The Resurrection of Jesus: Fact or Fiction?
There is no more significant event in human history than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The veracity of all other Bible miracles and events must stand or fall with Jesus’ resurrection. It is the central pillar of the gospel and of saving faith in the Lord. Some may mistakenly think that faith in the resurrection must be blind, that such a belief is arrived at irrespective of the evidence for or against. But Biblical faith is based upon evidence of the unseen; it is a rational faith that engages both the emotions and the mind (He. 11:1; Jn. 10:37-38). Entire books have been written to document the basis for faith in the resurrection; in this article we will briefly examine three evidences that support belief in Christ’s resurrection.
#1: Certain Facts Are Undisputed
There are three basic facts that no one, not even the enemies of Jesus, has ever denied. First, Jesus died on the cross. The disciples saw it, Jesus’ enemies acknowledged it, and the Romans soldiers confirmed it. Even the secular historian Cornelius Tacitus took note of Jesus’ death. Second, Jesus was buried. The disciples saw it, Jesus’ enemies acknowledged it, and the Roman soldiers confirmed it. Third, on the third day, Jesus’ body was gone. The disciples saw it, Jesus’ enemies acknowledged it, and the Roman soldiers confirmed it. The death, burial, and disappearance of Jesus’ body are admitted by all sides of the first century resurrection debate.
#2: The Resurrection is the Most Logical Explanation of the Facts
Some have suggested that Jesus merely swooned, revived later, and left the tomb under his own power. Such a feat would almost be a greater miracle than the resurrection itself. Consider that Jesus was abused by both the Jews and the Roman guards, was scourged, was nailed to a cross for six hours, was impaled with a spear, was pronounced dead by a Roman soldier trained in executions, was wrapped according to the Jewish custom of burial along with a hundred pounds of spices, and was left in a cold, pitch-black tomb for at least thirty-six hours. Had Jesus revived, he would have had to untie the wrapping that bound Him (cf. Jn. 11:44), found the entrance to the tomb in complete darkness, somehow rolled away the giant stone by Himself from the inside, and then fought His way past the Roman soldiers that guarded the tomb. Believable? Not hardly.
Some have suggested that the disciples went to the wrong tomb and thus thought that Jesus had been raised. But the women had carefully noted where Jesus was buried, Joseph and Nicodemus had personally entombed the body, and the Jewish officials had sealed the tomb and positioned Roman soldiers to stand guard. Had Jesus’ body still been in the grave, Christianity could have easily been defeated by the Jewish leaders by simply producing Jesus’ body. They never did so because Jesus’ body was no longer there.
It has also been suggested that Jesus’ disciples stole the body and claimed that He had been raised, but this theory too is both illogical and absurd. The disciples were so shell-shocked by Jesus’ death that they didn’t even think about His predictions of resurrection until after it had occurred. Even if they had wanted to remove the body, how did they manage to fight their way past the Romans soldiers guarding the tomb? The evidence most damaging to this theory is the bribery of the guards by the Jewish rulers. Had the disciples actually stolen Jesus’ body, there would have been no need to bribe the guards to say so. Moreover, the soldiers would have been executed for failing in their duty and allowing the men to get away. That the disciples stole Jesus’ body, suffered a lifetime of deprivation and persecution, and ultimately died for a fraud is far more difficult to believe than the resurrection.
#3: The Tomb Was Not Empty
On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, His body was no longer in the tomb, but the tomb was not empty. “Then Simon Peter came […] and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself” (John 20:6-7). What grave robber would unwrap a decomposing corpse to carry it away? Why would anyone take the time to neatly fold or roll the head wrapping and set it aside by itself? There wasn’t a body in Jesus’ tomb on that resurrection morning, but what did remain in the tomb will support only one explanation – Jesus rose from the dead.
