Eyewitnesses to the Risen Lord
Month 4: Is Jesus Really God? · Why We Believe
Today's Scripture
Read together: 1 Corinthians 15:5-8
5 and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
Memory Verse
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Leviticus 22-24
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 114 of 365 — the LORD's feasts, each one hinting at His plan to save.)The Heart of It
After listing the gospel facts, Paul does something striking. He names witnesses. Jesus "was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once." And Paul adds that most of them were still alive (). That's like saying, "Don't take my word for it. Go ask them yourself!" A made-up story hides from questions. The resurrection invited them. The risen Jesus appeared again and again. He appeared to individuals. He appeared to small groups. He appeared to a crowd of more than five hundred. He appeared in different places over forty days. These weren't ghostly visions. People touched Him. They talked with Him. They ate with Him.
Think about what those witnesses did next. They didn't quietly slip back to their old lives. They went out and told the whole world that Jesus was alive. And most of them were beaten, jailed, or killed for refusing to take it back. People will sometimes die for a lie they believe is true. But the disciples were in a position to know whether they had really seen Jesus. They couldn't be fooled about whether they had eaten breakfast with their risen friend. They stayed bold even when it cost them their lives. That is powerful evidence that they truly saw what they claimed.
Around the Table
Lots and lots of people saw Jesus alive again. More than you could count! They got to talk to Him and even eat with Him.
Let's do it: Try counting to ten as fast as you can. Then imagine fifty times that many people all seeing Jesus alive!
A witness is someone who saw something with their own eyes and tells the truth about it. Jesus had hundreds of witnesses.
Let's talk: It would be much harder for hundreds of people to all lie about the same thing than for just one person. Why is that?
Paul basically invited his readers to fact-check him while the witnesses were still alive. And the disciples were willing to suffer and die. That shows they were convinced, not pretending.
Let's go deeper: What's the difference between dying for something you believe is true and dying for something you know is a lie?
💬 Conversation Starter
If you saw something amazing that no one believed, how far would you go to convince them it really happened?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Someone might say, "How can you believe in the resurrection? Nobody actually saw it!" You can gently reply, "Actually, the Bible records more than five hundred eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive after He died. And Paul wrote that most were still living. He was basically saying, 'Go ask them.' Those witnesses were so sure they were willing to die rather than deny it. That's not how people behave about a story they made up." Say it kindly and humbly. You're not trying to win an argument. You're sharing a hope, "with gentleness and respect" ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
The "minimal facts" approach to the resurrection rests on points even skeptical historians grant. Jesus died by crucifixion. The disciples sincerely believed they saw Him risen. And that conviction transformed and emboldened them overnight. The best explanation of those facts is the simplest one. He really rose. Teach your children that defending the faith isn't about memorizing zingers to silence opponents. It's about being ready to give honest reasons with gentleness and respect. The goal is never to win the room. It's to win the person. Pray for the friends and classmates your kids will one day get to speak with about the risen Lord.
Draws on: J. Warner Wallace, Cold-Case Christianity.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for the many witnesses who saw Jesus alive and bravely told the world. Make us bold and gentle witnesses too. Help us be ready to share the reason for our hope. In Jesus' name, amen."
Hundreds saw the risen Jesus and would not take it back. So I can believe with confidence.