I have referred to the resurrection of Jesus in earlier blogs, but it deserves its own focus. For Christians, it is the central proof of God’s existence and of Jesus’ divine identity as the Son of God.

The news of His resurrection changed the course of history. It inspired the Apostles to preach boldly to all nations and fueled the astonishing growth of Christianity across the world.

The resurrection is recorded in all four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and is described further in the Acts of the Apostles.

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THE EMPTY TOMB

After Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate allowed His body to be removed and placed in a nearby new tomb. The body was wrapped in linen and a heavy stone sealed the entrance. Because of the prophecy that Jesus would rise again on the third day, the tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers.

Yet on the third day, the tomb was found empty. The stone had been rolled back, the guards were bewildered, and Jesus’ burial clothes were neatly folded inside.

The gospels vary slightly in who first discovered the empty tomb—whether the women followers of Jesus, some of the disciples, or both returning together. But the outcome is the same: the tomb was empty.

In John’s gospel, he states that he and Peter raced to the tomb, but John got there first. This seems an obscure detail to include in his version of events unless it is a true recollection of the circumstances. John also places particular emphasis on the fact that the head cloth was folded and separate from the other body linen, suggesting that Jesus left the tomb of His own accord. If ‘body snatchers’ had been involved, they would not have been so orderly.

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THE WITNESSES

The Jewish leaders suggested that Jesus’ body had been taken by His followers. Yet there is no evidence for this claim—no body was ever produced, no remains discovered, no trace of a cover-up.

Instead, the opposite: Jesus appeared alive. He was seen by individuals, by groups, and, as Saint Paul records, by more than 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6). For forty days after His resurrection, He spoke with His disciples, teaching and encouraging them, until He ascended bodily into heaven (Acts 1:9).

The apostles had the support of many hundreds of followers in spreading the ‘good news’ by the time their ministries began.

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THE REALITIES

Those of Jesus’ time knew that people did not rise from the dead. They also understood that when the leader of a cause died, the cause would come to an end or someone else might champion it. The logical person to replace Jesus was His brother, James, but this did not happen. Instead, the followers of Jesus were convinced that Jesus had actually risen from the dead – they saw Him and believed; admittedly with some skepticism. They also understood ghosts and spirits and hallucinogenic influences, yet ultimately experienced, understood, and professed the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

The Apostles were present 40 days later when Jesus ascended up into the sky body and soul from the Mount of Olives. This event should not be downplayed as evidence of the resurrection of Jesus.

It is interesting that all four gospel writers confirm that women were the first witnesses of the empty tomb. Women were not regarded as reliable witnesses in those days and might have been replaced by male substitutes were it not true. Note too, that the bible confirms that Jesus had ‘brothers’ and names them. It also confirms that he had ‘sisters’ but does not name them.

Also, the similarities of the gospel stories are remarkable, given that they were written over different decades and any collusion between the writers would therefore have been difficult to achieve, especially when the parables that Jesus told were often difficult to explain.

THE TRANSFORMATION

The resurrection transformed the disciples from fearful followers into bold witnesses. Many of them suffered persecution and even martyrdom, refusing to deny what they had seen with their own eyes.

As Acts records:

• “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:33).
• “He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41).

Saint Paul, who was a persecutor of Christians until His encounter with Jesus and spent the rest of his life proclaiming the word of God despite threats against his life and imprisonment, states in Corinthians 15.14: “And if Christ had not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” His testimony for the remainder of his life clearly contradicts this statement.

Saint Paul is seen as an honest advocate (because of his former life) and the fact that he spent 15 days with the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection verifying his facts. He also returned to see Peter, James, and John of the Apostles fourteen years later to reaffirm that his teachings were accurate and noted that “They made no new suggestions to me” (Galatians 2:1-10).

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THE CONCLUSION

The resurrection of Jesus stands as the central event of Christian faith. Without it, the gospel message collapses. With it, faith has an unshakable foundation.

Jesus lived, He died, He rose again, and He ascended to His Father’s realm. To see the risen Jesus was—and still is—proof that God exists and that His promises are true.

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PLEASE read my next Blog – WHY THE APOSTLES WOULD NOT DIE FOR A LIE

Mike.

mike@acaseforgod.com

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Post 10 of a 33-part series exploring the existence of God.