all have our flaws, but because of Christ, our lives are changed. You know, we're not silent in faith, but growing in boldness. We ought to purposely be seeking knowledge from Christ so that we can't we can be more bold, and that's what Paul is showing us in this chapter. The resurrection doesn't produce an agreement, it produces evidence in the lives of those who believe. So the question isn't just do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? Because there's a lot of people who go, Yep, we're celebrating Easter. But the question is, does your life reflect it? I mean, the evidence is overwhelming. Jesus is alive, and that question has already been settled in 1 Corinthians 15 here, what we're looking at. So, but the question now becomes personal. Again, we want to ask that question: is there enough evidence in your life to show that you belong to Him? Maybe it's today that you realize that you've been hiding, that you've been locked in that upper room with the doors closed, lights off, and curtains pulled. Maybe your faith has been quiet, you know, comfortable, unseen. You know, I go to church on Sunday mornings before all my friends are up, and I usually home before they get up, and then you know, we then we get together and we just have a good time. Or, you know, we're out doing whatever. Yeah, no. Walking an aisle, signing a card does not save you. And saying a little prayer that somebody asks you to repeat back to them. It is a true repentance of sins, and that's where we need to understand that the same Jesus who rose from the grave is calling you out of hiding into boldness. Sorry, uh, allergies. But anyway, as 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us, we are to sanctify the Lord in our hearts. Again, always be ready to give a defense. This is be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that you have or the hope that is in you. Well, that hope is Christ, He is living inside of us. Jesus told us that, and we'll get into that a little bit later as we go through this this year series. But we um when the you know Jesus is like, I'm gonna go away because if I don't, then the counselor can't come. So once Jesus goes back to heaven, now we have the Holy Spirit, and it was so vital for that simply because the Holy Spirit can live in all of us all the time, everywhere, whoever is you know Christ's followers, and and that's why Jesus said, you know, because I go, greater things you will do because I do go. It's not because Jesus was only limited, but he kind of was as a you know, he was God in human form, and so he was only one person could do only one you know so much, but with the Holy Spirit living in all of us, now we can get some work done, and so that's the hope that we have in Christ, because now we have a story to tell, now we have a gospel to share. Let me tell you about my Jesus, let me show you the overwhelming evidence, and of course, then it's up to them whether or not they're gonna believe it or not. And that hope it's not hidden, it's not hidden faith. This is ready faith, this is visible faith, this is lived out faith. This is your moment. We've got to stop blending in, stop being silent, stop living like you know, the resurrection only matters on Sunday, you know, in April. And start living in a way that proves that Jesus is alive, because you know, he's alive today, tomorrow, and forever. And you know, we need to live our lives proving that he is alive in us, because one day it won't be a courtroom on earth, but it'll be a moment before God, and the evidence will speak for itself. And as when you think about that, yeah, I had a I was at uh at a youth event with my students, and there was a speaker that was talking, and he's like, listen, he said, Everybody wants to go to heaven. He's thinking, everybody's gone. Uh he said, Everybody's gonna go to heaven. He said, but the real question is how long you stay. Think about that. Because there's gonna be a great white throne judgment, and we're all gonna be standing there. And if your name's not found in that Lamb's book of life, you know, everything that you've ever done is gonna be laid bare. And if Jesus is gonna say, Depart from me, you evildoer, I never knew you. That scares me to death to know there's people I know and I love that's going to hear that. There's people that you know and love that's going to hear that. And there's some of you probably listening right now that if it happened today, you would hear that. We're not promised tomorrow. You know, the message is being presented through this channel. You know, and there are several biblical pastors and and teachers out there that is doing the doing it right. And we need to be hooked up with those people, listening and studying, getting prepared. You know, Tim Hawkins said, you know, it's like, especially the older you get, you know, it's like we're pranking cramming for finals. But uh, but Jesus is alive. You know, he went to that cross and died, you know, suffered a horrendous death because of love for us. We have an opportunity to spend eternal life with him in heaven. But that only comes through repentance and being saved by the by Jesus Himself. The only way. John 14, 6 tells us I am the way, the truth, the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me. That was Jesus speaking. It's the only way it can happen. I can sit here and keep rambling, but as we close up this message, we step fully into what comes next. Because the tomb is empty. But that means the story's not over, it's just begun. Yeah, next week we're going to continue on in our series. The tomb is empty, but the mission has just begun. Yeah, we're going to go deeper on into uh 1 Corinthians 15 and begin to see what the what the resurrection not only proves, but what it requires of us. Because if Jesus is alive, then we are not just believers, we are witnesses. And as we go through scripture, we see that witnesses have a mission, and that's what we're going to discuss. Let's go ahead and go to prayer. Father God, again, we come to you. Lord, this message might be a little heavy on some, but some it should excite them. And Lord, I just I don't know, you know, I hope someone's encouraged, I hope they're challenged, I hope they're uh you know lifted up, but I also hope that there's some here that it's feeling a little convicted this morning by you, knowing that there's some changes that need to be made in their lives. And Lord, I pray that that there are some here that is that's listening that's never made the decision to follow you. And today is the day that they do that. Father, that would be that would put a huge smile on my face. Not because I did anything, but because you did it. You reached out and touched, and they responded. You know, as the song goes, he called, I answered. I love that song. And Lord, we love you. And Father, we thank you for all that you do, continue to give us these messages, Lord, that you know we can all take to heart. Not just me as the person you've called to deliver, but you know, everyone that's listening, let's you know, grow the kingdom of God and honor you. Father, we thank you for all that you do in Jesus' name and amen. So if this message has encouraged you, you know, leave a comment, you know, and don't forget to like it and share it with a friend. I mean, that's one way to share the gospel, is share great messages if you if that you hear, you know. I'm not a great speaker, pastor. You know, you know, I'm not down on myself. I just I don't I don't put myself on a pedestal. I just just deliver what God gives me. I just want to do the my the best I can for him. But also, you know, consider subscribing, hitting the little bell so you don't miss what's next. And if you would uh like to help others find this message, leaving a five-star review on your podcast platform really helps each of us reach more people for the gospel. And if you'd like to to say uh you know, stay connected with part of what God is doing here through this ministry, you'll find all the links below. And if you feel led to help, you know, support the ministry, man, thank you. Whether through prayer, through sharing an episode, or giving, just I mean, we thought I thank you. And your prayers mean more than you know, and your generosity helps us stay on the road, sharing the gospel and reaching others with the you know for the lives, you know, just to show them the hope of comes with knowing Christ. Again, all the links are in the description below. Thanks for being a part of this journey. And remember, keep sharing Jesus in life one mile at a time, and we will see you on the next.