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The Session:  Seven Myths About Easter 

1      Jesus didn't literally rise from the dead.

John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.

I Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

2      After the Resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Saint Peter.

Mark 16:9 Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

3      Lent is all about sacrifice.

It was about Jesus preparing for the resurrection in the 40 days resisting satan

1 Peter 5:6 – Reveal Your Struggle

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

4      Easter eggs have nothing to do with Easter.

Eggs represent new life and rebirth, and it's thought that this ancient custom became a part of Easter celebrations.

      5  Easter is not as important as Christmas.

Without Christmas it would be impossible to have Easter. Christmas wouldn’t mean as much as it does if there hadn’t been a resurrection. They both are critically important. They give us our leternal life with God, the Father.

     6  Jesus didn’t die on the cross, He just passed out.  Also known as the “swoon” theory.  The Swoon Theory is the belief that Jesus didn’t really die at His crucifixion, but was merely unconscious when He was laid in the tomb and there He resuscitated. First problem…how did Jesus get out of a sealed tomb?  Second problem…There were two separate groups of Roman soldiers given the task of ensuring the death of Jesus: the executioners and the tomb guards. The soldiers in charge of execution were specialists in capital punishment.  The second group of soldiers was given the task of guarding the tomb of Jesus because of the request made to Pilate by the Sanhedrin. Matthew 27:62-66 tells us “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, ’sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away.”  These guards ensured that the tomb was secure, and their lives depended upon completion of their mission.  Third problem…Pilate was told Jesus was dead in Mark 15:42-45: “  Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. And when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph”  The purpose for the Swoon Theory is not to dispute His death, but rather, it seeks to disprove His resurrection. If Jesus didn’t resurrect, then He’s not God. If Jesus truly died and rose from the dead, His power over death proves that He is the Son of God. The evidence demands the verdict: Jesus truly died on the cross, and Jesus truly rose from the dead.

7  His body was stolen by the disciples.  First problem…the disciples were in hiding.  The only disciple who saw Jesus die was John.  Second problem…would the unarmed disciples be able to overcome a high

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.