Presentation that accompanied an Easter talk given at the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA)

1. the
Resurrection
fact or fiction?

2. Christianity depends on the
resurrection.

3. If Jesus stayed dead, he is an
impostor.

4. If Jesus did not stay dead...

6. If Jesus did not stay
dead:
• He is who he says he is.
• He will do what he says he will do.

7. Facts we all can agree
on:
• Jesus lived.
• Jesus died
• The earliest Christians believed Jesus
arose from the dead.
• Christianity would have died in infancy if
her enemies could have produced a
body.

8. The big question:

9. Where’s the body?

10. Conspiracy theory 1:
The disciples stole the body.
• Civilians vs. the SWAT team?
• Cowards vs. the SWAT team?
• Why did the women discover the empty tomb
first?
• What cased the radical transformation in the
disciples?
• Why would the disciples die for something they
knew was a lie?

11. PETER

12. ANDREW

13. THOMAS

14. Conspiracy theory 2:
The family stole the body.
• Why did Jesus’ brothers only believe after the
resurrection? (John 7:5, Acts 1:14)
• Why would someone who knew he was lying
write things like James 1:1 or James 5:12?
• Why would James die for something he knew
was a lie?

15. The Sherlock Holmes
Test

16. “Once
you eliminate
the impossible,
whatever
remains, no
matter how
improbable,
must be the
truth.”

17. The inescapable truth:
Jesus did not stay dead!