Section 1: Why Should I Follow Jesus?
So how do we explain what happened next?
How did this small group of terrified, defeated followers suddenly become bold enough to publicly proclaim that Jesus had risen?
Why did they willingly suffer and die for that claim?
And why did the church grow, not shrink?
Something happened that reengaged the movement. But it wasn't new teaching. It wasn’t a new leader. It wasn’t religious fervor or emotional hype.
It was an empty tomb.
THEY BELIEVED BECAUSE THEY SAW HIM
After that, Jesus started showing up. First to Mary. Then to the disciples. Then to 500 people at once. Then to His brother James—who didn’t believe in Him before.
And everything changed.
These same men who ran like cowards began boldly preaching in the same city where Jesus had been crucified:
“You killed Him. God raised Him. We saw Him. Repent.”
Peter—who had denied Him—stood in front of a crowd and said:
“You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” -Acts 3:15
THE RESURRECTION IS THE REASON
People didn’t follow Jesus because of His teachings. They followed Him because of His resurrection.
It wasn’t a metaphor. It wasn’t a hallucination. It wasn’t a myth. It was an event.
And it’s the only reason the Jesus movement exists today.
Rome couldn’t kill it.
Judaism couldn’t stop it.
No teaching could explain it.
No religion could duplicate it.
The resurrection is the only plausible explanation for how this movement began, grew, and endured.
THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB
John 20:1-7
John 20 says Mary Magdalene—along with some other women—went to Jesus’ tomb early Sunday morning. Not to celebrate a resurrection, but to prepare a dead body.
In the first century, women were not considered credible witnesses. They couldn’t testify in court. So if you’re making up a story in that culture, you wouldn’t make women your key witnesses.
But all four Gospels agree—women were the first to the tomb.
Why? Because it’s what actually happened.
And when Mary told the disciples, they didn’t believe her. Luke says it “seemed like nonsense.” Just like it might seem to you. And that’s okay. It seemed that way to the people who were closest to Jesus too.
But then John and Peter ran to the tomb.
Peter went in first. They both saw the strips of linen and the empty grave clothes.
And John writes: “He saw and believed.”