Christianity and its holy text, the Bible, have stood the test of two thousand years despite vicious persecution, intense academic scrutiny, and vehement assaults by critics. What has enabled this faith to not only endure but even to flourish under such opposition is a single event that cannot be denied – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. –JME
Implications of Christ’s Resurrection
Elsewhere in this paper you will find SOME of the evidences that compel us to believe that Christ was literally raised from the dead. There is no one event in human history that is more thoroughly confirmed than this, the central fact of the Christian’s faith. And, perhaps, there is no fact more widely denied–this is understandable, because Satan, too, knows its power. Truly believe this, and there is no stopping place short of complete acceptance of the entire Bible story and complete submission to the Lord of Glory. Reject this, and there is no meaning to any of it.
Without question, the indispensable quality of this one fact helps explain the overwhelming evidence of its reality. According to Paul in Rom. 1:4, this is THE fact that declares Him to be the Son of God.. Even “doubting” Thomas was driven to his knees when he realized that the person with whom he had lived and worked for three years, and whom he had seen experience death on the cross, whom he knew had been buried in Joseph’s tomb–that this person stood before him alive. It compelled him to confess “my Lord and my God..” (John 20:24-31). It is fundamental to the “gospel” of salvation, according to 1 Cor 15:1-4: “....the gospel...wherein ye stand...by which ye are saved....for I delivered unto you....how that Christ died for our sins...and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day...”
If (since) Christ IS the Son of God (His resurrection says so!), then all His “lesser” miracles are validated; every word He spoke or revealed is certified as true, and the entire Bible is verified! Christ quoted from the very first chapter of the Bible, citing it as true (Matt 19:3, 4). He is the Son of God (His resurrection says so!) and so, IT IS TRUE! Many times following, He refers to Old Testament statements as factual. He is the Son of God (His resurrection says so!) and so they, too are factual. The real “case” for Biblical authority is settled in this one issue. His chosen messengers add other O.T. truths, which He claims to have provided for them. He is the Son of God (His resurrection says so!), and so they really were inspired by His Holy Spirit to make these claims. The reality of our own resurrection and glorification hinges upon this: “....if Christ be not raised, then your faith is vain, and ye are yet in your sins..” 1 Cor 15:17.
By conceding doubt on this issue, many have “gutted” the faith that is in Christ, and have no foundation for their religion. Do YOU believe in the resurrection? Then Christ is Lord, and you MUST do what He says (Luke 6:46).
You can read the story of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection in Mathew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, and John 18-21. Also see Acts 1-2 and 1 Corinthians 15.
One Final Thought:
IS YOUR RELIGION “GENERIC”?
There is a lot said nowadays about “generics”. Once, you could expect the “brand” name to be better than an “off-brand”, but “generics” changed that. We have come to expect “generic” drugs, groceries, clothes, etc., to be just as good as the higher priced “brand” items. Does this lead us to think of ALL “generics” as equal to the “brand” name?
The fact is, there are still some instances where there is no “generic” substitute for the brand name—this is the case in RELIGION! Mt. 7:13 – “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads to life…” Clearly, ALL roads do NOT lead to heaven! Only ONE does! Biblically, there is no question that, in some instances, there is only ONE of a thing to be had: Jesus is the ONLY Savior (Jn. 14:6), His is the ONLY salvation (Acts 4:12), His plan is the ONLY plan (Jn. 12:48), His church is the ONLY church (Eph. 4:5; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23-33), His way of worship is the ONLY way (Jn. 4:23-24).
Thus, there is no valid “generic” Christ, or plan, or worship, or church—there is only one that is of any value.
One reason we “buy generic” is that we pay less for it. Or, looked at another way, “brand names” cost more. This is indeed true in religion. “Brand name” religion is much more expensive—it costs more in STUDY, in COMMITMENT, in POPULARITY, TIME spent, etc. To REALLY serve God is more expensive than lip-service. But, it is a case of true value vs. going through a “form of Godliness”. In this case, you “get what you pay for”! Don’t settle for a “generic” religion. It is not worth it. (Acb)
Do you find it hard to believe that the Bible contains the words of God? Check out Why I Trust the Bible under “Sermons” on our website: www.eastcolumbuschurch.com