"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[a] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her." John 20:11-18
When Mary heard Jesus call her name she knew he was Jesus.
"25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”" John 11:25-26
Positive change in the world because people believed in Jesus. Lots of people believed Jesus lived. But we must believe in His resurrection too. Otherwise our faith is without hope.
"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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you," 1 Peter 1:3-4
Dead was conquered! All the Old Testament prophets spoke about Jesus. Do you believe? All faith revolves around the resurrection and the empty tomb. To know is not enough. The demons know who Jesus is.
Evidence:
4 ancient biographies tell his story (the gospels)
pagan and Jewish writings of the time of Christ believe that Jesus existed.
Eyewitnesses were martyred -- did not deny the resurrection even in face of torture and death.
Empty grave -- stone rolled away. The Roman guards reported to the pharisees about the whole thing.
No one claimed to have stolen the body. If someone had stolen the body they would have taken the graveclothes with it.
11 times Jesus appeared to many -- single people, small groups of people, just two; entire crowds.
They saw him, heard him, touched him and saw him eat.
They all knew him in life and recognized him after his resurrection.
All the Old Testament prophets foretold his life, death and resurrection.
Jesus told his disciples he would die and be resurrected several times.
"If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
Jesus was the first fruits of the Resurrected!
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Do you believe?