(More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com)
To Receive These (And Other) Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (Text Message) Or hazardhomecoc@gmail.com (Email)
Acts 10:39-43-And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Most of my life, I have been a little pessimistic in regard to lawyers. It isn’t that there aren’t good lawyers: it is just that many of the lawyers that I have known have not been trustworthy. But my opinion of them became more cautiously optimistic especially in the last couple of years, when an honorable law firm defended some good friends of mine who were targeted unjustly by a corrupt legal system.
With that in mind, I want to share with you what the world’s smartest lawyer (literally) said about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lionel Luckhoo came to his conclusions only after years of meticulous study.
Strobel documents:
“That was also the assessment of Sir Lionel Luckhoo, the brilliant and savvy attorney whose astounding 245 consecutive murder acquittals earned him a place in The Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s most successful lawyer. 4 Knighted twice by Queen Elizabeth, this former justice and diplomat subjected the historical facts about the resurrection to his own rigorous analysis for several years before declaring, “I say unequivocally that the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt.” 5”. (Lee Strobel, Case for Christ Movie Edition: Solving the Biggest Mystery of All Time, 276-277 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan)
Luckhoo is not alone in his scholarly assessment!
Here are a few other examples of legal experts and scholars who carefully studied the evidence for Jesus of Nazareth:
“Frank Morison, a lawyer, is surely one of the best examples of a scholar who became convinced against his earlier convictions after studying the evidence for the resurrection. As a young man, Morison began a serious study of the life of Jesus, being much influenced by the works of German liberal scholarship. He did not accept the miracles in Jesus’ life and was determined to remove what he felt were mythical outgrowths. Ten years after his first studies he received the opportunity to study the life of Jesus in depth. An examination of the last week of Jesus’ life in particular brought him to a study of the resurrection. However, in endeavoring to write a book exposing these myths which he thought he would find, he was compelled by the factual evidence to write quite a different book in favor of the resurrection. This work, entitled Who Moved the Stone?, became a defense of the resurrection against the theological views formerly held by Morison himself. He explains that it was because of his investigation of the facts that he reversed his former views and that caused him to realize not only that the resurrection occurred, but that it could be demonstrated. 24 The late Simon Greenleaf, past Harvard professor of law and one of the greatest legal minds that America has ever produced, was a religious skeptic. Challenged by his students to apply the techniques of his legal masterpiece A Treatise on the Law of Evidence to the resurrection of Jesus, Greenleaf became a believer. He later wrote a book, the long title of which is An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice. 25 In this work he defends the resurrection and explains how, when judged by the laws of legal evidence, this event can be demonstrated to have actually occurred. 26 Another scholar who was convinced by an examination of the evidence is medical doctor Viggo Olsen. He described himself as an agnostic who did not believe in the Supernatural elements of Christianity. But more than this, he constantly questioned the Christian faith and attempted to disprove it. Through the process of trying to expose these beliefs, he studied the resurrection and other evidences. Later he became convinced that God did exist and that there was more than a sufficient amount of demonstration for the resurrection. He realized that this event actually occurred and that as such it was the center of the Christian faith. It is noteworthy that Simon Greenleaf’s book on the Christian evidences was a key influence on Olsen. 27 Other scholars who have looked impartially at the facts have often likewise concluded that the evidence for the resurrection establishes it as a historical event. For instance, such was the conclusion of lawyer Sir Edward Clarke, KC, who also investigated the resurrection in terms of the evidential aspect. He remarked that this factual support was conclusive, as he had often secured a positive verdict in courts of law with less evidence. 28 McDowell lists numerous other instances where other scholars came to similar conclusions after an impartial examination of the facts. 29”. (Gary Habermas, Risen Indeed: A Historical Investigation Into the Resurrection of Jesus, 264-265 (Kindle Edition): Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press)
Because Jesus Christ arose from the dead, we can have full assurance that the Day of Judgment is approaching.
Acts 17:30-31-Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
By Jesus’ death in our place, burial, and resurrection on the third day, we can have victory and salvation (Ephesians 1:3).
Are you ready for that Day of Judgment?
The Apostle Peter tells non-Christians how to be saved:
Acts 2:38-Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle John tells Christians who have turned away from Christ how to be forgiven when they repent and pray to the Lord:
1 John 1:9-If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Why are you waiting?
Lord Jesus, thank You for conquering the grave. We praise You, the Lamb of God Who is worthy of all glory and honor. Encourage us with the confidence in Your resurrection from the dead. Help us to share that knowledge with those around us. Amen.