What proof is there that Jesus rose?

In John 20:1-18, Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and meets the risen Lord. Dr. Toby Holt walks through the evidence that Jesus truly rose from the dead.

Mary comes while it is still dark and finds the stone rolled away. Peter and John find the grave clothes lying in place and the face cloth folded by itself — not what robbers would leave. Two angels sit where the body had lain. Then Mary, weeping, mistakes Jesus for the gardener — until He speaks her name.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the evidence for the resurrection? The empty tomb, the neatly folded grave clothes, the angelic witnesses, and the appearances of the risen Jesus all point to a real resurrection, not a stolen body.

2. Why does it matter that Mary first thought Jesus was the gardener? It shows the resurrection caught even His friends by surprise. She knew Him the instant He spoke her name.

3. What did Jesus tell Mary? He sent her to tell the others He was ascending to "My Father and your Father" — making His people part of God's family.

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him, 'Rabboni!' (which is to say, Teacher)." — John 20:16 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.